20 - Training day.

***POV NOAH***

"Warm-up! Warm-up!" I hear the coach shout.

I take a deep breath and start stretching before today's training session begins.

"You look exhausted, bro." Erick stops beside me, also stretching. I didn't even bother to look at him; I just ignored him.

To be honest, I could barely keep my eyes open. I didn't sleep a wink last night.

First, I hooked up like crazy with Isabela. Second, in the two hours we had left, she managed to get some sleep, but I couldn't close my eyes. I just watched her sleep and her calm, serene breathing.

"What's with the face?" He stops stretching and crosses his arms, looking at me with raised eyebrows. "You were with a woman," he says.

"What's it to you?" I ask, now stopping stretching to look at him.

"Come on, tell me who the hot one is." He nudges my shoulder gently. I clench my jaw in anger. Only I can call her that!

"If you call her hot one more time, I'll break your nose," I threaten. He walks away because he knows I don't make empty threats.

I'm not a threatening guy. I just do it.

"Damn, you're in love!" he laughs as if it's the funniest thing in the world. "I thought I'd die and never see you like this again!"

"Mind your own business, Erik!" I say impatiently.

I was irritated.

"Why are you standing still?" Luiz, the coach, approaches us. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!" He claps to motivate.

I ignore Erik and start running with the other players. 10 laps around the field.

In love, me?

Yeah, right!

I was sweaty and out of breath when I finished the 10 laps, so I walked over to the cooler on the edge of the field, opened it, grabbed a water bottle, and closed the lid immediately. I sat on the grass, opened the water bottle, and took a long sip.

"10 minutes break," I hear the coach's voice, and soon all the players are beside me, hydrating and resting.

"That reporter is the prettiest one who's ever been here," one of the players comments. But I ignored him, drinking some more water. My eyes were closed because it was hard to keep them open.

"Isn't she the same one who interviewed you, Noah?" asks another player. I opened my eyes quickly when they asked. I look around and my eyes land on the blonde holding a black microphone with the TV network's logo on it. In front of her was a man holding a huge camera while she spoke. I watched the perfect movements her lips made as she spoke, then lowered my gaze to my perdition, her perfect neck and body. She was wearing a white company T-shirt and light blue jeans. I think it was the first time I'd seen her wearing jeans, and her ass looked perfect in them. But thank God, and for the sake of my mental health, she wasn't wearing a dress.

"Hypnotized!" laughed another player.

"No wonder; look at her; she's hot!"

I turned my face to the idiot who said that; he was a player I didn't particularly like. He was unbearable, and now I like him even less.

I stood up, with everyone following my movements, and approached him, making him stand up too and be at my height.

"Shut up," I ordered, stopping myself from punching him.

I've never fought inside the club, and I don't want to disrupt the environment.

"Hey, did I say something wrong?" he asked, not understanding my attitude.

"Just shut up before I do it for you," I ordered, looking him in the eyes as he found it amusing. Idiot.

All the players were silent and shocked by the whole situation.

"What's going on here?" my coach asked, approaching us and standing in front of us. "I don't want fights here."

"Sorry," I apologized, raising my hand in surrender and turning away to sit back down.

Gradually, everyone started talking again, while the rest break didn't end. On the other hand, I couldn't disguise it. My eyes were focused and fixated on her.

"Now I know who the woman you were with last night is," Erik whispered near me, just for me to hear.

"Shut up."

"Isn't she a bit too old for you?" he asked. I turned to face him. "Well, an old pot cooks good food, right?" he joked to gauge the mood.

"You, with your mouth shut, are a poet."

I got up, threw my water bottle in the garbage can and started to warm up again. I felt that she was looking at me and I looked in her direction, making sure of it.

"Let's get started!" shouted the coach, and everyone stood up.

The training session went smoothly; we practiced set pieces and rehearsed movements. I'm a striker, so I'm my team's top scorer. I even managed to forget she was here for a moment.

I took off my T-shirt, feeling it stick to my body; it was hot as hell today.

Some of the players passing Isabela stopped to give interviews. I was dying of anger at the way everyone was looking at her.

"Can you speak for a moment?" I hear her ask that idiot Manoel.

"Of course, princess," he smiled lasciviously at her. I clenched my fists and wanted to punch him.

"Hey, calm down," said Erik next to me.

"Damn it, leave me alone," I said impatiently. Annoying face.

I watched Isabela interview the idiot, who had a stupid grin on his face. That's why I don't like him - a stupid guy.

After she'd finished interviewing him, I still had to listen to him ask for her number, and I couldn't just go and punch him without being asked why I was so annoyed. She refused, and he smiled, saying they'd see each other soon.

Idiot.

Idiot.

I walked quickly to where she was standing, her eyes staring at me as soon as I stopped in front of her. She bit her lip in a clear gesture of nervousness.

"Noah, can we talk for a moment?" she asked, being professional.

"Of course," I replied.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, surprised; I never gave interviews. I hated that!

"Now I'm talking live with the forward Noah Cooper," she said, looking at the camera. "Noah, how's the expectation for tomorrow's game?" she asked.

"It's an important game. We know it won't be easy because the opposing team is also very good. But we'll do our best, and God willing, we'll come out with the victory," I replied, looking at her.

"Right, thank you for taking a moment to talk to us," she smiled, and I noticed when the camera guy turned it off.

"Isa, I'm going to get some water," he informed, she nodded, and he walked away.

"Isa? What kind of intimacy is that?" I asked, jealous.

"Noah, we can't talk here," she said apprehensive, looking around.

I was irritated, and that wasn't good.

"I'll wait for you in the parking lot."

"I can't. What if  someone sees us?"

"I'll be waiting for you," I said, just walking away from her.

I needed a good shower now, but first, I would talk to her, or I would go crazy.

I leaned against my car, crossing my arms, waiting for her. I hope she comes...