Unspoken Goodbyes
Beth was already in the locker room, half-dressed for training, her socks still in her hand as she leaned back against the bench, laughing at something Steph had just said.
Jen was there too, shaking her head as she tied her boots. “You two are unbearable this early in the morning.”
Beth grinned, nudging Steph with her elbow. “She loves us.”
Steph smirked. “Obviously.”
Beth reached for her phone on the bench, instinctively checking for a message from Viv.
Nothing.
Not that it was weird—Viv wasn’t always the best at answering, especially in the mornings.
Still, after the way they’d talked last night, Beth had half expected a reply to her terrible joke, even if it was just an emoji or some dry comment about how she needed to work on her humor.
She shrugged, locking her phone again and stuffing it into her bag.
It wasn’t a big deal.
It wasn’t like she was worried.
The locker room door swung open, and Beth glanced up, watching as Viv walked in.
Serious. Focused. Composed.
If Beth hadn’t known what had happened the night before, she never would have guessed anything was wrong.
Viv didn’t hesitate, didn’t stop to chat—just dropped her bag in her usual spot and immediately headed for the pitch.
Beth’s eyes followed her as she disappeared through the door.
Steph let out a low whistle. “Damn. She’s on a mission.”
Beth exhaled, pulling her socks on quickly. “Yeah. Guess she just wants to get started.”
She didn’t say anything else.
But as she finished getting ready and followed the others out, she kept an eye on Viv.
Beth had a good session.
She felt sharp, felt quick, her passes clean, her finishing solid.
But Viv?
Viv was locked in.
It was the kind of training where everything clicked—where every pass, every run, every single movement was perfectly calculated, perfectly executed.
Beth had seen Viv focused before.
But today was different.
She was playing like there was nothing else in the world except the ball at her feet.
Even Jonas noticed, calling out after one drill, “Brilliant, Viv! Keep it up.”
Viv barely reacted, just nodded and got back into position.
Beth watched her for a second, then shook her head, jogging back into formation.
Viv wasn’t just focused.
She was shutting everything else out.
The team started filing off the pitch, sweat-drenched but satisfied. Beth grabbed a water bottle from the side, taking a long sip before glancing toward Viv, who was already heading toward the locker room without slowing down.
Beth hesitated for half a second, then quickened her pace to catch up.
She matched Viv’s stride easily, bumping her lightly with her shoulder. “Hey.”
Viv looked at her, expression neutral, unreadable. “Hey.”
Beth tilted her head, watching her carefully.
“You played really well today,” she said casually, not wanting to push too hard just yet.
Viv gave a small nod. “Thanks. You too.”
Beth exhaled, keeping pace with her as they walked.
“You always this intense after a team dinner?” she teased lightly.
Viv huffed a small breath, shaking her head. “Just needed a good session.”
Beth studied her for a second, then said, “Right.”
They reached the entrance to the locker room, and for the first time since they started walking, Viv slowed down slightly.
Beth could see the way her jaw tightened, her fingers flexing slightly before she reached for the door.
She was still holding it all in.
Beth hesitated, then murmured, “You know, shutting everything out doesn’t always work forever.”
Viv’s hand stilled on the door handle.
For a moment, she didn’t say anything.
Then, finally, without looking at Beth, she exhaled.
“I know.”
And with that, she pushed the door open and walked inside.
Beth let out a slow breath before following.
Beth sat on the bench, towel draped over her shoulders, pretending to scroll through her phone while subtly keeping an eye on Viv.
She was across the room, sitting at her usual spot, methodically unlacing her boots, her expression neutral, distant.
Beth frowned slightly.
Viv had played insanely well today, but Beth knew that kind of focus wasn’t just about training—it was about shutting everything else out.
And Beth also knew that never worked forever.
She chewed on her lip for a second, thinking, then before she could overanalyze it, she pushed herself up and walked toward Viv.
She stopped next to her, leaning casually against the lockers.
“Hey,” Beth said, keeping her tone light, easy.
Viv glanced up briefly, then continued pulling off her shin guards. “Hey.”
Beth rocked on her heels slightly. “Wanna grab a coffee after this?”
