A few hours later, I woke up to an empty bed and a knock on the door. I walk over to the door and open it.
"Hola, querida," (hello, love), Gio said, "did you get my text ?"
"Umm no, I just woke up from a nap," I say moving over and opening the door more so she could come in.
"Your father said you're going out tonight, need any help getting ready ?" She said walking in.
"Yes, please, girl time is overdue," I smile at her glancing over at the bed which was once occupied by João and I, but was now empty.
"You okay ?" She asks.
"Yeah, yeah, still waking up," I smile at her.
The side door opens and in comes the boy I've been looking for since I woke up. "Oh good, you're awake, I didn't want to be the one to wake you," he said, "hi Gio."
"Hi João," she smiles at him.
"When'd you wake up ?" I ask him.
"A couple minutes ago, I didn't want to wake you since we're not heading out soon," he said. "I went looking for something to wear. I don't know what to wear, though, do you wanna match ?"
"Yeah, let me get ready and I'll help you pick something out in a bit," I say and he nods saying goodbye to Gio and walking back to his room.
"What's going on there ?" She asks.
"A lot," I sigh, " I like him," I smile falling back onto the bed.
"I can see that," she says, "why do I sense a but ?"
"Because I'm scared," I groan sitting up on the bed.
"Of what ?" He's a good kid," she defends him.
"So was Hayes," I sigh.
"No, don't start comparing the two," she says. "João isn't Hayes."
"I know that," I groan.
"But ?"
"They're both men." I scoff.
"Your dad is a man," she points out.
"True," I make a face, "he's one of the good ones though."
"What makes you think João isn't ?"
"Nothing," I huff, "I don't really have a leg to stand on."
"I want to see you in a happy and healthy relationship," she says, "I was close to your age when I started dating your father, look at us now."
"Okay so you're saying wait a year or two and then I'll meet the love of my life who is almost a decade older than me ?" I ask wiggling my eyebrows.
"Sofia," she says with a warning tone.
"Did you just mom voice me ?" I ask.
"Yes, I'm still your mom," she says and I laugh.
"I know, I'm joking, I definitely am giving João a chance, just," I pause, "cautiously."
"You're scared, I get it," she says, "but I don't think he'd hurt you."
"Why because of my dad ?" I ask, "I want him to worship the ground I walk on because he's in love with me, not be afraid to screw up because of my dad," I huff, "that's not love."
"Then open your eyes Sofi," she told me, "this boy has been following you around like a lost puppy the second he laid eyes on you," she gives me a looks, "way before he even knew who your father was. I know you're scared, I understand that, but he's not Hayes baby."
"Aren't you supposed to be helping me get ready ?" I ask getting up to look for something to wear.
"You can't avoid this forever Sofia," she huffs.
"And I'm not," I sigh, "if I'm being honest, I'm just waiting for him to ask me to be his girlfriend."
"What ?" She asks.
"I really like him Gio, it scares me because it's only been a week, but I don't know," I sigh. "He makes me feel happy, comfortable, safe, and he's a really good kisser."
"What ?!"
"Oh yeah, we kissed," I say popping my head out from the closet as she heads over to me.
"When ? Where ? How ?!" She exclaims excitedly causing me to get super giddy.
"Last night, and earlier," I sigh happily holding out a dress and she shakes her head. "It was accidental last night, we both went in for a cheek kiss, and yeah we kissed. It was super awkward this morning though, practice was tough, don't tell my dad though because I told him I was out of it because I was rusty," I laugh and so does she. "But we played a friendly today and at halftime, I went to get some air, I was outside, I know, but being in his proximity was making me feel super suffocated, I went to the restroom and when I walked out, he was there. I tried walking away and avoiding him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back and kissed me."
"Oh my god," she smiled holding out a dress.
"Oh my god indeed," I laugh taking the dress from her. I walk over to the bathroom and quickly get dressed. I walk out in the dress she picked out and twirl for her.
"Beautiful," she cooed patting the seat in front of her inviting me to sit so she could do my hair. I sat down while she parted my hair to begin straightening it. I look around for my phone to text João only to find it charging by the nightstand, Gio must've put it to charge.
