POV: Mateo
Mateo didn't believe it at first. He'd heard rumors before. Half-truths twisted by jealous teammates or cheer gossip that made its way through the cafeteria. But this one hit too close.
He sat in the locker room long after practice ended, lacing and unlacing his cleats. The murmur of voices echoed faintly from the hall, words he couldn't quite make out but didn't need to.
Someone had said they saw Ethan and Alex together. Not talking. Kissing.
The thought made his stomach tighten.
It's just gossip. Has to be.
He tried to laugh it off when Diego mentioned it, calling it another stupid rumor from Madison's cheer squad. But even as the words left his mouth, his pulse was pounding.
Because he'd seen the way they looked at each other. Had interrupted them in the training room last night, walked in on something that felt too intimate to be nothing.
No. She wouldn't.
But the doubt ate at him.