Viv hesitated.
Beth saw it—the flicker of surprise in her expression, the way her fingers stilled for just a second before she pulled off her second boot.
Viv wasn’t expecting that.
Beth shrugged, playing it off. “I mean, I’m not saying you’re completely avoiding life through football right now—”
Viv let out a small huff, shaking her head. “Beth—”
“—But I do think a break wouldn’t kill you.”
Viv exhaled, running a hand through her damp hair.
Beth waited, not pushing, just letting the silence settle between them.
Finally, Viv sighed. “Alright.”
Beth grinned. “Great. I’ll drive.”
Viv rolled her eyes, but there was something lighter about her now, something just a little less tense.
The coffee shop was quiet and warm, the kind of place that smelled like fresh espresso and caramel, with soft music playing in the background.
Beth had chosen it intentionally.
She figured Viv didn’t need somewhere loud, somewhere filled with people who might recognize them. She just needed a break. A distraction. Something simple.
Viv sat across from her, stirring her coffee absentmindedly, her fingers curling around the edge of the ceramic cup.
Beth leaned back in her chair, watching her.
“So,” she started, tapping her fingers against the table, “do I get points for getting you out of the house? Because I feel like I deserve points.”
Viv exhaled, shaking her head. “You get half a point.”
Beth gasped dramatically. “Half? That’s robbery. I should get at least three.”
Viv almost smiled, but Beth caught the way she hesitated, how her fingers tightened just slightly around her cup, like there was something sitting heavily on her mind.
Beth watched her carefully.
She didn’t push—not yet.
Instead, she took a sip of her coffee and casually said, “Alright, fine. We’ll negotiate later.”
Viv huffed a quiet laugh, but it faded quickly.
Beth saw the shift happen in real-time, saw the moment Viv’s expression flickered with something heavier.
And then, softly—
“She told me this morning.”
Beth blinked, setting her coffee down. “Lisa?”
Viv nodded, staring down at the steam rising from her cup. “Yeah. She said she was going to text you all—Katie, Leah, you… just the close ones. Let everyone know we broke up.”
Beth hesitated, her fingers tensing slightly against the table.
“Oh,” she said, because honestly? She didn’t know what else to say.
Viv sighed, shaking her head. “I mean, it makes sense. Everyone would find out eventually, and it’s better if it comes from her or me first.”
Beth nodded slowly, but she stayed quiet.
Because what was she supposed to say to that?
Viv’s eyes flickered up to meet Beth’s, and for the first time today, Beth saw something vulnerable there.
Then, Viv exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck.
“She already has a place.”
Beth frowned slightly. “A place?”
Viv nodded. “Yeah. Lisa told me this morning she found an apartment near West Ham’s training ground.”
There was something in her voice, something flat but also filled with something Beth couldn’t quite put her finger on.
Viv took a slow sip of her coffee, then set the cup down with a quiet clink.
“I guess she had everything figured out,” she muttered, her tone casual—too casual.
Beth felt a slow twist in her stomach.
Viv was trying to sound unbothered, but Beth knew better.
She knew when someone was trying to make something sound like it didn’t hurt when it actually did.
Beth hesitated for a moment, watching her, trying to gauge what Viv needed from her.
Viv sighed, rolling her shoulders back, shaking her head like she was trying to physically shake off the weight of it all.
“I knew things weren’t great,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “I knew we weren’t… right, for a while.”
Beth stayed quiet, just listening.
Viv’s fingers traced the rim of her coffee cup, her eyes unfocused.
“I guess I just thought—” She exhaled, shaking her head. “I don’t know. That we’d figure it out eventually. That we’d get through it.”
Beth nodded slowly. She understood that feeling all too well.
Viv let out a breath, finally looking at her. “But she didn’t even wait.”
Beth blinked, tilting her head slightly.
Viv gave a small, humorless smile. “She didn’t even wait, Beth. She had already planned everything—where she was moving, how she was gonna tell people, how she was going to adjust to her new life. She didn’t just decide last night. She’s been planning this for weeks.”
Beth swallowed, feeling something heavy settle in her chest.
She didn’t know what to say.
Because Viv was right.
