Jake stepped off the plane at Manchester Airport, stretching out the stiffness from the long flight. Ariel was still fast asleep in Emma's arms, while Ethan trailed behind, scrolling through his phone.
"Long flight?" Paul Roberts greeted him outside, leaning against Jake's car.
"You have no idea," Jake muttered, opening the trunk for the luggage.
Paul smirked. "Well, no time to rest. The lads are gearing up for Madrid. You picked a hell of a time to take a vacation."
Jake chuckled. "Yeah, I'm sure they missed me."
"Actually," Paul said, "they might have. It's been intense. They know who we're playing next."
Jake nodded. He wasn't even fully back yet, and the weight of the next match was already settling in.
Real Madrid.
The biggest test yet.
System Analysis – The Madrid Threat
By the time Jake got home and settled, a familiar notification greeted him on his laptop.
DING!
[Opponent Breakdown: Real Madrid]
