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 sat on the edge of her couch, her eyes red and puffy from days of crying. The room was dim, the curtains drawn tight to shut out the world she couldn't face right now. She wore an old hoodie, the fabric soft from too many washes, and a pair of leggings that were almost threadbare at the knees.
Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, and the remnants of makeup clung to her cheeks like a stubborn reminder of how far she'd fallen.
Jobe sat across from her, his usual cheerful demeanor dampened by the weight of her sadness.
He hadn't left her side since the morning Jude had stormed out, three days ago, and while Alexa was grateful, she also felt guilty. She was dragging Jobe through her mess, and he didn't deserve it.
It was his brother after all.
"Thanks for being here," Alexa mumbled, staring down at her chipped nails. The words felt insufficient, but they were all she could manage.
Jobe gave her a gentle smile. "You don't have to thank me, Alexa. I'm your friend. You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not."
Alexa tried to smile, but it faltered, crumbling under the weight of everything she was feeling. She took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she finally allowed herself to speak.
"I just—I can't believe I let it happen," she said, her voice cracking. "Diego... I was so stupid to trust him, and now... now everything is ruined."
Jobe's face softened, his eyes filled with sympathy. He reached over, placing a comforting hand on her knee. "It's not your fault, Alexa. Diego is a manipulative asshole, and he took advantage of you when you were vulnerable. None of this is on you."
"But Jude—" Alexa's voice broke, and she covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "Jude hates me now. I messed everything up, Jobe. I pushed him away, and now he thinks I'm—God, he thinks I'm something I'm not."
Jobe pulled her into a hug, his grip firm and reassuring. "Jude's hurting, yeah, but he doesn't hate you. He's just—he's lost, you know? He doesn't know what to think, and he's probably doing that thing where he makes everything worse in his head."
Alexa nodded against his shoulder, taking shaky breaths as she tried to calm down. "I should've told him the truth, but I couldn't. I couldn't look at him and say it out loud. I was scared."
Jobe sighed, rubbing her back gently. "I get it, Alexa. And so will Jude. Eventually, he'll come around. He just needs time."
She pulled away, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie. "And what if he doesn't? What if I've lost him for good?"
Jobe gave her a sad smile. "Then he's a fool. But I don't think that's gonna happen. Jude cares about you too much to walk away forever."
Alexa nodded, her throat tightening as she tried to swallow down the sobs threatening to overwhelm her. She glanced at Jobe, her eyes full of worry. "What am I supposed to do now? I feel so... broken. Everything's falling apart."
