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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The week after the barbecue felt like it dragged on forever. Alexa was barely sleeping, her mind swirling with thoughts of Jude, their complicated relationship, and the conversation they had shared by her car.
She'd tried to throw herself into work, hoping it would be a distraction, but nothing seemed to shake the restlessness that had settled into her bones.
She hadn't heard from Jude since that day. Not a text, not a call—nothing. It was like he had vanished, and as much as she tried to convince herself that she didn't care, the truth was gnawing at her.
Every time her phone buzzed, her heart jumped, only to sink when she saw it wasn't him.
It was a Friday evening when she decided she couldn't take it anymore. Alexa was sitting on her couch, staring blankly at the TV screen, a half-finished glass of wine in her hand.
The show she'd put on was just background noise, something to fill the silence of her apartment, but it wasn't helping. Her thoughts kept circling back to the same thing: Jude.
She grabbed her phone, scrolling through her contacts until she landed on his name.
Her thumb hovered over the call button for a moment, hesitation gripping her. But before she could overthink it, she hit the button and brought the phone to her ear, her heart pounding as it rang.
One ring. Two rings. Three rings.
She was about to hang up when his voice came through the line, deep and familiar.
"Alexa?"
"Hey," she said, her voice sounding small even to her own ears.
There was a pause on the other end of the line. She could hear background noise—voices, the clinking of glasses, the low hum of music. It sounded like he was out somewhere, maybe at a party.
"Hey," Jude replied, his tone cautious. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just..." She trailed off, suddenly unsure of what to say. She hadn't planned this out, hadn't thought about what she would say if he actually answered.
"You just...?" he prompted, and she could hear the concern in his voice now.
Alexa took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I needed to talk to you. Can we meet?"
There was another pause, and then she heard him say something to someone in the background before his voice came back, clearer this time. "Where are you?"
"At home," she replied, biting her lip.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes," he said, and before she could respond, the line went dead.
Alexa stared at the phone in her hand, her heart still racing. She hadn't expected him to agree so quickly, hadn't thought he'd drop whatever he was doing to come see her. But now that he was on his way, she felt a mixture of relief and anxiety.
