Riley
Javier’s voice cut through the quiet of the hydrotherapy room, low and sure, the kind of voice that demanded attention. “Leave him. Come work for me. You’ll be safer. Professionally. Emotionally.”
I looked at him, the weight of his offer hanging heavy in the humid air. It wasn’t just a suggestion; it was a challenge. Javier Santos—the star with the perfect smile and the ruthless reputation—was laying his cards on the table.
Before I could respond, Lucas stepped forward, his tone cold and unwavering. “Find another trainer, Javier.”
I rolled my eyes, the tension thick enough to cut. “You don’t decide for me, Rivera.”
Javier’s smirk didn’t falter. “Think about it, Morgan,” he said with a hint of warning before turning to leave.
I was already drowning in everything Lucas demanded from me. The Premier League’s eyes were on me, counting on me to fix him. To save his career. I couldn’t just drop him like a sack of potatoes and run to Javier’s tempting offer.
***
After the session, I was sprawled on my couch with Zara, who looked at me like I’d just confessed to dating a prince. Her eyes were wide, practically sparkling, and she was grinning like a kid who just found out the tooth fairy was real.
“Wait, wait,” she said, grabbing my arm. “You met Javier Santos? Like, THE Javier Santos? The one with the insane fan club and those ridiculous Instagram followers?”
I nodded, laughing despite myself. “Yeah. The same guy who tried to recruit me to his team as PT.”
Zara gasped, eyes practically bugging out. “Riley, you’re officially rubbing shoulders with soccer royalty. Meanwhile, I’m over here getting heartbroken by someone who thinks a good date is ordering pizza and binge-watching trash TV.”
I smirked. “That sounds like your kind of romance.”
She laughed, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, well, I guess I’m just jealous you’re hanging out with the best of the best.”
***
Back at the training facility, Lucas was relentless. Every session, he pushed himself harder, driving through the pain with that stubborn streak I both admired and cursed.
“You think too highly of yourself,” he muttered during one drill as I barked instructions.
“And you think too much. Period,” I shot back, smirking.
He paused, a flicker of a grin crossing his face before his jaw tightened again. “You’re impossible.”
“Yeah, well, so are you.”
Lucas leaned against the wall, arms crossed, like he was holding something back. “You know why I ended it back then, right?”
I looked at him, surprised by how soft his voice had turned.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt you,” he continued. “I just… I was falling apart. I was stressed, got injured the moment I was there, and I felt like every day I was failing. And then there was you. Smart, focused, going places. I didn’t want to be the reason you slowed down.”
“So, what?” I asked, my voice sharper than I meant. “You thought vanishing would be kinder?”
He looked down. “I thought… if I held on to you, you’d eventually resent me. For needing you too much. For breaking down. I thought you’d miss your shot because you were stuck carrying my mess.”
I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat rising fast. “You didn’t even give me a choice.”
“I know.” He looked up. His eyes were glassy. “I was stupid. I thought I was doing the right thing by letting go.”
“You weren’t,” I said. “Because you didn’t just walk away. You disappeared. Like I meant nothing.”
Lucas stepped forward, closer than he should’ve. “That was never true. You were the only thing that felt real. But I was drowning, Riles. And I didn’t want to pull you under with me.”
I took a shaky breath. “So you thought I’d be better off sobbing at an airport gate with no explanation?”
Lucas winced. “I didn’t know how to say goodbye. So I didn’t.”
A beat of silence passed.
He tried to lighten the mood, but his voice cracked slightly. “Maybe you should’ve gone with Javier. He probably wouldn’t have left you crying at an airport.”
I shook my head, lips twitching into a sad smile. “Don’t flatter yourself. I cried for me.”
He blinked, caught off guard.
“For the version of me that thought I wasn’t enough,” I said quietly. “For the girl who thought she could fix everything with love and ice packs.”
Lucas stepped closer again, voice rough. “You were always enough. I just didn’t know how to be.”