BACK AGAIN​- ᴊᴜᴅᴇ ʙᴇʟʟɪɴɢʜᴀᴍ

46

"Jude, get my phone for me," I said from the bathroom.

"Put some clothes on!" I yelled when he came in, my phone in hand. My hand went up to my eyes. He was wearing a towel around his waist but still.

"Don't be so dramatic," he said, pushing my hands down.

"No! Disgusting!" I yell, running past him. I heard him laugh, running after me and lifting me off the ground, throwing me on the bed.

"You're such an idiot," he laughed, jumping on me. I locked my lips on his, taking in his scent. Me kissing him escalated to him flipping us over and falling off the bed.

Screeching, I landed on him. While I was laughing, he was rubbing the back of his head.

"You okay?" I asked, holding his head.

"Like you care," he replied, rolling his eyes, pulling me back in for a kiss.

Today, we had a day event, so we left the hotel at noon, dressed in a summer dress, and Jude in his typical over the top outfit, we had walked out together again, this time to more paparazzi. Luckily, one of the team had been their usual self and fell head first onto the pavement, catching the attention of everyone there.

Amara was there, arriving by herself. Separating from Jude to go to her, I got a call from an unknown number.

"Hello?" I said into the phone.

"If you want your brother back, you better do what I say." It was a female voice. I recognised it, but it was too vague. I panicked and glanced around, Enzo nowhere to be seen. I locked eyes with Amara, and she realised something was wrong.

"Don't worry, the price is just a hug from my little sister!" I heard, and my body collapsed with someone else's. I almost dropped my phone but got back up in time to see who it was. Erica was still holding me, looking as beautiful as ever, her smile beaming. Enzo was behind her, smiling.

"Oh my God, don't ever do that to me again," I yelled, hitting him with my bag. I hugged Erica back, not having seen her in a long time. We talked for a while, Bukayo joinging, secretly thrilled to see her again and after doing his own press, Jude came by.

He'd met Erica a few times, and he'd gone to the same school as Amara, but both knew about everything he ever did, and Erica being protective, she just eyed him. He felt a thick silence over the group and tried to leave, but Amara had stopped him, pushing him back.

"Sorry, Jude. You can stay here," she said, giving him a small, understanding smile. He paused, looking at her with a flicker of surprise before staying.

I couldn't help but feel a little nervous; not everyone in my life was going to warm up to Jude right away, especially not after what happened last time. But the press? They were eating it up. Photos of us were plastered everywhere, stories spreading nonstop. It was a lot, and more than overwhelming at times, but Jude and I? We were doing better than ever.

The next morning, I woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Jude was still asleep beside me, his arm draped over me. For a moment, I lay there in the quiet, just listening to his steady breathing. After the whirlwind of yesterday, it felt good to have this moment of peace.

I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and padded over to the window. Below, the city was already bustling with life. Somewhere down there, Amara and Erica were likely already out, probably waiting for me. I was supposed to meet them for coffee in a bit, a promise I'd made after yesterday's chaos.

I dressed quietly and scribbled a quick note for Jude, leaving it on my pillow. The hotel lobby was quieter than I expected. I'd barely stepped out of the elevator when I spotted Amara, lounging at a table in the café by the lobby entrance, looking effortlessly elegant with her coffee in hand. Erica was beside her, sipping her tea with a mischievous smile.

"Look who finally made it," Erica teased as I slid into the seat across from them.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't start."

They both laughed, but then Amara leaned in, her expression turning serious. "I wanted to check on you, really. Are you doing okay with everything going on?"

I looked down at my coffee, stirring it absentmindedly. "It's... a lot," I admitted. "But Jude's been great, really supportive. I didn't expect him to be this different."

Erica reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "As much as I don't want to admit it," she sighed, her eyes narrowing slightly, "Jude seems like he's genuinely trying this time."

I nodded, laughed at her remark. Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Jude.

"Breakfast on the terrace in 15? I'll bring coffee."

I smiled, feeling a small thrill at the idea of sneaking off for a little time with him before the day's activities began. As much as I loved my friends, time alone with Jude felt like a rare luxury. Everywhere, there was paparazzi or some type of drama. After a bit more chatter, I excused myself and headed back upstairs. 

The terrace was empty, the city sprawled out below like a patchwork quilt of rooftops and streets. Jude was already there, setting up a small breakfast spread with pastries and fresh fruit, two steaming cups of coffee on the table.

"Thought you'd stood me up," he teased, pulling out a chair for me.

"Never," I said, taking a seat and savoring the warm coffee. The quiet was nice, and for a while, we just enjoyed each other's company. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was on his mind. He kept glancing down at his phone, then at me, as if he was hesitating about something.

"Is everything okay?" I finally asked, setting down my cup.

He took a deep breath, slipping his phone into his pocket. "There's something I need to tell you."My stomach knotted slightly, but I nodded for him to go on.

"I've been offered a deal. A transfer, actually." His gaze flickered with excitement and hesitation. "It's overseas."

I sat there, the words sinking in. I knew he'd been working hard, that this was a big deal for his career. But the thought of him leaving, of the distance... It left a hollow feeling in my chest."I don't want to go without you," he said quickly, reaching for my hand. "We've been through so much already, and I'm not willing to lose this—lose us."

For a moment, I was speechless. I could already feel the weight of the decision settling on my shoulders. "Jude... I want you to take this opportunity. It's huge." I managed a small smile, trying to be supportive, but my mind was already reeling. "Where would we be going?"

He relaxed slightly, a hopeful smile crossing his face. "Paris," he said softly. "It's just for a year or two, and it would be amazing for my career. But only if you're there with me."Paris. It sounded like a dream, but it also meant leaving everything behind. The life I'd built here, my friends, Lorenzo... all of it would change.

After breakfast, I spent the day wrapped in thought, trying to process everything. The media attention, the gossip, the complexity of my relationship with Jude—it was all growing bigger than I'd anticipated. That evening, I met up with Amara and Erica again, and finally, I told them about the offer.

Amara's face lit up. "Paris? Are you kidding? That's incredible!"

Erica, on the other hand, looked worried. "It is, but it's a huge change. You'd be leaving so much behind. Are you sure?"

I shrugged, feeling the weight of the question settle over me. "I don't know. Part of me wants to go, to take this leap with him. But the other part is scared of losing everything I know."

Erica reached over, hugging me tight. "Whatever you decide, we'll support you."

That night, back at the hotel, I found myself on the terrace again, looking out over the city lights. Jude joined me after a while, wrapping his arms around me from behind. We stood in silence, and finally, I looked up at him.

"Let's go to Paris," I whispered, my voice steady, but my thoughts racing.

He grinned, pulling me close, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. Paris was waiting.