Book one | Alexa Harvey, a celebrated actress known for her fierce independence and uncompromising nature, has always steered clear of the sports world. But when her latest film role requires her to shadow Jude Bellingham, a rising football star wit...
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Alexa woke up the next morning with a dull ache in her head and a knot in her stomach that no amount of coffee could untangle. The interview from the day before played over and over in her mind like a bad movie. Every time she tried to push it away, another scene would pop up: Carla's probing questions, the mention of Jude, the constant pressure to define something she wasn't even sure about herself.
The day stretched out before her, a blank slate that should have felt liberating but instead felt like a void. She had no projects lined up, no meetings scheduled—nothing but time to think, and that was the last thing she wanted.
She decided to head out for a walk, hoping that a bit of fresh air might help clear her mind. The weather was warm, the sun filtering through the trees as she made her way through one of her favorite parks. The air was thick with the scent of summer, but the peace she sought eluded her.
Everywhere she looked, it seemed, there were reminders of the life she was trying to navigate. Couples strolling hand in hand, kids playing soccer, groups of friends laughing together—everything normal and uncomplicated, a stark contrast to the tangled mess that was her life.
Alexa shoved her hands into her pockets, kicking at a loose stone on the path. She didn't want to think about Jude, didn't want to care about what the tabloids would print after the interview was published, and yet it all consumed her thoughts.
The way his name seemed to always find its way into conversations, the way his face haunted her even when she tried to forget—it was infuriating.
As she rounded a corner near a small pond, she nearly collided with someone walking in the opposite direction. She looked up, ready to apologize, but the words caught in her throat when she saw who it was.
Jude.
Of course. Because the universe clearly had a twisted sense of humor.
He looked as surprised to see her as she was to see him. For a moment, they just stood there, staring at each other in awkward silence. Jude was dressed casually in a T-shirt and athletic shorts, earbuds dangling around his neck. His hair was slightly mussed, as if he'd just rolled out of bed and decided to take a walk to clear his own mind.
"Alexa," he finally said, breaking the silence.
"Jude," she replied, her tone cool. Her eyes narrowed instinctively, the irritation rising unbidden. "Out for a stroll?"
He nodded, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Yeah. Needed to get out of the house for a bit. Clear my head."
"Funny," she said dryly, "I was doing the same."
His gaze flicked over her, taking in the slight tension in her posture, the way her jaw was set just a little too tight. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," she said, a little too quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
