Page 8

eight

Sebastian

I had promised myself that I would keep my heart out of it. This was supposed to be nothing more than a deal, ensuring we both got what we wanted. Although I hadn’t intended for any of this to happen, I don’t regret it at all. In fact, I couldn’t be happier knowing I had just had amazing sex with an incredible woman.

As I watch her sleep, I can’t help but notice every little detail about her. The dimple on her left cheek, the tiny mole above her eyebrow, and the way her lips are shaped to perfection. Ava has a beauty that commands attention, even in her most unguarded moments.

She smiles softly in her sleep, and I find myself wondering what she’s dreaming about. She stretches, raising her arms high and pulling me into a loose hug.

Her eyes flutter open, and she looks embarrassed.

“Sorry,” she says, pulling her arms back quickly.

“It’s okay,” I tell her, smiling. “It was nice. ”

Well, it was more than nice.

Having Ava here with me feels completely natural, as if this is exactly where she’s meant to be.

Never in a million years had I imagined I’d be lying in bed with her after such a night, but here I am, and there’s no going back. I would usually wake up to an empty bed or be the first to leave without saying goodbye, knowing we’d never cross paths again.

But something about Ava is different. I don’t want to walk out on her.

“Want some breakfast?” I ask.

Ava nods.

While Ava gets ready, I make reservations for us to have breakfast at a nearby café.

We sit outside under an umbrella, waiting for our orders while sipping our coffees. The morning air is crisp, but the warmth of her presence makes everything feel lighter.

I notice we aren’t alone. A couple of paparazzi linger nearby, their cameras poised. Ava follows my gaze and stiffens slightly.

“Smile,” I say, raising a peace sign at them, letting them know I’m aware of their presence.

As we begin eating, I notice Ava isn’t enjoying her meal. I can tell she’s uneasy under the watchful eyes of strangers .

“We don’t have anything to hide, Ava,” I say, reaching across the table to take her hand in mine.

Ava glances at me and smiles faintly, her shoulders relaxing under my touch.

Just then, my phone rings. It’s my mother. It’s unusual for her to call me at this hour.

I excuse myself and step away to take the call.

“Mom?” I say.

I can hear her coughing on the other end.

“Are you all right?” Being busy with training, I haven’t spoken to her for a few days.

“I’m perfectly all right, Sebastian,” she says, brushing off my concern.

“Do you have the flu?”

“Why would you ask that? Can’t a grown woman cough in peace?” she teases, though another cough follows quickly after.

I know it’s pointless arguing with her. I can never win.

“I called to congratulate you on your game,” she says. “I thought of calling you earlier, but I just haven’t been myself these days. It must be the weather.”

“Thanks, Mom.” I know she would have been there if she weren’t living miles away .

“I can see a positive change in your game, and I’m proud of you.”

My heart warms at her words.

“There is a positive change,” I admit, glancing back at Ava. She looks up from her coffee and meets my gaze.

“I’ve seen the papers. It seems like you finally found yourself someone special.”

My mother has always kept a keen eye on me, scrutinizing every move I’ve made. Hearing her approval of Ava is a pleasant surprise.

“I hope to meet her soon,” she adds.

I’m thrilled that my mother is impressed with Ava. It means a lot, especially since she’s never approved of the women I’ve dated before.

We hang up, and I make my way back to Ava.

“That was my mom on the phone,” I tell her.

“She must have seen how well you played,” Ava says.

“She’s seen a lot more than that,” I reply, noticing her confusion. “She’s been reading the papers, and she’s pretty impressed with you. And she’s never liked any of my girlfriends.”

Ava blushes and says, “I’m glad to be the first Mama Kane-approved girlfriend. Even if we’re just faking it, right? ”

Fake . Right.

Hearing her refer to our relationship as fake stings, even though it shouldn’t. We had a deal, and obviously, sex doesn’t change that.

Fake or not, I can finally feel my life shifting for the better. I’m more dedicated, more focused, and, admittedly, I owe it all to Ava. For the first time, I have a woman by my side who sees me for who I am—not because I’m famous. That means more to me than I expected.

After dropping Ava off at her place, I head to practice, but my mind refuses to stay on the game. As I sit on the sidelines during a break, I find myself thinking of her—missing her. I want to spend more time with her, so I decide to take advantage of whatever time we have left in this so-called fake relationship.

I pick up my phone and dial her number.

“Miss me already?” Ava teases when she answers, her voice light. I know she’s probably wondering why I’m calling her just a few hours later.

“Maybe,” I admit, feeling a grin tug at my lips. “But the real reason I’m calling is because I was wondering if you’d like to go on a date. A real one.”

She hesitates for a moment, and the silence on the line has my stomach in knots. Finally, she says, “I would love to go on a date with you. ”

I exhale a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Great. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning around nine.”

Though we’ve been out together before, I want to give her an experience like no other. Something intimate and unique—a chance to truly connect. Over the past few days, I’ve learned so much about Ava, but I crave to know even more.

