The chaotic urgency of their reunion had finally settled into peace.
The late afternoon Los Angeles sun filtered through the sheer curtains of Anne’s luxurious Hollywood apartment, casting a warm glow over the tangled sheets of her king-sized bed.
The outside world felt locked away.
Anne was lying on her side, her head resting gently against Rico’s broad chest.
She let out a soft sigh, her delicate fingers lightly tracing slow circles over the smooth planes of his torso.
The rhythm of his heartbeat thumped reassuringly against her cheek, grounding her.
Rico shifted his frame slightly, his arm wrapping securely around her waist to pull her even closer.
He rested his chin on the top of her head.
“I missed this,” Rico murmured, his deep voice vibrating through his chest and into hers.
Anne smiled softly against his skin, her fingers continuing their lazy path over his collarbone.
“It’s been a week.” “Longest week of my life,” Rico admitted, vulnerability bleeding into his tone.
“I swear, time stopped moving the second I got on that plane to London.
Every hotel room just felt empty without you in it.” “Me too,” Anne whispered, lifting her head slightly to look up into his face.
“I missed you so much.
The apartment felt too quiet, and every time my phone buzzed, I was hoping it was you.” Rico reached up, his large hand gently cupping her cheek.
He brushed a stray brunette wave behind her ear, his dark eyes softened by a adoration.
Anne leaned into his touch, her doe eyes sparkling with awe and amusement.
“You’re so romantic.
I don’t get it…
you can be abrasive with anybody else but me.” Rico let out a low chuckle, unashamed of his dual nature.
“I don’t really focus on that sort of stuff when I’m with you.
The other parts of my life require an ego.
But here?
All that matters is us.” “Yeah,” Anne breathed out, a fragile hopeful smile touching her full lips.
“Just us.” But even as she said the words, a sudden shadow crossed her beautiful features.
Her smile faltered just a fraction, her eyes dropping back down to his chest as her fingers stopped their tracing.
The gnawing ache of her strict diet combined with the anxiety of her career momentarily broke through their romantic bubble.
Rico caught the shift instantly.
His brow furrowed in concern.
“What’s wrong?” Anne sighed, burying her face slightly against his shoulder.
“Nothing.
It’s just…
the audition.” “The Les Misérables one?” Rico asked, his tone shifting into support.
“You did great.” “You weren’t even there,” Anne pointed out, letting out a self-deprecating laugh.
“But, I believe in you,” Rico stated with certainty.
“You’re a great actress and this is coming from me who’s not just saying it to make you feel better.
You have the raw talent for a role like Fantine.” “Thank you,” Anne said softly, a warmth flooding her chest at his confidence.
“I needed that.
It’s just that I should have heard back by now.
We’re nearly halfway through July, and they start shooting in a week or two.
If I were going to get it, the casting agency would have called.” Rico was silent for a moment, “I wish I could say if you don’t get the role it’s not the end of the world,” he began carefully, “but if this was happening to me I would feel the same way.
I’d be climbing the walls.” Anne looked up, appreciatively.
“I knew you would understand.” “All you can really do is just be happy with what you got as much as it sucks you don’t have what you want,” Rico offered, his voice pragmatic.
Anne stared at him for a second before bursting into a tired laugh.
“You’re not that good at this cheering-up thing.” Rico couldn’t help but smirk, aware of his limitations.
“Yeah, normally I would just give myself a motivational speech that would make me want to run through a wall.” “I would pay to see that,” Anne teased, her mood lightening at the image of the beautiful athlete hyping himself up in the mirror.
“I can’t,” Rico deadpanned, pulling her a little closer.
“It gets me too riled up.
I’d end up breaking your furniture.” Anne smiled, exasperated but charmed by the fiercely competitive man holding her.
“Look, as much as it’s annoying to hear it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get the role,” Rico pivoted seriously.
“You can still stay with me in London if you want.” Anne’s heart fluttered at the commitment casually rolling off his tongue.
“You don’t even have a place set up.” “We can buy one together,” Rico suggested seamlessly.
“That sounds nice,” Anne murmured, captivated by the fantasy.
“Maybe an apartment overlooking the city.
Somewhere chic with big windows.” “Or we could get one of those houses in the city,” Rico countered practically, “I need space.” Anne frowned playfully, tilting her head.
“Space for what?” “A gym,” Rico stated bluntly.
“Seriously?” Anne laughed, lightly slapping his solid bicep.
“Can’t you just go to a normal gym?
Or use the club’s facilities?” “I could,” Rico sighed, “but if I have to do two gym workouts a day to maintain my physical edge, I can’t be bothered to go all the way to the gym at nine o’clock at night.” Anne thought about it, visualising the nightmare of his hyper-regimented routine.
“Okay, that does sound kind of nice.
It’s a lot easier to go to a gym when it’s down the hall.” “Exactly,” Rico nodded, his eyes lighting up as he began to architect their future home.
“And you can set up a TV in there as well.” “Really?” Anne asked, surprised by the concession, knowing how much he hated distractions during his workouts.
“Yeah,” Rico admitted smoothly.
“It takes your mind off cardio.
I can watch favourite movies while I run on the treadmill.” “Okay, we’ll get the house,” Anne agreed, a brilliant smile taking over her face.
“How long you plan on being in London?” Rico’s expression shifted, the ruthless ambition returning to his piercing eyes.
