Taylor took the night flight. She spent the morning saying goodbye to the ones she was closest to and promising Lily that she would be back soon. She meant it, she didn’t expect staying in Paris too long, her career there was over. She just wanted to put a better ending to it, perhaps find something new. There was a guy in a black suit holding up a sign with her name on it. She approached him, dragging her suitcase with her.

“I think that’s me” she smiled. “I didn’t know I’d have a car waiting for me.”

“Monsieur Mbappe sent me. Did you have a nice flight?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Follow me mademoiselle.”

“Merci.”

He led her out on the parking lot, towards a large black van. Little extra she thought but she kinda liked it too. He helped her put her bags on the back and then opened the door—

“AH!” She screamed as confetti sprayed on her face. She held on her chest and looked to her right, Neymar was sitting there, laughing. She laughed as well, the fear turning into nostalgia and happiness of seeing him again. But she could hear another laugh too and when she looked to her left, she saw Kylian, sitting by the window, smiling. “You are monsters.” She mumbled and launched herself at Neymar, giving him the tightest hug, she could master. He rubbed her back, holding her close to him. The two never even got to say a proper goodbye. He kissed her cheek and pulled back a little while the driver started the car.

“It’s nice to see you again Princessa!”

She smiled “Missed ya.”

“’m sorry about your Pa.”

She held back, of all the people she had heard saying the same thing, she knew that Neymar genuinely meant it. Suddenly she had no idea how to answer him. Thank God for Kylian that decided to interrupt, waving his hand in between them.

“Alright, I’m part of the surprise too, you know?”

She looked at him, how he sat across from them in this luxurious van, that was defiantly too much just to drive her home. Neymar gave her a little push, encouraging her to go sit next to him instead. She reached for Kylian’s hand and got up, he pulled her to his side, immediately igniting electricity between them. They looked in each other’s eyes, Kylian’s hand moved to her hair, picking out some of he confetti that had stuck on her hair, taking his time.

“Good flight?”

“Yeah. But I’m exhausted, please tell me you haven’t planned anything.”

“Nothing.” She narrowed her eyes. She had never met anyone with a better poker face than Kylian. “Galtier wants to see you tomorrow though.”

She groaned “god I don’t wanna have that conversation.”

“I’m sure it’ll be ok.” He smiled.

She wanted to kiss him. Taste him. She was struggling to stay appropriate.

“Man, just kiss already. You can cut the tension with a knife.”

She laughed, embarrassed at herself and leaned on Kylian’s shoulder, hiding herself. It was so weird to her that Neymar knew the whole truth, no matter how close to him she was. Kylian kissed her head, then his lips traced down to her cheek. Urging her to tilt her head back a little, so he’d be able to kiss her. Such an intimate moment, it was odd, doing it publicly for the first time.

“I’m glad you are here.” He whispered.

“Me too” she smiled.

They reached Kylian’s house a while after, Kylian and Neymar helped her carry her bags upstairs and they talked about all the games she had missed ever since she left, and how bad things had gotten with the management. None of the players were really happy about the situation. Taylor expected to meet darkness as Kylian opened the door, instead she was faced by screaming, balloons and drinks and familiar faces that were there to surprise her. She gasped, instantly reaching for Kylian’s hand. She laughed as she saw Leo, clapping for her, next to his Wife Antonella. Ramos and Kimpembe were also there, both of them holding a glass of beer in their hands.

“¡bienvenido de nuevo!” smiled Leo, approaching her slowly and giving her a comforting embrace.

“This wasn’t necessary.” She mumbled on his shoulder.

Ramos came and patted her shoulder, pulling her out of Leo’s arms into his and holding her tightly, almost suffocating her. “Missed you chipmunk!” She laughed at the name, who would have guessed that she would have missed hearing it. Then she heard a loud horn in her ear and she jumped away, turning around and seeing Kimpembe, laughing his ass off along with Neymar. She would have chased him if it wasn’t for his injury, she settled for chasing Neymar around the room instead, until she reached Kimpembe again and threw herself at him, embracing him. Each of the boys gave different kind of hugs, his was warm and comforting, like you were being hugged by your childhood friend.

“Stop scaring me.” She complained

“Can’t make any promises.”

As he drew away he noticed a little black shadow moving in the distance “Luna!” she gasped and went to pick her up. The cat tried to get away but Taylor picked her up, spinning her around and smooshing her face on her fur.

The next person that welcomed her was Marquinhos.

“How you doin’ cap?”

“It’s been shit around here!”

She smiled “I can see that.”

He hesitated “we need to talk, tomorrow when you get to campus.”

“I already have Galtier to worry about, must I have you too?”

“Yes.” He smiled.

Last person she saw was Verratti, who was hesitant to get near her at first. She caught him glancing a few times, decided that she could make the first move instead. She approached, holding her wine in her hand. “I don’t bite, you know?”

He smiled, thinking about it “maybe you should.” He said, while looking down. She had never seen him as shy before. “I’m sorry for what happened.”

She felt something in her heart lightening, a sense of relief after hearing his apology “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I’m the one that got her in the conferences, I didn’t think— The things she wrote about us nit trusting you, I should have never said them, but it was before I got to know you. I didn’t believe any of it by the time she published—"

“Do you know what Kylian did to stop her from writing the other article?” she asked, he looked up. She could read the worry behind his eyes, like he wasn’t meant to talk about this at all. Taylor got closer. “Was it just money?” he didn’t respond, he’d look at her like a puppy. “Come on, you owe me that much, just tell me. What did he do?”

