𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 - 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥

𝙁𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙮 𝙊𝙣𝙚. 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨

Back at the training facility, the buzz from our FA Cup win was still in the air, but there was no time to soak it all in. Training was intense. Jonas was making sure we were sharp, pushing us hard. But amid the drills, the sweat, and the focus, something felt different now. Something between me and Caitlin.

We'd always worked well together on the pitch, but since that kiss, there was an unspoken connection—like we were on the same wavelength. I could sense her movements without needing to see them. It's like she'd read my mind too, always in the perfect spot at the right time.

During a small-sided game, I'd got the ball and spotted Caitlin making a run. Without even thinking, I played a through ball, threading it between two defenders, and she was off—effortless as ever. She took a quick touch, shot, and before I could even blink, the ball was in the back of the net.

Our teammates cheered, but it was the look Caitlin gives me that stuck. She turned around with that familiar grin, and it was more than just about the goal. There was something else in her eyes, something deeper, like she was saying, 'I know you better than anyone.'

"Nice one, Els," she calls, jogging over to give me a quick high five. Her touch lingers for a moment longer than necessary, and I catch Steph and Jen watching us from across the pitch, their heads tilted in amusement.

"You two on fire today or what?" Viv smirks as she jogs past, clearly picking up on the energy.

"Just feeling it," I shrug, trying to sound casual, but the grin on my face probably gives me away.

Training carries on, but I can't help stealing glances at Caitlin whenever I can. There's this lightness between us—like we're in our own little world, but without disrupting the flow of the team. At one point, we're doing rondos, and I catch Caitlin's eye from across the circle. She wiggles her eyebrows at me, and I bite back a laugh, trying not to get distracted.

As we move into tactical drills, we end up standing side by side during a quick water break. She nudges me playfully with her shoulder, leaning in just close enough that our arms brush. "Having fun?" she asks, her voice low, a teasing edge to it.

I roll my eyes, though a smile pulls at my lips. "You're just lucky I'm giving you those assists," I say, taking a sip of water.

"Hmm, so you're saying I'd be nothing without you?" She raises an eyebrow, her tone mock-serious.

"Well, I didn't say that, but if you want to give me the credit—" I start, but I'm interrupted by a loud, exaggerated "aww" from Steph.

I turn to see Steph and Jen standing a few feet away, both watching us with grins on their faces. Steph crosses her arms, clearly enjoying herself. "You two are too cute, honestly. It's like watching a rom-com unfold during training."

Jen nods, her expression amused. "Just wait until Jonas sees this."

I groan, playfully shoving Caitlin. "See what you've started?"

Caitlin laughs, shaking her head. "Me? You're the one giving me those assists."

We get back into the drill, but the banter keeps going. There's a lightness to everything today, even when Jonas raises his eyebrows at the obvious chemistry between us. At one point, Caitlin slides in for a tackle during a 5v5 game and ends up knocking the ball out of bounds. I run over to take the throw-in, and when I toss the ball to her, our fingers brush again, and it's enough to send a spark through me.

Steph's watching again. "If you two don't stop, we're going to need a bucket for all the fluff," she teases, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Shut up, Steph," I mumble, but I'm grinning. I can't help it.

Finally, after a few more drills and a bit more teasing from the rest of the team, training wraps up. Just as we're about to head inside, Jonas calls me and Caitlin over. His arms are crossed, but there's a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"You two are playing some incredible football together," he says, and I can't help but feel a little proud. But then, he raises an eyebrow. "That said, I need you both to remember something. On the pitch, it's about the team. I'm happy for you—whatever this is—but it can't be a distraction. Keep it professional during matches, alright?"

Caitlin and I exchange a glance, both of us holding back smiles. "Of course, Jonas," Caitlin says, her voice calm.

"Yeah, no problem," I add, though I can feel my lips twitching.

Jonas watches us for a moment longer, then his expression softens. "Good to see you both happy. Now keep up the good work."

As we walk back to the locker room, Caitlin bumps my shoulder again, this time more playfully. "Guess we're not as subtle as we thought, huh?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "Guess not. And now we've got the boss watching us."

"Let him watch," she shrugs, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It's not like we're doing anything wrong."

I give her a sideways look, biting back a smile. "Just keep your hands to yourself during training, alright?"

She raises her hands in mock surrender. "Hey, you're the one who keeps brushing my hand during throw-ins."

"Oh, so it's my fault now?" I tease, bumping her with my shoulder as we walk into the building.

We head into the changing room, still laughing, but the moment we step inside, Steph's voice rings out again. "Oi, lovebirds, how's Jonas' little chat? All good?"

Jen smirks from across the room, already pulling off her boots. "Did he tell you to stop making goo-goo eyes at each other?"

I roll my eyes, but Caitlin just grins. "Nah, just told us to keep scoring goals and winning trophies. You know, the usual."

The room erupts in laughter, and I can't help but smile as I head to my locker. It's moments like these—light, carefree—that remind me why I love this team so much. And why being with Caitlin, as tricky as it might get, feels like the right thing. We'll figure it out.