Volume 1, Chapter 2: The VIP Event
“Uhm… hi… Javi—” My voice cracked, and I panicked, correcting myself.“Javier…”My hand wasn’t just shaking, it was practically vibrating. He noticed instantly. His fingers wrapped around mine, warm and firm, and then his other hand came up to cover it, steadying me. The weight of both his hands on mine made my heart punch against my ribs.“Aye, aye, man. It’s okay,” he said with that soft Canarian lilt, the kind of tone you’d use to calm someone after a bad dream. His smile was small but real. “Don’t be nervous man.”
“Sorry, it’s just -” I swallowed, feeling the heat rush up my neck. “I’m like… your biggest fan to ever exist. I’ve followed all your work… since forever.”From the side, another voice cut in, teasing. “He didn’t have the same reaction for me.”I turned my head and found Lucas Navarro standing there, grinning like he’d just walked into the middle of something juicy.
“No—no, Mr. Navarro—” I stuttered, then caught myself. “Lucas.”
Truth was, Lucas was hot as hell in his own right; youthful, sharp jawline, hair that looked like it belonged in a shampoo commercial. But with Javier, it was different. It wasn’t just attraction. It was… gravitational. Like the rest of the room tilted toward him and I was just trying not to fall over.
“I’m a huge fan of yours too,” I added quickly, which got a ripple of laughter from both of them. My ears burned. I managed a shaky laugh of my own, gripping the strap of my bag tighter. This was already more than I’d ever dreamed and I was barely surviving it.
“Can I have a picture with you, please?”
“Of course, c’mon.”
Javier shifted his body, scanning for the cameramen in the room, then came to stand beside me. We were the same height, but… I don’t know, he felt bigger somehow.
Maybe it was his presence. His aura. Our shoulders brushed and I froze for a second before awkwardly posing.
“C’mon, this isn’t some charity event,” the cameraman called. “Boys, pose properly.”
Javier laughed, sliding his arm over my shoulder. That simple touch sent a shiver straight down my spine. I glanced at him. That smile… ridiculously cute. And his scent was that of Dior Sauvage? Or maybe just him. I couldn’t stop looking at him, drinking him in.
“Noah, mate, here!”, the camera man called out.
I snapped out of it, forcing a normal pose. The other players crowded in, but in every shot, Javier stayed glued to my side with our shoulders brushing, his arm casually draped over me. Once, his hand slipped lower, resting lightly at my waist.
My body betrayed me instantly, but I told myself it was just a normal pose.As the players broke apart and spread across the room, laughing, clapping each other on the back, tossing around bits of Spanish banter I only half understood, I found myself hovering close to Javier. My pulse was still running high, and I didn’t want this moment to slip away without something I could keep forever.
“Can I take one picture on my phone too?” I asked, my voice coming out more tentative than I’d planned. “I’m sorry, it’s just… I’m a huge fan and I don’t know if I’ll ever get this chance again.”
He turned his head toward me, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. A warm laugh escaped him as he casually patted my shoulder. “C’mon, Noah.”
For half a second, my chest tightened like someone had punched the air out of me. He knew my name. Then the reality clicked...the cameraman had said it earlier. Still… hearing it from his lips felt intimate in a way it shouldn’t have.“C’mon, Noah, of course you can, man. Don’t be shy.”
That “don’t be shy” landed like he knew I was fighting the urge to just melt on the spot. I fumbled with my phone and turned to find someone to take it. Lucas appeared again, grinning like he’d been waiting for the opportunity.
“Hand it to me, lemme take it,” he said.
The second he saw my lock screen, his eyebrows shot up and a smirk spread across his face. It was that picture; Javier on the pitch, shirtless, muscles glistening under the stadium lights, his face focused mid-game. I’d taken the shot from a match I’d been at months ago, and it had never left my screen.
“Javi...Mate,” Lucas called out, his voice loud and teasing, “he’s like a huge fan.”
Javier looked over, his smile slow but undeniable, and I swear my knees went a little weak. I tried to play it off, shuffling closer to him as Lucas held my phone up. Javier’s arm slid around me again, and this time he didn’t just rest it there, his hand dipped lower, fingers brushing the line of my waist.
It wasn’t just casual now. There was a little pressure, a subtle firmness, like he was anchoring me to his side.
The camera flashed, and I’m sure I’m smiling in the picture… but inside, I was spiraling. What did that mean? Maybe nothing. Maybe everything.
─The rest of the day blurred into a series of interviews, lighthearted Q&As, the players sharing their favorite match moments, trading inside jokes, even a few acting out their ridiculous victory dances while everyone laughed. I floated between groups, just trying to soak it all in.
And then my eyes found him again.
Javier was on one of the leather couches, legs spread in that casual, unbothered way that just made him look bigger, more in control. One arm draped over the backrest, the other scrolling lazily on his phone. His quads pressed against the fabric of his training shorts, thick and strong, his forearms catching the light. Fuck, even sitting still, he looked like he owned the room.I don’t know how long I stared before his gaze lifted and caught mine.My breath hitched.He didn’t smile right away, just held my eyes for a second too long, before glancing away to answer something one of the other players said. But that was my chance.The room felt relaxed..guys joking, a few signing things for fans, music low in the background. I slipped my sling bag off my shoulder and pulled out the folder. Inside was the portrait. The one I’d spent nights working on, even though I’m no professional artist. Every line of his jaw, the curve of his lips, the focus in his eyes… I’d tried to capture it all.I walked over before I could talk myself out of it.“Hey,” I said, my voice smaller than I wanted it to be.His head came up instantly.“Oh, hi again,” he said, and his smile...fuck...his smile lit up his whole face.“I, uh… I kinda drew this for you. Like… a small gift,” I said, turning the paper around and handing it to him. “I hope you like it.”My stomach twisted. What if he thought it was awful? Or worse...what if he saw my number on the back and thought I was some desperate, creepy fan?
He studied it for a moment, then that smile spread again.“Dude… Noah…this is really nice,” he said, genuine warmth in his voice.And then he flipped it over. My heart slammed against my ribs. There it was in black ink: my number, and underneath,I love you so much, Javier. Big fan...
- Noah Bennett
“Oh… okay,” he said softly, almost under his breath. My palms went damp.In my head: Fuck. This is it. He’s gonna think I’m insane. He’s gonna laugh with the others about it later. Why did I do this?
But then he turned the page back over and looked at me again. “Thanks, man. This is really thoughtful. I’m definitely framing this and keeping it in my room. I love it so much.”The relief that washed over me was dizzying. I managed a small, awkward laugh, muttering something about being glad he liked it.The rest of the event faded into goodbyes, a few last group photos, and casual waves as the players headed out. I clutched my phone like it was a holy relic, the pictures still fresh on the screen which I would totally be jerking off to later tonight.Walking home through the streets of Barcelona, I couldn’t stop smiling. I must’ve looked insane..grinning to myself, giggling under my breath. But I didn’t care. This had to be a dream. Meeting him, talking to him, giving him that portrait… it was the best day of my life.
If you enjoyed this story, consider supporting the author on Patreon.
