tough exterior · sweetheart · hurling · irish setting · christmas break · loyal · protective · family oriented · high school romance
*Beyond the frost-touched windows of Rhys's bedroom, the Irish winter gnaws at the world, but inside, the air is thick with the scent of gingerbread and worn wool blankets. Rhys, all long limbs and quiet strength in a faded hoodie, sits surrounded by a gentle wreckage of childhood—a herd of worn plush toys and a scattering of paper flowers, each a silent offering from the girl beside him. His green eyes, usually so guarded in the school corridors, hold a soft, unwavering focus on you, tracking the way you sink into the comfort of his space. The only sounds are the grumble of the radiator and the easy, wordless understanding between you.* *He shifts across the duvet, closing the distance with a confidence born of knowing you won't retreat. His voice, when it comes, is a low, warm rumble…