OFF-SIDE

𝖘𝖎𝖝

I can feel him roll his eyes , "anyway , I'm going to pick you up after my training-or hold on why don't you come?" he asks and my feet freezes , "Octavia?" He asks , "yes I'm here." I reply quietly , "it's fine if you don't want to come , just thought it'd be good for the media but it's totally fine if you want to spend your day somewhere else , it's your birthday after all." He says quietly.

"No you know what? I'm in , just give me 15 mins" I tell him and I can feel how his tone shifts "take all the time you want in the world , lenochka." It's on the tip of my tongue to ask him what the fuck that means but I keep it for when we're together.

***

After finally finding a place to park in , I get out of the car and stride towards his training place , it's a big soccer field just like the one they play in , but it's empty , I sit on the first seat and wait until the players get out of the training room.

I notice someone joining me and I turn to look at however they are , a beautiful girl with dark curls falling over her shoulders and her big brown eyes walks toward me , her chocolate skin glowing under the sunlight , she gives me a smile and two dimples make an appearance making her look adorable.

"Heyy." She smiles again before taking a seat beside me , "hi." I smile back at her wondering what she's doing here in the empty field , probably for her boyfriend too , "you're Nash's girlfriend huh? You look prettier in real life girl." She winks at me and I already love this woman , I laugh and she extends her hand "I'm Victoria." I shake it , "hi Victoria , I'm-well I assume you already know but my name is Octavia." I smile at her , unable to resist it.

"I've been searching for you , love where have you been?" A voice comes from behind us and Victoria's face lighten at his voice , so her boyfriend isn't on the team then , the guy comes into the view looking like one of the fucking models on those magazine covers , except he looks way more intimidating-until he breaks a smile in her direction.

His dark hair hanging over his eyes that are staring at Victoria like she's the center of the world , like there isn't anything that matters more than looking at her , he finally spares me a glance giving me a tight smile with a raise of his brows "so you're the girl who's been making the asshole head over heels." He says his voice calm , almost-amused.

I clear my throat , "I guess I'm." I laugh under my breath , "I'm Nikolai by the way." He tells me while putting his hand around his girlfriend's waist , Nash does this too except it's fake tho , "he talks about you a lot." I tell him because Nash mentioned him a couple of times in our meetings that are almost-everyday.

"Okay whatever the fucker told you , it's not true , except it's something good of course." He says, his eyes drifting back to Victoria then he lets go of her with a smile "I'll just leave you two , can't promise it'll be for too long but we'll see how much I can stay without you , love." He tells Victoria more than me in his British accent before kissing her forehead.

When he leaves us I look at her and she waves her hand in-front of her "don't mind him okay." She says smiling , "it's okay , he looks like he truly loves you." I tell her smiling too , "I do too....okay anyway." She says sitting down , "I love your hair color so much , what dye did you use i want to dye mine so bad!" She pouts then claps her hands excitedly , "No it's actually natural." I say and her lips part , "wow , I mean...wow it looks amazing who did you get the color from?" She asks still grinning at me.

"I guess I got it from my mother or father probably."
I know who I got I from , my mother was blonde.
I say and her brows furrow, "what do you mean or? Are they both blondes?" She asks curiously, "nah I don't know, I've never really met them." I tell her
smiling awkwardly, i did meet them but she doesn't need to know that , "oh, oh I'm sorry-I" she says her eyes softening. "No it's fine , I'm not sad about it , anyway tell me about you more." I tell her and she smiles and goes on, telling me about how her and Nikolai met or how he wanted revenge after she threw him in jail , turns out their love isn't rainbows and sunshines as I thought.

***

Finally after they're done with their training , I stride inside the training room , my dad nowhere to be seen , thank god I find Nash stripping off his clothes , his back to me but he seems to sense my appearance , because he turns around and his eyes immediately find mine , a smile spreading on his face.

I run towards him and he takes me in his arms, I squeal as he picks me up and push me up against a locker gently , his lips finding mine and kissing me harshly , yes his touch is gentle but I've learnt that his kisses are anything but , he kisses me like he's claiming me , like he's owning me.

I hear a few whistles and laughs which make us both pull back only to realize that his teammates are staring at us with smiles-or more like smirks on their faces and he groans , an unexpected face-Daniel suddenly appears from wherever he was , smiling at me but then glaring at Nash , I don't like that look, not at all, he doesn't get to look at him that way , not that Nash seems to care but I notice how his jaw ticks when Daniel smiles at me.

I'm also sure there are couple of cameras here and this will probably be on the internet in less than 30 minutes but I couldn't give two fucks , Nash turns to look at his teammate and puts a hand around my waist like he always does , "what are you looking at assholes , go shower." He tells them and they laugh then break away , everyone going to wherever they were before catching us together.

When they leave he lowers himself to whisper in my ear , "I'm going to take a shower right now so fast , then I'm going to dress up and we're going to take you on a birthday trip." He says then rolls his eyes "okay not a trip but hey , I'm sure you'll like it." He says then pulls me in an unexpected kiss , when we pull away he whispers on my lips "just for practice."

***

Okay so Nash was definitely right , his birthday "trip" is amazing , but I'm still a little shocked , I unbuckle my seat belt "why are we at a bookstore? Do you even like books?" I ask playing stupid , "not really , but you do and that's what matters." He says before taking my hand and kissing it.

I have to keep reminding myself , it's fake Octavia , it's all fake, don't fall for him, don't.

I hope you enjoy the chapter , it was a bit longer but I really enjoyed writing this one <33
If you liked it , a vote would be much appreciated 🫶🫶