Lisa had made up her mind long before she had actually said the words.
Beth hesitated, then reached for her coffee, just to have something to do with her hands.
“I don’t think that means she didn’t care,” she said carefully, keeping her voice even.
Viv let out a short breath, not quite a laugh, not quite anything.
“Maybe,” she said, but Beth could tell she didn’t believe it.
She watched as Viv’s fingers traced slow, mindless patterns against the side of her cup.
Beth leaned forward slightly.
“So,” she said, soft but firm, “what now?”
Viv’s brow furrowed slightly, like she hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Beth shrugged, playing it off lightly. “Like, what’s your plan? Gonna become the most organized person in London? Focus on training so hard you ascend to a higher level of football mastery?”
Viv exhaled, shaking her head. “Something like that.”
Beth grinned slightly, but she could tell Viv wasn’t ready to talk about what came next.
Not yet.
So instead, she knocked on the table lightly. “Okay, here’s what I think.”
Viv lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, we’re getting Beth Mead’s professional opinion?”
Beth smirked. “You are. And honestly? You should feel honored.”
Viv rolled her eyes, but there was something softer in her expression now.
Beth tapped her fingers against the table. “You don’t have to figure out what’s next today. Or tomorrow. Or even next week.”
Viv let out a slow breath.
Beth gave her a small, knowing look.
“But you do have to let yourself actually feel it.”
Viv’s jaw tensed slightly, but she didn’t argue.
Beth took another sip of her coffee.
And for the first time since they sat down, Viv didn’t look like she was trying to hold herself together quite as tightly.
Viv inhaled sharply, tilting her head back slightly as if that would somehow stop the burning in her eyes.
Beth didn’t press.
She just sat there, watching, waiting, letting Viv take her time.
Viv blinked quickly, then reached up, rubbing at her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie, wiping away the tears before they could fully spill over.
She cleared her throat, shifting in her seat. “Okay, that’s enough of that.”
Beth didn’t comment on it.
She just nodded, picking up her coffee again like they hadn’t just been having one of the most personal conversations of Viv’s life.
Viv appreciated that.
She let out a slow breath, then reached for her own cup, trying to push everything back down, to focus on something else.
Beth, always the one to keep things moving, tilted her head. “So, what’s your plan for today?”
Viv hesitated for a second too long.
She should have lied. Should have said she was going to head home, maybe watch a movie, do something productive. But she was tired.
Too tired to pretend.
She sighed, tapping her fingers against the side of her coffee cup. “Honestly? I don’t know. I just know I’m not going home.”
Beth’s brows furrowed slightly. “Why?”
Viv glanced down, exhaling. “Lisa’s still there.”
She didn’t need to explain further.
Beth immediately got it.
Lisa, still at the house. Lisa, packing up her things, packing up their life together, piece by piece, shoving it all into boxes.
Viv had spent all night avoiding thinking about that moment, about what it would feel like to come home and see it happening in real-time.
She couldn’t do it.
Not yet.
She stared into her coffee, bracing herself for Beth’s response—maybe some suggestion about going somewhere else for a bit, or taking a drive, or anything that involved being alone.
But Beth didn’t suggest any of that.
Instead, without hesitation, without even thinking, she said, “Right. You’re coming home with me.”
Viv blinked. “What?”
Beth set her coffee down with a finality that left no room for argument.
“You’re not going home,” Beth said simply. “So you’re coming to mine. We’re having a nice night.”
Viv stared at her.
Beth didn’t waver.
She didn’t ask Viv if she wanted to come over. She didn’t try to convince her. She just said it like it was already decided.
Like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Viv’s lips parted slightly, surprised by how quickly Beth had stepped in, by how easy she made it sound.
She wasn’t used to that.
To someone just… deciding to take care of her.
Viv swallowed, her throat tight again, but for a different reason this time.
Beth arched an eyebrow. “Unless you’d rather sleep in your car.”
Viv huffed out a small, breathless laugh, shaking her head. “You don’t have to do this.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “No shit, Viv. Obviously, I don’t have to. But I want to.”
Viv let out a slow breath, her body finally relaxing just a little.
