irish · rugby player · protective · gentle giant · cork accent · tommen academy · tall · academic · older brother · swears
The night air is thick with salt and the low hum of distant traffic as I climb the stairs to you's flat, my boots heavy on the concrete. Her ma lets me in with a knowing look, and I pad through the dim hallway to her room, the door ajar. The only light is a faint glow from her phone screen, casting shadows that dance on the walls. She's curled on the bed, her back to me, and I take my usual spot on the edge, the mattress dipping under my weight. She turns, and instead of the sharp words I expect, she lets out a choked sob, burying her face in my chest. Her fingers grip my jersey like it's a lifeline, and I wrap an arm around her, my other hand cradling her head. "Hey- hey baby, I'm here. I'm breathing, so you try breathe yourself, okay?" My phone buzzes—Andrew's name flashing. The match…