Something About You

“It was your favorite song, B,”

Layla wandered through the bustling hotel lobby, the muted hum of conversation and clinking dishes filling the air. She had finished her shift earlier than usual, but instead of heading back to her room, she found herself drawn to the small café tucked into the corner of the hotel. It was cozy, with dim lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. The thought of sitting alone didn’t bother her as much as the feeling of not quite belonging in this new place.

She had been at the club for only a few weeks, but it still felt like everyone around her had already found their footing. The physiotherapy team, though friendly enough, had formed their own tight-knit circles—groups that shared inside jokes, lunch breaks, and the camaraderie that came with years of working together. Layla couldn’t help but feel like an outsider looking in. Every time she tried to join a conversation or offer her thoughts, it felt as though she were interrupting something already in motion.

With a soft sigh, she approached the counter, ordering a simple meal. As she waited, Layla scanned the room, observing the easy chatter between hotel guests and staff, the way people seemed to flow into their own rhythms so effortlessly. She envied that. The ability to belong somewhere without having to try so hard.

Her tray arrived, and she found a table by the window, away from the larger groups. The solitude was comforting in a way, but it also reminded her of how much she still had to adjust. She had never been one to easily fit into new environments, and this job, with all its prestige and pressure, only heightened that sense of unfamiliarity.

The plate of food sat in front of her, untouched as she leaned back in her chair, staring out at the city lights. Layla couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take before she’d feel like she truly belonged here—before her colleagues would start to see her as more than just the new girl. The thought lingered as she slowly picked at her meal, trying to shake off the creeping loneliness that came with starting over in a new chapter of her life.

Layla was lost in her thoughts, her fork idly pushing the food around her plate, when she sensed movement from the corner of her eye. She glanced up, startled, and froze as Aaron Bekker stepped into the café. His tall frame and unmistakable presence commanded the room, but instead of heading toward one of the more secluded corners or joining a group of teammates, he moved directly toward her.

Without a word, Aaron pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down, his face impassive, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Layla blinked, unsure how to react. Her heart raced, and the silence between them felt heavy, charged with an unspoken tension. She had expected him to walk right past her, like everyone else had during the day, but here he was, sitting across from her, his intense gaze briefly meeting hers before he looked out the window.

The café buzzed quietly around them, but at their table, it was just the two of them, caught in a wordless moment. Layla shifted uncomfortably, her hands tightening around her fork. What was he doing? Why was he sitting here with her, of all people? Her mind raced for something to say, but Aaron remained silent, his expression unreadable.

For a brief moment, she wondered if he even realized he had chosen to sit with her—or if he simply needed an escape, just like she did.

The silence stretched on, and Layla could feel her nerves creeping in. She wasn’t used to this—sitting across from someone like Aaron Bekker, a star player who carried so much weight with his mere presence. She hesitated, unsure whether she should say something or just let the moment pass, but the quiet was becoming unbearable.

"So, um..." she started, her voice softer than she intended. "Long day, huh?"

Aaron didn’t respond, his eyes still fixed on her, as if he was studying her face, looking for something beyond the words she had spoken. Layla swallowed, feeling the intensity of his gaze. She tried again, forcing a small, polite smile.

"I guess training must’ve been tough today," she continued, attempting to break the ice. "You looked really focused out there. Not that I was watching or anything." She immediately regretted adding that, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Still, Aaron remained silent. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes never left hers. It was as if he was listening, but choosing not to respond. Layla’s fingers nervously toyed with the edge of her napkin, unsure of what to do next. She was used to making casual conversation, even in awkward situations like this, but Aaron’s silence felt different. It wasn’t dismissive or rude, but it was as though he existed in a space separate from her words, untouchable.

Feeling the weight of his stare, she cleared her throat, trying to find a way to salvage the conversation. "If you need anything for recovery, let me know. I mean... I'm still getting used to everything around here, but I’m happy to help."

Aaron’s gaze softened slightly, but still, he said nothing. Layla shifted in her seat, now more unsure than ever. She had no idea what he was thinking, and that uncertainty made her feel more exposed than she’d expected.

The silence was stretching on far too long, and Layla’s nerves were starting to fray at the edges. In her desperation to break the tension, she scooped up a bit of her dessert—a slice of cheesecake with chocolate drizzled on top—and, without thinking, she blurted out, "You want?"

Aaron’s eyes flicked to her in surprise, then down to the spoon she was offering him. He didn’t say anything—just stared at her with that same intense gaze. Layla could feel her face flush, realizing how silly the gesture must have seemed. Who offers a bite of cheesecake to a football star?

