Page 111 of My Italian Love Affair

“Good luck with that.”

Then I turn, walking away before he can say anything else.

Fuck you, asshole.

Chapter Thirty

Matteo

Iwatch her walk away.

I should turn around towards the rest of the journalists waiting for their turn, should do the usual - shake off the loss, give some practiced answers, and put on a fucking performance. After all, it’s part of the job. It’s what I’m paid to do.

But I don’t.

Instead, I stare after her, my jaw locked so tight I swear I hear my teeth grind.

She doesn’t look back. Not once.

Her posture is stiff, her steps clipped, her back straight.

She’sfurious.

I know that about her now.

She doesn’t hide her emotions well - especially not when she’s angry. Her body always betrays her.

And I was a dick. Amassivedick.

I exhale sharply and turn toward the changing rooms, moving past the gathered press without so much as a glance in their direction. Some journalists shift, their expressionsexpectant, while others exchange looks - probably questioning the fact that I’m walking away from interviews completely.

But I don’t care.

I’m not in the fucking mood.

The moment I step into the changing room, I head straight for the showers, peeling my sweat-soaked jersey over my head and tossing it somewhere behind me.

The changing room is eerily quiet. Most of the guys are still caught up in post-match duties, being forced to stand in front of cameras and microphones, explaining why we just got humiliated on our own turf.

I should be there too. I should be answering those questions, leading from the front.

Instead, I’m here,seething.

Not just at the loss. Not just at the team’s shit performance.

Atmyself.

I turn the shower on, stepping under the scalding spray and letting it burn away the frustration buzzing beneath my skin.

Fuck.I was an asshole to her.

All she did was do her fucking job, was do herresearch,and I couldn’t handle it.

Her pre-match predictions had been all over social media, and she hadn’t just pointed out the risks.

No, she’dnailedthem.

Every. Single. One.

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