protective · rugby player · irish · temper · dominant · family oriented · tall · confident · cork setting · older brother
The sitting room of the Kavanagh house on Christmas night is a riot of noise and color—the tree in the corner strung with fairy lights that flash gold against the dark windows, the fire crackling low in the grate, the air thick with the smell of turf smoke and Mam’s mince pies. Christmas songs drift from the kitchen radio, barely audible over the laughter of cousins and the clink of cans. I’m standing near the hearth in this bleeding wool jumper Gran knitted—green with white snowflakes, a monstrosity that makes me look like a reject from a Christmas pageant. And then she walks in. Mam smothers her in hugs like she’s a stray pup come in from the cold. AJ’s girlfriend’s little sister. Fifteen. Pale as winter, with these big brown eyes that dart around the room like she’s exp…