Tangled Hearts

Finn's POV

The next couple of days were spent with either of us cuddling, watching Sharknado, or giving Lily enough toe-curling orgasms to make up for the time I'd be gone for – you'd think it was for her alone, but the sight of her under me, eyes fluttering, mouth parted in a gasp, was all the fuel I needed. Every sigh and shudder, every grip of her fingers against my skin, was a reminder of what I'd be missing when I was away.

The first day of camp was a whirlwind of introductions and orientations. The head coach, a grizzled veteran of the sport whose very presence demanded respect, laid out the camp's rigorous schedule. From early morning runs in the mountain terrain to late evening strategy sessions, every minute was accounted for. There was no room for mistakes, and certainly no room for distractions, but thoughts of Lily lingered at the edges of my mind, whispering like a siren song.

Subsequent days at the camp were even more intense. The morning runs through Madrid's hilly terrain left me breathless, the cool air biting at my skin and the ground seeming to tilt under my feet with every step. The afternoon drills tested my skills to the limit. The coach, ever the relentless taskmaster, pushed us to improve every aspect of our game. My legs ached, my muscles screamed in protest, but I pushed through, driven by the unspoken promise I'd made to myself. But even as I fought through the physical pain, a certain brunette found her way to my thoughts more often than I'd care to admit.

Her laughter echoed in my mind, a sweet melody that provided a strange comfort even during the toughest drills. I could almost see her sparkling eyes, the way they lit up with mischief, and her bright smile that always seemed to chase away the shadows. Just the thought of her made my heart race more than the sprints up the steep hills, my chest tightening with a mix of longing and determination.

Nights were the toughest. Alone in my dorm room, the silence seemed louder than ever. But I found comfort in our nightly video calls. Seeing Lily's face and hearing her voice made everything so much easier. We'd chat about our days, laugh at silly jokes, and dream up fun plans for when I got back – all of which, of course, involved her sexy referee alter ego sending the rush straight to my groin.

"Brookes!" a voice called, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Kai and Charlie taking a seat beside me in the makeshift cafeteria, their trays clattering against the worn wooden table.

"You look like you're somewhere else," Kai said, his eyes narrowing with a smirk. "Or should I say, thinking about someone else?"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool, but I could feel the flush creeping up my neck. "Just thinking about the drills," I lied, shovelling a spoonful of lukewarm pasta into my mouth. The taste was bland, a sad excuse for fuel, but it gave me something to focus on other than their teasing grins.

"Trying to keep my head in the game."

"Sure, sure," Charlie replied, drawing out the words with a tone dripping in sarcasm. He stretched his legs out lazily, leaning back in his chair with a casual confidence that said he wasn't buying my excuse for a second. The chair creaked under his weight, a sharp contrast to the muffled chatter of the other athletes scattered around the room. He cast a knowing glance my way, eyes twinkling with mischief.

"And here I thought you were thinking about your girl back home..." He paused, tapping a finger against his chin in exaggerated thought, before his smirk widened into a grin.

"Butterfly, is it?"

The nickname caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but laugh, despite myself.

"Screw you," I said, giving him a playful shove, the tension breaking with the sound of my own laughter. His chair rocked slightly with the force of my push, but he didn't lose his balance, just kept grinning at me like he'd won some kind of unspoken challenge.