The journalist's footballer (Rúben Dias)

Chapter Twenty Seven

Rúben

"Babe, I'm leaving".

I turn to see Christina wearing jeans and a blue blouse. Her hair is up in a messy bun and she put on a bit of makeup. She looks too good, and I won't get to enjoy the view.

"Ok. Let me know if you need me to pick you up from the pub".

"I'll be ok, don't worry", she tells me, sitting on my lap and wrapping her arms around my neck.

"You look stunning, you know that?", I tell her, moving her face slightly so I can kiss her.

"Well, it doesn't hurt to hear you say it", she smiles.

"You are going to be turning heads wherever you guys go".

"Sure", she snorts. "Rúben, honey, you're too used to going out with models. I'm not one who turns heads".

"Well, I disagree", I tell her, giving her a final kiss before she leaves.

I end up watching the final 20 minutes of the match. It's a 4-0 win for Germany and so England, and all my teammates that play for them, are out of the tournament as well. I'm the first one to send a message to our City group chat, giving them my commiserations.

An hour later, I make my way to my bed. Christina still isn't back, but I don't let that worry me. She's just out having fun. I expected her to be back earlier given the score but maybe that's the reason why they are out later. Trying to forget the result. I know a lot about that.

Christina

"Nooo, not another one", yells Pat after Germany scores their 4th goal through Havertz.

"Well, cheers to that", I say ironically while raising my beer.

After the match ends, a lot of people decide to go back home, while others stay to drown their misery in more beers.

I grab my jacket to make my way out. I need to call an Uber, there is no way I'm calling Rúben to pick me up again.

"Hey", says Pat, "you leaving?"

"Yeah?", I say looking at everyone. "Are you all staying?"

"Yes", says Tom. "But you can leave if you want".

Oh, bloody peer pressure.

"No, I'll stay", I say.

"Good. It's not like you have someone waiting for you at home", says Kirby, trying to get a reaction from me.

"Exactly", I say, putting my arm around her shoulders. "So, who's paying for the next round?"

**

Too many rounds later, I finally get home. God, it's almost midnight.

A part of me thinks I should just go to the guest room and not bother Rúben, but I really want to sleep cuddled with him. Ok, plan. I'll get ready in the guest room and then go to bed with him.

When I open the door to his room, I see him laying on his stomach. I get into bed as slowly and quietly as I can, but it doesn't work.

"Christina?", he says, voice barely a whisper.

"Hi, don't wake up. Just sleep".

He then opens both eyes to look at me.

"That's the opposite of not waking up", I tell him. "But since you are awake, can we cuddle?"

He doesn't say anything, just moves so he's on his side and wraps his arms around me. I do the same and put my head on his chest. I don't even have time to say goodnight to him before I hear his breathing change. He's asleep already.

**

The alarm going off so early is not a welcome sound.

"Nooooooooooooooo", I groan, putting my head under the pillow.

I feel Rúben leaving the bed without saying a word and leave my hiding spot to see where he's gone. He comes back a couple of minutes later with a glass of water and some tablets.

"I think you might need this today", he says, kissing my forehead.

Can he stop being so perfect? Just for a second? My head hurts too much to process it.

"Do you need anything else? I was going to go to the gym now", he says, trying not to raise his voice too much.

"Cuddles!"

He laughs. "I guess the gym can wait".

He gets in bed with me again and holds me tight against his chest. I fall asleep immediately.