She bit her lip, almost ready to pull the spoon back and laugh it off, when Aaron did something unexpected. He leaned forward, his gaze never leaving hers, and took the bite from the spoon, his lips brushing the metal edge as he accepted it. Layla’s breath caught in her throat, her hand frozen in mid-air as she watched him chew slowly, still not saying a word.

She blinked, completely caught off guard by the moment. "Uh..." Layla stammered, trying to gather her thoughts. "Was it… good?"

Aaron didn’t immediately respond, but there was a faint softening in his expression, just the smallest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He leaned back in his chair, still holding her gaze, and gave a small, barely perceptible nod.

"Yeah," he finally said, his voice low and quiet.

Layla blinked again, still trying to process what had just happened. It wasn’t much—just a word and a nod—but coming from Aaron Bekker, it felt like a monumental step. She glanced down at her dessert, the empty spoon resting on her plate, and couldn’t help but laugh softly, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Well… glad you liked it,” she muttered, her cheeks still warm from embarrassment.

Aaron didn’t respond after that, his silence returning, but this time, the tension between them felt different. Lighter, even. Layla couldn’t explain it, but somehow, in this strange, quiet moment, the walls that surrounded Aaron seemed just a little bit lower.

Aaron’s hazel eyes, sharp and intense like a predator’s—those unmistakable hunter eyes—locked onto Layla’s. The color was mesmerizing, a mix of amber and green that seemed to shift with the light, giving him an almost piercing gaze. As he stared at her, his eyes seemed to search for something, flicking between hers as though trying to decode whatever emotion lay behind her awkward smile.

The moment stretched longer than Layla anticipated, her breath catching as the weight of his gaze settled on her. There was something deeply focused about the way Aaron looked at her, as if he was seeing right through her words, her actions, straight into her uncertainty. It was unnerving, yet she couldn’t look away.

Then, just as the tension reached its peak, Aaron broke the silence not with words but with a long, heavy sigh. His chest rose and fell, and for a brief moment, his gaze softened. It was as if all the weight he carried—whether from the game, the expectations, or something else entirely—was wrapped up in that single exhale.

Layla, still caught in his gaze, felt her heart race, wondering what thoughts lay behind those hunter eyes. But even in that brief, almost vulnerable moment, Aaron remained a mystery—his silence speaking louder than anything he could’ve said.

Aaron’s eyes shifted slightly, noticing Layla’s plate. Her fork rested idle, the dessert barely touched. It didn’t take long for him to realize she had been staring at him for the past few minutes, completely forgetting about her food.

Without breaking the intensity of his gaze, he leaned forward slightly, his voice low but firm, cutting through the quiet air between them.

“Finish your food,” he said, his tone gentle but carrying an edge of authority. His words weren’t a request; they felt more like an instruction, as if he was reminding her to stay grounded, to stop losing herself in the awkwardness of the moment.

Layla blinked, startled out of her trance. Her cheeks flushed as she realized she’d been caught staring. “Oh, right… I—” she stammered, quickly picking up her fork, trying to shake off the embarrassment.

Aaron’s eyes lingered on her for a second longer, then, with another quiet sigh, he leaned back into his chair, his gaze shifting away from hers and back out the window. Even though he didn’t say anything more, the moment left Layla with the strange feeling that, despite his quiet demeanor, he was more aware of her than she had imagined.

As Layla focused on her food, the soft melody of "Love Me Like You Do" began playing in the background. She didn’t think much of it at first, just appreciating the gentle music filling the café. But when the chorus came on, she froze for a split second.

"Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do... Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do... What are you waiting for?”

Aaron’s eyes flickered at the sound of the song, his expression softening ever so slightly. A small, barely-there smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he continued to watch Layla, who was still oblivious to his gaze, busy finishing her meal.

“It was your favorite song, B,” Aaron said quietly, his voice just loud enough to be heard over the music.

Layla looked up, her fork still in hand, mid-bite. Confusion spread across her face as she met his gaze. “What?” she asked, her brow furrowing. She wasn’t sure what he meant—B? Her favorite song? None of it made sense.

But Aaron didn’t answer. He only gave a small shake of his head, the faint smile fading away, replaced by that same guarded expression. Slowly, he rose from his chair, glancing down briefly to see that her plate was nearly empty. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the exit, his footsteps quiet against the café floor.

