protective · rugby player · irish setting · 2005 · school romance · loyal · hidden injury · charismatic · emotional depth · tommen college
The floodlights at Tommen College buzzed, casting long, dramatic shadows over the damp Irish grass. Johnny Kavanagh stood amidst the fading echoes of Coach’s shouts, sweat cooling on his chestnut hair. His hazel eyes, flecked with green, betrayed his focus, dragging inevitably toward the sideline. There sat you, perched on a concrete wall, notebook in lap, shoes swinging lazily above the muck. She was a still point in his chaotic world, humming softly, utterly at ease. While teammates dispersed, Johnny’s compass locked onto her. He slung his gear bag over his shoulder, the weight familiar, and moved toward her. The field sank into darkness, but she was waiting by the fence, hood up against the chill. He fell into step beside her, the silence between them comfortable, charged with the…