Beth smirked, nudging her foot lightly under the table. “So? You in?”
Viv exhaled through her nose, then finally, finally nodded.
“Yeah,” she murmured. “I’m in.”
Beth grinned. “Good choice.”
Viv shook her head, still slightly stunned, still a little unsure of how to process it.
Beth pushed the door open, stepping inside first, already bracing herself for what she knew was waiting.
Viv followed, dropping her bag near the door, her eyes instinctively scanning the space.
It was exactly what she expected from Beth Mead’s apartment—a little chaotic, a little unorganized, but lived-in.
There were a couple of jackets thrown over the back of the couch, some dishes stacked on the counter that definitely hadn’t been washed yet, a few stray shoes that didn’t match sitting by the entrance.
Viv tried not to react.
She wasn’t surprised.
She’d been to Beth’s place before—not alone, not like this, but with teammates, for group hangouts, for post-match drinks. She knew Beth wasn’t exactly the most organized person.
Beth caught the way Viv’s eyes flickered over the mess, her expression unreadable, her fingers twitching slightly.
She laughed, waving a hand dramatically. “Right. Okay. Before you say anything, I’m fully aware my place is a disaster.”
Viv let out a small huff, shaking her head. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
Beth smirked, closing the door behind them. “You were thinking it, though.”
Viv didn’t deny it.
Beth grinned, kicking off her shoes and tossing her jacket onto the armrest of the couch.
She turned to find Viv standing near the entrance, still looking a little hesitant, a little unsure of how to exist in this space without the buffer of other people.
Beth’s smile softened.
“Hey,” she said, nudging Viv lightly with her elbow. “Don’t be awkward.”
Viv huffed, rolling her shoulders slightly, shifting her stance. “I’m not awkward.”
Beth lifted an eyebrow. “You’re standing like you don’t know what to do with your hands.”
Viv exhaled, finally moving to unzip her jacket, forcing herself to relax just a little.
Beth stepped past her, heading toward the kitchen. “Come on. You’ve been here before. Just, you know, pretend other people are here if that makes it less weird for you.”
Viv let out a quiet snort, shaking her head as she followed.
Beth pulled open the fridge, grabbing them each a beer, then leaned against the counter, watching Viv as she took in the apartment again, but this time, with a different expression.
Beth tilted her head. “What?”
Viv shrugged, taking the beer Beth handed her. “I don’t know. I just—” She hesitated, exhaling slowly. “I guess I never really noticed how empty your place is.”
Beth blinked, then let out a small laugh. “Wow. Rude.”
Viv smirked slightly. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Beth waved a hand. “No, I know. I get what you mean.”
She glanced around the space, as if seeing it for the first time through Viv’s eyes.
The apartment wasn’t bare, but it wasn’t exactly full either.
There were furniture pieces that felt functional rather than personal, shelves that were mostly empty, walls that should’ve had artwork or pictures but didn’t.
Beth sighed, taking a sip of her beer.
“Honestly? I just haven’t really had the time to decorate since Daan and I split.”
Viv nodded slowly, her gaze still moving over the walls. “She picked a lot of the stuff, then?”
Beth huffed a small laugh. “Most of it, yeah.” She gestured vaguely. “Like, I don’t know anything about decor. I know football, I know bad jokes, I know how to order takeaway, but picking out a good coffee table? No idea. That was Daan’s thing.”
Viv tilted her head. “So what happened to all of it?”
Beth shrugged. “She took most of the stuff when she left. Which—fair enough, you know? It was hers.”
Viv took a slow sip of her beer, watching Beth carefully.
Beth didn’t seem upset talking about it—just matter-of-fact, like it was just one of those things that happened.
Beth exhaled, setting her bottle down. “Anyway, that’s why it’s a little empty in here.”
Viv nodded, then, without really thinking, said, “At least I won’t have that problem.”
Beth’s brow furrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”
Viv leaned against the counter, fingers tapping idly against the bottle in her hands. “Most of the stuff at the house is mine. I picked it out, I bought it. So when Lisa leaves, it’s not like I’ll be coming home to an empty place.”
Beth paused, her expression shifting slightly.
