Chapter 36
36
STELLA
As I chopped vegetables in the kitchen, I thought about how great it was to spend time with Max today in Córdoba. It was a beautiful city and I was so grateful that he’d taken me there.
It felt like we’d really bonded. I loved the way he held my hand the whole time. The sensation of my palm snuggled in his was so comforting. Sounds corny, but he made me feel safe. Treasured.
And the thing was, I wasn’t even sure if either of us realised we were holding hands until we’d been there for a while, because everything felt so natural. Like we’d been doing it for years.
Max finally talking about why he’d completely cut himself off from his passion also made me happy. I knew it was difficult for him, but choosing to open up showed he trusted me. Which meant a lot.
I didn’t know much about football, but when players got injuries or had to retire, I knew some of them still stayed in the industry, becoming coaches or commentators. Maybe that didn’t interest Max, but to go from football being your entire life to avoiding it completely seemed extreme. Especially seeing as it hadn’t stopped his suffering.
Seeing how broken he was shattered my heart. I wanted to help him. And ever since we got in the car back home, I’d been mulling over an idea of how to do that. I’d messaged Jasmine to see if she could help, so hopefully she’d reply soon. In the meantime, I was going to try something else that I thought could be useful.
As Max came out of the shower, he strolled into the kitchen with a towel wrapped around his waist. The sight of his bare muscular chest sent my pulse racing.
‘Mmm.’ I licked my lips.
‘You ogling me again?’
‘It’s hard not to when you insist on walking around half naked.’
‘I can cover up if you want?’
‘No, no!’ I replied quickly. ‘I like you just the way you are.’
‘Awww, thanks.’ Max wrapped his arms around my waist, then kissed my forehead. ‘What are you making?’
‘Chilli and ginger salmon with roast potatoes.’
We’d stopped off at a supermarket on the way back to the hotel and whilst Max took a work call, I went and got all the ingredients.
‘Sounds great! What d’you wanna do after dinner? Go for a drink at the beach bar?’
‘Actually, I was hoping we could have a night in and, y’know, just chill.’
‘ Netflix and chill , eh?’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘I’m surprised after all the walking we did that you have the energy for sex. Even I’m tired. ’
‘Not that kind of night in. This has nothing to do with sex. There’s a series I’ve wanted to see for ages that I thought we could watch together.’
‘Wow. Watching a TV series together. Isn’t that straying into coupledom territory?’ he smirked.
‘Friends with benefits can watch TV series together too you know.’ I rolled my eyes.
‘I’m just teasing. I’m up for it. I’d ask you what the series is, but I’ve probably never heard of it anyway, so you can surprise me.’
‘Great! Dinner will be ready in half an hour.’
Once we’d eaten, I got everything set up in the living room whilst Max loaded the dishwasher. When I thought about it, this whole situation was really weird. It only felt like yesterday that I hated Max. Now here we were living under the same roof, cooking meals for each other, him organising the dishes, and we were about to snuggle up on the sofa to watch TV together. Jasmine wasn’t wrong when she said this whole villa thing was designed to fast-track relationships.
Not that this was a relationship . It was just a… friendship thing. Once we went back to London, who knew if we’d even see each other again?
Anyway, I wasn’t going to overthink. I tipped the popcorn I’d also bought earlier into a bowl and put it out on the coffee table.
‘All done.’ Max strolled into the living room.
‘Ready?’
‘Yep.’ He sat next to me on the sofa and wrapped his arm around my back. ‘So, hit me with it. What are we watching? A romcom series?’
Under different circumstances, that would’ve been my first choice. But tonight I’d selected something because I hoped it’d help Max .
‘It’s a show called Ted Lasso . It’s got that Jason Sudeikis guy in it.’
‘Oh, cool! What’s it about?’
‘Now don’t freak out, but it’s a comedy…’
‘Why would that freak me out?’
‘About… football…’ I waited for his reaction.
‘Stella,’ Max sighed. ‘I know you’re trying to help and I appreciate it, but I don’t think…’
‘Hear me out. It’s about an American football coach who’s hired to manage a British football team. But the thing is, he knows nothing about football. It’s won loads of awards and is supposed to be hilarious. I thought it might be a fun way to ease you back into the football world.’
‘I’m not sure.’ Max shuffled uncomfortably in the sofa.
‘It’s only half an hour. Why don’t we try one episode and if it’s too difficult, we can stop.’ I squeezed his hand.
‘Okay,’ he murmured.
Yes!
I picked up the remote control then pressed play. Max’s body tensed and I started to question my suggestion, wondering if it was a bad idea and whether I was pushing him too much too soon. But within minutes of starting the show, from the corner of my eye I saw his shoulders relax and it wasn’t long before he started chuckling.
After that, the laughs kept coming. Especially when it got to the part where Ted Lasso was thrown straight into a press conference and bombarded with questions about ‘soccer’, all of which he got wrong.
When the credits for the first episode rolled, I pressed pause.
‘So? What do you think?’
‘It’s really funny,’ Max smiled and relief flooded my veins.
‘Want to watch another one? ’
‘Go on then.’
I hit the button for the next episode and Max pulled me closer into him. I rested my head on his shoulder and every time Max laughed, the joyful vibrations erupting from his chest filled my heart like a helium balloon.
He was enjoying it. He was happy. And knowing that made me so glad I wanted to get up and do a celebratory dance around the living room.
Episode two quickly turned into episode three, then four and before we knew it, we’d binged the entire first season. We’d only moved to go to the loo or to get more drinks and snacks. Other than that, anyone would think we were glued to the sofa. And to each other.
‘Season two?’ Max asked, glanced at his watch then gasped. ‘Shit! It’s three in the morning! I didn’t even realise.’
‘It’s crazy. The time just flew by.’
‘You know what they say. Time flies when you’re having fun. Thank you.’ He leant forward and kissed me softly on the lips. ‘I’m really enjoying it.’
‘Glad to hear it! I’m not exactly a football fan, but I’m loving it too.’
‘So maybe we can pick up on season two tomorrow night?’
‘Maybe. I might have something planned for your activity, so I’ll let you know.’
I’d been so engrossed in watching the show that I hadn’t checked my phone, which was charging in the bedroom.
‘Mmm… I’m intrigued. Okay then, bed?’
‘Definitely.’
Max went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and I headed to the bedroom to look at my phone. Jasmine had replied.
That’s a great idea! I made some calls and it’s all sorted! Come to reception at five tomorrow to allow enough time to get there.
Yes! Butterflies erupted in my stomach. That was brilliant news.
Now I just had to hope that when Max found out what I’d planned he didn’t freak out…