Elena’s pov
The final whistle blew, and the stadium erupted.
Caleb’s team won twenty-eight to twenty-four.
I jumped to my feet with everyone else, screaming, my throat raw and my heart racing.
I hadn’t felt this alive in months.
Dalia, the woman who’d sat beside me all night, grabbed me in a hug like we’d known each other for years.
“Oh my God, did you see that throw?”
I did see it.
Caleb launched the ball forty yards with seconds left on the clock.
I saw the receiver catch it clean.
And I was already screaming before my brain caught up with my body.
“Your man is incredible,” another woman said from the row behind us, leaning forward with a grin.
My man?
The words settled warmly in my chest.
The Jumbotron caught me three separate times during the game.
Each time my face flashed across the screens, the crowd somehow got louder.
I met a movie star sitting two rows down, got pulled into at least five photos, and spent most of the night feeling like I was the center of attention.
After the final whistle, a security guy came up to our section.
“Family and friends of players, you can head down to the VIP area now.”
Everyone stood, buzzing with excitement.
I followed them into a lounge filled with soft chairs, champagne on ice, and people still excited about the win.
A brunette woman approached me almost immediately.
“You’re with Caleb, right? I’m Jessica, Marcus’s girlfriend.”
Marcus Bane.
Left tackle.
One of the names Caleb had mentioned earlier.
“Elena,” I said, shaking her hand.
“So… how long have you two been together?”
I cleared my throat.
“Um… it’s complicated.”
Jessica laughed.
“Honey, wearing his jersey in front of the world makes it pretty uncomplicated.”
I swallowed.
People kept glancing at me, whispering, smiling knowingly.
Apparently, I was officially Caleb’s girl, at least to everyone here.
Twenty minutes later, the locker room doors burst open.
Players filed out, showered and dressed.
Caleb’s teammates spotted me first.
“YO, CALEB! YOUR GIRL’S HERE!”
Caleb stepped out behind them, hair damp, wearing team sweats.
His whole face lit up, he didn’t even try to hide it.
He walked straight to me, and introductions started immediately.
“So this is the Elena,” one teammate said.
“Bro talks about you constantly,” another added.
Caleb’s face turned red.
“Guys. Shut up.”
They did not shut up.
They went on and on, exposing him completely.
I glanced at Caleb, but he wouldn’t meet my stare.
I was charmed, completely and hopelessly charmed.
“I’m so sorry about them.”
”Don’t be.
They’re sweet.”
”They’re embarrassing.”
I bumped his shoulder lightly.
“They care about you.”
Outside, he opened my car door.
The drive back was easy, full of soft laughter and teasing about Marcus fumbling a catch.
“I thought he was going to cry,” I said.
“He probably did in the locker room,” Caleb grinned.
“Don’t tell him I said that.”
I laughed.
“Your secret’s safe with me.” I glanced at him.
“I’ll admit, I didn’t understand half the plays. You’re going to have to teach me.”
”Yeah?” he asked quietly, smiling at the road.
“Yeah.”
The unspoken future games hung between us.
It didn’t scare me.
I actually liked it.
Twenty minutes later, he parked outside my building.
He walked me to the door, the streetlight casting us in a soft amber glow.
“I had fun tonight,” I said.
“Yeah?”
I nodded.
“Best Monday I’ve had in a long time.”
His lips curved.
“Game days usually are.”
”It wasn’t just the game,” I murmured, stepping closer.
He watched me carefully.
“No?”
”No.”
We were inches apart now.
He lifted a hand, brushing his thumb over my cheek.
“You looked good in my jersey,” he whispered.
“I know.”
His breath caught.
He dipped his head and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead before pulling back, until I grabbed his shirt.
“That’s it?”
Something flickered in his eyes.
Hesitation.
Want.
I didn’t give him time to think, I pulled him down and kissed him.
He froze for a second, then melted, cupping my face, kissing me slowly, passionately.
I slid my hands into his hair, tugging at it and he let out a low, satisfied sound against my lips.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless.
He rested his forehead against mine.
“God,” he whispered, “you’re going to wreck me.”
I laughed quietly.
“Good.”
He smiled, then lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles.
“Goodnight, Elena.”
”Goodnight, Caleb.”
He waited until I was inside before walking away.
I watched him through the living room window until his car disappeared.
I floated into my apartment, locked the door, and leaned against it, touching my lips.
I was smiling like an idiot.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, probably Caleb saying goodnight again.
It wasn’t Caleb.
It was an email from Sterling Global’s travel department.
“Subject: Singapore Trip Confirmation. Nov15 to 18.”
My smile vanished.
I opened it.
The itinerary showed my flight.
My hotel.
My attendance at the Meridian International signing.
Then I saw the note from Adrian at the bottom.
“The board approved your attendance on one condition. Damien must accompany you as lead analyst for the signing. They want dual oversight given the current situation. I tried to fight it. I’m sorry.”
I read it again.
And again.
My pulse spiked up.
Four days in Singapore.
With Damien.
In two weeks.
The phone slipped from my fingers and clattered onto the floor.
Just like that, my perfect night ended.
I don’t know how long I stood there staring at it, before it buzzed again.
I picked it up with numb fingers.
Caleb: Made it home.
Still thinking about that kiss.
Sweet dreams, Elena.
I looked at his message, then back at the email about the Singapore trip, a knot formed in my chest.
For a moment tonight, I’d let myself believe things were finally turning around.
And now, Damien.
Four days alone with him.
I wasn’t ready for that.
I didn’t trust myself around him yet, not with everything still cracked inside me.
Before I could overthink it, I typed back.
Me: Sweet dreams.
Tonight was perfect.
I didn’t mention the trip.
Or that I’d be traveling with my ex-husband.
Just for tonight, I wanted to keep the warmth of this feeling.
This tiny, fragile hope that maybe happiness wasn’t impossible for me.
But as I got ready for bed, replaying the kiss over and over, I couldn’t shake off the feeling.
Singapore.
Damien.
Four days.
I climbed into bed and stared at the ceiling, my mind racing with questions.
I closed my eyes and tried to force myself to sleep.
Tomorrow, I’d deal with it all.
Tonight, I just wanted to remember how it felt with Caleb because in two weeks, everything might change again.