Viv noticed it too late.
Because suddenly, the words felt heavier than she intended them to.
She wasn’t sure why she had said it.
Maybe because she was trying to convince herself it wouldn’t be so bad. That her home wasn’t actually emptying out around her. That when Lisa was gone, the house wouldn’t feel like a hollow version of what it used to be.
Beth didn’t say anything right away.
She just watched Viv, her gaze steady, something unreadable in her expression.
Then, after a moment, she said, “Yeah. I guess that’s something.”
Viv swallowed, nodding slowly.
The air between them settled into something quieter, something unspoken.
Beth took another sip of her beer, then nudged Viv’s foot with hers.
“Alright,” Beth said, shifting the mood again. “You hungry? Because I have absolutely no food in my fridge, so if you say yes, we’re ordering in.”
Viv huffed out a small breath, shaking her head.
“Takeaway it is, then,” Beth grinned, pulling out her phone.
Viv leaned back against the counter, watching her scroll through her usual food apps, watching how Beth could take something heavy and make it feel just a little bit lighter.
By the time the food arrived, Beth had already set up the table—plates out, drinks lined up neatly in the center, napkins folded in the most half-hearted way possible.
Viv raised an eyebrow, amused as she took in the setup. “You know, for someone who has no food in their fridge, you’re suspiciously prepared for dinner.”
Beth grinned, plopping down in her seat and gesturing to the selection of drinks in front of her. “Yeah, well. Some of us have our priorities straight. No food? Whatever. No drinks? Tragic.”
Viv shook her head, sitting across from her. “I genuinely don’t understand how you function.”
Beth picked up her beer and held it up like a trophy. “Like this.”
Viv rolled her eyes but took the beer Beth had set aside for her anyway.
They ate, falling into easy conversation, talking about training, the upcoming matches, nothing too serious. Beth kept it light, throwing in jokes, teasing Viv, nudging her anytime she got too quiet.
It was… nice.
Viv hadn’t realized how much she needed something simple until now—just a meal, a conversation, someone who wasn’t waiting for her to break.
As they finished eating, Beth suddenly got up, disappearing into the living room before returning with a small box in her hands.
Viv narrowed her eyes. “What’s that?”
Beth dropped the box onto the table, smirking. “A game.”
Viv arched an eyebrow. “What kind of game?”
Beth tapped the lid. “One of those conversation card games. You know, the ‘get to know people better’ kind.”
Viv let out a short breath, shaking her head. “Beth, we’ve known each other for years.”
Beth grinned, leaning back in her chair. “Yeah, but not like this. Not really.”
Viv frowned slightly, pausing.
Beth shrugged, opening the box and shuffling through the cards.
“I mean, think about it,” she continued, her voice more casual now, less teasing. “We’ve played together, traveled together, gone out with the team together—but we don’t actually know that much about each other.”
Viv considered that for a moment.
Beth wasn’t wrong.
They had always existed in the same space, always moved around each other in the orbit of their team, but they had never really talked. Not in a way that mattered.
Beth held up a card. “Come on, let’s play.”
Viv sighed, shaking her head. “This is ridiculous.”
Beth smirked. “You’re stalling.”
Viv huffed, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Fine,” she muttered, reaching for a card. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Beth grinned.
“Oh, you’re so going to regret this.”
Beth grabbed the deck of cards and motioned toward the couch. “Come on, let’s do this properly.”
Viv hesitated for half a second before standing, following Beth into the living room.
Beth plopped onto the couch, grabbing a pillow and getting comfortable, like this was just a casual Friday night with no underlying emotional weight.
Viv sat down more carefully, her body a little too stiff, hands resting awkwardly on her knees.
Beth noticed, of course she did, and grinned.
“Viv, you’re sitting like you’re waiting for a job interview,” she teased.
Viv huffed, shifting slightly, trying to relax. “I don’t know what kind of questions you’re about to throw at me.”
Beth smirked, shuffling the deck. “That’s the fun part.”
Viv rolled her eyes, but she didn’t leave, so Beth counted that as a win.
She pulled a card, reading it dramatically.
“What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?”
