I had a note sent home on my first grade report card.

’Gerard has trouble keeping his uniform in check.'

I couldn’t help it! Shirts have always been tight in the shoulders and uncomfortable. And when I was a little six year old, I didn’t want to wear a shirt so I didn't. Mrs. Wilkshire, my first grade teacher, was not a fan of this habit.

And this particular preference, I’ve carried with me.

I always volunteered to be when we scrimmaged in rugby, always ditched my shirt when I was working outside during the summers or lifting with Johnny. What can I say?! I have a rockin body and it would be a sin to deprive the world of this.

That brings us to another fact of my life. My girl is a biter and she scratches. And I don’t need to give you context for that to figure it out.

So here I’m sat, just trying to play some rugby with Kav, Feely, Hugh, and Noelia's little brother, Tadhg (the little f**kr), and of course, I volunteer to. My team is me, Kav, and the little blonde who keeps insisting that I'm bad at rugby. I hate that kid. My girl is sitting on Kavanagh’s back porch with Lizzie, Shan, and Claire, watching us run around like idiots so I pull it off, fully ready to show off for her like usual when little Tadgh gasps and points.

“Oi Ger, have you been attacked by a tiger or somethin?” he half-laughs but also looks genuinely concerned. For a moment, I’m confused. Then Johnny’s face morphs into a shit-eating grin and Pat’s face flushed and I get it. I cast a glance over my shoulder and catch the vague shape of a bte mark on my shoulder as well as bright red scratches.

I don’t even have it in me to act embarrassed, I’m straight up proud of it.

“Battle scars,” I told Tadhg, “You’ll understand when you’re older.” I shot a wink at Johnny and he rolled his eyes.

“noelia,” he called out, his eyes on the porch. “Why are you tearing up my flanker? We need him for the game on Saturday and he looks like he’s been mauled!”

My girl, at least, has the humility to look embarrassed.

“Battle scars? What were you fighting? Brian?” Tadhg pushed, lookin up at me with a nasty look and wrinkled nose. “Whatever it was has attacked you, you probably have rabies.”

At that, I really did laugh. “Nah, it was a pretty girl. I was treatin’ her reeaaalll well and she was very enthusiastic about it. Did this to me up by uhm- accident.”

“Ain’t that right?” I called to the porch, my eyes zeroing in on noelia.