He chewed his bottom lip, glanced at Kylian to make sure he wasn’t listening and got closer “I don’t know the whole story. He asked me to meet her, so I set it up and then they were alone. Ann never contacted me again, next thing I know she’s transferred to France National team.”

She calculated everything he was telling her. If Kylian had pulled strings to get her on the National team, it means he owed people favors and what’s worse it meant that sooner or later he’d bump onto her again. “So, you think he paid her?”

“I think it’s very likely.”

Taylor shot Kylian a look from across the room, he waved at her, smiling. Ignorant to the truths she had just learned.

Neymar and Leo were the last ones to leave. That way no one knew that Taylor never left Kylian’s apartment that night, except the ones that already knew the whole truth. Taylor was seating on the couch, leaning on its arm, while waving at the men. Kylian shut the door, slowly turning to her direction and smiling at her. “you ok?”

“Yeah” she smiled, nodding. He though she looked very adorable in that moment and walked over to her, kneeling in front of the outside arm of the couch. “it was nice to see all of them.” She reached for hoodie of sweatshirt, pulling him closer. “it’s nice to feel missed too.”

“You’ll see the rest of them tomorrow. I’ll drive you to campus, I have a meeting with the medics for my leg.”

“Evaluation?”

“Yeah, for Bayern game.”

She grinned, leaning her head to the side. “You know I’m never gonna be assistant coach on PSG again, right? Even if Galtier offers.”

He didn’t react to her question, like he had come to terms with that revelation before she even had to say it. “That doesn’t mean you can’t use your time there in order to build a fresh career.”

She cupped his face “I’m gonna open the website again. Under my name this time, I’ll focus on champions league.”

“My greatest rival is making a return?” He joked and she laughed, leaning her head on his.

“Yeah, and he is gonna be extra brutal this time around.” He gave her a peck, letting her know it was ok. If anything, he missed the motivation he’d get from all her articles.

“You want help setting it up?”

“No,” she shook her head “I’ll figure it out. Although I’ll build it way more professionally than it was before PSG. Maybe get my own Magazine?” she smiled as she said that last part.

“Look at you getting all excited.”

She shrugged “Pa was right. I’ve been terrified of wanting, dreaming big, taking risks without calculating every single move.”

He pushed her hair away from her ear. “And what do you want?”

She smirked, leaning closer “Long term, or short term?”

“Let’s go with long term first.” He played along. She placed her arms around his neck, looking away and pretending she was in deep thought.

“Long term I want my name to be remembered in this sport. Not sure how yet, but I want to write my way through until I reach exactly where I’m supposed to be. Maybe coaching again, in another team. Maybe in Barcelona—” she laughed as she said it, and he pecked the laugh away. Deepening the kiss, so he’d let her know that it wasn’t funny at all. It was possible, she could do anything she set her mind to, even softening, the insecure arrogant golden boy.

“What about short term?” he mumbled to her lips, giving it a light bite.

“You” she said in a quick breath, and he picked her up the next second, taking her to his bedroom. Their lips wouldn’t separate as he laid her on the bed, taking off her and his clothes like it was a reflex. There was something different about the way their bodies connected with one another after the night in her house, it wasn’t just sex, it wasn’t just pleasure, it was a need, it was love from both even if they’d never say it out loud. She feels pleasurably crushed under the weight of his power over her and her touch, her smell it had a narcotic sense for him, killing him and reviving him repeatedly and she is here. In his bedroom. In his space. What he’d do to keep her forever, he thought as his hands slid down her entire body, by now his palm was familiar with it, like her lines were scarred on his skin and every time he touched her, they fit together like puzzle pieces. She let out a moan, a breath of lust in his ear while he removed her underwear, uncovering her deepest desire; to feel him. He didn’t let her wait too long, he was inside her and she hoped she’d hear him saying it again. His way of saying I love you. She wanted to hear it but he didn’t say it and she never asked.

When they were done, she’d leave kisses on his chest and his arms, she couldn’t stop herself, it was like she could never get enough. Kylian would run his hands through her hair, that had gotten noticeably longer from the first time he met her.

“I think I’m developing an addiction to your body.” She confessed and his chest vibrated under her with laughter.

“That makes two of us.”

She placed her chin on the space between his breasts and raised her eyes, looked at him through her eyelashes, biting her lips.

“You know what they say about addictions.”

“We’ll be fine.” He reassured her.

“Do you ever think about how we got here?” she asked, snaking herself over him, her thumbs stroking the sides of his face. She realized she had never told him about how cute his cheekbones were, especially when he smiled. She leaned down and kissed his nose. “Such a pain in my ass” she mumbled.

“Still am!” he said proudly, slapping her right ass cheek and getting a laugh out of her as she dropped herself on him and he engulfed her in his arms. She kissed his neck, an open mouth kiss.

“Marcus told me about Ann.” She said on his skin, he closed his eyes. “he told me she was transferred on National, head writer. You wouldn’t have anything to do with it—” she raised her head and balanced it on her hand, her elbow deepening against the mattress. He tilted his head on the side to look at her. “Would you?”

“Does it matter?”

