Against All Odds: Legacy Of A Football King
Chapter 62: What?!

Chapter 62: What?!

Inside, the dressing room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning.

Benjamin dropped his bag on the bench and pulled out his phone. He scrolled through his messages, his fingers lingering for a moment before tapping on Ashley’s contact.

<Done with training. You can come to pick me up now.>

With the message sent successfully, Benjamin leaned back on the wall and closed his eyes briefly. His mind replayed the drills from earlier which was still fresh in his thoughts.

Drip-drip...!

Hearing the sound of running water from the showers prompted him to move. He stripped off his sweat-soaked jersey and trainers, then he grabbed a towel and headed for the stalls.

The hot water hit his skin, easing the tension in his shoulders and washing away the day’s exertion.

By the time he emerged, dressed in casual jeans and a hoodie, his phone buzzed with a reply from Ashley:

<On my way. Be there in 10.>

Benjamin grabbed his bag and made his way outside, the crisp autumn air cooling his still-warm skin. He stood near the parking lot, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he waited.

Moments later, a sleek silver car pulled into the lot. Ashley rolled down the window, and her sharp eyes scanned him from top to bottom. "You look like you’ve been through a war."

Benjamin chuckled, tossing his bag into the back seat before sliding into the passenger seat. "Feels like it too."

"Good," Ashley said with a smirk as she pulled out of the lot. "it means you’re pushing yourself to train harder. Now, let’s find a place to talk business."

Ashley’s car hummed softly as they cruised through the streets of Alkmaar.

"Got any good restaurant in mind? I’m famished and desperately need something in me." Ashley asked, putting one of her hand on her stomach.

"Cough! Cough! ... What?!" Benjamin choked on his saliva at the unexpectedness of Ashley’s statement, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"I... I was talking about food, you... Such filthy thoughts... Humph!" A pinkish hue quickly spread from Ashley’s cheeks down to her neck as she corrected her statement.

Benjamin raised his hands in surrender, his lips twitching with amusement. "Alright, alright. I didn’t say anything. You just caught me off guard, that’s all."

"Humph!" Ashley turned her head away to focus on driving, but her blush deepened further in embarrassment. "Caught you off guard, my foot. You’re just a rotten apple filled with rotten thoughts, humph!" she muttered.

Benjamin shook his head speechlessly. How had he suddenly become a ’rotten apple filled with rotten thoughts?’

’Women and their unpredictable nature’ he thought in wonder.

Benjamin chuckled while shaking his head as he changed the topic. "For the record, I haven’t explored Alkmaar much, so no, I don’t have any restaurants in mind."

"You’ve been here for what, a week now?" Ashley asked, glancing at Benjamin with a mocking look.

"Yeah, about that," he replied while leaning back against the headrest.

"And you still don’t know a single decent restaurant in town. Also, you didn’t even Google places to eat?" She continued, her tone dripping with mock disbelief.

Benjamin shrugged, and a small smile tugged at his lips. "I haven’t really had the time to explore. Training’s been keeping me busy."

Ashley rolled her eyes dramatically. "Those are just Excuses. You’re a professional footballer now, Benjamin. Knowing good restaurants is practically a requirement. What if I wanted to schedule a fancy meeting with sponsors here?"

Benjamin laughed. "I’ll leave the fancy meetings to you, Ashley. But if it’s food you’re after, I can cook something for you. My apartment’s not far from here."

Ashley raised an eyebrow, shooting him a skeptical glance. "You? Cook? Now, that I’d love to see. What’s the menu—instant noodles and boiled water?"

Benjamin smirked. "More like Dutch dishes and Nigerian delicacies. Not bad, right? I’ll have you know, I can actually cook. Ask Adam."

"Adam?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion.

"He’s my roommate," Benjamin clarified. "I’ve been cooking meals all week, and he hasn’t complained yet."

"Humph!" Ashley snorted, clearly unconvinced. "I’ll believe it when I see it. Maybe I’ll visit your place some other time. But today? You’re treating me. I am not trusting your so-called culinary skills."

"Suit yourself," Benjamin said with a casual shrug. "But don’t blame me when you regret not trying my cooking."

Ashley rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the amused smile playing on her lips. "First, you need to prove you even know how to chop an onion without losing a finger. Until then, we’re eating out. Now, help me spot something decent."

Benjamin let out a small groan, though his grin betrayed him. "Fair enough. Just don’t pick the most expensive place in town."

Ashley grinned back, tapping her fingers lightly on the steering wheel as they passed another row of restaurants. "Don’t tempt me."

For a while, the two drove in comfortable silence, the occasional teasing remark breaking up the quiet. Ashley scanned the streets, her sharp eyes darting from one storefront to another.

After circling the area twice without finding anything that caught her eye, she sighed and pulled into the parking lot of a modest-looking restaurant.

"Alright," she said, throwing the car into park. "This one looks decent enough. But you owe me for making me drive in circles."

Benjamin raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. Dinner’s on me. Happy now?"

Ashley smirked as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Very."

They stepped out of the car and made their way toward the entrance. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air.

Inside, the atmosphere was cozy, with soft lighting and rustic wooden tables. Ashley looked around approvingly before leading the way to a corner booth.

Benjamin followed after her like a toddler in tow while shaking his head lightly. "You’re really making me work for this, aren’t you?"

"You bet I am," Ashley quipped, sliding into her seat. "Now, let’s see if this place is worth all the effort."

As they settled in, Benjamin couldn’t help but smile. Despite her teasing, he was grateful for Ashley’s presence.

And for now, a quiet dinner in Alkmaar felt like exactly what he needed.