Mircaculously, Brent was not the footballer I was working with.

I had never been so relieved in my life. I wouldn't have known what to do . How would I work with someone who I thought was the love of my life, who I was engaged to and tossed me away like trash?

Yeah, no.

Dexter, myself and the rest of the team have been planning the schedule and the timeline, having meetings with the executive and director in charge of the series. We interviewed the other athlete, just surface level, to know if there was a nice chemistry there.

The last thing I want to do was film with someone who was a massive pain in my behind and not in the fun way.

And here we are, eleven in the morning and walking into the stadium. The footballer chosen for the show was a Connor Fairclough. Tall, long blonde hair usually packed into a tight ponytail, lean muscles and also one of the highest paid players.

He didn't want to meet up at his home because he had an important training session today. The stadium was huge, no one on the stands and it gave me such a weird vibe. I don't know how to express just how weird it was.

However, the closer we got to the pitch, the better I felt because I could hear the sound of the team. For the brief interview today, I came with Dexter.

The field was a lush green, I could see the coach and his assistant watching the practice with so much focus. Twelve men were on the field, running after a ball with a speed I was envious of. If I was this fast, I'd use my powers to chase that one ice cream van that passes by the office every odd week.

"Do you think I can ask the coach to let me join the team?" Dexter asked, letting out a low whistle afterwards.

"I thought you were more of a basketball guy?"

Dexter shrugs, lips stretching into a smile. "Look at that speed though. Almost looks like they're flying."

"I know."

Being on the pitch was such a bitter sweet moment for me. Past memories flow through my head like a tiktok edit and I had to shake my head to clear it. One of the team's assistant sees us and we're ushered to the seats close to the coach.

I wondered why they were practicing today. Connor had said it was an important one and I know they were not in season, they had till august. A feeling settles in my stomach, my fingertips go cold and I start looking around.

"What? What is it?"

"Connor said it was an important practice."

"Yeah I was there."

I start looking at the field. I can pinpoint some of the players and then someone jumps, blonde hair slick with sweat, sweat clad training kit hugging his body. He heads the ball, lands on his feet and I don't need to look to know that it flies right into the net.

My lips part in surprise and I stand up so fast.

All the sounds rushes through my ear, then gets muffled like I was dunked underwater. I feel a weight on my wrist and let out a loud breath. I get pulled down, the pressure on my wrist tightening.

"In."

I breathe in.

"Hold and count."

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

"Out."

The sound comes back and I can see again. I hadn't noticed my vision had gone blurry until now. I breathe in and out as I looked around, hoping I hadn't drawn attention to myself. Thankfully, the coaches didn't notice, neither did the players but I felt eyes on me from the corner of the pitch and I didn't need to look to know who it was.

I know how it felt to have his gaze on me.

"Nicky, you good?" Dexter asked, the concern clear in his voice. I look to him and gave him the best smile I could muster. "We can go."

"We came here to meet Connor."

Dexter was silent for a couple of seconds. "If you need to leave, just give me a vulcan salute and we're out of here."

I couldn't help the laugh the trickled out of me. Dexter says the most outlandish things sometimes. He pulls out a butterscotch candy from his pocket and hands it to me. I pop it into my mouth and this time I just talk to my friend instead of watching the training.

"So how's the finance guy?"

"He has a name."

"Which is?"

My lips part as I try to recall his name. Jean? No. George!

"His name is George, you camel." I said, laughing quietly.

Dexter snorts. "You forgot it for a second. I could tell."

"I don't know what you're talking about."  I replied, nudging my friend slightly with my shoulder. "It's been fine. We've met up two times, had good sex, good food and he drives me home."

"So does it happen in that order?"

"Dexter, I am not afraid to smack you."

He snickers just as a loud whistle sound echoes and training is done. I'm calm enough now to think and I start doing the maths and apparently so does Dexter.

"This isn't his team."

"No." I responded.

"There's only one reason he would be here, wearing the Argyle FC kit."

"He just got signed."

This wasn't on the news, not even as a rumor. This is brand new information and I think back to all the NDAs I,  Dex and the team signed and nothing really stood out to me. The players shake hands and pat backs and I see the coaches talking and nodding.

Connor jogs over to us, sweaty, chest heaving, his ponytail still wound tight. "Hii."

"Hey." I said as I standing, holding my hand out for a shake. He shakes mine and Dexter's hand as we introduced ourselves.

"Sorry for moving the meeting here. I hope it was okay."

"Its okay. It was fun watching the practice." I said, lying through my teeth and smiling.

"How brief is brief because my girlfriend is picking me up soon?" Connor asked, a small sweet smile on his face.

"Five minutes." Dexter said with a laugh. He asks the questions we asked every other athlete. Age, hobby, likes, expectations and what they don't want us intruding on. Overall, Connor was ten over ten guy. Funny, nice and the kind.

After the last questions, he looks almost over our heads and his smile gets so wide. He bids us a quick goodbye as he runs to the black woman waiting behind us. He runs! He looked like a golden retriever. She was in jean shorts, black crop top,  short almond nails and braids. He lifts her up and her laugh almost fills the stadium. It warms my heart.

"We've got to include her in the show." Dexter says and I know, even if we don't ask her, Connor would include her in it anyway. He was glowing. It almost blinded me.

"This is how you and your girlfriend are, by the way." I said, teasing my bestfriend. Dexter laughs softly but I know he sees it too. Oh how wonderful love is.

The hairs on the back of my neck stands and I find myself turning in the direction  and locking eyes with Brent who was standing with the coaches and team captain. He was looking right at me, eyes trailing from my head to toes, almost like he was drinking me in.

I resisted the urge to do the same and yet I couldn't look away from him.

Dexter phone rings. And when I say rings, it actually did make a sound. He must be the only on left in the word who doesn't put his phone on silent. He whips his phone out and answers the call, walking away as he does.

I didn't want to stand here all alone so I decided to wait for him by the car, hopefully that was where he was heading.

It was such a nice day. Clear sky, no chemtrails. The air felt better than before and the cool breeze made me feel better. I hum to myself as I wait, pacing by the car. I pulled out my phone, opening up the twitter app and began to scroll.

I got so lost in it that I didn't notice there was someone walking towards me until it was too late and dark shadow had fallen over me.

The first thing I noticed was the scent. It was familiar. The same oud scent that drew me in all the time. I look away from my phone and notice the sneakers, a familiar ratty pair of Reebok that I had been once excited to buy.

I didn't need to look up to know who was in front of me.

So I did the next best thing.

I gripped my phone tightly and ran away.

—

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I love writing Nick ♥️