I look around the floor for things to throw at the door in hopes of getting João's attention. I reach for my cleats and a little metal bucket for ice that's on the floor. I throw the bucket at the door and nothing.
"Are you serious Sofia ?" Gio asks.
"Yes, you keep going, you're doing great," I say reaching holding my cleat focusing on the door. I throw it with more force and call his name.
"Are they having a party over there ?" I groan hearing a bit of music and several voices.
"João," I call out again reaching for my other cleat. I grab my cleat and throw it at the door as it swings open and in comes João. He sees the shoe flying towards him and catches it.
"Nice reflexes," I say, "Gio is just doing my hair and I'm done, bring me options for what you're thinking about wearing."
"Yes ma'am," he disappears back into the other room leaving the door open.
"Is she done ? Can we go in there ?" I hear.
"Yes, you can come in, I'm almost done," I call out and see Antonio, Nuno and Bruno coming into my room. "Watch the cleats."
"You look pretty," Nuno says.
"Thank you," I smile at him.
"Is she done already ?" Ruben Dias calls out.
"Almost," I call out.
"Okay so I still have 30 more minutes," I hear him say.
"More like 10, I'm almost done," Gio calls out.
"Shit," we hear as João comes back in and we all laugh.
"He hasn't even started getting ready," João says and I roll my eyes. João lays out three outfits on the bed and Gio helps me choose which one would look best with my dress of course. He disappears once again for a bit and comes back dressed as Gio finishes my hair.
"Thank you," I smile hugging her. Gio released me and pointed two fingers at her eyes and then at João and then at me.
"What ? You're watching me ? Why, what'd I do ?" João asks nervously. "Sofia, what have you told her ?"
"Everything," I giggle grabbing my heals and sitting back down to put them on.
"I'm her mother, you think she doesn't tell me everything ?" Gio giggles. "I trust you, I'm just telling you to keep an eye on her," she smiles and João sighs in relief and nods.
"Mother ?!" Antonio asks.
"Mhm," Gio hums, "she may not be mine biologically, and I may only be a couple years older than her, but we've been through a lot together. I've helped her father raise her as if she was my own, she's my baby," she smiles at me.
"I love you," I say giving her a kiss on the cheek. "And I love you," she smiles at me as both Rubens, Bernardo and Gonçalo come in.
"Alright boys, take care of my girl," Gio says and there's several "yes" and "of course" heard. "Sofia let me know when you get back, don't get back too late because you have practice tomorrow."
"Yes, of course," I smile hugging her and thanking her again.
"Behave," she tells João and I laugh.
"I don't know what Sofia is telling you, but I don't think it's accurate," João says and I laugh as we all step out of the crowded hotel room and into the hallway.
"Hi baby," my dad says as he approaches us, "you look beautiful," he hugs me and I thank him. "I want you guys in at a reasonable hour, I don't want you all tired at practice tomorrow."
"We'll be back by 11, 11:30," Bernardo says.
"That's fine, keep an eye on Sofia," my dad says, we say our goodbyes and they head back to their suite while we head to the club.
We arrive at the club and it's full of many, many people from different parts of the world; the beauty of football, we may be divided by oceans and land, but we're united by this beautiful sport.
The boys and I walk over to a booth and sit and talk for a bit until 'Safari' by J Balvin started playing and several of us headed to the dance floor. We danced for a couple of more songs and Nuno and I walked over to the bar for something to drink while everyone else had already gotten a drink and walked back to the booth.
Nuno and I were waiting for his soda and my water when I heard my name being called by a boy I've never met before.
"Sofia," the boy said approaching me.
"Hi," I smile over at him, "I'm sorry, have we met before ?"
"Uhhh no," he laughs.
"Okay good, I didn't want to feel bad for not remembering you," I say tucking my hair behind my ear.
João's POV
When we finished dancing, Sofia and Nuno went to go get something to drink while the rest of us headed back to the booth. While I was away from Sofia, my eyes never left her, I watched as she waited for her drink, and then I watched as some guy approached her. Im snapped out of my thoughts when a hand hits my shoulder.
"Who is that ?" Bernardo asks.
"Who ?" I ask.
"Oh don't act dumb," he says.
"No clue," I reply sipping my soda.
"Who is that talking to Sofia ?" One of the guys asks and I shrug.
