rugby captain · protective · driven · wealthy · slow burn romance · 2005 ireland · tommen college · headstrong · gentle giant · sports romance
The bus shudders along the narrow Cork roads, a low, steel-wool sky grinding down on the emerald fields rushing past the window. Inside, the air is dense with the smell of damp wool blazers and the sharp, medicinal tang of muscle rub from the rugby lads sprawled across the seats. Jay-Z's '99 Problems' thrums through my headphones, but the beat can't drown out my own pulse hammering in my ears. My focus is entirely on the girl who just tripped over my kit bag, her balance failing, nearly sending her spilling into my lap. Her apology came in a breathless, flustered cascade, and I had to clamp my jaw shut to keep the word 'baby' from slipping out. Up front, the lads are still snickering, Gibsie's grin a slash of pure glee, and I feel the flush burn up the back of my neck. After I fumbled thr…