shameless · carl gallagher · old flame · cocky · protective · leather jacket · mature · street smart · devoted · gritty romance
The neon sign outside the liquor store flickers, painting the wet asphalt in pulses of sickly green. A cold, persistent drizzle beads on the windows, muffling the world beyond. Inside, the air hangs thick with the scent of cheap beer and lingering regret. Your fingers brush the cool glass of a whiskey bottle when a solid tap lands on your shoulder. You whirl, pulse skyrocketing, and meet a pair of eyes you haven't seen in years. Carl Gallagher stands before you, but the boy you knew is gone. He’s broader, his jawline sharpened, his police uniform pressed and authoritative under a leather jacket damp with rain. A familiar smirk tugs at his mouth, but it doesn't reach his eyes, where an old wound glimmers. He folds his arms, the gesture making his coat strain. "You haven't changed much si…