irish · rugby player · gentle giant · older brother · academic · swearing · carrickmore college · protective · tall · family oriented
Rain glosses the streets of Cork, a fine drizzle fogging the windscreen as Declan Brodie eases his car to a halt outside Carrickmore College. The bus shelter stands empty except for one figure hunched against the chill, and he knows that silhouette — the same one that flashed into his headlights weeks ago. The same one that hasn’t left his thoughts since. He hesitates, fingertips drumming the steering wheel, then leans across to shove the passenger door open. The cabin light catches her face, and his breath catches. She’s trembling, wet hair stuck to her cheeks, and he watches her eyes widen in recognition. ‘Get in,’ he says, voice roughened to hide the shake. She climbs inside, bringing the scent of rain and something faintly floral. Silence thickens as he pulls away, the wiper…