41 - Training

***POV NOAH***

I slow down my car as I approach the club’s training center. A small crowd of fans and reporters is gathered at the entrance. I hear my name being called but don’t stop; I keep driving. Passing through the gate, I take a deep breath, already spotting my father standing in the parking lot. Arms crossed, his expression unfriendly.

I park in my usual spot, grab my phone and keys, and step out, slamming the car door shut.

“For a moment, I thought you wouldn’t show up again,” he says, uncrossing his arms and glancing around.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” I snap back and try to walk past him, but he grabs my arm, stopping me in my tracks. I exhale sharply.

“Listen here, boy. Do you think this is some sort of damn joke?” he practically yells. “Grow up, Noah. You’re acting like a spoiled brat.”

“I just want you to leave me alone.”

“If I’m hard on you now, it’s because I care about your future in football. Isn’t football your passion? Weren’t you always bragging about how much you loved this game?” he pushes me.

I take a deep breath, looking around to make sure no one is witnessing this pathetic scene. I rub my temples, feeling a headache pounding.

Football is my passion. I love football. I love the career I chose.

Before she came along, football was the thing I loved most in the world.

But now, after her, she’s everything I love in this life. I’d give it all up for her.

“You were never a father to me. And now you’re trying to act like some concerned dad?”

“You’re such an ungrateful brat.”

“And you’re a shitty father,” I retort, staring him straight in the eye.

Only I know everything I’ve been through with this man. The classic case of a father who plays the role of the perfect dad in public but couldn’t care less about his son behind closed doors.

“Let me tell you something, Noah. Don’t ruin everything for some random woman.”

I clench my fists in anger. I hate it when he disrespects her.

“Isabela is not some random woman,” I say through gritted teeth.

“You’re blind because of her, damn it. Where is she now? With her husband, isn’t she? Wake up, Noah. Accept that she just used you!”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

He raises his hands as if in surrender and steps back. I turn away, kicking my car’s tire to vent my frustration.

“Damn it!” I scream angrily.

“Noah,” I hear someone call. I take a deep breath and turn to face the person.

“Luana?” I ask, surprised.

“Did I come at a bad time?” she asks, stepping closer.

“No, it’s fine. I just wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“I thought about your job offer and decided to come in person to give you my answer,” she smiles. “I accept.”

I smile back.

“That’s great! My training starts in ten minutes. Shall we go in?” I suggest.

“Can I?” she asks hesitantly.

“Of course, I’ll also show you how your job will work.”

She nods, and I motion for her to walk ahead. We enter the training center, and I greet a few staff members.

“I’ll go change and be right back,” I tell her, leaving her in the stands.

I head to the locker room and quickly change into my training uniform. The rest of the team is already warming up.

I return to the field and approach where Luana is seated.

“I’ll leave my phone with you, okay?”

“Sure.”

I hand her my phone and join the other players for training.

Two hours later, we’re all exhausted after an intense session. In two weeks, we have the most important game of the year—the game of our lives.

I take off my shirt, wipe the sweat from my face, drape it over my neck, and walk back to Luana.

“Did you enjoy the training?” I ask.

She stands up, smiling, and hands me my phone.

“Yes.”

“Good. Your job here will be to assist me. I have a lot to handle alongside training, so I’ll need you to solve problems as they come up. Let me know if it’s something serious or if you can’t handle it on your own,” I explain.

“I can do that,” she says confidently. “You can count.”

I stop hearing her words when my eyes land on the woman standing on the other side of the fence, effortlessly speaking to a camera in front of her.

My heart races and everything around me fades away.

I want to go to her to hold her.

God, I miss her so much.

“Noah?” I’m snapped out of my trance by Luana calling me, her hand on my arm. “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”

“Sorry,” I apologize, tearing my gaze away from Isabela to look at Luana. Her eyes follow mine.

“Is that her?” she asks softly.

“Yes.”

“She’s beautiful.”

“The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” I sigh, watching her gesture as she speaks.

“She’s looking this way—act natural,” Luana quickly advises.

“Really?” I ask, suddenly nervous, feeling like a lovesick teenager.

“Yes, act like you’re unaffected by her presence.”

It’s hard, considering my eyes can’t leave her, and I can’t pretend she’s not here.

“I’m going to shower, and then we can leave. Will you wait here?” I ask.

“Can I wait in your car?”

“Sure, I’ll grab the keys from the locker room,” I say.

With my heart pounding, I walk past Isabela, close enough to catch a hint of her scent—the scent I miss so much.

I enter the locker room, grab my car keys, and head back outside to hand them to Luana.

“Here are the keys,” I say, handing them over. “I won’t take long; I just need to rinse off.”

She nods, and I head back to the locker room for a shower.

Inside, my teammates are chatting and joking around as they get ready.

“Got a leash on you, Noah?” my coach teases.

“No,” I reply, grabbing my toiletries to shower.

“And the girl with you today? You don’t usually bring your hookups here,” a teammate comments.

“That’s why I brought her today. Luana isn’t a hookup; she’s my assistant.”

“Finally got your act together and hired an assistant,” Eric jokes.

“Better late than never,” I quip back.

I grab my toiletry bag and head to the bathroom to take my shower.