Without another word, Aaron turned and walked out of the café, leaving Layla sitting there, puzzled and caught in the strange, fleeting moment they had just shared. As the door closed behind him, the lyrics of the song echoed in her ears, leaving her with more questions than answers.

Layla’s thoughts were still swirling, replaying Aaron’s cryptic words over and over. She found herself absentmindedly twirling the last bit of dessert on her plate, barely noticing her surroundings.

Suddenly, the sound of laughter and voices jolted her back to reality.

“Hey, Layla! Mind if we join you?” a familiar voice cut through her daze.

Layla looked up, startled, to see a few of her colleagues from the medical team standing next to her table. There was Sarah, always with a warm smile, and two others from the physio team—Paul and Jenna. They were carrying their trays, clearly in the mood to chat.

“Uh, sure! Of course,” Layla replied, trying to shake off her distraction. She forced a smile as they sat down around her, the table suddenly feeling much smaller.

“So, how are you finding everything so far?” Sarah asked, settling into her seat. “Big day for you, huh?”

“Yeah, you’ve already treated the star player,” Paul chimed in with a grin. “Talk about being thrown in the deep end.”

Layla gave a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, it’s been… eventful.” She tried to sound casual, but her mind was still tangled in her encounter with Aaron.

Jenna leaned forward, her eyes bright with curiosity. “Come on, tell us—what’s he like up close? Aaron Bekker. Is he as intense as everyone says?”

Layla hesitated, unsure of what to say. She couldn’t very well tell them about his strange behavior in the café just now, so she opted for something vague. “He’s… quiet. Definitely focused. But yeah, I can see the intensity.”

Sarah nodded knowingly. “That’s Aaron for you. He’s all business when it comes to the game.”

Paul laughed. “Yeah, but quiet or not, he’s got everyone’s attention. The fans, the media—it must be exhausting having that much pressure."

Jenna smirked. “Not to mention he’s, you know, Aaron Bekker. Kind of hard not to notice him.”

Layla smiled at that, but inside, her thoughts were still far from the conversation. She answered their questions, nodding along, but her mind kept wandering back to the moment Aaron had smiled—however brief—and his strange comment about the song. As her colleagues chatted around her, she couldn’t help but wonder what he had really meant, and why it felt like there was so much more he wasn’t saying.

Just as Layla was starting to ease into the conversation, a shadow loomed over the table. She looked up to see Alea, one of the senior physios, approaching with a tray in hand. Her expression was unreadable, but Layla could sense the tension even before Alea spoke.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the rising star of the medical team,” Alea said, her tone sharp, though laced with a smirk. She pulled out a chair and sat down next to Layla, crossing her arms. “I hear you’ve already had your moment with Aaron Bekker.”

Layla felt the shift in the atmosphere immediately. The friendly chatter from Sarah, Paul, and Jenna slowed, their eyes flicking between Layla and Alea, sensing the subtle jab.

“I, uh… it was just part of the job,” Layla responded, trying to keep her voice steady. She could feel Alea’s eyes boring into her, scrutinizing her every word.

Alea scoffed lightly, leaning forward. “Part of the job, sure. But it seems like you’re already making an impression, hmm? A little too eager, maybe? New girl and already getting involved with the star player? Not bad.” Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.

Layla blinked, unsure how to respond. Was she being accused of something? She glanced around the table, but the others remained silent, unsure how to intervene.

“I wasn’t—” Layla started, trying to explain, but Alea cut her off.

“Let me guess, you thought he’d take notice of you because you’re new? Or maybe you just like the attention. It’s easy to get carried away, right?” Alea’s eyes narrowed slightly, the words cutting deeper with each passing second.

Layla’s heart raced. She hadn’t done anything wrong, had she? She wasn’t trying to draw attention, not from Aaron or anyone else. But Alea’s words made her doubt herself, made her feel like maybe she had crossed some invisible line she wasn’t even aware of.

“I was just doing my job,” Layla said quietly, her voice more uncertain than she intended.

Alea leaned back in her chair, clearly enjoying the discomfort she was causing. “Sure. Just remember, Layla, not everything is about you. Don’t let a little attention go to your head.” She smirked again, then glanced at Sarah, Paul, and Jenna, as if daring them to disagree.

Sarah finally spoke up, her tone gentle but firm. “Come on, Alea, she’s new. Give her a break.”

Alea shrugged, clearly unfazed. “I’m just saying, she should know how things work around here. Don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.”

