Chapter 187 A finished captain

Chapter 187 A finished captain

Amelia felt warmth creep into her cheeks. She squeezed his hand gently. "I should probably apologize."

"I wouldn't accept it."

A quiet laugh escaped her.

Nathan unbuckled his seat belt and turned toward her completely. "Come here."

She knew exactly what he meant. Without a word, she leaned across the center console and wrapped her arms around him.

Nathan held her tightly as though he wanted to memorize the feeling. He rested his chin lightly against her head.

"I had a really good day."

Amelia smiled against his shoulder. "So did I."

"I'll probably spend the whole night thinking about today."

"You'll survive."

"Barely."

She laughed softly.

After another long moment, Nathan gently tilted her chin upward. His eyes searched hers for a second.

Then he kissed her, slowly.

When they finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers.

"Goodnight, my baby."

She smiled. "Goodnight, Prince charming"

Reluctantly, she climbed out of the car. Nathan waited until she reached the hostel entrance before driving away.

Amelia had barely taken a few steps inside the building when her phone vibrated. She smiled before she even looked at the screen.

Nathan.

She answered immediately. "I've only been inside for ten seconds."

Nathan's laughter filled the speaker. "I was just checking."

"Checking what?"

"That you made it safely."

She shook her head even though he could not see her. "You literally watched me walk in."

"I know."

"You are unbelievable." Amelia leaned against the corridor wall, smiling to herself.

"So..." Nathan asked gently. "Have you reached your room?"

"Not yet."

"You should."

"I am almost there."

"You've been standing still for at least thirty seconds."

She blinked. "How did you know that?"

"I know you."

Her smile widened. “You've become very confident."

"I have reasons."

She laughed again. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

"And text me when you before you sleep."

She smiled knowingly. "I was going to tell you to do the same."

"I guess we're equally guilty."

"I guess we are."

Another comfortable silence settled between them.

Neither seemed willing to end the call.

Finally Amelia whispered, "Good night."

Nathan's voice softened. "Sleep well, beautiful."

Her heart skipped. "You too." She ended the call with a smile she could not hide no matter how hard she tried.

Still smiling, she unlocked the hostel room and stepped inside.

Mira was sitting cross-legged on her bed with a textbook open in front of her. The moment she looked up, she slowly lowered the book.

Her eyes narrowed..Then a grin spread across her face. "Oh..."

Amelia froze. "What?"

Mira climbed off the bed dramatically and walked around her in a slow circle. "Hmm."

Amelia tried very hard to look innocent. "What are you doing?"

"I am conducting an investigation."

"Into what?"

Mira pointed at her face. "This."

Amelia frowned. "What about my face?"

"You are smiling."

"I always smile."

"Not like this."

Amelia quickly pressed her lips together.

Mira gasped dramatically. "She tried to hide it!"

"There is nothing to hide."

Mira folded her arms. "Your cheeks are glowing."

"They are not."

"They absolutely are."

Amelia quietly placed her bag on the table, hoping the conversation would somehow end on its own.

It did not.

Mira walked over until they were barely a step apart. "That was Nathan on the phone, wasn't it?"

Amelia busied herself by removing her wristwatch.

No answer.

Mira clapped once. "I knew it!"

Amelia still said nothing.

Mira let out a delighted shriek that echoed around the room. "Oh my goodness!"

She grabbed Amelia by both shoulders. "You finally look like someone who's in love."

Amelia tried to look offended. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You have not stopped smiling since you walked through that door."

Amelia bit her lower lip, trying and failing to suppress another smile.

Mira pointed accusingly. "There!"

"I didn't do anything."

"You smiled again!"

Amelia gave up pretending. She covered her face with both hands, laughing quietly.

Mira bounced excitedly. "I cannot believe this." She pulled Amelia into a tight hug. "My best friend is officially glowing."

Amelia laughed against her shoulder. "It was just a really nice day."

Mira pulled back and looked at her knowingly. "No." She smiled warmly. "It was the beginning of something even better.”

Amelia smiled as she sat on her bed, and Mira sat beside her.

The next morning, the campus café was already buzzing with students grabbing breakfast before lectures.

Nathan had claimed the largest table near the windows long before everyone else arrived.

Ryan was halfway through a plate of pancakes.

Three of Nathan's teammates were arguing over which goalkeeper in the league was the most overrated.

Mira wandered over carrying a tray loaded with food that looked far too heavy for one person. "You people eat like you've all been rescued from a deserted island."

Ryan looked up. "We're athletes."

"You've used that excuse four times this week."

"And it has worked every time."

She rolled her eyes and dropped into the chair beside him.

A few moments later, Amelia walked into the café.

Nathan looked up instinctively. The smile that spread across his face happened so naturally that everyone at the table noticed.

Ryan slowly lowered his fork. "Oh, no."

One of the teammates looked between them. "What?"

Ryan sighed dramatically. "Our captain has become one of those people."

Nathan frowned. "What people?"

"The people who smile at their phones."

"I'm not holding my phone."

"You've upgraded."

The table erupted into laughter.

Nathan ignored every single one of them. His attention remained fixed on Amelia as she reached the table.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

He stood before she could even pull out a chair and gently moved it for her.

Amelia looked at him with amused disbelief. "You've become a gentleman."

Nathan shrugged. "I have always been a gentleman."

Ryan almost choked on his juice. "You stole my fries yesterday."

Nathan looked completely unapologetic. "That was different."

Amelia laughed as she sat down.

Nathan quietly slid the glass of orange juice he had already ordered toward her. "I remembered you like this one."

She looked at the drink, then back at him. "You ordered juice for me?"

"You usually drink it when you skip breakfast."

Amelia smiled warmly. "You're a gentleman"

"For you."

The words slipped out so naturally that Nathan did not even realize what he had said.

Amelia's cheeks turned pink almost immediately.

Across the table, Ryan slowly placed both elbows on the table. "No."

Everyone looked at him.

"I cannot survive this."

Nathan looked confused. "What now?"

Ryan pointed dramatically between Nathan and Amelia. "The eye contact."

One teammate laughed. "What about it?"

"They've been looking at each other for less than thirty seconds." Ryan shook his head. "I already feel bad for being single."

Mira burst into laughter. "You're a consistent single player."

"I was comfortable before this."

Nathan reached across the table and casually picked a strand of hair away from Amelia's face before tucking it behind her ear.

Amelia lowered her eyes, smiling shyly.

Ryan slapped the table. "Finished."

Everyone looked at him, again.

"Our captain is completely finished."

Another teammate nodded solemnly.."There is no saving him."

Ryan sighed as though mourning a great loss.."I used to know this man."

Nathan picked up his coffee. "You are all very dramatic."

Ryan leaned back in his chair. "Dramatic?" He pointed at Nathan. "You just looked at her like she personally invented happiness."

The table exploded with laughter again.

Even Nathan could not stop himself from smiling.

Ryan placed a hand over his chest. "I have accepted my destiny."

Mira raised an eyebrow. "What destiny?"