Present Day

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(Update: The previous chapter, Epilogue was the true ending to DMOL. Present Day Pt 1 and Present Day Pt 2 set up the second book Fever Dreams. If you don't plan on reading the second book stop here. You've been warned xx)

Hi guys! As promised, this is the bonus chapter for Dark Moves of Love, taking us all the way to the present!

Now, if you love your HEAs and want to think of Liv and Neymar walking off into the sunset together (or doing any other thing that you can think of), don't read this chapter. That way, what happens next is up to you!

On the other hand, if you want to know where all these characters are, all this time after the WC, go ahead! You have been warned!

As always, thank you so much for reading, for commenting and voting for all this time! It means the world to me! And I will keep you updated on what I write next!

Without further ado, here's the bonus chapter of DMOL!

~*~


When I heard the key twisting in the front door, I jumped to my feet, barely containing my excitement. I run to the living room as he closed the door and put his suitcase on the floor.

"Hi!" I yelled, before I ran towards him, enveloping him in a big hug.

He reciprocated just as eagerly. "Oh Livvie, I've missed you! It's good to be home." He said, giving the house the onceover.

"Missed you too." I said, squeezing him even tighter before he finally let me down. Even with our small height difference, every hug David gave me, had me airborne. "Your hair is longer." I told him, once I got a good look at him.

"You like it?" He asked me. "Unruly curls are making a comeback."

I rolled my eyes. "I saw the game. Impressive."

"It's what I do." He said, dusting nonexistent dust from his shoulder. "What have you been up to?" He asked me as he plummeted on one of the sofas.

"Same old, same old. Practice, classes, everything is like you left it."

"Exciting." He mocked me.

"Well, our season is starting soon and Coach Mariano has almost doubled our training hours. I'm barely keeping up with schoolwork."

"You're the one that wanted to go to graduate school. On top of playing for one of the best women's teams in the world." He said, but he wasn't mocking me this time.

"Until we get payed the same as you, I'm afraid a woman professional footballer has got to make a living somehow."

He chuckled. It was true that if David and I weren't roommates I would never afford to live in a house like this one.

When I first arrived in France a year ago I had no plans to stay. David was the one who had suggested I come for a visit for a few days and those soon turned into weeks and suddenly I was living here. Like everything that happened in the past three years, ever since the CBF revoked my job offer, it happened organically and without planning.

But it wouldn't have happened without David. He was the one that scored me a job interview for an assistant coach position with the Paris Saint-Germain team. But my run as an assistant coach for the men's club was cut short when only a month later I was fired.

And what happened next was a dream. I was fired as an assistant coach and re-employed by PSG as a professional footballer for PSG Féminines! I hadn't played in a team since university and now I was part of one of the greatest teams in the world!

"How are the classes going?" David asked me as I sat in the sofa next to him.

"They are challenging. And we start exams in a month or so."

He opened his arms and I crawled into the space he made for me in the sofa, resting my head on his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do great as always. You'll stress about it but in the end you'll pull through." He told me once I settled next to him.

I smiled even though he couldn't see my face. It was great that he came home when he did, because it was always better with him around. When I was stressed about my Masters Degree, he was always there to help me. Even with assignments. I was doing a degree in Business and David argued that helping me do well was an investment into his future as well, because I would be his business consultant and help get him a boatload of money.

For now I wasn't getting payed nowhere near David's salary but I was lucky enough to score a partial scholarship that covered my tuition. I had Mr. Jones and Scolari's excellent recommendation letters to thank for that.

"So, how was your trip?" I asked him. He was gone from home for almost two weeks because he had a few away games back to back.

"Business as usual. We kicked ass." He said as his phone rang with a text message. "It's Lauren." He told me.

"Lauren ha?" I winked at him.

Lauren was doing the same master as me and she and David met one day before he left for his trip when she came to our house to study. They took a liking to each other quickly.

