It's always you. - Hector Fort

Chapter 12

Alex was standing in front of the mirror, applying lipstick with a casual air, but her words were anything but casual.

"So I know you and Lamine are good," she started, tossing her makeup into her bag, "but how about you and Hector? I mean, three months before you left, you guys kissed, and then you dipped. Did you ever talk about that?"

I groaned, already feeling the frustration rising. "God, he annoys me so much," I said, sitting on the bed and picking up my mascara. "We did talk about it, sort of. When I came back, he mentioned he's moved on, that he has a girlfriend now."

Alex raised her eyebrows. "A girlfriend?"

"Yeah, and I told him I wouldn't be surprised if he had one even while we kissed," I scoffed, rolling my eyes at the memory. "I wasn't even serious, but then he goes, 'maybe not a girlfriend, but I kissed other girls too.' Like, what the hell?" I shook my head, trying not to let the anger creep back in. "So, naturally, I slapped him and walked out."

"Woah, new Hector, huh?" Alex laughed, shaking her head. "I didn't see that coming."

"I hope not, because if he keeps acting like this, he's going to drive me insane." I capped the mascara and stood up, smoothing my dress. My chest felt tight just thinking about seeing him again. The last thing I needed tonight was more drama.

"Enemies to lovers, part two?" Alex teased, waggling her eyebrows in the mirror.

"Ew, shut up, bitch," I said, laughing, but her words left a strange knot in my stomach.

The club was buzzing by the time we arrived. Alex pulled me through the crowd, toward the VIP section like she knew exactly where she was going.

"Okay, let's head to our room," she said, taking my hand.

"Wait, what?" I stopped in my tracks.

"Oh," she paused, turning to me with an innocent grin that wasn't fooling anyone. "I may have forgotten to mention that the boys from Barça are going to be there. Not all of them, but yeah."

My stomach dropped. "Hector is going to be there?" I hissed.

"Maybe," she shrugged, already walking again.

"I'm going to kill you," I muttered, following her into the VIP section.

We found a spot on a small sofa, tucked away from the bar. It wasn't long before we heard a burst of loud laughter echoing through the room. My eyes instinctively flicked toward the sound, and, of course, there he was. Hector. He was leaning against the bar, laughing with a group of friends, looking too relaxed for my liking. And then—great—he looked straight at me.

I quickly looked away, my heart pounding in my chest. This was a bad idea.

"I'm getting a drink," I muttered, standing up abruptly.

Alex shot me a warning look. "You? A drink? Pedri will kill you."

"He doesn't need to know," I smiled, already making my way to the bar.

I ordered something strong and turned to head back, but before I could even take a step, someone bumped into me, spilling my drink onto my dress.

"Hey! Watch out!" I snapped, looking down at the mess.

"Really? 'Watch out'?" came a familiar voice, dripping with amusement.

I looked up to find Hector standing in front of me, smirking. Of course it was him.

"Well, if you weren't standing there like a damn wall, I wouldn't have to go change my outfit," I shot back, annoyed.

"Yeah, yeah, talk," he said, still smirking as he grabbed my hand and started walking toward the back.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked, trying to pull my hand away but not really trying hard enough.

"Helping you clean up the mess you spilled on yourself," he said, handing me some paper towels as we stopped near the bathroom.

I snatched the towels, glaring at him. "This won't help much, but thanks, I guess." I dabbed at the wet spot on my dress, the frustration boiling over. "I don't get you, Hector. We literally don't even know what we are to each other, and now you're here, helping me? I would've rather stayed home than deal with you tonight."

He leaned against the doorframe, watching me with that infuriating smile. "But you didn't hesitate when I grabbed your hand, did you?" His voice was teasing, but his eyes held something more. "I think you're still falling for me."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Yeah, no. You wish," I said, laughing to cover the uneasy feeling creeping up my spine.

"You sure?" He stepped closer, his eyes locking with mine.

I swallowed hard, refusing to back down. "Don't be so funny, Fort," I said, staring back into those familiar eyes that I hated knowing so well.

But the truth? My heart was beating a little too fast. And I wasn't entirely sure if it was from anger anymore.