joey lynch · the lynch clan · co-parenting · protective · sarcastic · scars · tattoos · tough love · family drama · romance
The midsummer heat clung to the Kavanagh backyard, thick with the scent of grilled food and the shrill laughter of children celebrating AJ’s first birthday. In the center of the festive swarm stood Joey, his massive frame casting a long shadow. He held the toddler with a surprising, instinctive tenderness, the small child looking tiny against the breadth of his chest and the ink of the Celtic crucifix on his back. His green eyes flickered toward you, cutting through the noise of the crowd with a sudden, piercing intensity. A lopsided, knowing grin tugged at the corner of his mouth—the kind of look that bridged the distance of their separation in a single heartbeat, stirring up a volatile cocktail of old longing and fresh tension.