XAVIER 'S POV The next day wasn’t loaded with any activities. Melissa and I had decided that in the evening we’d head down to the beach, unwind a little, maybe grab some drinks, and just breathe without cameras flashing in our faces. It sounded simple, but with her, even the simplest moments felt like fireworks waiting to go off.In the hours leading up to that, I lounged lazily on the couch, half scrolling through my phone and half watching her as she moved around the suite. She disappeared into the bathroom, and I didn’t think much of it—until she stepped out again.Melissa walked out in a bright yellow bikini, the kind that demanded attention whether you wanted to give it or not. The fabric clung to her curves in a way that made my throat tighten. She paused right in front of the mirror, pretending to adjust the straps, but I felt like she was doing it for me. She caught my eyes and tilted her head.“So… what do you think?” she asked, her voice casual, but there was a playful edg
MELISSA’S POV The soft bump of the plane touching down pulled me from my thoughts. We were in Atlanta. I pressed my forehead briefly against the small window, watching the city lights twinkle against the dark velvet sky. The city seemed alive, vibrant, almost welcoming us into its arms. Xavier stretched beside me, his hand brushing mine in that effortless way that still sent sparks racing through my veins.For once, this wasn’t about competitions, cameras, or pressure. This was us—our week, our escape.We checked into a hotel not far from the airport, a luxurious but quiet place that promised privacy and comfort. The moment my head touched the pillow, I thought I’d collapse into sleep, but excitement hummed beneath my skin. It wasn’t just the thrill of being in a new city—it was being here with him.Later that evening, after some rest and room service, Xavier leaned over and kissed my temple. “There’s a couples’ event happening nearby,” he said, a little mischievous smile tugging a
XAVIER'S POV When I asked Melissa if we should go public for real this time, my heart was pounding harder than it ever had in a game. It wasn’t about strategy or tactics anymore—it was about letting the whole world know that this woman was mine. Not a publicity stunt, not a storyline cooked up by Marco, not smoke and mirrors to sell headlines. It was really us.She hesitated. I caught it—the flicker in her eyes, the way her lips pressed together for a moment as if weighing the risk. My chest tightened, bracing for rejection, for doubt, for one of those “not yet” speeches that would leave me pacing through the night.But then her whole face shifted. Her lips curved into a slow, radiant smile, and her eyes lit up like stars breaking through a cloudy sky. “Sure,” she said, voice soft but steady, “I’ve been meaning to tell you about it anyway.”I felt relief rush through me so fast I almost laughed. Instead, I leaned closer and kissed her cheek, letting my lips linger against her skin.
XAVIER’S POV After Melissa and I made our relationship official, things had been moving surprisingly smooth—almost too smooth, like life was giving me a chance to catch my breath after years of turbulence.Dates, late-night calls that stretched until dawn. Cinema trips where she always stole half my popcorn and pretended she didn’t. Lazy movie nights in her living room, where the film would play in the background but I’d find myself watching her more than the screen.With her, it didn’t feel like work. It didn’t feel like performance or obligation. It just felt natural—like this was where I was supposed to be all along.There wasn’t noise anymore. No guilt gnawing at my chest, no endless drama leaving me drained. Just quiet, simple joy. The kind of peace I hadn’t realized I’d been starving for. For the first time in a long time, I could breathe without my mind being pulled in ten different directions.Melissa made it easy. She didn’t demand it. She didn’t force it. She just… existed
MELISSA’S POV It’s funny how life works. Just a few months ago, Xavier was the most annoying man in my life. He had this way of showing up everywhere I went, saying things that got under my skin, teasing me until I wanted to scream. I used to tell myself I hated him, that he was arrogant and smug, that I could never be around someone like him without losing my patience.But now?Now he’s the love of my life.And I don’t even know when the shift happened. Maybe it was the little moments, like the way his eyes softened when he looked at me. Or how he always seemed to notice the tiniest things—like when I changed my perfume. Maybe it was how he stood by me when I needed someone most, even when I pushed him away.Or maybe, deep down, it was always there, buried under layers of denial.I just never imagined that the same man I once considered a thorn in my side would be the very one to make my heart beat this fast.The irony? He’s my sister’s ex.I still feel guilty every time I think abo
XAVIER'S POV I sat with my phone in hand for longer than I should have, staring at her name on the screen. Mellisa. Just seeing it made my chest tighten, made my pulse quicken.A month had passed since Katrina and I ended things, and though I should’ve felt haunted, broken, or at the very least conflicted, all I felt was this magnetic pull toward her sister. Toward the woman who had turned my whole world upside down without even trying.She had been keeping her distance. I noticed. Every time I stepped closer, she stepped back. Every time our eyes lingered too long, she turned away. And I understood why. She didn’t want to be the one accused of stepping into her sister’s shadow.But she was wrong. She wasn’t in anyone’s shadow. She was the light itself.Enough was enough.I wasn’t going to keep waiting for her fear to dissolve on its own. I needed to show her what I already knew—that she wasn’t a mistake, wasn’t a rebound, wasn’t some dangerous distraction. She was mine. And I was do