Page 56 of Offside Angle

“Alright, alright,” I mutter to myself.

I finish tying my shoes, grab my phone and keycard, and head out the door before I can talk myself out of it again.

I make my way downstairs to the hotel restaurant, expecting to see the usual chaos of the team scattered across a few tables. Instead, when I step inside, most of the boys are already gone. The only person still sitting there is Lena — and she’s at a table with Zara.

Great.

The second I sit down, Zara stands up, gives me a quick pat on the back, and walks away without a word. I stare after her, my jaw tightening.

“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath.

It’s painfully obvious now that this was a setup.

I turn my attention back to the table. Lena is watching me with her head slightly tilted, a tight, polite smile on her face. She looks calm on the surface, but there’s something sharp in her eyes that tells me this conversation isn’t going to be friendly.

“Hello, Santi,” she says, her voice smooth but cool.

“Lena,” I reply.

She doesn’t waste time with small talk. She just studies me for a moment, her fingers lightly tapping against the side of her coffee cup. The restaurant is quiet now that most of the team has cleared out, and the silence between us feels heavy.

I lean back in my chair, keeping my expression calm even though I can already feel the tension rising. Whatever this is, she clearly came prepared. And judging by the look on her face, she has no intention of making this easy for me.

“So… Santiago Vega,” she says slowly, like she’s testing the weight of my full name on her tongue.

I raise an eyebrow but don’t respond yet. I have a feeling she’s just getting started.

“Tell me,” she continues, “what’s the story here? Best friends in high school who suddenly stop talking… ten years later they reunite and suddenly one of them goes off the rails. What am I missing, Santi? Why are we going off the rails? And why did the boys stop talking in high school?”

Here we go.

I let out a slow sigh and meet her gaze directly.

“Don’t you think that’s a question for the one going off the rails, Lena?” I ask, trying to sound polite.

“I’m asking you,” she says. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you showing up has everything to do with why Mats is suddenly a mess. So I’d like to know what the hell happened between you two back then… and what the hell is happening now.”

“We had a falling out,” I say. “It happens.”

Lena deadpans, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

I can’t help the small, tired smile that tugs at my mouth. “Unfortunately… no,” I admit.

“I’m in your way, aren’t I?”

The question lands heavier than I expect it to. I take a slow breath, considering my words carefully.

“Yes… and no,” I say finally.

She doesn’t look surprised. If anything, she looks like she already knew the answer before she asked the question. Her fingers tap once against the side of her coffee cup as she processes my answer.

I watch her carefully, trying to read how much of this she’s already figured out on her own. She’s sharp. Smarter than most people give her credit for. And right now, I can tell she’s putting pieces together that I’d rather she didn’t have to.

“Are you in love with him?” she asks.

I smile, small and a little sad. “No, Lena,” I say. “Being in love with someone is temporary.”

Her brows pull together in confusion. “Temporary?” she repeats.