Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

MAX

I took a seat next to her, wondering what she might think of me. This reality was far from what she heard of me being a playboy heartbreaker. I hung out with people who deserved that title more than me, and other than the occasional hookups, I was not interested in girls. Not since I burned myself so fiercely that I still bore that scar. The past still haunted me. Which wasn't a surprise, as I was entering in a fake dating with a random girl who just exited an emotionally abusive relationship. It couldn't have been more complicated.

And on top of all that, she was hot as hell with burning desire in her gaze that in normal circumstances would have pinned to the bed and kissed senseless by me.

Yet, instead of devouring her pouting lips, I was about to open up about a thing no one other than my closest friends knew.

"I dated this girl, Thalia, freshman year," I started with a deep breath. "She was fun and we were both fresh out of high school and thought it was a great idea to jump into a relationship. I was playing for the national team since sixteen, and there was really no space for anything else in my life. Thalia got that, her dad was a soccer coach for Miami FC and she knew the game was important to me. But then… as the honeymoon phase ended, and sex became second priority, she became annoyed and bitchy, wanting my attention when I clearly couldn't prioritize her. Don't get me wrong, I'm fully aware she deserved a guy who could dedicate himself to her and give her the time and energy she deserved, and I told her this. But she… didn't want to let me break up with her. Sounds stupid, but we would get into these massive fights, everyone on my dorm floor would hear it, and then the next day, she acted like nothing happened. I said I wanted to break up over hundred times but she kept showing up at my practice, inside the locker room, and even break into my dorm room. She was obsessed yet I kept putting off having another conversation. Coach was riding me hard why I was distracted and asked me into constant meetings to see what else he could do." A shiver ran through me at the memories. I hated the feeling of not being able to do anything. "I should have been a bigger jerk or I don't even know what was the appropriate way to do it, but after Christmas when she showed up at my family's house and introduced herself to my parents telling them how much in love we are, I told her this needed to stop. I was freaked out over her attitude. She passed every single existing line. So, Dex and Maddox came with me when I told her we were done. She cried, made a huge show over it as we were in public and called me horrible names. But I didn't really care, I just wanted to be rid of her. Boy… was I wrong by thinking I was done with her." A low laugh escaped me. "She started spreading lies of me cheating on her, me being a jerk, everything basically you heard about me and what people assume to this day. But I kept my head down and just focused on soccer. The season was upon us and I was expecting a call from the National Team for the summer tournaments. Surprisingly, the call didn't come from the coach, but from Thalia. She cut me off one day as I was walking from one class to the other. She informed me that her father got the national team coaching position and that if I wanted her to support me playing for the team, I should keep being with her. Obviously, I laughed in her face and didn't believe a word. But then I got home and saw the news. I called my agent and asked him if I was going to be called to the National Team, he said most likely and I left it as it was. I wasn't going to be bullied into a fake dating scenario. Eventually, I got the call and all was happy, until Thalia told her daddy I broke her heart and I was benched for all the fucking games. We lost and I told coach that his daughter deserves someone with his full focus on her and not me. He told me I cheated on her. I said I didn't, but he needed some time to cool down. Now we are okay… but with the World Cup coming up, the best midfielders retiring, I have a good shot of playing an important tournament. And Thalia found me today, reminding me of what she can do to sabotage that chance."

I dared to steal a glance at Ivy's face, watching her brows high on her forehead, grimace painting her face.

"Long story short, I need a girlfriend for Thalia to back the fuck off. I can't be stringing her along, cheating or whatever she wants to tell her daddy I'm doing to her, if I'm publicly in a happy relationship."

"Wow," Ivy muttered, slowly shaking her hair. "I don't usually call girls crazy, but this one definitely qualifies. But I still feel like I should add there is two sides to every story and maybe in hers, you are the villain."

"I'm sure Ander has a sob story with you as well that makes him look like the victim." I scoffed. "I just need your help the way you need mine. I honestly can't deal with her anymore. She is toxic and she will ruin my career in the ground."

Anger and hurt flashed on Ivy's face before she nodded. "Duly noted."

