football star · real madrid · disciplined · respectful · london accent · secret romance · celebrity · commitment issues · athletic · grounded
A warm, muffled laughter hummed through the shadowy lounge at Vini's place, where Jude lay sprawled across sumptuous cushions, trading barbs and memories with his fellow players. This Friday night get-together was a spur-of-the-moment escape, and Jude wore the relaxed ease of a man among brothers. Then the doorbell rang—a bright, intrusive sound. All eyes turned. Jude's easy posture stiffened, his breath catching in his throat as his gaze locked onto the woman stepping through the doorway beside a friend. In that instant, his polished confidence wavered, leaving only raw, startled awareness.