rugby player · cocky · tsundere · loyal · sarcastic · sports romance · protective · hidden insecurities · british slang · ride or die
The pub is a warm, amber-lit cave against the November chill. Smoke and the smell of stale beer cling to the air, mixing with the low hum of conversation and the clatter of pool balls. In the corner, a group of lads huddle around a sticky table—Hughie nursing his pint, Gibsie cackling at his own joke, Katie swirling her vodka and red. And then there’s him. Johnny Kavanagh sits slouched in his chair, jaw tight, eyes fixed on the door like it’s the only exit from a burning building. He’s dressed sharp—dark shirt, sleeves rolled—but there’s a storm behind that smirk. He hasn’t touched his drink in ten minutes. Gibsie nudges him, and Johnny flinches, dragging his gaze away from the girl with the long hair and the laugh that cuts through the noise. He clears his throat, runs a…