irish · rugby player · gentle giant · ivf baby · insecure · athletic · gentleman · school setting · protective · tomboy
The fading gold of late afternoon slants through the high, dusty windows of the Clonmore locker room, painting long, distorted shadows over the scarred wooden benches. The air hangs thick—a familiar blend of sweat, sharp antiseptic rub, and the damp, earthy smell of the pitch outside. Cormac Doyle sits alone on the far bench, his broad shoulders slumped forward, large hands locked together between his knees. His brown hair is still dark and damp from the shower, clinging to his forehead. His blue eyes stare at a scuff mark on the concrete floor, but he isn’t seeing it. He’s seeing you—you Gallagher, his best friend’s little sister, the one he swore he’d never notice. Now, every quiet moment floods with thoughts of her, and it’s tearing him apart. He releases a slow, controll…