Love in Lockdown

We Feel What We Feel

'There are so many other people who could be doing this job right now,' Paige muttered as she stood outside the hotel room door. She was returning the teething drops and was hoping for another 'run in' with Nate in the sobering light of day. Convinced her emotions had been swayed by exhaustion, nerves, and hunger, 

She had spent half the night reliving her encounter with Nate in the stairwell, the way he had held her against his chest, his hands firm on her arm, his eyes drinking her in. It had gone for too long and let she didn't break away. Her cheeks flushed at the memory and heat settled in her core. 

She squeezed her legs together and shook her head. 'Get yourself together Paige. This is ridiculous.' She no longer trusted her body. The hotel was full of good looking, fit, toned, and confident men, yet none of them had caught her eye, let alone set her whole body alight. But Nate had, and Paige wasn't sure how she would have reacted if Nate had done what he looked like he was thinking the night before. His gaze, as he watched her in the hallway, had left her reeling. 

All she needed was to see him one more time, so her body could have a normal and unaffected reaction. She wasn't interested in a distraction, especially a footballer. If the media were to be believed footballers were constantly in and out of trouble with drugs, women, fighting, and alcohol. She had already been witness to players strutting about as though they were invincible and irresistible.

She sighed. She hadn't stopped for a coffee yet this morning and a headache was edging in. What was bothering her most was Nate had seemed sweet. It was surprising, and she didn't like surprises. She'd wanted to be irritated as they collided in the stairwell, but he'd caught her gently, and she'd remembered him from check-in when he'd put the younger players in their place.

She needed to snap out of it. Paige didn't do relationships, and she sure as hell wasn't going to get involved with someone at the hotel. With the entire tourism industry almost abolished thanks to international travel bans, she would struggle to find another job.  

Paige knocked on the door and relaxed her face, she could feel her brow furrowing into a crease. Within seconds Cassy opened the door and gave Paige one of the sunniest smiles she had ever seen. 

'It's Cassy isn't it?' Paige cleared her throat and held out the small amber bottle. 'Thanks so much for last night. The other guest was really grateful and may drop by later to say thank you.'

Cassy leaned against the door frame, her blonde hair in a messy knot at the top of her head. 'Thanks, Paige, you really didn't need to replace it so quickly, but I appreciate it.'

Glancing over Cassy's shoulder, Paige noticed a man, obviously another player judging by his build and the wealth of tattoos on his arms, stretched out along the couch with a baby boy asleep along his chest.

'He's gorgeous.' Paige said, smiling to mask the unexpected tinge of sadness that crept into her tone. 

Cassy's eyes followed Paige's gaze, and her smile became even bigger and warmer if it were possible.

'They both are,' Cassy replied with a wink. A surprised laugh escaped Paige as her cheeks flushed. Cassy's husband looked up and waggled his eyebrows at them both, triggering more laughter from both women.

'Thanks again, and anything you need, let me know,' Paige said, turning to leave.

'You know Nate is such a great guy. He's not like a lot of the other players.'

Paige stopped mid-step, turning to meet Cassy's pointed gaze. She nodded, feeling the crease returning to her brow. Paige nodded, choosing to ignore the obvious message there. She was careful to keep her expression neutral as she replied.

'I'm sure. Bye Cassy, and let me know if you need anything.'

There were many things Paige Marino wanted, and a romance with a football player wasn't one of them.

Ethan and Alicia were both back in reception when Paige arrived in the foyer. They were her dream team and Paige also had a suspicion Alicia was harbouring a small crush on Ethan. Her friend seemed more flustered than usual in his presence, which she could understand. At 6'3", built like a basketball player and with a smile that literally turned women into puddles, Ethan had a long list of female fans on the staff. 

Alicia was Paige's first and closest friend at the hotel, having bonded during orientation during the kitchen tour when they walked in on the head chef singing along to Engelbert Humperdinck while massaging marinade into a tub of chicken breasts. It was an image neither of them had ever been able to forget and it still left them in stitches whenever one of them brought it up.

'Coffee babe?' Alicia suggested. Paige nodded, needing caffeine before tackling the mountain of messages from the rooms already piled up. Ethan shooed them away from the desk as he took another call.

