I was a nervous kid growing up, then I met Zayn Rodriguez and he always provided me with the confidence boost I needed but as I advanced in age and became aware of my mother's demands for success and excellence, I lost the nerves. I knew what needed to be done and I didn't stop working until I was well equipped to get the job right.

However, as we queue up to march onto the field, I am nervous as hell and I can't exactly tell why. The game is a done deal, everyone knows this, even the opposing team know they are going to lose. Compared to us, they are amateurs, sloppy and under-motivated.

We begin walking out and the nerves spike up, despite the many placards with the number 7 on it, not to mention the ones with my name and lots of hearts, I can't seem to get a hold on it. It is my first match in the club and I already feel like a disappointment. I try my biggest smile and hope it sticks as we shake hands with the other team and get into position.

My eyes go to the side of the stadium where Travis and Ingrid should be but she is the only one there, head buried in her phone. She looks around from time to time and I can't tell if she is feeling out of place, it is her first time at one of this. Travis joins her soon and hands her a coke and all I can think about is that they must have exchanged phone numbers, how else could he have known she wanted a coke?

He isn't a mean guy but he doesn't go out of his way to please people. Why would he even do it for Ingrid? Suddenly, he is pointing at me and Ingrid is waving, I smile as the whistle is blown.

It doesn't take long before the ball gets to me and the second it does, all the nerves evaporate. It's like reconnecting with an old friend, something familiar and it's business as usual. At the end of the first half, we are leading with three goals to nill and our coach cannot be nice enough to wipe the smirk off his face. Second half sees us scoring another goal, thanks to me and when the final whistle blows, I can see the approval on coach's face.

We all retreat back to the changing rooms but as expected, are bombarded by the press on our way. Several of the guys make it through undisturbed but I have no such luck. A mic is quickly shoved in my face as several cameras glare at me.

"Good game Mr. Levinson".

"How do you feel about playing for the lumbers, was it a good call?"

"Two goals on your first game? That must feel good".
The questions keep coming and this time when I smile, it isn't forced.

"Playing for the lumbers was definitely the right call, it has always been a dream really and the team work so far has been amazing. Everyone is so nice, talented and hardworking and from today's game, you can all see that it pays off".

"About pays, most people think you are being overcompensated. How do you feel about that?"

"I believe everyone is entitled to an opinion and the company is competent enough to make wise financial decisions".

Keep it cool, smile always, don't take it personal. Benson's voice resonate in my head, it always does during these things which I guess is expected considering the number of times he recites those words.

"The stadium was packed with your fans, how do you feel about that?"

"It's always humbling, seeing their love for the sport and their support for me and I really appreciate and love them all. Thank you all so much".

I escape and head to the showers but my teammates are clapping as I move into the room, some of them already showered with towels around their hips.

"That was a good deflowering, Levinson". Mark, the captain hails and I laugh. He doesn't have much time until retirement.

"Yeah, you a big shot indeed". Hudson says from where he is leaned against his locker, towel loosely tied around his waist, blue hair sticking out in the red room.

"Coming from you, Hud, that's a huge compliment". He is our fire forward and at his age, he has an amazing career ahead of him.

"Oh shut up you modest bull and take a shower". Someone out of sight says and we all laugh.

   Travis is grinning as I meet them at the garage with Ingrid a few steps away from him, leaned on his car, clad in camou shorts and a white tee, her hair pushed into a hat. He grips me by the waist when I am a few inches away and pulls me hard against himself.

"I missed seeing you in a jersey". He whispers before kissing me softly. God, this man.

"Were you cheering for me?" I ask between breaths.

"Hard". Damn this boy and his sexiness.

Someone clears their throat noisily beside us and I am torn between being mad at her for ruining this long overdue moment and being embarrassed at getting hot right under her nose.

"I believe what your boyfriend was trying to say, in a less horny version is, you were great out there". Her hands are crossed under her chest and her eyes are twinkling with poorly concealed amusement and the embarrassment reigns supreme.

"Thank you Ingrid. Thanks for coming". I am not even looking at her face.

"Tsk. I had nothing better doing". I'm afraid my laughter doesn't sound genuine and it's Travis's fault. I can still feel his heated stare and I'm suddenly wishing we weren't in a public parking lot.

