falling for 13 || Johnny Kavanagh

Ridiculously Attractive

G R A C E

I wasn't sure which was worse—the fact that people were staring at me because my parents had died, or the fact that they were staring at me because I was the only person in our school who had been picked to represent Ireland at the European Athletics Championships.

It was a toss-up, really.

Johnny, of course, thought it was hilarious.

"Oh, I'm the golden boy," he said, dramatically placing a hand on his chest as we walked around the back of the school at lunch. "But you get selected for the biggest competition of your life and suddenly, you're not just Grace Lynch, the girl who will 100% fight someone in the girls' toilets, but Ireland's very own Grace Lynch."

I shot him a look. "You're acting like I got knighted."

"You might as well have," he teased, grinning. "Should I start calling you your excellence now?"

I scoffed. "If you ever call me that, I'll knee you in the balls."

Johnny smirked. "Very romantic."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't fight the smile pulling at my lips. It felt normal, walking around with him like this. It felt like before—before my dad showed up again, before the house burned down, before I moved into his house with all of my brothers, before my life completely flipped upside down.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me straight away," Johnny said after a moment, shaking his head.

"I did," I argued.

"One day later, Grace," he countered, giving me a look. "I had to hear it from Ollie first."

I snorted. "That's a you problem."

Johnny exhaled dramatically, rubbing a hand over his face. "I swear, one of these days—"

"What?" I challenged, raising a brow. "You gonna throw a punch, Kav?"

Johnny scoffed. "Jesus Christ, no. I like my hands in one piece, thanks."

I smirked. "Smart boy."

He shook his head, but the corners of his lips twitched. "So, when do you go?"

"Mid-July," I answered, glancing down at my feet as we walked. "Which means I'll be gone by the time you get back from your rugby tour."

Johnny made a face. "You're telling me we're not going to see each other for almost two months?"

I shrugged. "Guess so."

"Well, that's unacceptable," Johnny declared, draping an arm over my shoulders and pulling me into him. "I'm lodging a complaint."

I sighed dramatically, leaning into him. "With who?"

"My mother," he said immediately.

I snorted. "Oh yeah, because she definitely has the power to cancel international sporting events."

Johnny smirked. "She has the power to make sure we don't see each other for two months if she finds out I snuck into your room the other night."

I tensed. "Johnny."

He laughed, squeezing my shoulder. "Relax, baby, I didn't say anything."

I exhaled, shoving him away. "You give me actual anxiety."

Johnny grinned. "And yet, you're in love with me."

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "I hate you."

His smirk softened, eyes warm as he watched me. "Nah," he said, voice quieter now. "You love me, Gracie."

I dropped my hands, looking at him.

And I smiled.

Johnny grinned when he saw me smile. It was one of those cocky, self-satisfied smirks that made me want to hit him and kiss him at the same time. Unfortunately for me, he knew it.

We walked past the science block, where a group of younger students immediately went silent as I passed. Some of them whispered, others just stared outright. I clenched my jaw, trying to ignore it.

Johnny, of course, didn't.

He turned around, hands in his pockets, and raised an eyebrow. "On your bike, Keneally."

The second year boys turned red, and scurried off.

I sighed. "Johnny."

"What?" he said, looking at me innocently. "He's a little shit anyway."

I exhaled, shaking my head. "I hate that everyone is acting weird around me."

"It'll pass," Johnny assured me. "They'll find someone else's business to stick their noses into soon enough."

I sighed. "I hope so."

Johnny bumped his shoulder into mine. "You'll be too busy winning gold for Ireland to care."

I snorted. "You say that like you're not about to become Ireland's new rugby prodigy."

He smirked. "Oh, so you do admit that I'm the golden boy?"

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."

Johnny chuckled, but then his face softened. "No, but really, Grace. You're going to be incredible. And if anyone can handle all this, it's you."

Something in my chest squeezed, and I looked away, swallowing.

I wasn't used to people believing in me. Not like this. Not the way he did.

I cleared my throat. "You're being very sappy today," I teased, glancing at him. "Are you okay?"

He grinned. "Just making sure my girl knows how fucking unreal she is."

I looked down at my shoes to hide my smile.

"Anyway," Johnny said, slinging an arm back over my shoulders, "when are you going to admit that you're actually excited to be living with me?"

I snorted. "Excited? You're delusional."

He gasped dramatically. "So you're not thrilled about sharing a roof with your loving, charming, ridiculously attractive boyfriend?"

I tilted my head, pretending to think about it. "Hmm. No."

Johnny laughed, shaking his head. "You're so full of shit."

I smirked. "Says you."

We turned the corner, heading back towards the main building.