"Not wanting to sound like a dick, but you asked for a story, and I really don't want the feminist bullshit. Some girls are just bad and there is nothing deeper to look for in them."

Ivy nodded. "I know, but I wouldn't want people calling me crazy without giving me a chance to explain. But you handled it pretty well," she offered consolation, but I just lifted a shoulder.

If she wanted a full story, she could go to Thalia and get it, but I knew that I wasn't what she said I was. I wished I was a heartless dick like she painted me to be; I even tried to act the part. But that just wasn't me. Things would have been easier if I was and I wouldn't be here talking to Ivy and trying to get her to see my point.

"No need to sugarcoat it, I messed up big time. Should have been more assertive."

"That might not be your type." She chuckled, making me grin.

"I can be on the field, but my mom taught me to treat woman with respect. That respect bit me in the ass. So, after Thalia, I only ever had one-night stands and only after I informed the girl that I had no intentions of having anything more. I was rude, but I needed to get laid every once in a while, and bunch of them volunteered."

Ivy laughed. "You are such a guy."

"I thought you just called me a pussy."

"I didn't say pussy." She giggled; the sound playing with some invisible strings in my chest. "I said you are not the assertive alpha type."

"Is that your type?" I wiggled my brows. "I can put you against the wall, babe, and fuck you senseless."

She tried to keep a straight face but ended up erupting into a laughter. "You're so cute."

"Cute? I've been called worse."

"Like… pussy?"

I shook my head in disbelief but didn't really care she was teasing me. It was great to see a glimpse of the girl I met in the bar. Her laughter warmed my chest and her smile was contagious. No wonder she caught my eye in the bar. Too bad Ander was hellbent on killing every ounce of happiness in her and leaving her in pieces.

I tucked her wayward hair behind her ears. "I know, you think there is probably a correlation between Thalia and you, and you will go back to your apartment thinking of every single scenario where you might have acted crazy , but trust me, you two are nothing alike. In your story, no matter who is telling it, you are the victim, and you shouldn't let him have the power to tell you otherwise."

She sank her teeth into her lower lips. "How would you know? You don't even know me."

"I'm a pretty good judge of character."

"Really?"

"Well… post-Thalia," I offered.

"I need to see that for myself before I place my trust in you."

I clung onto my chest and laid on my bed. "You wounded me."

"You'll live." She patted my knee. "Thank you."

"For what?" I wiggled my brows, folding my arms behind my back.

"For… all of it."

"It's mutually beneficial, Blossom."

Ivy leaned next to me, her face in line with mine. "That's the best you came up with?"

In everyone's mind Ivy's where these long dark green plant with pointed leaves. Not many people knew that they actually blossomed in autumn having small green flowers. It wasn't anything spectacular, but they were blossoming. Just like the girl in front of me will once she was fully healed.

"I can always stick to babe and be basic about it."

Ivy shook her head, confusion still wrinkling her forehead. "I think I can grow to like it. It's… different. Not your usual pet name."

"I'm not your usual boyfriend." I winked and earned myself another of her sweet laughers. I needed to bottle up that sound and play it on repeat from what it did to my chest. It was ridiculous how stupidly happy it made me to hear her laugh. I would have done anything to keep her laughing.

Well… almost anything.

An hour later, we were all dressed in clothes from our first day, me in jeans and a black T-shirt paired with my white converses, while Ivy wore her red top that hugged her breasts, but left her stomach exposed and paired it with low-rising straight jeans.

"So, what do we do?" I asked. We stood in the backyard of our soccer house.

Dex motioned for us to stand closer to each other. "Just pose for a golden hour pic."

"What does that even mean?" I muttered, and Ivy chuckled next to me.

"Don't you ever take Instagram pictures or TikToks?" she enquired, tilting her head to the side. Our arms brushed as we took another step closer to each other, and I stared into her green eyes.

I grimaced. "Do I look like I do that? I'm offended. And what are you, a wannabe influencer by night and computer science nerd by day?"

