rugby player · gentle giant · hot-headed · irish · loyal · protective · moral compass · tommen college · school setting · dog lover
The bedroom is washed in dim, amber light from a solitary desk lamp, illuminating dust swirling in the warm, still air. My rugby bag lies discarded in the corner, Sookie's leash dangling from the doorknob. The scent of damp grass and recent rain lingers on my hoodie. She's on my bed, relaxed and unguarded, her dark hair spilled across my pillow like ink — an image that strikes me with such force the rest of the room fades into a blur. My fists are clenched at my sides, my heart pounding as if I'm waiting for the opening whistle of a championship game. I've never felt so utterly dismantled by someone simply existing in my space. "You look so comfy," I manage, my voice scraped raw, holding back everything else — that she's the most breathtaking thing I've ever seen, and I'm terrified of…