Jayden squeezed Emma's hand as they walked through the hallway, the low hum of the stadium growing louder with each step. "You ready?" he asked, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
"For what? The game or getting lost in this place?" Emma teased, trying to match his energy, though her heart was racing.
"Both," he replied, opening a heavy door that led to the tunnel. The scent of freshly cut grass hit her immediately. Lights from the pitch spilled over the tunnel walls, casting long shadows as players ran their last drills.
Jayden led her slowly along the edge of the field.
"Here's the spot where I usually warm up before the match," he said, stopping near the sideline. His voice softened. "I come out here alone sometimes, just to get in the zone."
Emma glanced around, taking in the sheer scale of the stadium. The seats were gradually filling, fans waving banners and scarves, the energy already electric even an hour before kickoff.
"It's... massive," she whispered.
Jayden smirked and guided her toward the exit that led to the tunnel again. "Now, follow me. I want to show you the press area."
They moved past photographers' platforms and TV camera rigs. Emma peeked into the commentary boxes, imagining the live broadcast that would soon capture every move on the pitch.
A few reporters were already setting up, adjusting cameras and microphones. One young photographer clicked a shot of Jayden, but a security guard quickly stepped forward.
"No photos here!" the guard warned.
Jayden raised a hand, smiling. "It's fine"
He gave Emma's hand a reassuring squeeze. The guard backed off, still keeping an eye out.
Emma took in the scene; the rows of cameras, buzzing microphones, and the almost-finished setup for the live broadcast. "This is incredible," she said, her eyes wide.
"Not done yet," Jayden said, grinning. "Now, I'll take you to the locker room so you can meet the guys before the match."
As they walked toward the locker room, Emma could hear snippets of conversations, players joking, trainers giving last-minute advice. The excitement was tangible, and for Emma, being here with Jayden made it all feel personal, almost like she was part of the team.
Jayden pushed open the locker room door, and Emma stepped in behind him. Immediately, a sharp whistle echoed through the room. A few heads turned, and all conversation paused for a brief moment.
"Who's the girl?" one of the players asked, raising an eyebrow.
One tall player, grinning, leaned back against a locker. "So this is the mystery girl, huh? The one who gets VIP access?" he teased, earning a few chuckles from the others.
Jayden rolled his eyes and guided Emma closer to his side. "Stop it, guys," he muttered.
A broad-shouldered teammate with a playful smirk leaned forward. "Oh, we'll see about that. I mean, Jayden, look at you, so secretive all the time, and now she's finally here. Don't tell me you're shy?"
"Shut up, Alex," Jayden said, shaking his head with a half-smile.
Jayden shook his head with a small grin. "Okay guys. This is Emma, and she's my guest," he said firmly, gesturing for her to walk further in.
The teasing continued in low murmurs as she followed him deeper into the locker room.
"That's Derek," Jayden said, pointing to a player sitting on a bench, adjusting his boots. Derek gave her a warm smile and a casual nod. "He's my closest friend on the team. You can blame him for knowing everything about me."
"Everything, huh?" Emma teased lightly, raising an eyebrow.
Derek laughed. "Pretty much. Ask me anything...well, almost anything."
"Finally I get to meet the girl Jayden won't stop talking about."
Emma smiled shyly, taking the seat next to him.
"Yeah," Derek continued with a playful grin, "He's been hyping you up non-stop. It's good to finally put a face to all the stories. Welcome to our little chaos before the match."
Emma laughed softly, feeling instantly at ease. "Thanks, it's nice to meet you too."
A shorter teammate with bright eyes who had been listening closely started with mischievous grin piped up. "So, Jayden, tell us... is she the famous red Louboutins cause she's rocking sneakers today"
Jayden groaned, hiding a smile. "You guys are impossible," he muttered, gently tapping Emma's jaw "Ignore them.
Emma chuckled, taking in the friendly chaos. She noticed how everyone seemed comfortable with each other, joking and nudging one another, even in the tense moments before the match.
The team laughed, the ice broken instantly. Jayden leaned down to whisper in her ear, "See? Told you I'd introduce you properly. These are my guys, they're my family, so you're safe."
Derek nudged her gently. "Seriously, he's been smiling every time he talks about you. You're officially part of the team's pre-game gossip now."
Emma rolled her eyes, laughing. "Guess I better live up to the hype then."