"Have you not met people with depth?" she fired back with a grin. "You know… the thing called personality… you could try it. And no, Maximilian, soccer is not a personality."

"You sound just like my mother."

"Your mom seems like a smart woman."

"Certainly." I pushed my hand into my pocket and placed the other one around her shoulders in a casual posture, trying to make my moves seem smooth. I've done this countless times—throw my arm around girls—but Ivy was different.

"You're like an iceberg." She poked me in the side, leaning into my chest. "Can't you relax?"

"This is awkward," I muttered, my lips brushing the top of her blonde hair. I hated posing for photos, especially when I saw Dex take endless pictures of the two of us. I assumed none of them were good enough, as he was frowning at his phone.

"Don't you model for sports brands?" she asked.

"In case you haven't guessed based on my unnatural modelling abilities. No."

"Imagine you are," she said. "Imagine it's Nike, your favorite, and they want you to pose with a super famous female soccer player for their new campaign."

I must have looked as a deer caught in headlights, as my friends barked out a laughter. Ivy chuckled.

"Forget it." She shook her head as she rested it for a second on my chest. Her green eyes blinked up at me. "Forget it all. Just imagine it's you and me, like in the car." Her voice lowered to almost a whisper so the others wouldn't hear us, and I dropped my head, touching my forehead to hers to hear her words. "You told me you were good at PDA," she muttered, her voice raspy and her breath tickling my lips. "You prided yourself on it. So, show me."

"Well… if we had an audience other than my friends," I started, licking my lips, "I wouldn't keep my hands around your shoulders, instead, I would slowly run them down your back and over your ass and keep them there." Challenge lit up in her green eyes from my words, and I moved my arm from her shoulder, slowly running it down her back. My hand stopped above her butt, fingers lightly caressing her exposed skin. I watched her eyes darken, before her teeth sank into her lower lip. A half smile tugged at the corner of my lips, and I couldn't help my cockiness, as I smoothed my palm over her firm backside, giving it a squeeze. "I would do that… to make sure everyone knew you belonged to me. And if you kept biting your lips the way you do—" My fingers curled into her ass, but she didn't release her lower lip.

"What would you do?" she asked, challenging me, baiting me.

This was all for show, but despite my morals and principles, I was still a guy. My cock twitched as I cupped her face. She leaned into my touch, as my thumb caressed her cheek, before I hooked it over her lower lip and pulled it free from her teeth.

A surprised hiss escaped me when her teeth sank into my thumb. Her bite wasn't strong, but it sent a jolt of electricity through my body and right into my aching cock.

Ivy's eyes twinkled with satisfaction as need burned through me like a wildfire.

When was the last time I got laid? I couldn't recall.

My jeans grew tight, and I swallowed hard.

"Got it," Dex interrupted, and Ivy released my finger.

"Let me see." She giggled, stepping away from me. Cold air hit me straight to the core where her body's heat was flushed against me, and I came as close as I could to the much needed cold shower.

I followed her as she bounced over to Dex and they both flipped through the pictures, unaware of my tortured expression.

"You okay?" Maddox asked, appearing next to me.

"Fine," I grunted, shaking my head and running my fingers through it. "Shit…"

"Don't play with fire, Captain." My friend smirked glancing at Ivy. "But I feel like you already got burned."

I followed his gaze and watched in awe how unaffected Ivy was by me and my presence. How she laughed with Dex and pointed at the screen and potentially at a picture of us. She was back to her flirty self, the one I met on that very first night and it was dangerous. I much more preferred her when she was sad and broken. She was far less dangerous.

"I guess, this is how she wants to play," I muttered, pushing my hands in my pockets and fisting them to regain control over my wild thoughts. "She has no idea what she started."

"Max, come." Ivy smiled and ushered me toward her. "You will love this one…"

I doubted I would love any of the photos. In general, I despised photos of myself, but for some reason, the happiness in Ivy's voice and her small giggle compelled me to move closer.

But before I reached her, I still heard my best friend snort. "You are in such a deep shit, bro."

I knew that, and with every step I took toward Ivy, I walked into even deeper shit.