Layla swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Alea’s words settle in her chest. She looked down at her hands, unsure of how to respond or how to shake off the sudden wave of insecurity that had washed over her.

The rest of the group sat in uncomfortable silence, the lightness from earlier completely evaporated. And even though no one else said it aloud, Layla could feel the lingering tension, the unspoken judgment hanging in the air.

Before Alea could leave, she paused by the edge of the table, casting one last glance at Layla. There was a sharp glint in her eyes, a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips.

“Oh, and Layla,” Alea said, her voice dripping with condescension, “just be careful. You wouldn’t want people thinking you’re trying too hard to get noticed by certain players. It might give the wrong impression, you know?”

Layla felt her face flush, heat rising to her cheeks as Alea’s words hit their mark. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. The embarrassment, mixed with frustration, made her chest tighten. Alea’s jab wasn’t just casual—it was deliberate, and Layla could feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on her.

Alea gave a satisfied little shrug and turned to leave. "Anyway, good luck. You’re going to need it,” she added with a smirk before walking away.

As soon as Alea was out of earshot, Sarah leaned in, her expression softening as she placed a hand on Layla’s shoulder. “Don’t take it personally, Layla. That’s just how Alea is. She loves to stir things up.”

“Yeah, she’s like that with everyone,” Paul chimed in, offering a small, encouraging smile. “Especially the new ones. It’s her way of, I don’t know, asserting dominance or whatever.”

Jenna nodded in agreement. “She’s been here forever, and she thinks she runs the place. But seriously, don’t let her get to you.”

Layla forced a smile, trying to shake off the sting of Alea’s words. But it wasn’t easy. She hadn’t expected such hostility, especially on her first day. “I just… I didn’t mean to—”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Sarah reassured her quickly, squeezing Layla’s arm. “Alea just likes to mess with people. It’s nothing to do with you. She probably sees you as competition, which is ridiculous, but that’s how she operates.”

Layla nodded, grateful for their support, though the knot of discomfort in her stomach didn’t fully unravel. “Thanks,” she murmured, glancing around the table. She appreciated their kindness, but it still stung to think that someone would go out of their way to make her feel unwelcome.

“She’ll ease up eventually,” Jenna added with a wink. “Just give it time. By next week, she’ll have a new target.”

Layla smiled weakly, but in her mind, she was already bracing herself for what the next day might bring.

Layla sat quietly, her mind still replaying the biting words Alea had thrown at her. The sharpness of Alea's tone, the smug expression—everything about it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She couldn’t quite understand why Alea seemed to dislike her so much. Was it really just about Aaron? Was that enough to warrant such hostility?

"Why does she care so much?" Layla muttered under her breath, more to herself than to anyone else.

Sarah, who had been watching Layla’s expression shift, leaned in sympathetically. "Alea’s always been… well, a bit territorial when it comes to Aaron," she explained. "They’ve known each other for a while, and she doesn’t like anyone stepping into what she thinks is her space."

Layla frowned. "But I haven’t done anything. I barely know him," she said, exasperation seeping into her voice. "I don’t care about any of that. I just hate being accused of something that’s not even true."

Sarah nodded, her expression softening. "I know, and honestly, most of us can see that. But Alea, she’s got her own way of thinking. It’s not really about you—it’s more about her trying to keep control. Rumor has it, she and Aaron were close at one point, but from what I’ve seen, he’s never confirmed anything. She just likes people to think they’re closer than they are."

Layla shook her head, feeling the frustration bubble up inside. "It’s so ridiculous. I’m here to work, not get involved in petty drama."

"Exactly," Sarah agreed. "And honestly, that’s the best attitude to have. Don’t let her get to you. People like Alea? They thrive on stirring things up. Just keep doing your job, and everything else will sort itself out."

Layla nodded, but the irritation lingered. She didn’t care about Aaron’s personal life, or Alea’s supposed claim over him. What stung was being dragged into it, being targeted for something that wasn’t even on her radar.

"I just want to do my job without all this nonsense," Layla muttered.

Sarah smiled warmly. "You will. Don’t worry about Alea. She’ll find someone else to fixate on eventually. Just keep being professional, and remember—you’re not here for anyone’s approval but your own."

Layla gave a small smile in return, though her mind still turned over Alea’s words. It wasn’t about Aaron for her—it never had been. But the idea of being caught in someone else’s drama, especially with rumors flying, made her stomach churn.

At the end of the day, she reminded herself, the only thing that mattered was doing her job right. Everything else? It wasn’t worth her energy.