“Of course, it does Kylian. You’ll have to be around her eventually, work with her, you think she is not gonna pull something like this again?” He turned his head to the ceiling; she instantly cupped it with her hand and forced him to look at her. “I don’t like you owing people like her favors because of me—and god knows how much money you gave her!”

“Why do you care so much about the money?”

“Because it feels like my integrity has been sold!” she explained. Lowering her head, embarrassed at herself. He hated seeing her like this, unable to help “I wanna give you half of it, at least.” He laughed at that, looking away. She slapped his shoulder “I’m being fucking serious Kylian! Stop laughing—” but he didn’t stop, although he tried. He looked at her.

“I didn’t give her any money—”

“I know you are lying!”

“Even if I did, you wouldn’t have to pay a dime—”

“Oh for fuck’s shake.” She got off the bed and put on his long shirt to cover herself, he tried to pull on the shirt to drag her down again but she slapped his hand off and walked in the bathroom.

“Babe!” he called and looked at the bathroom door, expecting her to show up again. She didn’t. he heard the water running instead. “Amor!” the word slipped his lips before he could think about it, like it was exactly what he was always meant to be calling her.

She heard it despite the running water. She was already knelt on the cold marbles on the floor when he said it, holding on the faucet lever, while the water was filling up the tub that they had used as a hiding place way too many times.

“I see it with Ney and his boy and the public relationships he has had in the past. It’s scary. To think that you will always bring discomfort to the ones you love. Sometimes it stops you from loving them enough.”

Could he ever lover her enough? Could she ever love him, she wondered what it’d be like. She heard him coming in, lowering his body behind her and then kissing the back of her neck and shoulder. She turned the water off and turned her body so she’d face him. He smiled at her, their forehead meeting halfway.

“I’m sorry” she whispered, looking anywhere but his eyes, his lifted her chin up with his finger, encouraging her to lock eyes with me and when she did, he leaned and kissed her. Not that her apology was necessary but he accepted it anyway. Then he pulled her into him, let their bodies tangle on the floor of the bathroom.

PSG TRAINING CAMPUS – GALTIER’S OFFICE

Her hands were sweating and she wished Kylian and Neymar were by her side. She’d mumble motivational speeches under her breath to keep herself encouraged and knocked on the door. Galtier called for her to come in shortly after and she stepped in the office, pretending like she had her shit together. Galtier got up when he saw her and walked around his desk to go to her. He took her hand in his and gave it a light shake.

“Ms. Wilock. My condolences for your father.”

“Thank you.” She smiled.

“Come, sit.” He pointed at the chair and walked back to his desk, to take his rightful place. “How you think we are doing without you so far?” he asked jokingly and Taylor sat down, smiling.

“Struggling?”

He was unprepared for her brutal honesty. He had forgotten she rarely filtered her thoughts before speaking them out loud.

“What about you without us?”

She snorted “It was odd adjusting back to a normal life away from the boys, however if this is about me coming back, it’s not happening.” Silence settled between them. He clicked his lips, chewing on the inside of his cheek. He smiled.

“I wasn’t going to offer you a place back on the coaching team. I was hoping you were open to other options”

“Like what?”

Galtier reached on the cupboard under his desk and took out a file, leaving it on top of the desk. He pushed it towards her. Taylor opened it and saw documents of young players. One of them was Kylian’s brother,

“We want you to work in the Academy. You can help us build the foundations. That way we can still keep you around and you’ll have a job that you can balance with writing and help while you’re here in Paris.”

She looked up at him “Did Kylian put you up to this?”

“no one can put me up to anything Ms. Wilock. You should know that by now.” He stood up “you got till tomorrow to give us an answer—”

“Sir, I don’t know how long I’m staying in Paris.”

“Perhaps this will tempt you to stay longer than you have planned.” She got up, unable to find the right words to argue. “I understand our first attempt of a partnership created problems” he raised his hand “you needn’t explain. But we would be foolish not to use you while we still can. So…” he walked around the desk to her, led her to his door while he spoke “Think about it, get back to me tomorrow.” Before she could even form a sentence she was out the door, standing like a lost kid in the mall where her parents had left her. She wasn’t even sure who was close to her when she exited his office, she just knew that he had shut the door and left her on the other side alone. She gulped, trying to imagine herself a teacher, well, it wasn’t much different, was it? Suddenly she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders and looked up. Kylian stood before her, a smile on his face. He knew, she thought. He was probably the one that planned it.

“So?” he asked hopefully. He must have realized that she wasn’t enjoying this as much as he was because his smile melted away and turned to worry just a few minutes later “You said no?”

“I didn’t say anything.” She responded quickly.

“Why not? It will pay good, it won’t take a lot of your time and you can leave anytime you want until you find something better.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you had this planned?” He bit his tongue. Let out a deep breath and made a step back. “I wasn’t prepared for this, returning to PSG is not something I wanted, I told you I wanted out—” he scoffed.

“I was just trying to help but I see now your decision is already made! Obviously you don’t care as much!” He turned to leave but she pulled his hand, keeping him in his place.

“That’s what you think? That I don’t wanna stay in PSG because I don’t care about you?” she hissed, moving closer so only he would hear. He didn’t respond and so she took that as an initiative to walk away.

