Chapter 302: [302] "It happened a lot"

The sliding glass door yielded with a smooth glide.

Luc stepped out onto the back patio. The morning air carried a crisp chill. The sun sat low behind the thick wall of pines lining the perimeter of the twin house, casting long shadows across the grass. The surface of the swimming pool mirrored the clear blue sky above.

He wore a plain grey t-shirt and loose black cotton shorts. Beside him, Juliette stepped over the threshold. She had pulled on a simple white sundress, the thin straps resting light against her shoulders, her hair twisted up and secured with a plastic claw clip.

They walked toward the center of the shared backyard, the cool stone of the patio cold beneath their bare feet.

Movement caught Luc’s eye.

Hugo sat on one of the lounge chairs near the edge of the pool. The eighteen-year-old midfielder wore nothing but grey sweatpants. He held his tablet in his lap, his eyes scanning the screen with his usual intense focus.

Next to him, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the second lounge chair, was Talia.

She held a steaming mug of coffee in both hands. She wore a black SC Valois training top. The garment was massive on her, the hem draping down to her mid-thigh, the sleeves pushed up past her elbows to allow her hands to function. It was Hugo’s shirt...he probably demanded an oversized one he could sleep in.

The visual evidence of their night broadcasted itself without a single word spoken.

Luc stopped near the fire pit, shoving his hands into his pockets. He let a smirk pull at the corner of his mouth.

"Morning," Luc called out, breaking the quiet of the woods.

Hugo looked up from his tablet. He blinked, noting their presence, and set the device face-down on the cushion beside him.

"Good morning," Hugo responded. He did not look embarrassed at all as he acknowledged the greeting and took a sip of his own coffee.

Talia, however, lacked the teenager’s unnatural composure. A deep flush of color rose to her cheeks the second Luc and Juliette walked into view. She adjusted her grip on the mug, tugging the oversized training shirt down over her knees in a defensive gesture.

"Hi," Talia said, offering a nervous smile. "Morning."

Juliette walked past Luc, her bare feet padding across the stone. She did not tease or offer a knowing grin that would elevate Talia’s obvious anxiety. She approached the lounge chairs with an easy, welcoming posture.

"Morning," Juliette said, stopping a few feet away. "I was just about to start on breakfast in the right unit. We have eggs, some sourdough bread from the city, and a terrifying amount of coffee. Talia, come help me figure out what to make. Luc is useless with these kind of thngs."

Talia looked at Hugo, then back at Juliette. The relief in her eyes was obvious. The invitation offered an immediate escape from the scrutiny of the patio.

"Yeah," Talia agreed, standing up from the lounge chair. The oversized shirt slipped down one shoulder. She pulled it back up and set her mug on the small table. "I can help with that."

"Good," Juliette said, turning toward the doors of the right unit. "Let the guys talk about whatever they are obsessing over today. We need morning food."

Talia followed Juliette across the patio. The glass door slid shut behind them, sealing the two women inside.

Luc walked over to the lounge chairs and dropped into the seat Talia had just vacated. He leaned back, resting his arms on the armrests, and looked at his teammate.

"Nice shirt she’s wearing," Luc noted.

Hugo did not break eye contact. "The temperature dropped during the night not so much as now though. She said she needed comfort clothing for the morning. I provided the lightest one I had."

"Sure," Luc agreed, letting the amusement settle. "That’s it."

Inside the right unit, the kitchen offered a massive, open-concept space featuring dark marble countertops and stainless steel appliances. Juliette moved beside the espresso machine then toward the massive refrigerator.

Talia hovered near the kitchen island, tracing the edge of the marble with her index finger.

"You can take a seat," Juliette offered, pulling a carton of eggs and a package of thick-cut bacon from the fridge. "I don’t actually need help. I just figured you wanted an out."

Talia exhaled, dropping onto one of the high wooden barstools. She rested her elbows on the counter, burying her face in her hands for a brief second.

"Was it that obvious?" Talia asked, her voice muffled against her palms.

Juliette set the ingredients on the counter and turned around, leaning her hips against the marble. "You are wearing his oversized, Talia. You stayed the night after the biggest cup final of his life so far. Yes. It was obvious."

Talia lowered her hands. The flush remained on her cheeks. "I didn’t plan for this to happen. I came here yesterday just wanting to see the new house. I brought a change of clothes in my bag just in case the party went late, but I didn’t think I would have the best night of my life later on with him."

Juliette grabbed a cast-iron skillet from the rack above the stove and set it on the burner. She turned the dial, a ring of blue flames igniting beneath the metal.

"You don’t have to explain yourself to me," Juliette said, reaching for a knife to slice the bacon. "You are two single adults. It happens."

"Well...It happened," Talia corrected, the nervous energy giving way to a smile. She looked down at the massive SC Valois crest printed on the chest of the shirt. "And it happened a lot."

Juliette paused her slicing. She looked over her shoulder, meeting Talia’s gaze. A grin broke across Juliette’s face too.

"Good for both if you," Juliette laughed, tossing the slices of bacon into the heating skillet. The meat hissed, the rich smell filling the kitchen space.