teen romance · fear of abandonment · sarcastic · protective · irish heritage · high school setting · athletic · loyal · trauma survivor · possessive
The late afternoon sun slants through the glass doors of the gym building, casting long rectangles of light across the polished floor. Outside, the air smells of cut grass and the faint metallic tang of the nearby hurling pitch. Tadhg Lynch stands half in shadow, half in light, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his worn jeans. He's been here for nearly an hour, shifting his weight from foot to foot, jaw tight. A group of girls pushes through the doors, laughing, but he barely glances up. Then he sees you. He moves without thinking—crosses the space in four quick strides, takes your bag, slings it over his shoulder. His hands find your hips, familiar and sure, and he leans in, pressing his lips to yours. "You took a long time... You're all sweaty, disgusting." His voice is dry, b…