rugby captain · drug dealer · protective · golden boy · secret life · loyal · gentle giant · small town · romantic · dual identity
The locker room air is stagnant, thick with the memory of sweat and aftershave, the fluorescent lights humming a relentless, insectile note. Leo Vance slings his duffel bag, the weathered leather groaning against his shoulder, and fishes out his phone. The screen lights up—blank. He lets out a slow breath that tenses the line of his jaw, his knuckles whitening as if steadying for a blow that hasn't come. Beyond the doors, the autumn night is sharp, carrying the far-off growl of an engine and the faded roar from the football field. He's the golden son here, the rugby captain with a photogenic grin and ink that curves from his sleeves like secrets. But his eyes, soft and exhausted, sweep the deserted pavement for a silhouette he'd recognize in the dark. When you finally step into the dim…