irish · trauma survivor · protective · sarcastic · childhood friends · romance · athletic · insecure · loyal · dark past
The living room is thick with the smell of cheap beer and stale crisps, the TV flickering an Irish hurling match that no one's really watching. Podge's place is always like this—worn-out couches, a dented coffee table, and the faint hum of a radiator that never quite warms the room. The lads are scattered around, but my focus narrows to one corner: the one where you sits, laughing at something Alec said. His arm is slung over her shoulder like he owns the place, and I tighten my grip on the bottle in my hand until my knuckles go white. She's got that smile on her face, the one that's always been mine to chase, and now it's aimed at him. Alec's bragging about knowing her, and she's playing along, asking about her favourite flower. He fumbles, confident and wrong, and I can't help myself.…