PARKING LOT – LATER

Kylian headed to his car, Taylor’s words still echoing in his head. He didn’t expect to find her leaning on his vehicle and waiting for him but there she was, Neymar by her side, the two of them laughing about something like they used to. He approached slowly, fearing that she might disappear if he got too close to fast. But she smiled when she saw him, probably not to give any hints of their previous fight to Neymar.

“Left the girl waiting, man.” Joked Neymar.

Kylian looked at taylor “didn’t know she was waiting.”

Taylor forced a smile and nodded her head “I’m cold, let’s go.” She gave Neymar a quick kiss on the cheek and when Kylian wasn’t expecting she took his car keys and unlocked the car, getting on the driver’s seat before he could stop her. She got comfortable, smiling. Kylian gave her a confused look and got closer to the window.

“What are you doing?”

“I wanna drive!”

“Since when?”

“I have to start getting used to Paris streets.”

It took him a while for him to process what she said. He looked at Neymar, who in return patted his shoulder and told him to get in. He did just that. Sitting next to Taylor who started the engine like this had been her car all along. She was occupied trying to get used to the control panel and starting the car meanwhile he was staring at her. Suddenly he asked;

“Did you take the job?”

She smiled, maneuvered the car out of the parking spot while looking in the review mirror “I wasn’t going to. Then my boss called, he said he knew I was in Paris and wanted me to write an interview on Messi.”

“Doesn’t sound that bad.” He mumbled.

“That’s what I said” They were out on the highway now, Kylian had just started realizing that he wasn’t on the wheel, it was her and he started getting anxious because he had never really seen her drive before. He put on his seatbelt when he noticed her holding the steering wheel a little to tight and stepping on the gas while they waited for the red light to turn green. “Then he said; how about a day in the life of Antonella and Lionel Messi, your girlfriends are gonna love that.” When the light turned green, Taylor started driving fast, Kylian held on the door. His breathing getting quicker. “to which I said, how about you go fuck yourself—”

“Tay! Eyes on to road—”

“That’s where my eyes are! Paris streets, with you. And to be honest why don’t you go fuck yourself as well Kylian!”

“What did I do?” he complained but he knew she didn’t really meant it!

“You’re not an asshole anymore and it’s pissing me off because now all of a sudden I wanna stay with you—”

“Hold up—”

“No! I’m not holding up, I’m driving!”

“Babe—”

“Let me finish for fuck’s shake, you rambling, stupid idiot!”

“Are these supposed to be words of affirmation?” the volumes had gone up both of them yelling for no apparent reason.

“Yes! Cause that’s how it is with us, isn’t it?”

“It’s red!”

“I SEE IT!”

“The house was the other way!”

“Shut up!” she yelled.

“mon dieu, elle va nous tuer tous les deux” he mumbled and looked out of his window.

“I’m not killing anybody and yes I understand French now so cut it out- and listen for ones—you’re so convinced I wanted to leave PSG because I didn’t care or feel enough about you—” she scoffed “did it ever cross your arrogant little mind that maybe it cause I care about you enough—”

“What kind of logic is that—”

“Excuse me am I done speaking—”

“You made a pause!”

“I did not make a pause! My lips are still moving—you cut me off—and for you information it’s the kind of logic that I can find other teams like psg, psg is replaceable—you are not!” she stopped the car abruptly in front of a red light, Kylian moving a little forward. Silence. Just the car sounds filling the emptiness. He looked at her in awe, he wanted to kiss her right there and then. She was avoiding his eyes at any cost, staring at the red light as its color reflected on her face. Red as the wine she tasted on his lips, red as lipstick he loved seeing her in.

“What way’s the house?”

“Second to the right.” He said, still staring at her.

“Good.” She mumbled, still avoiding him.

They stayed like that until they reached the house, she parked the car next to all his other cars and turned the engine off, now there was not a single sound to focus on so she could ignore his burning stares. She got out of the car, shutting the door so loud that it made him jump. He got out a moment later and stood next to her, waiting for the elevator. She got in first when the doors opened and leaned against the mirror, he mimicked her and the two waited again. Always waiting, she thought. She was tired of it. Finally, they reached his floor and Kylian stepped forward she he’d unlock the door, she followed behind him, leaving all her stuff on the couch and heading in the kitchen immediately after to serve herself a nice glass of red wine. He hesitated before going in too, staying behind her.

“Cherie—”

“Don’t, please.” She whispered. Leaving her glass down and turning to face him “don’t say anything.” She moved closer “I’m so tired of us talking and analyzing everything only so we can get it wrong every fucking time—it shouldn’t be this hard!” She put her hands behind his neck, stroking it gently and pulling him in.

“It’s not!” he said, holding her face in his palm.

She looked at his lips, “kiss me then.”

“Don’t have to ask me twice” he smiled and leaned in, connecting his lips with hers. Then in the middle of the kiss she smiled, gripping on his shirt.

“I took the job.” She said and he pulled away to look at her face, unable to hide his smile and enjoyment. He picked her up, spinning her around on his kitchen while he understood why the city under him, that he had watched endless nights by himself, was called the city of love.

1 WEEK IN / KYLIAN’S HOUSE

Kylian dropped himself in the couch, holding a big bowl of chips on his hands while Taylor had her attention split between the Television, watching the first leg of Chelsea Vs. Dortmund and her computer where she’d write her notes.

“They said I could give it a try for a while.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” She responded, her eyes following the players on the screen. Waiting for halftime.