I plan a picnic for just the two of us at the city’s botanical gardens, one of the most serene spots I know. Its beauty leaves anyone who visits mesmerized, and I hope Ava will feel the same.

As we drive north the next morning, I notice her staring out the window, her eyes wide with wonder.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I ask, stealing a glance at her.

“It’s amazing. I never thought anything could be this mesmerizing,” she replies, her voice filled with awe.

“There’s a lot more ahead,” I say with a smile.

About an hour later, we arrive at the gardens. The last time I was here was for a friend’s wedding a couple of years ago. I promised myself I’d return, and I’m glad it’s with Ava.

She steps out of the car, taking in the view as I unload the Jeep. I’ve thought of everything, down to the umbrella, just in case.

After laying down the picnic mat, Ava takes a seat and gestures for me to join her. I unpack the basket, pulling out a bunch of grapes. Popping one into my mouth, I turn to her, holding the rest just out of her reach.

She smiles, reaching for them, but I raise them higher. Her expression shifts to mock disappointment, and I can’t help but chuckle. I lower them just enough for her to almost grab one before pulling them away again.

“Sebastian!” she laughs, making one last playful lunge.

Her face is now inches from mine, and the laughter fades. She’s so close I can feel her breath, and for a moment, the world around us disappears. I lean in, but before our lips meet, Ava suddenly looks up at the sky.

“I think it’s about to rain,” she says, breaking the spell.

I glance up, cursing under my breath. Out of nowhere, the bright day has darkened, and raindrops begin to fall. Ava stretches out her hand, letting the water collect in her palm. Instead of being upset, she looks delighted.

We grab the basket and head for the shelter of an old, sturdy tree, laughing as the rain picks up. It doesn’t dampen the moment—it enhances it.

Under the tree, Ava pulls out two sandwich halves and hands me one. We clink them together in a toast before digging in.

As I watch her, I can’t help but marvel at how her smile lights up everything around us. She looks radiant, even with the rain soaking into her hair .

“I thought you’d be disappointed,” I say after finishing my sandwich.

“Are you kidding me? This is one of the best dates I’ve had in a long time,” she replies, her eyes sparkling.

Thunder rumbles in the distance, and Ava jumps, instinctively grabbing onto my arm and pulling herself closer.

“It’s just thunder,” I assure her, wrapping an arm around her. “I’ve got you.”

The rain brings cool air, and we continue to sit under the tree, enjoying each other’s warmth.

“I’ve really been enjoying this with you, Ava,” I admit softly.

“It hasn’t been so bad,” she tells me with a half-smile, her tone teasing yet warm.

I have never felt this relaxed with anyone before. Usually, the relationships I’ve been in require me to play the star, whether I’m on the field or off. But with Ava, I don’t feel the need to perform. She’s made me realize that no one truly knows the real me—until now.

She is a breath of fresh air, a calm in the raging storm I’ve carried inside for far too long. With her, I don’t have to be perfect. I can just be me.

“I like the Sebastian I see when no one is around,” Ava says. Her words hit home, cutting through the layers I’ve built around myself .

“What do you mean?” I ask, though I think I already know.

“I don’t know what happens to you when you’re around other people, but you’re just someone else completely,” she explains, her gaze steady and sincere.

She’s right. Being in the spotlight for so long made me feel like I had to be a performer, whether on the field or off. I’d become so accustomed to playing a role that I forgot how to just be Sebastian—the guy who loved soccer for the game itself, not for the fame it brought.

I let the wrong things take over. The fame, the money, the constant need for validation—it all pushed me toward people who weren’t really there for me. They were there for their own fleeting moments in the limelight.

And it blinded me. It turned me into someone I don’t like.

“You’re right, and I’m sorry,” I finally tell her, my voice low but firm. “About everything. I was an asshole to you in the past. Betting my teammates I could sleep with you was a dick move, and then calling you an entitled brat just made it worse. I shouldn’t have done any of that.”

I can see my words catch her off guard. She wasn’t expecting this, and honestly, neither was I. But it’s been weighing on me for far too long, buried under layers of denial and arrogance.

“Thank you,” she says after a moment, her voice soft but steady. She takes a deep breath before continuing. “It hurt when I overheard all that because, admittedly, I liked you back then. After that, you just became another— ”

“Arrogant asshole?” I interject, offering her a small smile. Those were her exact words when she confronted me back then, standing tall and refusing to let me off the hook.

She laughs, the sound light and genuine. “Well, you were.”

“I was,” I admit, nodding. “But I’m trying to be better.”

“You are,” she says, her expression softening. “And you’re getting there. Sebastian Kane can be redeemed yet,” she adds playfully, giving me a gentle shove.

What started as nothing more than a facade is transforming how I see myself and the world around me. Ava has become my mirror, showing me parts of myself I’d buried or ignored.

It’s strange how quickly she’s changed everything. Though I cherish every moment with her, I can’t shake the insecurity gnawing at me. Does she feel the same way? Or am I the only one falling in too deep?