𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 - 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥

𝙏𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚. 𝘎𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘈 𝘍𝘢𝘳

I sit on the edge of my bed, scrolling through my phone, a small smile playing on my lips as I read Caitlin's text notification.

𝘾𝙖𝙞𝙩 ❤️‍🩹
𝘾𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙂𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙙 😉

My heart fluttered, the giddiness of our new relationship still fresh and excited.

We'd been together for just over a month now, but already felt like a whirlwind. After months of stolen glances, quiet moments and the underlying re room that snother of us could deny, we had finally admitted our feelings. It wasn't easy keeping my our relationsjop a secret- especially with a team as close as Arsenal- but we both agreed it was necessary, at least for now.

I sigh, pulling myself out of my daydream and focusing on getting ready for training. As much as I wanted to stay lost in thoughts of Caitlin, I knew we had to be careful. I couldn't afford to be distracted. Not with the eyes of my teammates always around. Especially Beth. She was always up in my buisness.

I arrive at the training ground early, as usual. The familiar founds of boots on turf and the rhythmic l thud of balls beign passed beck and forth hit my ears, making a smile grow on my lips. It was a rohs time I'd learnt to cherish while being here at Arsenal. Trainings at Houston, were different than here at Arsenal, but there was something special I couldn't put my finger on about Arsenal. Maybe it was the fact I'd found love here, or maybe it was something else. I wasn't quite sure, but I was finally happy after the big move.

"Morning, Els!" Beth calls out, jogging over to join me. "You're early, as always."

"Can't help it," I reply with a grin, masking the flutter in my chest. "I like to get a head start."

As we chat as usual, playful banter added to our conversation, Caitlin appeared across the pitch, catching my eye. The connection between us was immediate, a silent understanding passing between us in the breif moment that our eyes connected. But then Caitlin turns to laugh at something Steph's said, seemlessly blending into the group.

I force myself to look away, focusing on my conversation with Beth. Keeping up appearances was cey al. No one could know that just last night, Caitlin and I had spent hours curled up on her sofa, talking about eveything and nothing, sharing soft kisses and quiet laughs.

Training was intense, as usual, but today it felt different-charged, somehow. Everytime Caitlin passes by, my pulse quickened, my focus wavering for a split second. It's a dangerous game we're playing,

During our break, Caitlin made her way towards me and stood close enough that our arms brushed. "You good?" Hee asks me, hee voice low enough that only I could hear it.

"Yeah," I reply, taking a sip of water, trying to ignore the electricity that buzzed between us. "Just trying not to get caught." I say. I felt like a teenager trying not to get caught for sneaking out and meeting my girlfriend in the middle of the night.

Caitlin grins a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You're doing great. Just a little longer, and then it's just us tonight."

I nod, my heart pounding. Caitlin was teasing me and all I wanted was nothing more to fast forward to that moment, to be alone with Caitlin where we didn't have to pretend or hide, but I knew we had to be patient.

The rest of the session passes in a blur of drills and tactical excersizes. I push myself harder than usual, hoping to channel my restless energy into somethinf productive. By the time we were done, I was exhausted but there was a certain thrill in knowing the day was far from over.

As the team begins to break up, I catch Caitlin's eye again, a silent promise passing between us. Later.

Back at my apartment, I showered quickly, my mind racing with the thoughts of the evening ahead. I was nervous, but it was a good kind of nervous- the king that made me feel alive and excited for what was to come.

A few hours later, I found myself standing outside Caitlin's door, mg heart pounding in my chest. I knocked lightly and the door swung open immediately, revealed with a wide smile and a twinkle in Caitlin's eye.

"Hey, you," Caitlin greets me, pulling me inside her apartment.

"Hey," I reply, feeling the warmth of Caitlin's hand in mine. As soon as the door closes, Caitlin leans in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my lips. It was gentle, familiar, yet still sent a shiver down my spine.

She pulls back slightly, her eyes locked in mone. "I've been thinking about this all day." She admits, her voice barely above a whisper.

My breath hitches. "Me too."

For a moment, we stood there, just holding each other, the rest of the world fading away. I'm ghese stplen moments, it didn't matter that ee we're keeping our relationship a secret. All that mattered was that we were together.

Caitlin leads me to the sofa, where we settle in, wrapping up in each pther "I made us some dinner," She says, gesturing to the kitchen. "i but I think it can wait a bit.

I laugh softly as I snuggle in closer. "Yeah, I'm not hungry right now."

We spent the next few hours in a bubble of warmth and comfort, talking about everything and nothing. It was these moments that I chereoshed the most- the quiet times when it's just the two of us. no pretended, no preassure.

Just us.

As the night wore on, I felt a sense of contentment settle over me. For now, this was enough. The secrecy, the stolen moments- they were all worth it if it meant I could have moments like these with Caitlin.

But as I drifted off to sleep in Caitlin's arms, a small part of me couldn't help but wonder how long we could keep this up. How long could we stay hidden before something- or someone- forced us into the open.