"He's not talking to her," Ruben says, "he's flirting with her," he jokes and I roll my eyes.
"Is she flirting back ?" Gonçalo asks fueling the joke.
"Oh yeah, she just tucked her hair behind her ear," Ruben adds.
Sofia's POV
He laughs and holds his hand out for me to shake "Jeremy Sarmiento."
I shake his hand "what team do you okay for ?" I ask.
"Ecuador," he replies.
"Oh cool, congratulations on the win," I smile at him, it must've been nerve wrecking stepping onto that field for the first match of this World Cup."
"Yeah, I was super nervous, I don't know if you watched the match," he says and I nod letting him know I did. "I was subbed on, played a bit, longest 22 minutes of my life," he says and I laugh tucking the same strand of hair behind my ear. I don't know what to do, I don't want to be rude and just walk away, but I want to go back with the guys, especially because I already got my drink and so did Nuno but he's still waiting for me, what a sweetheart. I feel my phone vibrating in my hand, but I don't want to be rude, someone come save me please.
João's POV
"She's being polite," Ines, Bernardo's fiancé says, "she just shook his hand, that's all, she's not flirting with him."
"Should we spam her ?" Bruno asks.
"No, don't do that," I say, "they're just talking, let them have their time," I finish, but I'm too late as I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I look over to see Ruben and Gonçalo giggling like kids so I check my phone only to see them spamming the team's group chat that has Sofia in it and I roll my eyes.
"Look he's making her laugh," Gonçalo says.
"And she tucked her hair again," Ruben points out.
"You guys are annoying," I say seeing a text message from Nuno saying he wants to get back to the guys. I make eye contact with Nuno and signaled him to switch places with me, he agreed. I walked over to him and he waited until I made my way over before he walked back. I heard the boys make some stupid comment and giggle as I walked away from the table. I stood behind Sofia and she noticed my presence reaching behind her to grab my hand.
Sofia's POV
I noticed Nuno left and I was gonna cut the conversation until I noticed my favorite boy walking over. I reached behind to grab his hand and pull him besides me. I interlocked our fingers and Jeremy noticed his presence.
"João this is Jeremy," I say introducing the boys to each other, "plays for Ecuador, Jeremy, this is João, a fellow Portuguese," I smile letting his hand go so they could shake hands. I take that quick moment to check my phone and it's the group chat, I roll my eyes opening the messages and I notice the most recent is from my dad. Fuck.
"I'm so sorry, but we gotta go," I say grabbing João's hand again, "it was nice meeting you Jeremy."
"Y'all woke up my dad," I say as we approach the table, "we're so dead tomorrow, we gotta go."
We all head out of the club earlier than planned and headed back to the hotel. When we got back, João went to his room and I went to mine. I walked into the restroom to remove my makeup, brush my teeth, and change into comfortable clothes for bed. I walk out to see João on my bed.
"You always seem to get a little too comfortable on my bed," I joke.
He rolls his eyes "and you only seem to be comfortable on your bed when I'm in it."
"So cocky," I joke shoving him over and giving him a kiss. "So what were the boys saying ?"
"Just teasing," he laughs "nothing major, just trying to get under my skin saying you were flirting with the Ecuadorian."
"I swear I wasn't," I tell him, "I was waiting for someone to come save me. He called me, and just introduced himself and told me he played today, that's all, I was just being polite," I clarify.
"Yeah, Ines said that," he says playing with my hair. "I'm not doubting you," he turns to face me, "I mean, he was definitely flirting with you, but he's not the first person that's gonna want to shoot his shot; you and I are good, and I've got nothing to worry about, a man is only insecure when he knows his girl deserves better."
"I like that," I smile, "and I like you," I say pecking his lips. "We should get some rest because we've got a long day ahead of us," he nods in agreement and pecks my lips one last time before turning the light off and falling asleep.
A N || this was meant to be a super short chapter BUT I wanted to showcase her relationship with Georgina. I think having a best friend type of relationship with your mom is such a beautiful thing and I wanted to show that that's what they have. Hope you're all enjoying this book, I know I suck at updating, I'm sorry, but I'm trying, I swear; it brings me so much joy when someone votes/adds it to their reading list/ follows me/ comments, I'm so grateful for you all <3