Forbidden Love | Jude Bellingham

004. Drunk Night

Chapter 4

~ Ava Barton ~

Drunk Night

"Are you going to turn around or are you going to watch me undress."

The night continued with more drinks, laughter, and shared stories. Hannah turned out to be incredibly sweet, and you found yourself getting along with her effortlessly. She shared a few funny stories about Trent, who just laughed them off, clearly used to her teasing.

"So, Ava," Hannah said at one point, leaning in closer as the conversation drifted away from football. "How do you handle being around these footballers all the time? It must be exhausting."

You laughed, grateful for the light-hearted question. "It has its moments, but I guess I've just gotten used to it. Plus, Jobe and I have known each other for a long time, so I'm kind of immune to all the football talk."

Hannah nodded knowingly. "That's fair. I can't even keep up with half of what they're saying most of the time. But it's fun, right?"

"Yeah, it is," you agreed, smiling.

"So, Ava, do you have a boyfriend?" Hannah asked, her tone playful as she leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

You felt a slight flush creep up your cheeks as you smiled awkwardly. "No, never really had one, actually."

Hannah's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" She looked genuinely shocked. "I would've thought for sure there was something between you and Jobe," she added, her gaze flickering over to where Jobe was sitting, casually sipping his drink.

You nearly choked on your own drink, caught off guard by her suggestion. "What? No!" you exclaimed, a little too quickly. "Me and Jobe are just best friends," you clarified, though the thought of people assuming otherwise had your mind spinning.

Hannah raised an eyebrow, still looking amused. "Just friends, huh?" she echoed, clearly unconvinced.

You nodded firmly. "Yeah, just friends," you repeated, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

She let it go but wasn't done teasing. "Okay, if not Jobe, what about you and Jude?" she asked, her playful smirk returning.

This time, you really did almost choke. "Jude? No, no way. Jude's not my type," you managed to say, stealing a quick glance at him across the room. He was deep in conversation with Saka, Trent, and Jobe, looking completely at ease.

Hannah didn't miss your quick look and grinned. "You sure about that?" she asked, her voice dripping with curiosity. "Because I'm definitely picking up on some vibes between you two tonight."

You could feel the heat rising to your face again. "There's nothing going on, I swear," you insisted, though you couldn't help but replay a few moments from the night in your head—the playful flirting, the lingering touches, the way Jude looked at you when he thought no one was watching.

Hannah's eyes twinkled with mischief as she leaned in closer. "Come on, Ava. You can tell me. No one else is listening."

You laughed nervously, trying to brush off the subject. "There's really nothing to tell," you said, but the truth was, you weren't entirely sure yourself. The night had been filled with a strange mix of emotions, and you couldn't quite put your finger on what it all meant.

Hannah studied you for a moment, her expression softening. "You know, it's okay to have feelings, even if you're not sure what they are yet," she said gently.