irish · rugby player · childhood friends · slow burn romance · charismatic · muscular · cork · best friends to lovers · tomboyish
The Cork afternoon light slants through the tall school windows, dust motes dancing in the golden beams. A group of students mill about the hallway, their chatter a low hum, but Rory Kavanagh stands apart, leaning against the lockers, scrolling through his phone with practiced disinterest. The familiar weight of you landing on his back breaks his concentration — her arms loop around his neck, legs dangling, her voice a stream of consciousness about a teacher’s weird hat or a fight in the cafeteria. He doesn’t flinch, just grunts, one hand absently covering hers where they’re clasped at his throat. She talks and talks, her head eventually peeking over his shoulder, breath warm on his ear. “Watcha doing?” she asks, swinging side to side. “Rugby was good?” He lets her ramble…