“He was like a lot of Warmbloods, massive and showy and a bit of a dumb jock...”

“Ned?' he says, after a while. 'Oi, Ned?''What?''If someone says to you that the guy they're going out with doesn't have to prove how smart he is, what's your response?''That he's dumb.''And if he has a sixpack?''Dumb jock.''Not too intense.''Dumb jock with no personality.''And they see eye to eye?'Ned pauses. 'With the spitfire from Dili?''Same,' Tom corrects.Ned holds up a hand to where Tara would reach him in height.'Dumb jock with no personality and short-man syndrome.''Thanks, Ned.''Anytime.”

“Brains and brawn. Impressive. And here i thought you were just a dumb jock.”

“That's No'-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock, mistress,' said Not-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock. 'Ye were one jock short,' he added helpfully.”

“He looks a hell of a lot like me, only a fair bit older.”

“I pretend I’ve got lots of confidence and I’m a big jock and like that but deep inside I’m a frightened, insecure, can’t-make-it failure.”