Love You, Mean It (Blushing)

Charlie Huxley is a general contractor in Blushing, Alaska, known for his gruff demeanor. When the narrator accidentally floods her home, he offers his guesthouse while repairs are made. Despite their intention to keep things casual, their attraction proves difficult to resist. Both carry significant personal baggage. The narrator has a strained family history marked by an absent father, a mother struggling with alcohol, and an estranged sister. Charlie was raised in foster care and is raising his daughter alone, whose mother visits once a year. As their relationship deepens, the narrator begins to envision a real family life with Charlie. However, she must first learn to establish boundaries before fully committing to this new possibility.