Football Star and Pop Singer☑️

Chapter 3: The Coffee Shop

The next day, Jax paced his apartment, glancing at the clock every few minutes. He'd been on the field in front of tens of thousands of fans, been under the pressure of college scouts and coaches, and had his every move scrutinized by the media. But somehow, this coffee date felt like the most nerve-wracking thing he'd done in a long time.

He'd chosen a small coffee shop on the outskirts of town, far from the campus crowds and away from the usual celebrity haunts. It was the kind of place where he could still sit quietly without drawing too much attention—a quiet spot he'd come to love over the years.

When he arrived, he scanned the room, feeling a wave of relief that it wasn't crowded. A few students sat in the corner with laptops, an older couple chatted near the window, and the barista behind the counter barely looked up as Jax walked in. He ordered a coffee, then took a seat by the window, checking his phone. Luna hadn't texted yet, but he didn't mind waiting. He needed a few moments to breathe, to think, to figure out what he was even going to say to her.

Just then, the bell over the door jingled softly, and he looked up. Luna had arrived.

She wore a baseball cap pulled low over her face and a simple sweater with jeans, blending into the crowd as if she were just another girl grabbing a cup of coffee. But even in her casual disguise, she exuded a quiet confidence, a presence that was impossible to ignore. Jax felt his heart skip a beat as she caught his eye and gave a shy smile.

"Hey," she said, sliding into the seat across from him. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

"Not at all," Jax replied, finding himself a bit tongue-tied. "It's good to see you."

They shared a slightly awkward smile before she leaned back, relaxing a little. For a moment, neither of them spoke. It was as if both were trying to bridge the strange gap between them—between fame and normalcy, between the pop sensation and the football star, between two people who had no reason to know each other.

"So," Luna started, wrapping her hands around her coffee cup, "I'm guessing you don't do this kind of thing very often. Meeting up with random singers in small-town coffee shops."

Jax laughed, the sound easing some of the tension in his shoulders. "Not exactly a daily thing, no. But I'm glad you reached out. I was a little surprised, to be honest."

"Yeah, I figured you might be." Luna looked down, her fingers tracing patterns on her cup. "To be honest, I just... I don't know. I've been feeling like I'm constantly in the spotlight, constantly on display. And I guess I was looking for someone to talk to who isn't a part of that world, you know?"

Jax nodded, understanding more than she might have expected. "I get that. Everyone's got expectations for you, and it can feel like you're living for other people instead of yourself. I feel that with football all the time."

"Exactly," she said, looking up with a grateful smile. "It's exhausting. I mean, don't get me wrong—I love music, I love performing, but sometimes I just want to be... me. Not 'Luna Blake, international pop star.' Just Luna."

"Same here," Jax said, leaning forward. "Sometimes I want to be just a regular guy who loves football. But people see me as this 'golden boy' with a perfect life, and they don't know all the sacrifices, the struggles. They don't see what we give up to get here."

They fell into a comfortable silence, both reflecting on their shared experiences. Jax realized that for the first time in a long time, he didn't have to pretend to be someone he wasn't. He could just be Jax—a guy from a small town with dreams and doubts.

"So," he said, breaking the silence, "what's something you've had to give up?"

Luna took a deep breath, her expression turning thoughtful. "Honestly? A normal life. I've been in the music industry since I was a teenager. I've missed family birthdays, holidays, even just quiet weekends with friends. And sometimes, I wonder if it's worth it. If all the fame and the fans and the success... if it's worth not having that normal life."

Jax nodded, feeling a pang of empathy. "I get that. I missed my best friend's wedding last year because I was at a training camp. I didn't even get to see my brother, Levi, for six months when he was moving up to the NFL. Sometimes, the people who matter the most are the ones we have to leave behind."

They exchanged a look, something warm and unspoken passing between them. It wasn't just attraction, though that was definitely there. It was an understanding, a recognition of two souls carrying similar weights.

"So," Jax said, flashing her a small smile, "if you could do anything in the world today, no obligations, no paparazzi, no fans... what would you do?"

Luna's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "Honestly? I'd probably just drive out to some quiet beach, kick off my shoes, and watch the waves until the sun went down."

"Sounds perfect," Jax said, leaning back with a contented sigh. "I've got a favorite spot out by the lake here. No crowds, no noise—just me, my thoughts, and the water."

They talked for hours, sharing stories about their childhoods, their dreams, and the lives they'd left behind to chase something bigger. For Jax, it was refreshing to open up, to let someone see the version of himself that wasn't always so sure, so confident. For Luna, it was a rare moment of peace, away from the chaos of her career.

As the afternoon faded into evening, Luna glanced at her phone, a slight frown crossing her face. "I should probably get going," she said reluctantly. "I've got an early shoot tomorrow."

Jax nodded, feeling an unexpected pang of disappointment. "Of course. Thank you for today, though. It was... nice. Really nice."

She smiled, a little shy. "Yeah, it was. You know, I don't think I've ever had a conversation like this with anyone in... well, years."

They stood up, and as they walked toward the door, Luna hesitated, turning to face him. "Hey, Jax... maybe we could do this again sometime? No pressure, of course. I just... I'd like to keep talking."

Jax's heart lifted at her words. "Yeah. I'd like that too."

They exchanged numbers, and with one last smile, she slipped out into the evening, leaving Jax standing in the dim glow of the coffee shop, a new sense of excitement—and maybe something more—stirring inside him.

For the first time, Jax felt like he'd found someone who saw him for more than just the star quarterback, someone who saw the person behind the title. And as he watched Luna disappear into the night, he couldn't help but wonder if this was the beginning of something he never saw coming