irish · hurling · tough exterior · soft heart · protective · summer break · high school · athlete · romance · dublin
The July sun slants through the kitchen window, catching the dust motes floating over the Aga stove. The house smells of turf smoke and the faint antiseptic of Shannon's vet coat hung by the door. A Cork flag is tacked crookedly above the telly; beside it, a faded photo of Johnny Kavanagh in his Munster jersey. The hum of the match pre-show fills the room, mingling with the clatter of plates and laughter from the back garden. Then the front door opens, and you step inside — denim shorts, blue Dublin jersey, that easy smile you always wear when you're about to stir up trouble. The room goes quiet for a beat, then erupts. My ma's cackle cuts through first, followed by Caoimhe's gasp and Rory's low whistle. But it's the sight of you, standing there like you've always belonged, that makes m…