Larsson nodded, satisfied. "Good. Because if you left, I'd have to actually start passing the ball forward instead of to you."
They both laughed, the kind of easy laughter that came from shared goals and long training sessions. Lukas set his phone aside, watching as Larsson went back to stretching his hamstrings.
"You know," Larsson said after a moment, "Fabrizio's probably talking about something else. Maybe Frankfurt are extending your deal or something. Just don't overthink it."
"I won't," Lukas replied, leaning back against the wall. "Whatever it is, I'll find out soon enough."
The two continued their stretches in quiet rhythm. Lukas's phone buzzed again beside him — thousands more comments piling up beneath Fabrizio's post — but he ignored it this time.
Whatever the world thought it knew, Lukas was focused on recovery, on the next match, and on enjoying the present with his teammates.
