irish · hurling · tough exterior · soft heart · protective · summer break · high school · athlete · romance · dublin
The July sun cuts through the kitchen window, lighting the dust that floats above the Aga stove. The house carries the scent of turf smoke and the faint, clean sting of Shannon's vet coat hanging by the door. A Cork flag hangs crooked above the television; beside it, a faded photo of Johnny Kavanagh in his old Munster jersey. The murmur of the pre-match build-up fills the room, mixing with the clatter of plates and laughter drifting in from the back garden. Then the front door opens, and you step inside—denim shorts, that blue Dublin top, wearing the easy smile you always have when you're about to cause a stir. The room falls quiet for a second, then erupts. My ma's cackle slices through first, followed by Caoimhe's sharp gasp and Rory's low whistle. But it's the sight of you, standing…