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Lila had just played the hardest game of her career. She hated New York, she hated their whole team and how they were so full of themselves. She couldn’t wait for her interviews to finally be over so she could talk to Zoé. The blonde girl was her manager since Montréal signed her. At first Lila was against the whole idea, because she thought she didn’t need a manager, she’d been handling the press just fine on her own. Or so she thought.
Then Zoé started stepping in whenever reporters asked ridiculous questions. She'd smoothly redirect the conversation or cut the interview short before Lila could say something she'd regret. And whenever Lila couldn't think of the right answer, all she had to do was glance at Zoé. A subtle nod, a mouthed word, a tiny gesture, it was enough to keep Lila from making a complete fool of herself.
After a couple games, Lila found herself being flirty with Zoé, who always blushed when Lila teased her. Lila really enjoyed this. She thought Zoé was someone who was out of her league, someone who'd never date her, so she never really mentioned her feelings to the blonde. Now all she wanted was the countless interviews to end, so she could spend some time with her manager at her apartment.
She smiled for the cameras, answered every question politely, and tried to ignore how badly her legs ached. One more, she thought.
A young reporter with short black hair approached, microphone already in hand. Lila had never seen her before. She had to be new.
"Hi, Lila. Congratulations on the win. You scored twice tonight, including the game-winner against Canada. Incredible performance." The reporter smiled. "How are your legs holding up after playing at such a high pace?"
Lila shot Zoé a quick glance. Zoé looked ready to end the interview before it even started, and honestly, it would’ve been justified, since this was a stupid question. But Lila decided to answer anyway.
"I'm exhausted," she admitted with a laugh. "I can't wait to get home and do absolutely nothing. My legs are literally shaking."
She paused just long enough to notice Zoé narrowing her eyes.
“If you’d like to experience something similar,” Lila continued with a grin, “you should definitely visit me sometimes”
She finished with a wink. Across from her, the reporter blinked, completely speechless. Zoé sighed, stepped neatly between them, and offered the reporter an apologetic smile.
“Okay, that’s all for tonight. Thank you for your questions”
Before the reporter could recover enough to ask another question, Zoé gently took Lila by the arm and steered her toward the tunnel.
“Could you not flirt with the reporters on live TV?” Zoé muttered as they were walking out of the arena.
“Are you jealous?” she asked with a cocky smile. The blonde decided to ignore that question. Lila took that as a yes.
“Zoé, wait” a voice called. They looked back, and saw a New York player walking up to them. Claire. Lila scoffed the second she recognized her, though Claire didn't seem to care.
“I just wanted to ask you, if you’re free tonight. Or tomorrow.” She flashed Zoé a confident smile, brushing a strand of bright red hair behind her ear.
At first, Zoé couldn’t register that she was talking to her and not Lila. This was unexpected.
“I figured you had a long day,” Claire continued “Maybe I could help you unwind. Just the two of us”
Zoé was about to open her mouth, but Lila was quicker.
“She’s busy,” she said, looking at Claire, who was still eyeing Zoé.
“I wasn’t talking to you, Rossi,” the redhead said, then turned to Zoé again. “If you really have plans, we can arrange something later this week. I’m flexible.”
“You're flexible because we just ended your hopes and dreams to win the cup,” Lila added. “She’s busy. Not just this week. Every week”
Zoé looked back and forth between them, trying to process the argument, then turned toward Claire.
“Look, you’re really nice and I appreciate the offer” she started, and inside Lila was shocked. No way Zoé was going to accept this loser’s offer. “But I already have someone, so I have to say no. You were great today though” she said with a polite smile.
“Okay, message received,” Claire nodded. “See, Rossi? You have no chance either, you were tryharding for absolutely no reason” she laughed, and left. Lila was about to run after her, but Zoé grabbed her arm.
“No,” she said. Lila stopped, but she was still angry at the redhead.
The ride home was silent, Lila was scrolling on her phone with a pissed look on her face and Zoé was occasionally glancing at her. Lila was thinking about Zoé’s words. Does she have someone? Someone she didn’t mention to Lila until now? Or was that just a lie? It had to be a lie.
“Finally” Lila sat on the couch. Zoé disappeared into the kitchen and came back a few minutes later with a protein shake for Lila and a coffee for herself, then joined her. “Thank you” Lila said as the blonde handed her the shake.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Zoé asked with a smile.
“Yes” Lila drank from the cup then put it on the table. “Do you really have someone?” she asked suddenly. Zoé buried her head in her hand as she let out a sigh.
“Lila, that was a lie” she laughed. “And I wasn’t talking about that”
“Then what?” Lila asked with a confused look. She knew what Zoé meant, and no, she didn’t want to talk about it.
“Claire,” Zoé said. Hearing the name, Lila turned away.
“I don’t want to talk about her,” she muttered. “She’s a terrible person. All she’s into are hookups and casual flings” Lila said suddenly. Zoé looked at her in disbelief.
“You just flirted with a reporter” she laughed. “You’re two sides of the same coin”
Lila opened her mouth to defend herself, but she couldn’t. That was true, but she cared about Zoé. Not like that snake.
“I would’ve said no without you interrupting” Zoé said as she put her mug next to Lila's cup.
“Really?” Lila glanced at her.
“Well, I’m not into redheads” she started, “and she was trashtalking you after the game.” Zoé added.
