26

I chuckled although I was swooning inside at his words. Being Cristiano's girlfriend? I had barely been with him but it felt like I had. He was something else but he was also everything.
I loved being around that man. I knew from the day I saw him in the coffee shop, he was something. I just couldn't put my finger on it.
My lips parted but nothing came out. Then I bit my lip, thinking for a small moment before finally answering, "I need some time to think about this."
I wanted Cris - there was no denying that. But was I even ready for a relationship? He was a player, I knew he was a player and in a way, I was scared that he was going to play me in the back of my mind. I knew how he felt towards me but was it genuine?
"Okay," Cristiano replied kindly, his voice serious.
I gave him a small smile before leaning in and placing a kiss on his cheek. "Thanks. . .goodnight, Cris." I then turned over, closing my eyes with a small exhale.
"Sweet dreams, Rose."
~~~
Cristiano
The blaring of the small alarm clock jarred me out of my peaceful sleep and I jolted up, smashing the snooze button as hard as I possibly could.
I groaned softly, rubbing my eyes with my fingers tiredly as I yawned, waking up too quickly. My head thumped and I was desperate for water.
Everything was in high definition. My eyes took in every ray of light and I knew I had slept for too long. The noises were of a day in already hitting me and I wasn't ready for it.
I groaned again, my eyes barely opened as I reached over for my phone, pulling the charger out as I looked into the device, blinking a few times at the sudden brightness. I tapped a few icons before the dialling tone finally rung.
Pressing the phone against my ear, I sighed, rubbing my forehead tiredly as if it was going to help my headache.
"Cris."
"Jacob," I murmured, my voice thick with sleepiness. "Explain to me as to why you asked me to call you so early in the damn morning."
"You have a fight this week and you haven't trained at all. Why are you getting so distracted? You're supposed to be up by now taking a run or something."
I groaned, my head aching. "I know," I deeply replied, sighing. "Things have been busy. I'm gonna hit the ring today. I'm not distracted. Who's the opponent?"
"Oslo's son."
I scoffed, chuckling lightly. "Him? Easy shit. I don't even need practice."
"Don't be cocky," Jacob responded seriously. "Whatever's distracting you, get it out of your head. You're to win fights, not lose 'em."
With those words said, he hung up and I rolled my eyes, exhaling tiredly.
Then her body shifted, slowly rolling over and I met her beautiful eyes, an appealing sight to see in the morning.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," she joked softly, an attractive smile on her naturally perfect face. She was referring to Jacob. I couldn't help but smile, my eyes shamelessly glancing down to her tantalising cleavage.
"Morning, beautiful," I quietly complimented, my hand reaching out and softly brushing her silky hair away from her face, mesmerised by her magnificent, morning beauty.
She rolled her eyes, still smiling. "Why haven't you been training? What's been distracting you?"
I shrugged softly, stroking her scarlet hair. "Work. . .people. . .you. ."
Rose groaned gently, sighing as her eyes looked up at me. "I don't want to be the reason why you're distracted. Stop thinking about me, Cris."
I chortled, "if only it was that easy."
She rolled her eyes again, seriously gazing into my eyes. "Get up and go train."
". .can I have a good luck kiss?"
"Get up, lazy ass."
When I was finally ready for the day, I was still bewitched from Rose.
I, Cristiano Rossi, was falling for her.
She never left my mind, she was always there; mentally if not physically.
It felt like love.
Love at first sight.
How did love even feel like anymore? Love to me was a past memory from many rocky relationships. Love to me never lasted and always hurt me in the end.
But love with Rose felt possible. For once, I actually felt optimistic with our future.
I would find myself daydreaming about how we could be if we were together. Kissing, loving, laughing, marriage, kids, old age. It was prissy girl stuff that I was dreaming about as if I was a fifteen year old teen wondering what love was like.
Rose was like a crush. A crush hitting me so hard. I had never wanted a girl so badly like Rose. I talk to her and I just wanted to kiss, I would laugh and I wanted to hug, sit and I wanted to cuddle. I wanted her to be mine. My Rose.
But she kept pulling away. It was almost as though she was scared to have something with me. I couldn't put my finger on it. But I was definitely planning on getting her. I wasn't going to let her go.
When I came downstairs, I felt the need to tell someone how I felt. I had been thinking - dreaming about the woman for so long that I couldn't hold it in anymore. I needed advice and I needed an opinion. It was time for someone to know.
Going downstairs, Gage immediately came into my view. He was attaching another boxing bag on the hinge with his sport clothes on. He too was going to work out.
"Gage," I began, licking my lips as I walked down the stairs. He glanced up at me, giving me a 'morning' as he checked the bag. "I have some crazy shit to tell you."
I had known Gage for years. He was my best friend, ride or die. He was one of the only people I could trust and my oldest friend. We were like brothers. There were times when we would argue but we always made up in the end. I couldn't live my life without Gage - it would be impossible.