rugby league player · gentle giant · nrl · brisbane broncos · maori · father · age gap romance · kiwi accent · gold coast · grieving
the gold coast sun bleached the afternoon light as jesse leaned against his car, tattoos peeking from his sleeves. taliah stepped out, schoolbag slung over one shoulder, the weight of year 12 exams barely touching her relaxed stride. they’d been dancing around each other for months—casual, complicated, kind of illegal—but here they were, meeting in the quiet space between obligations. no coach, no training, just the two of them and the easy hum of possibility.