Viv thought for a moment, then shrugged. “I can solve a Rubik’s cube in under two minutes.”
Beth blinked. “What?”
Viv smirked. “Yeah.”
Beth narrowed her eyes. “That’s insane.”
Viv took a sip of her drink, completely unbothered. “Not really. Just algorithms.”
Beth stared at her, shaking her head. “You’re a nerd.”
Viv shrugged. “Next question.”
Beth smirked. “Oh no, you answer one, I answer one. That’s the rule.”
Viv sighed, but nodded. “Fine.”
Beth flipped another card. “What’s a childhood dream you gave up on?”
Beth thought for a moment, then laughed softly. “I wanted to be a singer.”
Viv lifted an eyebrow. “Really?”
Beth grinned. “Yeah. When I was a kid, I was convinced I was going to be a pop star. Fully planned on auditioning for one of those talent shows.”
Viv smirked. “What happened?”
Beth rolled her eyes. “I realized I actually suck at singing.”
Viv chuckled. “Good self-awareness.”
Beth nudged her knee. “Alright, next.”
She shuffled through the deck again, a mischievous glint in her eye.
“Let’s get interesting.”
Viv narrowed her eyes. “Beth—”
Beth pulled the next card.
“What’s your type?”
Viv stiffened immediately.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her drink, her ears going red instantly.
Beth grinned.
“Beth,” Viv muttered, shifting uncomfortably.
“Oh, come on,” Beth teased, turning to face her fully. “It’s a valid question.”
Viv exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “I don’t have a type.”
Beth arched an eyebrow. “No preferences? Nothing?”
Viv pursed her lips, eyes flickering away. “Not really.”
Beth hummed, taking a sip of her drink. “Okay, so it’s more of a ‘when you know, you know’ thing?”
Viv shrugged stiffly.
Beth grinned wider. “That’s so vague, Viv.”
Viv sighed, rolling her shoulders, looking like she wanted to sink into the couch and disappear.
Beth took way too much enjoyment in watching her squirm.
Beth tapped the card against her palm. “Come on, be honest. One thing someone could do that would make you fall for them.”
Viv peeked at her from between her fingers, shooting her a halfhearted glare.
“It is that hard,” she muttered, finally dropping her hand.
Beth arched an eyebrow, waiting.
Viv exhaled sharply, shifting on the couch. “Fine.”
She thought for a second, then, quietly, said, “Remember the little things.”
Beth’s grin softened slightly. “What do you mean?”
Viv shrugged, fiddling with the label on her beer bottle. “Like… noticing when I need space, or when I need someone to be there. Paying attention to the things I like, the way I take my coffee, the music I listen to when I’m upset.”
She hesitated, then added, “Making me feel like I don’t have to ask to be understood.”
Beth blinked.
The teasing look on her face faded slightly, something warmer taking its place.
Viv cleared her throat, suddenly regretting saying anything at all.
Beth didn’t push.
She just nodded slowly, then smiled, nudging Viv’s knee lightly. “That was a solid answer.”
Viv huffed. “Yeah, well. Your turn.”
Beth smirked, leaning back against the couch. “Easy.”
Viv lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, so you’ve actually thought about this?”
Beth grinned. “Of course.”
Viv rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her drink. “Alright then. What’s your answer?”
Beth shrugged, but there was something genuine in her voice when she spoke.
“If someone can make me laugh when I don’t want to? I’m done for.”
Viv paused mid-sip, looking at her.
Beth twirled the card between her fingers. “Like, when I’m in a shit mood, when everything’s going wrong, and I’m convinced nothing can fix it. But then someone says something dumb—something so stupid and unexpected that I can’t help but laugh? Yeah. That’s it for me.”
Viv stared at her for a second longer than necessary.
Then she exhaled through her nose. “That tracks.”
Beth smirked. “What? You don’t think it’s a good answer?”
Viv shook her head, setting down her beer. “No, I think it’s the most Beth answer ever.”
Beth beamed. “Exactly.”
Viv chuckled softly, then reached for the deck. “Alright, let’s move on before you make me answer more things I don’t want to.”
Beth snatched the cards before Viv could pick one. “No way. It’s still my turn to ask.”