“You say that as a journalist or a girlfriend?” he asked. First time he had every used that word around her. She looked at him, her eyes remaining calm.

“Both. It’s a risk.” Kylian slid closer to her, reaching his arm behind her neck and leaning in. “I’m working.” She said and looked back at the screen. Just a few minutes until halftime. He kissed her shoulder.

“I hate you watching your ex when you’re with me.”

A grin ghosted over her face but she tried to hold it down. She continued typing, struggling to remain focused with Kylian’s breathing washing over her, his tongue sometimes messing with her ear, her skin… she started typing faster, with more pressure on the keyboard, biting her bottom lip as hard as she could. He finger creeped up around her, stroking her arm. The referee whistled for half time and taylor closed the cap on her computer and leaving it on the coffee table, turning to him, taking the bowl out of his hands and pushing him back so she’d be over him. He slapped her butt cheek, enjoying the view. “told you I’m working.”

“It’s lunch break.” He smiled and she lowered her head to kiss him, a heated kiss, proof that she didn’t care about mason’s thighs as much as she cared for his. She let her body fall in his and he took her weight, enjoying how it feels to have her on him, to be pressured by her. Her hand reached down to his thigh and he hissed as it made contact with his sore spot.

“I still think it’s a bad idea.”

He smiled “I’m gonna be ok.”

“You can’t play a whole game.”

“I wasn’t. I’ll just be on standby in case the need me.” He enjoyed the view of her eyes, his thumb going in circles on her cheekbone. “how’s it going with the kids?”

“You got lots of talent in the academy. Missing a little bit of discipline.” She smiled.

“Anyone ready for the big game?”

“Absolutely not. If it was up to me not even Ektike would have joined.” She rubbed her nose with his “there is one that reminds me of you.”

He grinned “you don’t say.”

“He’s got talent. And character. Lots of it.”

He knew exactly who she meant.

“Your brother’s gonna be a star one day.”

“That’s what I keep telling him. You two getting along?”

“Yeah. Unlike you he listens. I appreciate that about him.”

He laughed but she cut his laugh short by giving him a deep kiss. She kissed his cheek too and then hid her face on the crook of his neck, embracing his body completely. He kissed her hair.

“I saw you two together this morning. I wanted to join.”

“Its best that you didn’t.” she mumbled on his neck.

“I know.” He let his fingers wander up and down her spine “but that’s not the point. I wanted to say, I really liked the view.”

“Of me and your brother?”

” Yeah. And he really likes you, you know?”

“Does he know about us?”

“No. but I think I’d like it if he knew.”

“Not yet.”

“Ok.”

Taylor had to watch the rest of the game on a streaming platform the next day because eventually she fell asleep in his arms. It was one of the few times that they slept together without making love to each other first. Like they were building new routines together that weren’t involving only their bodies but their hearts too. And after she watched the game, she got ready to see her boys playing against Bayern. She was screaming from her seat, annoyed and disappointed at the same time. Anything she had managed to build with them was falling apart. There was hope when she saw Kylian joining, the last 15 minutes and she was scared he’d hurt himself bur also proud—

“WHAT IN THE FUCKING HELL? THAY WASN’T EVEN OFFSIDE!” She yelled. It was so loud that Antonella sitting next to her, jumped in her seat and pulled her hand to force her to sit down again. Taylor crumbled in her chair and puffed her cheeks, annoyed at the turn of events.

When the game was over Antonella helped her get on locker rooms, but even from outside she could hear everyone shouting at each other. She could recognize Kylian’s voice, speaking in French and cursing and even Messi was taking shots at people. Before the two women could get in the door slammed open and Neymar walked out, moving passed them without even saying anything. She could see Kylian in the corner arguing with Galtier and she decided to stay out of it until that conversation ended very heatedly also and Kylian walked out of the room even more made that Neymar was. She watched him and followed him until the reached the rooftop. She got a weird sense of déjà vu as she got up there, remembering the first night they ever looked in each other’s eyes with care.

“KY!” She yelled and waited for him to turn to her but he didn’t. He leaned on the marble wall and watched at the view beneath him, slapping his hand. She walked next to him, reaching for his arm. “What happened?”

“Il n'y a pas de connexion, il n'y a pas de gestion. Galtier ne fait rien pour aider et je suis fatigué. On m'avait promis quelque chose de plus et c'est vraiment horrible. Et personne ne fait rien pour y remédier !”

“Kylian slow down, I have no idea what you are saying—”

“I’m saying I want out!”

She made a step back as he said, her eyes softening and taking him in. She moved forward confidently and hugged him. She wanted to give him any comfort she could. He accepted the embrace and shrunk himself on her arms. “I’m tired” he confessed.

“I know.” She rubbed his back “let’s go home.”

2 WEEKS IN / KYLIAN’S HOUSE

He could feel the light from the computer warming his eyes despite the hour of the night and having his back on her. He turned around slightly, peaking at her and whatever she was writing. “You gonna sleep anytime soon?”

“Sure” she said but her eyes didn’t mover her eyes from the screen. Kylian checked on his phone on the night stand, it was already 3am and she had to be up in 4 hours for her class. He turned around completely facing her. He lifted his head and balanced it on his head, watching her.

“How about now?”

“Sleep, Kylian!” she told him

“I will when you do.”

“Have to finish this.”

“Why?”

“I just started rebuilding my platform. I can’t miss deadlines”

“You are the one that sets the deadlines.”

