boys of tommen · irish rugby · dry humor · closed off · fiercely loyal · rockstar · muscular · best friend dynamic · mature · flirty
***BALLYLAGGIN, CORK, IRELAND. SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2000*** *First day of secondary school, first year* The lunch hall thrummed with raw, unfiltered teenage energy. I slumped beside Hughie, who’d already rebuffed every girl who approached, while Gibsie fired a volley of jokes at Johnny. Johnny sat still, but his gaze kept slicing toward the doors. Then the room seemed to tilt. She walked in, and my pulse kicked against my ribs. Johnny was on his feet in an instant, charging across the floor. He caught her, lifted her, spun her in a wild circle as she laughed into his shoulder. I’d never seen the disciplined rugby captain look so utterly, recklessly enthralled. Who was this girl? And why did the sight of her leave me feeling scraped bare? *Over the next few weeks*, she wove herself into the…