"Yeah, she's welcoming me home. We texted a couple of times."

"That's great David!" I exclaimed and he rolled his eyes at my excitement.

"We'll see where it goes." He told me. "Don't get your hopes up yet."

"It's true that you had a bad couple of relationships but doesn't everyone?" I asked him and my mind flashed back to some familiar, hurtful memory.

David must have understood because he didn't say anything and we stayed like that for a few minutes, until my phone rang.

"Hey Mikey." I said when I saw my brother's name on my screen. "Yeap, he's back. Yes, like we said. I can't wait too. Give Marina a kiss from me." I said before I hanged up the phone.

"I still can't believe your brother and Marina are together." David commented.

"Me neither sometimes. And to think the hell he gave me for dating his best friend. He didn't speak to me for months." I had told David about James soon after I came in France. They were both some of the most important people in my life and I didn't want James to be a secret anymore.

David chuckled. "Sometimes I miss it. How things were back then in Granja Comary."

"I know what you mean. I do too. I miss the people, I miss the place. I miss the fact that this particular group of people will never be in the same place again. But you will go back, next year." I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, but it's not gonna be like before. It will be great again, for sure, but not the same. I mean, I even miss Peter sometimes! Where is this guy anyway?"

"Last I heard from Alex he was doing his PhD in Berkeley. That's impressive."

"You'd rather be doing the same?" David asked me.

"I wouldn't give up football again for anything. Or anyone. But I am sure I will get my PhD and force you to call me doctor at some point!"

"That's never going to happen." David said, rolling his eyes at me.

"You will have to!" I joked. "Anyway, Michael and Marina are in their hotel and they'll be here in a few hours. And Thiago is all set?" I asked getting up from the sofa and walking towards the kitchen.

"Yes, he and Isabele are both coming." David said, following me.

"Maybe you can invite Lauren." I suggested as I poured two glasses of water.

"I don't know about that Liv." David said after thinking it over. "Maybe it's not the best idea."

"It won't be a date. A bunch of people will be here. And me. I know how to diffuse situations."

"Are there any more people from your school coming?" David asked me and I pretended to sip water as slowly as possible. "You're blushing! Why are you blushing?" He asked me incredulously.

"I'm not blushing. I may have invited a couple of people. It's your party after all, not mine. I couldn't invite everyone."

"Spill." He said, taking my glass from my hand and drinking the rest. Forever the lazy guy, he couldn't pour one for himself.

"Just a bunch of people from school. No big deal." I said and before he could answer I was already halfway to my room. "I think I'll take a nap before the big party."

~*~

After turning and tossing for a few hours I finally decided it was time to give up on the concept of sleep and start getting ready. I wanted to believe it was the two espresso's I had consumed early in the afternoon and not the recurring dream that had been plaguing me in the past year.

Me, getting that note with the first clue... Driving around Sao Paulo and Rio, looking for the clues, one by one, each leading me to the next piece of personal history. Finally figuring out the last clue and driving to the Escadaria Selarón, walking up the 250 steps, and finding him, getting on his knees, in front of me. Me, saying yes.

I wasn't even sure if it was a dream, or a series of snaps that run through my mind, never letting me get a good night's rest. It was exhausting and desperate. And it had to end.

I saw my phone's screen light up and picked it up from the table. It was a text message from Xavi. Xavi was another student at my university, but he was doing a masters in history. We met by chance one day when he had wondered into the business building, having completely lost his way to the history department. After that we ended up running into each other around campus many times and one day we had coffee together.

He was bookish but that was something I liked about him. History suited him and when he talked he always drew parallels to situations from his history books. To me it wasn't annoying, I found him interesting.

And he was good looking, tall with green blue eyes, the color of a stormy sea and thick frame glasses. He was pale, the kind of guy you'd think didn't get much sun, who you'd probably find at a cool concert or a wine bar. We had actually been to both together.

