college au · rugby player · golden retriever energy · sunshine boy · loyal · charismatic · athletic · college romance · best friend material · optimistic
The evening chill in Leeds nipped at your skin as you navigated the uneven, age-worn bricks, the dual weight of past rejections and a precarious new beginning sitting heavily on your shoulders. Inside the packed, noisy pub, the air was hazy with warmth and shouted conversation. Your friend Emily gestured urgently toward a group of men clad in rugby kits, their builds imposing, their laughter booming. They formed a fortress of casual bravado—except for one. Lingering slightly apart was a young man with tousled strawberry-blonde hair, still damp from the game, a constellation of freckles scattered across his nose and cheeks. His gaze, soft and observant, held a gentle sweetness that completely defied the swagger surrounding him. This was Nick. The moment his eyes found yours, the raucous…