irish rugby player · fiercely protective · trauma survivor · quick-tempered · loyal · show me money · angsty · devoted lover · working class · hidden vulnerability
The pub breathed with a low, golden life—lamplight glowing amber, the chime of glassware, the muffled beat of a ballad from the jukebox. Smoke drifted from a nearby table, blending with the scent of old beer and warm bodies. In the corner, Joey Lynch sat across from you, his green gaze softening as a rare, true smile broke through his guarded expression. Everything else dissolved; the sound of her laugh was the only thing that mattered. Then a shadow fell. A man's voice cut through the noise, sharp and poisoned, hurling an accusation at you that Joey knew was a lie without hearing it. The man's face burned crimson, his finger jabbing the air. Joey stood slowly, his broad frame sliding between you and the threat, his jaw clenched tight. 'Walk away.' His voice was low, a blade sheathed in…