“I need to be consistent and you need to sleep, you have a game tomorrow.”

“You have a class before the game”

“God created coffee for a reason!”

“You’re not supposed to be drinking a lot of caffeine!”

Her fingers stopped on the keyboard. She narrowed her eyes, looked at him. “How do you know that?”

He looked away from her eyes “I spoke with one of the medics that has your history… I’m just trying to make sure history won’t repeat it’s self.” His gaze returned to her and she couldn’t really make out her expression, if she was touched by his gesture or if he had overstepped. Then she closed her eyes, like she was thinking. “You never speak about it. I never know what’s going on, how am I supposed to know if you need anything—”

She shut off her computer and left it on the side of the bed, leaning and kissing the fear off his lips, so he’d taste her appreciation instead.

“I never talk about it, cause its my life, its my routine. I never had to share it with anyone before, I’m not used to it.” She explained “but you can ask me anything, anytime.”

He pecked her lips. “Good to know you wanna share it. Are you gonna sleep now?”

She kissed his nose “no, but I’ll go on the living room so you can rest.” She went to move away but he pulled her hand, holding her close to him, he tangled his legs with hers and held her arms, moving as closer to her as possible “sleep. Please.” She sighed in his arms and closed her eyes; his warmth was tempting. His ocean hypnotizing. She smiled. She scratched his arm, her nails trailing over his veins. Funny, how much safety you could feel in another person’s arms.

“This could work” she said “my website. I’ve been getting follows on tiktok and more reads and it’s better now that I’m not hiding behind a nickname.”

He kissed the spot under hear ear “this could work too.” She tilted her head at him and he kissed her cheek.

“yeah I think it could.” She smiled.

Next morning Kylian left for his game, with a weird sense of happiness in his chest. The team had been through a hard couple of weeks and fights in the locker rooms but everyone seemed to be confident for win on this game against LOSC. The game started with a bang, and she couldn’t hold her excitement when she saw Kylian scoring the first goal. She wished she was down on the pitch like when she was assistant coach so she could run to them. Instead, she was up, on the vip section, supposedly invited by Messi, in reality she was there for Kylian. The happiness melted away when she saw Neymar tumbling on the ground, holding on his ankle. She jumped from her seat and watched while they carried him away “shit” she cursed under her breath, picked up all her stuff and put on her jacket.

“where you going?” Asked Antonella.

“Tell him I’ll be with Ney if he asks.”

She stayed with him on the medical room they had in the stadium, she was there to hear the bad news and when the doctors left, she held his hand while he cried. They moved him to his house before the game was even over, taylor drove with them.

“In what capacity?” asked the man in charge.

“she’s my personal coach.” Neymar said quickly. A lie technically, a truth for him.

She stayed with him, the medicine they had given him started to kick in slowly and she sat next to his bed, reading him messages he had gotten from family members.

“I’m tired.” He said and she could remember Kylian saying the same thing. Almost like this team was sucking the life out of them all. She used one of the wet towels the doctors left to wipe the sweat on his temple. She never thought, she’d have a brother to care for as much as she cared for Neymar.

“get some sleep. The boys will be here soon. I’ll let you know, if there are any updates on your exams, I’ll let you know.”

“Did we win?”

“Yeah. Leo made the win certain. It was a great goal.”

He forced a smile on his face and closed his eyes, laid his head on the side and eventually drifted off in the hypnosis of the pills.

It was about an hour later that Kylian and Leo came. Neymar’s house keeper let them in, and they walked upstairs to find both of them asleep on their respectable place. Kylian shook his head when he saw the position Taylor was sleeping in on the couch, half certain she’d get horrible neck pain. He walked over to her, shaking her gently. Taylor shot her head up, looking around until her eyes met Kylian’s.

“I’ve been calling you.”

“Sorry.” She murmured, stretching her body “out of battery”. She noticed Leo standing next to her and got up, rubbing her eyes. “He’s gonna need you.”

“I know.”

“What did the doctors say?” Asked Kylian.

“He might need surgery. He can let it heal by itself but there’s a risk something like that will happen again.”

He ran a hand down his face. “He’s missing the entire season?”

Leo shook his head, his hands placed on his hips and biting his tongue.

“Like I said; he’s going to need you.”

Kylian approached her, his hand creeping in on the small of her back. He kissed, the back of her head.

“You two go, I’ll stay with him.”

“Doctor’s are supposed to call by the end of the day, the phone’s there.” She pointed at Neymar’s nightstand and then at the bowl on the floor. “that’s for his cold sweat. Rub his head a couple of times, just be make sure he’s ok and if he wakes up the house keeper made soup for him and um—” she searched in her pocket and took out a small note “that’s in case he needs a nurse but you can call me too if he needs something—.”

“Tay—” Kylian squeezed her shoulders “he’ll be ok.”

She looked back at him and nodded, even though she didn’t really believe it.

They drove in his house later, taylor got out of her clothes as quickly as she could, huffing and puffing.

“Want me to get the water running?”

She glanced at him “Please.”

When he left the room, taylor opened her computer, she forgot she had left the website rentals open. Trying to take her mind off Neymar she started checking the Parisian apartments, knowing she’d need a bigger one for when Beth and Lily came to visit. She didn’t sense Kylian approaching her, standing behind her and seeing her research. “what are you looking for?”

