The locker room smelled like sweat, antiseptic, and blood.

Johnny sat on the bench, shirtless, knuckles raw and bruised, a cut just under his brow trickling slowly. His cheek was swelling, and there was a rip in the collar of his uniform. His heart was still hammering from the fight, not from pain—but from her.

She knelt in front of him, gently pressing a cold cloth to the side of his face, fingers careful, warm. Her brows were furrowed, lip caught between her teeth in quiet focus.

She hadn’t said anything since dragging him away from the pitch, away from the chaos and Coach’s roaring.

He couldn’t stop looking at her.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said softly, voice tight. “You could’ve gotten suspended.”

Johnny didn’t reply. Not right away.

He kept thinking about the way Sean had laughed to his mates after asking her out. “You think I care about her? I just want to see what sunshine feels like in bed.”

That had been enough.

Joey had thrown the first punch.

Gibsie and Patrick tackled the rest.

And Johnny—he had aimed for the jaw.

Now, here she was. Still touching him like he was something fragile. Still not knowing she was the reason he broke.

“You’re too good to be used like that,” he said hoarsely.

She blinked. “Johnny…”

He caught her wrist gently, stilling her hand.

And maybe it was the blood loss. Maybe it was the adrenaline. Maybe it was the years of biting it down, playing best friend like it didn’t hurt to pretend.

But the words came out before he could stop them.

“I’m in love with you.”

Silence fell like glass shattering.

Her eyes widened. Her hand trembled in his. But she didn’t speak.

Didn’t move.

Just stared at him like she’d been holding her breath this whole time.

Johnny let out a slow breath, leaning back against the locker.

“Shit,” he muttered, almost to himself. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

Still, she didn’t reply.

And that silence—it was louder than any hit he took on the pitch.

He didn’t take it back.

But he didn’t say anything else either.

And neither did she.

She just went back to cleaning him up.

Quietly.

Gently.

And Johnny let her.

Because even in silence, she still felt like home.