Setting my phone down I began to get ready. I ended up wearing a cold shoulder black mini dress with geometric embellishments. I put my hair in a top half knot and put my makeup on and ended up with time to spare so I went to living room and started getting the place ready.

David was still asleep and he'd probably get up just before the guests arrived since he was tired from his trip.

When I finished cleaning up it was almost time for the guests to arrive so I went to David's room to wake him up. I sat on the side of his bed running my hand through his curls.

"Hey sleepyhead, you should get up." I said as gently as I could.

His phone lit up and I picked it up from the nightstand as David began to stir. The message preview was on. Happy Birthday brother. I hope you have the best time today. Love you, Neymar. I quickly got up and put the phone back on the nightstand.

"Who was it?" David asked, looking between me and the phone.

"Get ready. People will start coming." I said and quickly headed back to the living room.

~*~

"Liv," David said, emerging from his room a few minutes later. "Are you alright?"

I turned to look at him, plastering a wide smile on my face. "I'm fine." I said. "Now, do you think the place is good? Did I forget something?"

"No Liv, it's perfect." David said looking around, but he sounded exacerbated.

The doorbell rang. Saved by the bell, quite literally, I thought.

I bush of auburn hair blurred my vision when I opened the door, as Marina – who was quite shorter than me – wrapped her arms around me, her feet daggling in the air.

"Livvie!" She yelled. "I missed you!" Before I even had a chance to respond she had let go of me and was hugging David, wishing him a happy birthday.

"Hey sis." My brother, ever the cool guy, said before giving me a hug too.

"Come in guys." David said.

"This is for you." Marina said, giving him a medium sized box, wrapped in an intricate bow. "It's not a big deal—"

"Thank you." David cut her. He knew there wasn't much you could buy a millionaire footballer that he didn't already have, but it was the thought that counted. "What can I make you?" David asked, pointing at the bar as he and my brother headed there.

"Oh Livs, it's been such a long time." Marina said, giving me another hug. "How have you been?"

"Great." I said. Those kind of questions always threw me. I did what I do best, change the subject: "How about you guys? Living together now!"

"I know right? The cohabitation is going well, if you can believe it. Michael doesn't even snore."

"But you do!" My brother yelled from across the room as he and David joined us. Michael gave Marina a margarita and David handed me a piña colada.

"I do not." Marina protested as I switched on the stereo and music started blasting from the speakers.

The doorbell rang again and David answered. It was Thiago and Isabele along with Xavi and Lorenzo, another guy from my program. Lorenzo looked at me and pointed at Thiago making a can-you-believe-this-is-happening face. He had done the same when he met David.

"Thiago!" I said hugging my friend tightly. I had missed him too, whereas I saw Isabele a lot when Thiago and David were gone. I would go by their house regularly for dinner and sometimes to babysit.

"Hey Livvie." Thiago said but we didn't have a chance to talk any further as Isabele handed David his gift and I started making the introductions. Before I was halfway through the doorbell rang again and half of David teammates arrived at the same time.

"There are paps outside!" Marquinhos exclaimed. "Damn you Luiz!"

"Hi Olivia." I heard someone say and turned to come face to face with Xavi and Lorenzo.

"Hey guys." I said, hugging them quickly. "Thanks for coming."

"Are you kidding me? This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me! Well except that time I traveled to Barbados and there were these two girls—"

"Let me stop you right there." Xavi told him before he turned to me. "I've unfortunately heard this story and not only is it not NSFW but believe me, you really don't want to hear it."

"As you wish." Lorenzo said. "Man, this house is awesome. I can't believe David Luiz is your roommate! How do you know each other?"

"We met at the World Cup in Brazil. We've been friends ever since."

"Yeah, Olivia was part of Brazil's national team." Xavi said. He didn't know anything about football and was not interested in it and it was obvious he only said it to impress Lorenzo on my behalf.