Viv narrowed her eyes. “I swear, if it’s another one like the last one—”
Beth grinned mischievously, flipping the next card.
She glanced at it, lips twitching in amusement.
Then she read it aloud.
“What’s the most unexpected thing that’s ever made you flustered?”
Viv froze.
Beth immediately burst out laughing.
“Oh, come on,” Beth teased, grinning as she leaned forward. “I know you get flustered. I’ve seen it.”
Viv clenched her jaw, shaking her head. “No, you haven’t.”
Beth gasped dramatically. “I so have!”
Viv took a slow breath, staring at the ceiling. “I hate you.”
Beth nudged her knee again. “Answer the question, nerd.”
Viv exhaled, rubbing a hand over her face. “Fine. It was… someone calling me ‘good girl’ once.”
Beth choked on her drink.
Viv’s face went bright red.
Beth was laughing so hard she had to set her beer down.
“No, shut up,” Viv groaned, covering her face.
Beth gasped for breath, eyes shining with pure joy. “Vivianne Miedema. I never would have guessed.”
Viv wanted to die.
Beth wiped her eyes, still grinning. “Okay, okay. My turn.”
She pulled the next card and suddenly looked serious.
“When was the last time you felt truly happy?”
Viv’s breath hitched slightly.
Beth didn’t laugh this time.
Um…” Her voice was softer now. “Probably… during the Euros.”
Beth blinked.
Viv’s fingers tapped lightly against her knee, eyes still on the floor.
“I remember sitting with the girls after we won, after everything was over, and it just… felt good. Like, for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t thinking about what came next. I wasn’t worried about anything. I was just… there.”
She exhaled, shaking her head. “I miss that.”
Beth’s chest tightened.
She didn’t have a joke for that.
Didn’t have a way to tease her out of it.
So instead, she just said, “I get it.”
Viv glanced at her.
Beth offered her a small, knowing smile. “And for what it’s worth… you’ll feel that again.”
Viv swallowed.
Beth wasn’t sure when it happened.
One moment, they were still playing the game, laughing, teasing, asking each other questions they never thought to ask before.
And then, somewhere along the way, Beth stopped paying attention to the game and started paying attention to Viv.
It was subtle at first.
The way Viv’s voice softened when she was talking about something she actually cared about. The way she tapped her fingers absentmindedly against the beer bottle when she was thinking. The way her eyebrows knitted together in concentration, or embarrassment, or maybe both.
Beth caught herself staring.
And it wasn’t the kind of staring she did when she was about to make a joke, or when she was trying to read a teammate’s next move on the pitch.
It was different.
It was too much.
So before she could linger on it, before she could let herself go there, she cleared her throat and reached for the remote.
“Alright,” Beth said, breaking the moment before it could become something else. “I’m putting something on before you start interrogating me again.”
Viv exhaled, seemingly relieved, and nodded. “Good idea.”
Beth turned on the TV, scrolling through Netflix before landing on **some random show—**she wasn’t even sure what. It didn’t matter.
They both leaned back against the couch, and for a while, it was just the glow of the screen, the soft hum of voices, the occasional clink of a bottle being set on the table.
And then, at some point, Viv shifted closer.
Beth barely noticed at first—just the brush of Viv’s sleeve against her arm, the slow lean of her weight.
And then suddenly, Viv’s head was on her shoulder.
Beth froze.
She held her breath, her body instinctively going stiff, unsure if she should move or if Viv would notice—if this was intentional or just exhaustion taking over.
She turned her head slightly, just enough to see Viv’s face.
Eyes closed. Completely asleep.
Beth exhaled softly, relaxing just a little.
And then, without thinking, she let her cheek rest lightly against Viv’s hair.
She didn’t know when she drifted off after that, only that she did.
Beth woke up to warmth.
Her brain was slow to catch up, blinking against the early morning light filtering through her curtains.
And then she felt it—the weight against her.
She looked down.
Viv was still asleep, tucked against her, her arm draped loosely over Beth’s waist.
Beth blinked, taking a second to process it.
She wasn’t sure what to do.
