Page 24 of The Replay
Her laugh is soft and genuine, and it’s the best sound I’ve heard in weeks. “I’m looking forward to it,” she says, her fingers tracing the edge of my jaw.
We’re interrupted by the sound of shuffling feet, and we both glance toward the doorway to find my roommates lingering awkwardly.
“Uh, hey,” Atticus rubs the back of his neck, his face a little red. “We didn’t want to interrupt, but …”
Felix pushes his way into the room, Julio right behind him. “But we’re starving,” Felix says. “And we need caffeine before practice.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. It’s so typical of them that I can’t help but grin. “Alright, alright. Pancakes, bacon, and eggs, coming right up.” I turn to Cecilia. “You up for it?”
She grins, nodding. “Absolutely.”
gabriel
. . .
The guys settleinto the space, banter flying, jokes easy and sharp. Cecilia and I work side by side, laughing and teasing like old times. As we move around the kitchen, the smell of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon filling the air, a sense of normalcy settles over us. The kind of normal that used to feel so far away.
The ease of it all tugs at something deep inside me, making it feel like we’ve stepped into a kind of comfortable rhythm. It’s chaotic, but it feels right. Like maybe, just maybe, this thing between us has a real chance.
“You know,” Deacon says, his voice casual as he leans against the counter, “if this whole soccer thing doesn’t work out, you could always open a café.”
I snort. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Cecilia chuckles beside me, shooting me a playful look. The warmth in her gaze settles the leftover tension from earlier, and I can’t help but smile back. It feels like we’re getting there—slowly, but we’re getting there.
“Here, let me get that,” I say, reaching to help her pour the batter onto the griddle. Our hands brush, and I let my fingerslinger just for a second longer than necessary. She grins, and for a moment, everything feels easy.
The guys fall into conversation again, laughter bouncing off the walls. It’s the kind of noise that drowns out all the heavy shit from the last few weeks. I want to hold onto it—to us—right here.
As we finish eating, I check the time. "We should get going," I say, standing up and gathering the plates. “Coach is already going to make us run the gauntlet. No need to piss him off even more by being late.”
Cecilia stands too, and I catch her hand, squeezing gently. "I’ll drop you off at home," I tell her.
She nods, her fingers tightening around mine. “Yeah, okay.”
I dip down for a quick kiss, our lips brushing softly before I remember the guys are here. It’s a small moment, but it feels like a promise—one I want to keep.
We make quick work of cleaning up the kitchen, and before long, we’re outside, the cool morning air hitting my skin. I keep Cecilia close as we walk to the car, my hand wrapped around hers.
“We’ll meet you there,” Deacon calls from across the driveway, climbing into Atticus’s car while the rest of us pile into Julio’s.
Felix claims the front seat, leaving me and Cecilia in the back. The drive to her house is filled with easy banter. Julio and Felix tease me about everything from my cooking skills to my new position as striker.
When we pull up in front of her place, I jog around to open her door. "I’ll call you later, okay?" I murmur, brushing my thumb across her cheek.
She leans in, and I meet her halfway as she presses a soft kiss to my lips. "See you later."
As soon as we’re back on the road, Felix twists in his seat, a sly grin spreading across his face. "So, you and Cecilia … Is this official? Do we have labels or what?”
Julio snorts, smacking Felix on the back of the head without taking his eyes off the road. “Give him a break, man. A lot of shit’s gone down in the last twenty-four hours. Gabe’s got some things to figure out first.”
I meet Felix’s gaze head-on. "We’re taking it slow, but yeah. We’re together."
Felix grins wider. "Good to hear, bro. But from what we all heard last night …” He wiggles his brows. The guys laugh, the mood light.
My face heats, my jaw clenching. A familiar flash of protectiveness surges. "Watch it, Felix." My voice comes out in a low growl.
Julio chuckles, shaking his head. “You know Felix—he’s got zero chill.”