She glanced between him and her screen “what does it look like?”

“Look like you are looking for an apartment, which makes no sense because you’re already staying here.”

She lowered her eyebrows, turned on her seat so she’d be looking on his side of the couch. “when did we agree that?”

“I thought the last two weeks made it obvious.”

She smiled “that’s sweet but I can’t stay here forever.”

“Why not?”

She laughed, unable to process that he was being serious “we’ve barely been together for two weeks and now we are moving in?” she sat on her knees to be as closer to his height as possible “are you out of your mind?”

“Is it more logical for you to be paying 1.500 euros a month for an apartment you’ll barely be in?”

She pushed his shoulder “what is that supposed to mean?”

He brushed her hair with his fingers “you know exactly what it’s supposed to mean!”

She blushed, lowering her head to hide her smile. He grinned at her reaction and reached for her hands “Beth and lily can come visit anytime they want.” She was always surprised at how well he read her mind. Stayed looking at him, expecting him to start laughing or something but he didn‘t. “come on, we’ll discuss it later, lets have a bath.” He pulled her hand and she got up, walking around the couch and letting him lead them to their bathroom.

“You never told me bout your big dream.” She said, the candles in the bathroom setting the mood for deep conversations. The two of them seating on each end of the bathtub across from each other, their legs touching under the water.

“hm?”

“Mine was Barcelona. What is yours? Cause if it’s just psg we have a problem.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “PSG could be more, you know?”

“It could. It doesn’t want to.”

He didn’t respond, leaned his head back and looked at the ceiling.

She rubbed his knee with her toe, comforting him. “I’ve heard something about Real Madrid, does it still stand?”

“It’s where I wanted to end up. But dreams change right?”

“Is that an excuse to stay at Paris?”

“I don’t know maybe.” He admitted.

“I think it’s easy, staying. You are comfortable. You’re the golden child while you are in Paris, the main star, anything else feels like a jungle to you.”

“Feels like I am building something with PSG, breaking records, making history. Like it could be something big for me and for them—”

She smiled and moved under the water closer to him. He opened his arms for her, welcoming her in his embrace, as she sat on his lap and stayed close to him. “Feels to me like you are just trying to build castles in the sand to me.” Her thumb stroked his cheekbone. “PSG promised you something and they are not delivering. It’s falling apart and it’s taking you down with it. No just you, all of the players.” She ran her fingers through his hair, massaging it gently and he closed his eyes, enjoying it “you’ll never show your true potential there, no one can because there’s not foundations to help players like you or Leo or Ney.” She sighed “I saw it while I was on the coaching staff and when I met Nssr.”

“You never told me how that went.”

“It was horrible.” She blurted out. Remembering the dinner and how shaken up she was when she left. “Because it proved to me how little respect there is for the sport.” She paused, biting her lip “I was wrong about you before I joined.” He widened his eyes and she smiled at his reaction “Don’t get all cocky, I wasn’t wrong about everything I still think you are an arrogant idiot—” he laughed “but they are worst. Point is… they got 3 of the best players in the world and they don’t know how to use them or discipline them” she scratched his chest gently while his hands made their way to her back, ghosting over her skin, sometimes going more down than they should. “Because they don’t want to discipline them. They just want to use them for promo… they don’t care about the game.”

“Is this you telling me you’re leaving?”

She gazed in his eyes, chewing her cheek from the inside “being in the academy I see how things work from the bottom and it’s just as corrupt as it on the top. So, yes, first chance I get and I’m out of there. And you should do the same.” She slipped closer “otherwise you are wasting a career for a glass house.”

3 WEEKS IN / KYLIAN’S HOUSE

“Their plane lands during the game.”

“Who organized that?” Asked Kylian, taking out the orange box from the fridge. Taylor was making eggs for both while he was setting up the table. A whole new routine that they had developed in the last week.

“They didn’t know smartass.” She said, putting the eggs on their plates and placing them on the table. They sat across from each other, taylor was surprised when she saw her pills next to her glass. She gave Kylian a quick look but he was oblivious to how much that meant to her. She doubted if he had even realized he did it, nowadays he would just take care of her automatically.

“I can send a car to pick them up.”

“No, lily is not gonna like that, she wants me to be there.” She looked at him “I’m sorry I know it’s supposed to be your big day tomorrow. Wanted to be there for the one hundred and first”

He chuckled “Ah it ok, you can go with the car then and I’ll meet you here after the game.” He kissed her cheek as he passed by her “You’ll be there for the one hundred and second.”

She smiled “How am I supposed to get in though if you’re still in the game?”

“I’ll make you a spare key today.” He was looking at his eggs while he spoke, like he didn’t just throw a bomb at her. Like the answer was simple as that.

“A key?” she asked.

He glanced up at her.

“for me?”

He took a big bite and chewed on it, ignoring the way she looked at him “I’ll tell Martha to make the spare room for the girls so it’s ready for tomorrow.”

“Can we go back to the Key please?”

He finally looked up, but he was confused “why you so worried about a key? You’re gonna need one anyway when I’m in Munich.” He filled his mouth with a last piece of bread and picked up his dish, putting quickly on the dishwasher. “Are you ready—” he stopped “why aren’t you eating your food—come on, we need to leave!” She looked at her dish and realized it was still there, the whole of it.

“Trying to swallow other things…” she mumbled.