“Honestly, I’m not sure.
I don’t mind staying there for a long time, but I don’t want to play for Fulham forever.
It’s a stepping stone.” “You should play for Arsenal,” Anne suggested seamlessly.
Rico groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically to the ceiling.
“I knew you were going to say that.” “I’m just saying it would be amazing to see my boyfriend playing for my favourite team,” Anne teased, tracing the outline of his chest with her fingernail.
Rico let out a heavy sigh.
“Let’s make a deal, if they put in a reasonable offer, I’ll sign.” “Okay, I like that,” Anne smiled, sensing the caveat lingering in his deep voice.
“What’s the catch though?” “I kind of want to go abroad,” Rico confessed, his mind drifting toward the grandest stages in world football.
“Like Madrid, maybe Milan.
I want to conquer different leagues and prove I’m the best.” Anne looked at his face, in awe of his sheer drive.
“I love your confidence, but you really think you’re going to play there?” “Honestly, it’s not I think, it’s more a want,” Rico corrected, his tone devoid of arrogance, replaced by a cold determination.
“I’m going to try my best to make it happen.
I will not stop until I’m wearing one of those shirts.” “Well,” Anne said softly, resting her hand flat against his beating heart, “if we do the thing we talked about, I’m fine with that.
I think I should shoot stuff in London while you’re there, just because it’s easy, and then when you go to Madrid or Milan like you said, I can do some movies here and there.” “I’m fine with that,” Rico smiled, pulling her up slightly to kiss her forehead.
“That way we both get what we want and nobody compromises their dreams.” Suddenly, the sharp ringing of a cell phone shattered the quiet intimacy of the bedroom.
Anne froze.
The sound was coming from the living room.
It was her flip phone, left sitting on the glass coffee table during their frantic reunion.
“I got to get that…” Anne gasped, her heart leaping into her throat.
She scrambled out of the tangled sheets, unbothered by the fact that she was totally naked.
She sprinted out of the bedroom and down the hallway as Rico propped himself up on his elbows, a slow appreciative smirk spreading across his face as he watched her go.
He took a moment to admire her flawless figure from behind marked faintly by his possessive touch.
In the living room, Anne snatched the phone off the table, her hands trembling violently.
“Hello?
Yes, this is Anne.” Rico remained in bed, listening as the muffled sounds of her one-sided conversation drifted down the hallway.
“Are you serious?” Anne’s voice suddenly spiked, breathless and saturated with disbelief.
There was a brief pause.
“Oh, my god.
Thank you.
Thank you so much!” The phone snapped shut with a sharp click.
A second later, Anne came sprinting back into the bedroom.
She was glowing, a massive smile stretching from ear to ear, tears of joy pooling in her large doe eyes.
“I got the role,” Anne screamed, jumping onto the edge of the mattress.
“That’s amazing news,” Rico beamed sitting up.
Anne threw herself at him, and they collided in a celebratory hug.
Rico wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her neck, thrilled that her agonising diet and artistic dedication had finally paid off.
“I’m so excited,” Anne babbled happily, pulling back to look at him.
“Let me pack.” Rico blinked, confused by the urgency.
“Why you packing?” “Because it’s being shot in London,” Anne exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with triumph.
Rico paused, his dark eyes widening as the monumental realisation finally clicked into place.
A slow smile spread across his face.
“Why didn’t you mention that?” Rico asked, letting out a breath of disbelief.
“I would have chosen a team in London instantly.” “I didn’t want to influence your decision,” Anne admitted softly, tracing his jawline.
“You needed to pick the team that was best for you.” “Well,” Rico chuckled, pulling her firmly back against his chest, “it all worked out.” He looked at her, “You want to come on the flight with me?” “Sure,” Anne smiled, her heart fluttering at the thought of moving across the world with him.
“I got some things to take care of though.” “That’s fine,” Rico said effortlessly.
“When I do the physical and that stuff you could looking for places.” “Okay,” Anne whispered, leaning in intoxicated by the reality of their shared future.
“Sounds like a plan.” Anne beamed, her heart soaring as she closed the distance between them.
She threw her arms around his neck, pulling his face down to hers.
The kiss was a collision of pure euphoria and raw passion.
Rico groaned, his hands wrapping around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest.
She tangled her fingers deep into his hair, her lips moving against his in a fiery rhythm.
It was a seal on their new beginning, erasing the distance and promising a beautiful future together.
A/N) Do you agree with the games I have planned?
I got a couple big ones.
Arsenal.
Chelsea.
(Battle of West London) Newcastle.
(I think it could be a fun game) Everton (Rico vs Rooney) Manchester City.
(I think it could be funny because he knows what they’re like before the money) Liverpool.
(Gerrard vs Rico) Manchester United (Obvious reasons) Also, I will add like two of Liecester, Leeds or Wolves (they got relegated this season) just scattered inbetween.
Tottenham (I think it could be funny) So eleven games, I think that’s fair, and a repeat of the Arsenal, because he won’t play them after this year.
Also, I will show the League Cup and the FA Cup.
And some International Games.
The games that aren’t shown will have the same method I used in the Natan and Kylie fanfic so I can skip some time, because twenty three years is a long time and I don’t want to be stuck.
Is that fine with you guys?
We’re still looking at fifty to seventy chapters especially with the other stuff going on.