EUPHORIA || L. MESSI

Part 17: Comfort and Breakfast

a/n: hey! probably won't include josh meeting riley next chapter just because i have three chapters planned out and honestly just want to write them ahaha.

don't forget to vote and comment! your support is incredibly x

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Leo sat on the phone to his mum, perching on the edge of my bed and apologising profusely in Spanish. He had offered to stay over, as I had been an anxious mess since Josh's arrival, but I had obviously denied repeatedly, not wanting to keep him away any longer from his sons. That only made the footballer want to stay more, and after Josh had left to his hotel and I had broken down in tears, he had almost announced he was staying on the spot.

I stood in the doorway of my en suite as I watched him from behind. As he rang to explain the situation, I had decided to move into the bathroom and get ready to go to bed, taking off the makeup I hadn't cried off and changing into something to sleep in. It wasn't too much longer after I returned that Leo hung up, and I watched him rub his face with a sigh. Celia had sounded fine with caring for the boys, but I knew Leo felt somewhat guilty to lose a whole twenty four hours with them.

"I'm sorry.." I apologised quietly, and he looked round over his shoulder, eyebrows crinkled into a frown.

"Sorry for what?" He spoke slowly, standing up and moving to where I leant against the doorframe. I stayed still, allowing him to rest a hand on my hip and press a kiss to my forehead. "Ava, this isn't your fault."

I knew it wasn't, but deep down I couldn't help but feel bad that he was being dragged into this. Sure, I had dealt with the backlash from Antonella, but in this situation he had to see me in front of my ex, and he was having to pick up the pieces. It was times like these that made me doubt if I was the best thing for him. He was a world famous footballer, rich and talented with people falling at his feet wherever he went, yet here he was. Sat in a run-down house in Barcelona with a teacher and her six year old son, whilst her ex stayed in a hotel just down the road.

The thought combined with the events of the day caused an unwilling tear to slip out the corner of my eye, but I tried to play it out with the sad smile I kept on my lips. Leo didn't care if I was trying to force a smile, for any sadness to him was enough for him to be concerned.

His arms slipped around me further, tugging my body against his so that I couldn't escape my emotions. The second my face touched his body I couldn't hold it in any longer, and the tears began to stream down my face like a waterfall, all the emotions I felt at the previous events of the day crashing down at once. Leo simply held me tightly, allowing me to rest my head in the crook of his neck as I cried, running a comforting hand up and down my back, the other in my hair. The touch was so simple, but enough to make me feel safe in his arms, and even as my sons subsided, I found myself stood there for a moment longer before I finally pulled back.

Moving his hands to cup my cheeks, Leo pressed a soft kiss to my lips, and then to my forehead, both causing a sad smile to dance across my lips.

"You're so beautiful." He spoke randomly, and I had to fight to hold in the disbelieving laugh that threatened to spill out at his words. I couldn't even begin to imagine how horrible I looked stood in front of him with a bright red face and no make up. I moved to cover my face with my hands, but he took a hold of my wrists to stop me, forcing me to look at him "I mean it."

Shaking my head I moved away from him, going to sit on the edge of the bed only to see him look back at me. He followed shortly after, taking a place next to me, but not touching my side so that there was a comfortable distance between us.

"I just wish tonight hadn't ended like this." I admitted shyly, fiddling with the material of my joggers. Leo and I rarely got to spend any time together, so it would be a lie to pretend I wasn't disappointed this had happened today of all times.