The locker room buzzed with energy again as players returned to their warm-ups and stretching, Players were stretching, lacing up boots, and chatting in groups. The smell of turf and sports gear mixed with the faint scent of cologne and sweat were exactly what Emma had imagined a professional locker room would smell like.
Emma found herself enjoying this side of Jayden's world, the camaraderie, the teasing, and the sense of belonging that came with it.
Jayden reached into his bag and pulled out a neatly folded shirt, tossing it lightly toward Emma. She caught it instinctively.
"A customized shirt, just like you asked for," he said with a grin.
Emma eagerly unfolded it. Boldly printed across the top was her name, Emma, and underneath, the number 01, Jayden's own number. She squealed, stomping her feet like an overjoyed child, and a few of the team members glanced over, smiling at her excitement. Quickly, she composed herself, though the glow on her face was unmistakable.
Jayden led her toward the back of the locker room, a space tucked behind the rows of lockers.
"Change here," he said, turning slightly as he prepared to give her some privacy.
"Wait," Emma called out, tugging him gently.
"Watch out, and make sure no one comes here!"
She handed him the shirt she had been wearing and slipped into the new one. Jayden's eyes lingered appreciatively.
"It suits you," he remarked.
"I know," she teased, taking his hand and pulling him closer. She leaned in for a kiss, but he gently tilted his head back.
"We're in a room full of my team members," he whispered.
Emma just stared at him blankly before letting out a dramatic sigh.
"Fineee," she murmured, leaning in again, and this time he pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss deepened, Jayden pulling her closer, realizing just how much he had missed her. It was like finally taking that long-awaited drink he'd been craving, he just couldn't get enough.
"I've missed this so much," he murmured, planting one final, lingering kiss on her lips.
Hand in hand, they walked back into the open locker room. Alex, from earlier, caught sight of Jayden and smirked, eyes scanning him up and down.
"Do I... sight a boner?" he teased loudly.
"Fool, you do not," Jayden shot back, quickly turning to his locker to avoid any more attention.
He carefully stowed Emma's shirt in his bag and pulled out his own uniform, ready to get dressed for the match.Jayden squeezed Emma's hand as they walked through the hallway, the low hum of the stadium growing louder with each step. "You ready?" he asked, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
"For what? The game or getting lost in this place?" Emma teased, trying to match his energy, though her heart was racing.
"Both," he replied, opening a heavy door that led to the tunnel. The scent of freshly cut grass hit her immediately. Lights from the pitch spilled over the tunnel walls, casting long shadows as players ran their last drills.
Jayden led her slowly along the edge of the field.
"Here's the spot where I usually warm up before the match," he said, stopping near the sideline. His voice softened. "I come out here alone sometimes, just to get in the zone."
Emma glanced around, taking in the sheer scale of the stadium. The seats were gradually filling, fans waving banners and scarves, the energy already electric even an hour before kickoff.
"It's... massive," she whispered.
Jayden smirked and guided her toward the exit that led to the tunnel again. "Now, follow me. I want to show you the press area."
They moved past photographers' platforms and TV camera rigs. Emma peeked into the commentary boxes, imagining the live broadcast that would soon capture every move on the pitch.
A few reporters were already setting up, adjusting cameras and microphones. One young photographer clicked a shot of Jayden, but a security guard quickly stepped forward.
"No photos here!" the guard warned.
Jayden raised a hand, smiling. "It's fine"
He gave Emma's hand a reassuring squeeze. The guard backed off, still keeping an eye out.
Emma took in the scene; the rows of cameras, buzzing microphones, and the almost-finished setup for the live broadcast. "This is incredible," she said, her eyes wide.
"Not done yet," Jayden said, grinning. "Now, I'll take you to the locker room so you can meet the guys before the match."
As they walked toward the locker room, Emma could hear snippets of conversations, players joking, trainers giving last-minute advice. The excitement was tangible, and for Emma, being here with Jayden made it all feel personal, almost like she was part of the team.
Jayden pushed open the locker room door, and Emma stepped in behind him. Immediately, a sharp whistle echoed through the room. A few heads turned, and all conversation paused for a brief moment.
"Who's the girl?" one of the players asked, raising an eyebrow.
