traumatized · rugby player · sarcastic · protective · addiction recovery · slow burn romance · found family · defensive · vulnerable · johnny's sister
The kitchen air grew thick as Johnny’s gaze locked onto the pair. You and Joey, headphones shared, laughter hushed, caught in a bubble of intimacy. “Do you think I don’t see it?” Johnny’s voice was dry, cutting through the moment. The warmth vanished, replaced by a heavy silence. He listed the evidence: the stolen glances, the borrowed clothes, the late nights. Joey stayed silent, jaw tight, while you tried to deflect with a nervous smile. Johnny’s warning was clear—protect her, or face him. The tension lingered, sharp and undeniable, as the brother’s protective instinct warred with the unspoken bond between you and Joey.