One of the conference rooms had been transformed into a dining and chill space for the staff, with tables, a buffet, couches, and a small bar area that was unlocked at night with rationed alcohol. There were always a few groups using the space to relax outside their rooms, and with free, endless coffee, it was never empty. 

Paige found couches by the courtyard windows, and Alicia joined her, a coffee in each hand. Her curly blonde hair was half up and she closed her eyes on a sigh as she took a long sip. 'It is so good to sit down. My feet are still killing me from yesterday.' 

Paige sipped her coffee and watched water trickling from the stone fountain set in the wall of the courtyard. 

Alicia leaned forward, her expression guarded and a tingle traveled up the back of Paige's neck, sensing an impending drama. 

'I need to tell you something and I need your advice on what to do. But it has to stay between us as I don't have consent to share it.' 

Paige breathed through a stab of anxiety in her chest. Alicia was waiting for her to respond before divulging the details and Paige nodded, forcing her mind to pause from running through all the potential scandals a team of football players could cause in just one day.

The hotel was being watched by the press and Paige could almost feel their anticipation each time she passed the main doors of the foyer.

Alicia's shoulders dropped at Paige's agreement and she took a deep breath before starting, twisting a curl around her finger. 'It's about something that happened between a staff member and player.'

Paige rolled her eyes and groaned. 'That didn't take long. It hasn't even been 24 hours.'

Alicia sat back in the couch, holding back a laugh as she took another sip of coffee. 'I know! Football players are the worst.'

Sharing a smile they both nodded before Alicia launched back into her story. 'This was overheard so the details may not be spot on. I heard Sophie from housecleaning tell her manager one of the players was very forward with her. Nothing physical, but insistent. He followed her around the room while she cleaned, standing too close, watching too much. She said he didn't do anything, but she felt uncomfortable and got the feeling he wasn't going to take 'not interested' as an answer.' She savoured another long sip of coffee before continuing. 'Callum offered to take over that room in the future, but it just isn't a good start on day one.'

Relieved, Paige relaxed back into the chair and pulled her feet underneath her. It wasn't one of her worst-case scenarios, and it sadly wasn't unexpected. Footballers don't have the best reputation for behaving themselves and there hadn't been a recent season without a drug or s*x scandal. 

'It could be worse.' Paige said. 'I'll check the roster change and figure out who we need to watch.' 

Both women sat in silence, lost in thought, drinking coffee, and embracing the downtime. Alicia was the closest person Paige had to a friend and she realised they rarely talked about life outside the hotel. As she prepared to enter the lockdown Paige was confronted by how little she had outside the Stanton, and looking over at her friend it dawned on her how little she knew about Alicia's life. 

Taking a chance, she opened a conversation. 'So, do you want to talk about Ethan, or something else?'

Alicia's cheeks instantly flamed, and she covered her face with her hands as she groaned in embarrassment. 'God... is it that obvious?'

Paige bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. 'Only a little. Why haven't you said anything to me about it?'

Alicia dropped her hands back to her lap, the pink flush looking pretty against her freckles and blonde hair. 'Staff relationships are not permitted, and you are such a rule follower Paige. I knew what you'd say. Besides, he isn't interested so there's nothing to talk about.'

Paige pushed back the hurt she felt hearing her friend confess she kept something from her, but then she didn't really open up much either. 'I think you guys would be great together. I wouldn't have lectured you.'

Alicia's voice softened. 'I was worried you would disapprove.' They sat in another silence, this one less comfortable. 'I mostly didn't tell you because I was embarrassed. We've worked together for ages and I know he doesn't feel the same. I feel silly.' Alicia stood up and held out a hand to pull Paige up from her couch. 'I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.'

Paige accepted her hand and slipped her shoes back on. 'He's crazy if he doesn't see how amazing you are.'

'It's okay. We feel what we feel, and he isn't feeling it!' Alicia smiled, lifting her should in a half shrug. 'We should get back to work. You will have a crazy number of requests to go through by now.'

I know not much happened between Nate & Paige in this chapter, but it's coming I promise! 

Please remember to vote guys! Lots of love x