He gave her a quick kiss before running into the bedroom. She looked at her pills and drank them down with her juice, wishing it was vodka instead.

He made her the spare key just like he said in the afternoon, she looked at it the whole night, while he was sleeping right next to her. Her computer laid on the edge of the bed, open on a page about PSG. Behind it was the unfinished article she was writing about the whole of PSG, starting from the management to the things she had seen during the academy. And over it the notifications she would get on social media would pop up, nonstop, her reads and reactions always going up.

She closed the computer and left it on the night stand, leaving the key on top of it and erased any distance between them by tying herself around him and listening to his sleepy breaths.

Little did she know, he was awake and he was at peace, finally having her as close. Little did she know, he knew exactly why she was freaking out about the key.

PARC DE PRINCE – THE NEXT NIGHT

“In the mood to break some records?” Asked Leo, coming up behind him while he was tying his shoelaces. Kylian glanced back at him smiling. He stood up, shaking off his nerves, he blew his cheeks.

“Always in the mood for that.”

Leo winked at him and shook his hand. “Good luck then.”

“Do you ever miss this thrill in Barcelona?” he asked suddenly and his teammate thought about it.

He nodded “Of course I do.”

“It was easier there, wasn’t it?”

Leo laughed, lowering his head “yeah. Much easier. But that’s because it was home. Not because of the records.”

“So, it’s not the records you miss? Or being number one?”

“That part had it’s pleasure, but you can break records anywhere Kylian.” He shrugged, scratching the back of his head “it’s who you break them with that makes it special.”

His words echoed in his mind when he scored on the net, fireworks lighted up over him and everyone cheered for the golden boy. Leo was one of the first people to run to him, everyone jumped on him, congratulating him by pressing him on the ground. He looked for her on the crowd only to remember that she was never there.

When the game was over, he celebrated with his family, hugged his breath and tried to forget about the person missing. He took pictures with the award and the entire team, even Neymar was there with his messy ankle and Kimpembe, injured as well. He was too busy looking at camera and it was too late when he realized which little girl was running up to him but he saw Lily before he saw Taylor—

“Oh my—” he gasped as the little girl jumped on him and hugged him. Everyone around was confused about the intruder, security even tried to get her back until Kylian signaled them to stop. He handed his award to Ethan and picked up Lily, laughing. “What on earth are you doing here?” he asked, but his eyes were already searching for Taylor. She was in the distance with Beth next to her, walking up to him. Neymar had already joined Taylor, introducing himself to Beth. Lily poked his nose, to get back his attention.

“Are you the best now?” she asked, smiling.

“What do you think?”

She shook her head up and down quickly, laughing. He looked back at Taylor.

“Thought you’d go straight to the house.”

She shrugged her shoulders “turns out we made it right on time.”

“She wanted to surprise you.” Blurted out Lily and taylor rolled her eyes. He gazed at Beth, holding Lily with one hand so he could shake her hand with the other.

“it’s nice to see you again. This is my brother Ethan.”

Beth shook his hand, smiling “Nice to meet you.”

Taylor walked over to Ethan, placing her arm around his neck “he’s a star in the making. Ethan, this is my family. Beth and Lily.”

Ethan nodded “I’ve heard a lot about you.” He looked between Kylian and Taylor “from both of them.”

Taylor gazed at Kylian, surprised at his brother’s revelation. But before she could ask about it, Kylian’s parents showed up. His father, she had barely spoken to him during her time as coach. She pulled away from Ethan quickly and cleared her throat, intimidated by his presence.

“Miss Wilock, happy to see you around again.”

She didn’t expect that. She smiled “Thank you sir.”

“Who is this little girl?”

“She’s little Wilock.” Said Taylor.

“First time in Paris?” he asked and lily nodded while biting her finger, the way that kids too.

“Mine too,” said Beth. “We are both excited.”

“Well then, you can come with us. We were going for a celebration dinner, Kylian, you don’t mind, do you?”

“Are we going to the Eiffel tower?”

“No but it’ll be just as high.”

“Mum, can we go?”

Beth looked at taylor, taylor looked at Kylian, Kylian let his mouth fall open, secretly hoping taylor wouldn’t deny the offer.

“If it’s not a problem we’d love to.” Answered Beth.

Lily started jumping on Kylian’s arms and he let her down, letting her walk ahead with her mother. Ethan and Kylian’s father moved ahead too. Taylor glanced at Kylian, while they walked next to each other, making sure to keep some distance.”

“Does he know about us?”

“Nope.”

She drew a thin line with her lips “that’s gonna go well.”

“Just keep a straight face.” He said and gave her a smile of encouragement. She stopped when she felt her phone buzzing. She took it out of her back pocket and looked at the number, it was British. She tried to recall if she knew it from anywhere then she heard Kylian calling “are you coming?”

Her finger ghosted over the decline and the acceptation button, she hit decline and pushed the phone back in her pocket and ran behind Kylian.

HELLO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!! Next chapter is the last 😭 can you believe it? Then we have an epilogue and then we officially say goodbye to each other. What things to we have left to discover? The phone call and dinner with the two families? Kylian as captain on the french team? Two people finally admitting their feelings? I don’t wanna say goodbye 😭😭😭 who has been here since ch1 or when did y'all join us? Let’s go down memory lane if y'all agree. Please please leave your thoughts and comments as always, means the world to me.🥺 I love you forever and ever xx