The smart thing would be to wake Viv up gently, make a joke about it, pretend like it wasn’t a big deal.
But Beth… didn’t really want to move.
She hesitated, then slowly reached out, brushing her fingers against Viv’s arm.
“Hey,” Beth murmured, barely above a whisper.
Viv stirred slightly but didn’t wake.
Beth huffed a soft laugh, shaking her head.
So stubborn—even in her sleep.
She tried again, this time gently squeezing Viv’s arm.
“Viv,” she whispered.
This time, Viv’s breath hitched slightly as she slowly blinked awake, frowning in confusion.
It took a few seconds before she realized where she was.
Beth watched the exact moment it clicked.
Viv’s entire body went rigid.
She pulled away immediately, sitting up, her face already turning red. “Shit, I—I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
Beth reached out instinctively, grabbing Viv’s wrist before she could fully get up.
“Hey,” Beth said softly, her grip gentle but firm. “It’s fine. You don’t have to—”
“I didn’t mean to stay over,” Viv said quickly, her voice just a little too rushed.
Beth squeezed her wrist just slightly, grounding her. “Viv. It’s fine.”
Viv swallowed, her eyes searching Beth’s face.
Beth just held her gaze, steady and unbothered.
Eventually, Viv exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly.
There was a beat of silence, a moment where neither of them moved.
Then, finally, Viv cleared her throat.
“I should go home,” she said quietly. “I need to grab some stuff before practice.”
Beth nodded, forcing herself to lean back. “Yeah, makes sense.”
She ran a hand through her hair, glancing at the time. “I’ll give you a ride. You left your car at the training ground anyway.”
Viv hesitated, then nodded.
Beth got up, ignoring the strange feeling in her chest.
Beth drove in comfortable silence, her fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel as she pulled onto Viv’s street.
As Viv reached for her phone, she paused.
The screen was filled with missed messages from Lisa.
Viv sighed, unlocking her phone. “Lisa’s been texting me.”
Beth glanced at her. “What’s she saying?”
Viv skimmed the messages, her lips pressing together.
“She wants to know where I am.”
Beth didn’t say anything.
Viv exhaled, shaking her head. “I guess she expected me to stay at the house last night.”
Beth hesitated, then asked, “Are you gonna tell her where you were?”
Viv looked out the window.
A long pause.
Then, quietly—“I don’t know. Probably, there is nothing wrong with it”
Beth nodded, not pushing.
They pulled up to Viv’s place, and Beth shifted into park. “I’ll wait here.”
Viv nodded, slipping out of the car.
Viv stepped inside the house, immediately noticing how different it felt.
The space was quieter, but more than that—it felt temporary.
Lisa’s stuff was packed into boxes, lined up against the wall.
Viv swallowed, forcing herself to walk toward the bedroom, but before she could, Lisa’s voice stopped her.
“Where were you?”
Viv turned.
Lisa was standing in the hallway, arms crossed, looking exhausted but not angry.
Viv hesitated. “I stayed at Beth’s.”
Lisa’s brows furrowed slightly. “Since when are you and Beth close?”
Viv sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Since… I don’t know. It just happened.”
Lisa inhaled slowly, glancing at the boxes. “I’m leaving today.”
Viv froze.
Lisa’s voice was calm, like she had already accepted everything.
Viv, however, didn’t know what to say.
Lisa studied her for a moment, then sighed. “You’re dealing with this in your own way, I get it.”
Viv stayed quiet.
Lisa shifted, glancing toward the packed-up boxes. “I guess we were both avoiding this, huh?”
Viv clenched her jaw. “Yeah.”
Lisa exhaled, then, more softly, said, “I hope you’ll be okay.”
Viv felt something tighten in her chest.
There were so many things she could say—so many things she should say.
But in the end, all she managed was: “I need to go.”
Lisa nodded, as if she’d expected that.
Viv grabbed her bag, turned toward the door.
She didn’t look back.
When she got into Beth’s car, she let out a slow breath, staring straight ahead.
Beth glanced at her. “You okay?”
Viv swallowed hard.
“Yeah,” she said.
Beth didn’t believe her.
But she didn’t say anything.
She just started the car and drove.