Nevertheless, Lorenzo was impressed. He immediately started bombarding me with questions but I was saved by the bell once again, not before I heard him mutter to himself, 'Please let it be Zlatan'.

"Zlatan isn't coming!" I informed him as I left. "He's in Sweden for the weekend."

~*~

Half an hour later almost everyone had arrived. The music had reached deafening levels and people were already dancing. People dancing meant party success so I sat on one of the chairs looking happily at everyone having a good time. I saw David talking to Lauren in a corner and it looked like it was going well. I was happy for him. He needed good things to happen to him. He was such a good guy.

My brother and Marina were dancing as was Thiago and Isabele. Someone had turned the TV on. The Champions' League Group Draw was on.

My phone beeped with a text from Alex. Marina had sent him a photo of the two of us a while ago and he had replied. I wish I was there. Hope to see you soon. Say Happy Birthday to David from me and Rafi. He and Rafaella were still going strong, despite the distance they had to face for the first year of their relationship. Now Alex had gotten a position at a multinational company with offices in Rio and they were living together.

Lorenzo who was talking to Lucas Moura and Marquinhos saw me looking at them and they all approached me.

"Liv, your friend here is asking all sorts of questions, I hope he's trustworthy." Marquinhos joked.

"Why are you pestering them?" I scolded Lorenzo.

"Just interested." He said, raising his hand in the air. "I will stop asking now, I'll tell you some gossip in return."

"What kind of gossip?" I asked. Lorenzo was unpredictable.

"You know I'm from Italy right?" He started. "So, last month I had gone back home to Rome. And my girl, she says to me lets go to the Colosseum, we haven't gone since we were in school. Tourists go all the time. And who do we see there?" Lorenzo asked. "Taking a private tour of the place?"

No, I thought.

"Who?" Lucas asked, although he didn't seem interested.

"Your teammate Neymar."

I turned around and started walking away.

"Where are you going Liv? It's getting good now." Lorenzo said, reaching for my arm, clueless to the effect that name had on me.

Lucas and Marquinhos both looked uncomfortable. "Let her go." Lucas murmured but Lorenzo had already gone on with the story.

"So he's alone there, right? No. He's gotten back together with the actress Bruna Marquezine. I know her from that telenovela my girlfriend watches. She was acting crazy. Not Bruna. My girlfriend, when she saw her. And we talked to them and all, got a picture. They were nice. Wanna see?" He took his phone out and started looking for the photo but I had already detangled my arm from his and started walking away.

It wasn't as if this was news to me. But that didn't mean I could handle it any better.

"Hey." Xavi said, coming up from behind me. I took a deep breath. "I was just at the balcony. You have a great view of the city. And Eiffel Tower."

I nodded. It was one of the things I loved about our house. I looked at my watch. "Come with me." I told him and we headed for the balcony again.

"What's happening?" Xavi asked.

"It'll be 9pm in 30 seconds." I told him. He gave me a questioning look before focusing on the view. Indeed when the clock started ringing the hour, there was a blinding light, illuminating the whole sky. It almost looked like it was morning.

"Wow." Xavi exclaimed, looking at the now lit Eiffel Tower. "That's amazing."

I smiled. The first few weeks I stayed here I used to put on a timer to never miss it. And of course David and I had gone to the park near the Tower many times to watch it up close.

"Your friends are impressive." Xavi said, looking back inside.

I smiled, not knowing how to respond to that.

"But not as much as you." He added. He had this honesty about him, like he really meant what he was saying and I believed him. He reached out towards me, closing his eyes.

Voices erupted from inside. "What's going on?" I asked as Xavi pulled back, looking confused. I started walking back inside. Someone had stopped the music and everyone was gathered in the living room, talking loudly.

"What's going on?" I asked.

David and Thiago turned to look at me, both wide eyed. "That was the Champion's League Draw." David said.

"Okay." I looked at them incredulously. "Who are with? Is it that bad?" I asked.

"We're in the same group as Barcelona, Liv."


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