“Thank god” Lila let out a breath.
“Was that relief in your voice?” Zoé laughed.
“It wasn’t”
“It definitely was,” she teased her.
“Wait” Lila froze. “She was doing WHAT after the game? She’s so dead”
“She called you overrated and all talent, no personality” the blonde said. “And I’m not going to talk to someone like that”
“I just spent the last five minutes trashtalking Claire, Zoé” Lila blinked.
“I mean, you were stating facts. Most of the time.” Zoé shrugged. “And she was saying bullshit”
“You think so?” the Italian glanced at her. Zoé gave her a warm smile.
“Of course,” she nodded. “It would've been different if she'd said something about your ego, though,” Zoé added, a playful look in her eyes. “Maybe then I would've considered going out with her. Since apparently no one ever mentions that.”
“Take that back” Lila scoffed.
“After you argued with a commentator last week because he called your goal ‘lucky’?” Zoé laughed. “Absolutely not”
“It wasn’t lucky”
“You just proved my point” the blonde laughed even harder.
“Stop it,” Lila said with an annoyed smile.
“Make me” Zoé said, then she realized what she just said.
“Careful, I might actually make you” Lila smirked.
Zoé was about to grab a pillow next to her, to throw at Lila but Lila grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer.
“You’re so dramatic” Zoé looked at her, still smiling.
“Big words from someone who just blushed”
“It’s really warm in here” Zoé cleared her throat. Lila thought for a moment, then let go of Zoé’s wrist.
“Okay, that’s actually true” Lila said, so casually that Zoé looked like she believed her. She probably did.
Then Lila pulled her hoodie over her head and tossed it onto the couch. Her abs were visible for a second. She didn't miss the way Zoé immediately looked down. A small smile appeared on Lila’s face.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing” Zoé said.
“You’re a terrible liar” she looked at Zoé, who finally looked at her.
“And you’re full of yourself” Zoé rolled her eyes, but the faint blush gave her away. “I wasn’t even looking at you”
“Oh” Lila tilted her head. “Should I get rid of the shirt too?”
Zoé’s eyes snapped up to hers. For a second she just stared, lips slightly parted, the faint blush on her cheeks deepening.
“No” Zoé mumbled. “You’ve already done enough,” she said. Lila definitely didn’t agree with that.
“Done enough?” she repeated. “I haven’t even started.” she said, watching Zoé, who was watching her stretching her arms.
“I hate you” the blonde tried to grab her mug, but Lila leaned in just enough to stop her, fingers brushing Zoé’s wrist.
“You’re cute,” Lila grinned.
“I am your manager,” Zoé said. “You can't just call me cute.”
“Why not?” Lila’s voice dropped lower. “You’re sitting here pretending you don’t care while your pulse is so fast under my fingers.” She pressed a little firmer, just enough to feel it.
Zoé swallowed. She didn’t pull her hand away.
Lila moved closer on the couch until their knees touched. The contact was small, but it felt intentional. She kept her voice soft, almost playful, while her eyes stayed locked on Zoé.
“You looked so serious today when you told Claire you have someone” Lila’s free hand came up and brushed a strand of blonde hair behind Zoé’s ear. “Was that a lie or were you thinking about something specific?”
“I was trying to get rid of her.”
“Sure, you were” Lila moved even closer, her thigh was fully touching Zoé’s.
“I wasn’t thinking about you.” Zoé said, with a voice shakier than she wanted to.
“Oh?” Lila raised an eyebrow. “I never said I meant that about myself” she almost whispered.
A small, frustrated sound escaped Zoé.
“You’re doing this on purpose.”
“Of course I am,” Lila nodded. “You never told me to stop. That you don’t want me to tease you” she said as she traced a slow line along Zoé’s jaw with the tip of her finger, ending just under her lower lip.
Zoé closed her eyes for a second.
“You’re going to regret this tomorrow” she said when she opened her eyes again and her gaze dropped onto Lila’s lips.
“I won’t” Lila leaned closer. She didn’t kiss Zoé, as she was wanting to give her every chance to pull away, and to stretch the tension until Zoé finally closed the distance between them.
The first kiss was careful. The second one wasn’t. Zoé’s hands came up, one sliding into Lila’s dark hair, the other gripping the front of her shirt. Lila made a low, satisfied sound against her mouth and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss until Zoé was the one who had to break away for air.
“I’ve been waiting for months to finally do this,” Lila said as she wrapped an arm around Zoé. “I’m tired of just watching you all the time. Being so close to you all day and not being able to pull you in and kiss you… was a torture” she whispered into her ear.
“So you were not just teasing me, huh?” Zoé leaned her head on Lila’s shoulder,
“No, but I enjoyed that too” Lila let out a quiet laugh. “I love how beautiful you are when you’re blushing. Like right now” she said.
“I told you, I hate you” Zoé mumbled.
“No, you don’t” Lila said with her hand on Zoé’s waist.
“No, I really don't,” the blonde kissed her again.
They stayed in each other’s arms for almost an hour, occasionally kissing each other, then Lila cleared her throat.
“Come” she said. “Shower”
Zoé hesitated. “Together?”
Lila raised an eyebrow, already standing and offering her hand. “Unless you’d rather I watch from the doorway.”
“Stop teasing me” the blonde took her hand with her cheeks already turning pink.
“Never” Lila laughed as they disappeared down the hallway.