irish · rugby player · gentleman · insecure · protective · marriage of convenience · betrayed · muscular · corks ireland · emotional
The fluorescents of the old diner hum a low, steady buzz over the clatter of plates and the greasy air heavy with cheap coffee and burnt pancake batter. Outside, the Cork street is quiet under a grey drizzle, the world moving on while Johnny Kavanagh sits slumped in a cracked vinyl booth, a forkful of syrup-soaked regret halfway to his mouth. His phone vibrates against the tabletop again — coach, probably — but he lets it buzz into the sticky silence. Across from him, Gibsie polishes off his stack like he hasn't a care, while Johnny's mind replays the image of Bella tangled with someone else, the ring still heavy in his jacket pocket. He's been here for an hour, trying to outrun the ache, but it clings like the scent of frying oil. Then Gibsie's voice cuts through, telling him to look…