"Ahem!" And not in the company of my future babymama.

"I am starving and unlike you two, food would really help me".
Travis groans and I can see he is seconds away from telling her off.

"I could eat". I say.

"I bet you could". She barely holds back a fit of giggles and I decide to ignore her.

"We can try Fil-Inn"

"What's Fil-Inn?" Travis ask.

"It's a diner just by the corner. You'll love it, they serve the best breakfast dinners". I tell him and he smiles.

"Breakfast? Keeping it light are we". Ingrid's eye roll is the rudest I've ever seen.

"For God's sake you two, get in the car". I laugh and hold the passenger door for her.

"Get in, I'll meet you there. I need to get my car". She obliges and I close the door after her then look up at Travis who is still staring. He smiles softly, fully and long before he could say the words, this was how I knew he loved me.

     They are waiting outside the diner when I get there and Travis looks annoyed. Then Ingrid makes another sex joke and the reason is clear. She takes the lead in and heads straight for our usual table by the window. The place is a little packed so it takes sometime before we get a waitress and she smiles despite her obvious fatigue.

"Hey Ingrid". She greets.

"Hey Martha, busy night?"

"Just a typical Friday night. How are you? Gentlemen". She finally spare Travis and I a glance on the other side of the booth. "What can I get you?"

I order immediately and Travis makes me order for him, all the while caressing my thigh under the table. I want to tell him to stop but I don't really want him to but we are in public and Ingrid is right across from us but his touch feels too good and I'm afraid I'm crying out so I put my hand over his to stop his movements but I don't take it off, that much withdrawal I just can't deal with right now.

"Jake, Brett sent his regards and gratitude. I guess he is still stoked that I'm living with a world-class footballer". Ingrid looks up from her phone for a moment.

"I'm hardly world-class".

"You played for the national team". Travis states.

"I was just a substitute".

"And you made your mark. They'll be stupid not to sign you up soon. Everyone was talking about that penalty for weeks".

"Thanks babe and Ingrid, my regards to Brett as well. How is he doing by the way? Still at his friend's?"

"Yeah. Though I think they are more than friends but he still doesn't tell me much". She looks a little sad and I can understand the feeling perfectly.

"I'm sure he'll come around, just give him a little more time. You were gone for a while".

      Martha brings our food and Travis cannot eat with his hand on my thigh so I have to live without it.

"Is Maria in tonight?" Ingrid ask her. Maria is the delightful lady who owns the diner.

"No. She had to be at the hospital".

"The kid?" She ask sympathetically and Martha nods before going away to attend to some new customers.

"What kid?" I ask after chewing a divine fry.

"Martha's little girl. She has some sort of respiratory problem".

"Oh. That's sad".

"I know". She looks around the diner for a while. "It's a little weird being here as a customer again and not a waitress". She muses as she takes a sip of her milkshake.

"You work here?" Travis ask, picking out the peas in his salad.

"Yeah".

"Really? When you said you were a waitress, I didn't think it could be at our spot". She is suddenly looking at me like I screwed up and I'm about to ask what I did wrong but she looks toward Travis and it hits me.

His smile is tight as I turn to him and he is already waving me off before I can speak. We sit quietly for an uncomfortable stretch of time, everyone pretending to eat until Ingrid announces that she is feeling tired. I pay for our food immediately and we head out. Travis moves toward his car and I follow him.

"Can we talk about it?" I ask once Ingrid is seated in the passenger side and buckled in, out of earshot.

"There is nothing to talk about Jake. You have a spot, okay, thank you for bringing me here. You were right, the food is amazing".

"Babe I'm sorry. It's really nothing, we just used to hang out here".

"I get it. I'm fine". He swallow lightly and smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes

"Are you sure? Travis I don't want you feeling like our relationship is threatened because it really isn't". He nods a couple times, not meeting my eyes.

"I'm fine". He repeats and rubs my arm briefly.

"Okay. See you at home then". He gets into the car and drives off and by the time I get home, he is already in the shower.

I do not ask about his feelings anymore tonight, he doesn't really like that. He places a kiss on my forehead before getting into bed but when he sleeps, it's with his back to me.

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Can I just officially say that Travis is a total soccer boyfriend🤩