One tall player, grinning, leaned back against a locker. "So this is the mystery girl, huh? The one who gets VIP access?" he teased, earning a few chuckles from the others.
Jayden rolled his eyes and guided Emma closer to his side. "Stop it, guys," he muttered.
A broad-shouldered teammate with a playful smirk leaned forward. "Oh, we'll see about that. I mean, Jayden, look at you, so secretive all the time, and now she's finally here. Don't tell me you're shy?"
"Shut up, Alex," Jayden said, shaking his head with a half-smile.
Jayden shook his head with a small grin. "Okay guys. This is Emma, and she's my guest," he said firmly, gesturing for her to walk further in.
The teasing continued in low murmurs as she followed him deeper into the locker room.
"That's Derek," Jayden said, pointing to a player sitting on a bench, adjusting his boots. Derek gave her a warm smile and a casual nod. "He's my closest friend on the team. You can blame him for knowing everything about me."
"Everything, huh?" Emma teased lightly, raising an eyebrow.
Derek laughed. "Pretty much. Ask me anything...well, almost anything."
"Finally I get to meet the girl Jayden won't stop talking about."
Emma smiled shyly, taking the seat next to him.
"Yeah," Derek continued with a playful grin, "He's been hyping you up non-stop. It's good to finally put a face to all the stories. Welcome to our little chaos before the match."
Emma laughed softly, feeling instantly at ease. "Thanks, it's nice to meet you too."
A shorter teammate with bright eyes who had been listening closely started with mischievous grin piped up. "So, Jayden, tell us... is she the famous red Louboutins cause she's rocking sneakers today"
Jayden groaned, hiding a smile. "You guys are impossible," he muttered, gently tapping Emma's jaw "Ignore them.
Emma chuckled, taking in the friendly chaos. She noticed how everyone seemed comfortable with each other, joking and nudging one another, even in the tense moments before the match.
The team laughed, the ice broken instantly. Jayden leaned down to whisper in her ear, "See? Told you I'd introduce you properly. These are my guys, they're my family, so you're safe."
Derek nudged her gently. "Seriously, he's been smiling every time he talks about you. You're officially part of the team's pre-game gossip now."
Emma rolled her eyes, laughing. "Guess I better live up to the hype then."
The locker room buzzed with energy again as players returned to their warm-ups and stretching, Players were stretching, lacing up boots, and chatting in groups. The smell of turf and sports gear mixed with the faint scent of cologne and sweat were exactly what Emma had imagined a professional locker room would smell like.
Emma found herself enjoying this side of Jayden's world, the camaraderie, the teasing, and the sense of belonging that came with it.
Jayden reached into his bag and pulled out a neatly folded shirt, tossing it lightly toward Emma. She caught it instinctively.
"A customized shirt, just like you asked for," he said with a grin.
Emma eagerly unfolded it. Boldly printed across the top was her name, Emma, and underneath, the number 01, Jayden's own number. She squealed, stomping her feet like an overjoyed child, and a few of the team members glanced over, smiling at her excitement. Quickly, she composed herself, though the glow on her face was unmistakable.
Jayden led her toward the back of the locker room, a space tucked behind the rows of lockers.
"Change here," he said, turning slightly as he prepared to give her some privacy.
"Wait," Emma called out, tugging him gently.
"Watch out, and make sure no one comes here!"
She handed him the shirt she had been wearing and slipped into the new one. Jayden's eyes lingered appreciatively.
"It suits you," he remarked.
"I know," she teased, taking his hand and pulling him closer. She leaned in for a kiss, but he gently tilted his head back.
"We're in a room full of my team members," he whispered.
Emma just stared at him blankly before letting out a dramatic sigh.
"Fineee," she murmured, leaning in again, and this time he pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss deepened, Jayden pulling her closer, realizing just how much he had missed her. It was like finally taking that long-awaited drink he'd been craving, he just couldn't get enough.
"I've missed this so much," he murmured, planting one final, lingering kiss on her lips.
Hand in hand, they walked back into the open locker room. Alex, from earlier, caught sight of Jayden and smirked, eyes scanning him up and down.
"Do I... sight a boner?" he teased loudly.
"Fool, you do not," Jayden shot back, quickly turning to his locker to avoid any more attention.
He carefully stowed Emma's shirt in his bag and pulled out his own uniform, ready to get dressed for the match.