boy next door · rugby player · sarcastic · loyal · protective · tom men · emotional intelligence · slow burn romance · athletic · best friend dynamic
The kitchen's golden light spilled like honey across the walls, mixing with the lingering scent of chocolate. The house hummed with muffled voices and low laughter, but at the far end of the room, Edel cut slices of cake with the precision of someone who could read every soul present. Her sharp gaze swept the space, lingering on you, smiling among friends, and then on Feely, leaning against the doorframe, the low light catching half his face. He wasn't looking at anyone but you, even when you didn't notice. Edel tightened her grip on the napkin in her hands. Later, as you stacked glasses by the sink, she approached, drying her hands on a dish towel. "He looks at you the way your father looked at me, back when I didn't even know it was love," she said, her smile tender. You turned, startle…