Patrick was still hesitating, and he heard the voice again, "Hey, Pat, you're not gone yet?"

He looked down and smiled, turning to the voice, "We might be going to spend the night here." ”

The owner of the voice is wearing tight black jeans, a camel-colored plaid shirt tucked into the jeans, the neckline is open with two buttons, the neckline is beautiful, the collarbone is looming, and a navy blue trench coat is worn outside, tied with a simple and neat ponytail, which looks slender and slender, and the curves are also very moving. It's the familiar Tina. The only thing that surprised Patrick was that she wore a pair of stiletto heels - she didn't have a good sense of balance, and sometimes she would twist her foot on the sidelines in mid-heels.

"That's not a good idea, I'm afraid you're going to get beaten up, especially you. ”

She immediately answered, a mocking tone, a languid tone, and a faint smile on her face, all of which made Patrick's heart beat faster. Like in Chantilly, and even earlier, in the apartments of Knightsbridge, even further back......

He glanced at her ankles and quipped, "You'll have to be glad you've been sitting most of the time today." ”

Lu Ling knew very well what this guy was mocking her, and she shrugged her shoulders, "I actually stand most of the time, standing and watching the game. I have a good sense of balance, in fact, if you throw me a soccer ball now, I can juggle two balls for you. ”

Patrick made an exaggerated gesture as he strode over to her.

Lu Ling smelled fresh shampoo and shower gel on Patrick's shoulder, his hair was not dry, and there were even some water stains on his white T-shirt. This guy just finished showering.

After they let go of each other, the Goodison staff member who had been questioned by Lu Ling walked back from the home team's locker room.

"Mr. Flores hasn't left yet, he already knows you're here, and he says he'll be coming out soon. ”

Lu Ling's brows moved slightly, and he asked, "Are all of your players still inside?"

The staff member's expression became a little complicated for a moment, "No, most of them have already gone home." ”

Lu Ling still wanted to ask carefully, but she felt that it was not appropriate, and even if she asked, she probably couldn't get the answer she wanted, so she thanked the staff member and turned her face to the man in front of her again. It suddenly occurred to her that it wasn't an ordinary staff member, it was supposed to be a data analyst at Everton.

"Tonight must have been a great night for you, right? Congratulations, Pat, a great game, an unbelievable three goals, oh hat-trick hero. ”

Patrick calmly said thank you with a calm smile.

For a player who has just scored a hat-trick in the Champions League semi-finals, this is too calm, Lu Ling thought.

After a brief silence, both spoke at the same time:

"That point of Gayer, is it your inspiration, or is it Pep's arrangement?"

"I'm looking for my ball......"

They looked into each other's eyes and smiled, then looked away at the same time.

Patrick said: "Gueye is one of the less skilful Everton players and I think it was just a lucky guess or a lucky gamble. Then the coach said to me, I can't always play like that, he doesn't like to risk losing the ball and of course you know what it means to lose the ball to Mr Guardiola. ”

Lu Ling nodded and sighed softly, "You are more mature." ”

"What, in all aspects? Also, this should be considered a compliment?"

"Of course. Yes, in all respects. Lu Ling pursed his lips and suddenly asked funny, "Your ball, didn't you take it after the game?"

Patrick looked helpless, "Everybody asks me that when I ask if they see my balls." ”

"You forgot about such an important thing? I remember most of the players who scored a hat-trick doing the first thing they did after the whistle blew at the end of the game was to find the ball and hold it in their arms like someone was going to grab it. ”

After Lu Ling finished speaking, he noticed that Patrick's expression deliberately became arrogant.

"I'm not the majority of players. And, Tina, you have to know that I have a bit of a lot of balls to take home in a season. Patrick said as he stared at the girl in front of him, who was wearing high heels and was as tall as him, and he wanted to tell her that when they hugged. His gaze drooped slightly, her plaid shirt looked soft and clinging to her skin, and he wondered how her shirt felt to the touch...... He licked his lips and looked away, "Tina, I'd better go back......"

Before Patrick could finish his sentence, the door to the home team's dressing room was pushed open.

Both of them tilted their heads at the same time and looked over.

****

Ross Barkley walked out with a backpack on his back and a ball in his arms. As soon as he looked up, he saw Patrick and the QPR head coach. He was stunned for a moment, then pulled out a little laugh, "Hey Christine, hey, Pat, your ball ......"

"Hi, Rose. Lu Ling said hello.

"I was just about to go back to the locker room to call you, why are you there?" Patrick walked over and took the ball.

Rose rolled his eyes, "Of course I got it for you if no one asked me, I sent you a message, you didn't reply, and I was about to go to you." ”

Patrick tapped the Everton captain twice on the shoulder and asked, "Are you okay?"

Rose nodded, and "ye" quickly shook his head again, "No, I mean, fucking terrible." ”

Lu Ling stood aside, heard Rose say that it was terrible, and thought, of course it is terrible. Then, she glanced into the home team's dressing room, where the door was wide open and she could see the back. This back seemed even more lonely at this time.

Rose glanced at the figure as well, and when he turned his gaze back to Patrick, he had a wry smile on his face.

Patrick didn't have to look at Everton's dressing room to probably guess that Rose must have had some unpleasant trouble with the manager after the game. He didn't ask, if Rose was willing to talk about it, and with what he knew about him, he was unlikely to talk about it, and even if he did, he wouldn't be here, because there was a rival to the league rival on the other side, and of course, Patrick himself was still Rose's opponent, and there was still a second leg. In short, if Ross is willing to talk, he will listen.

"When are you leaving?" said Rose, as expected.

Patrick nodded with his chin in the direction of the visiting dressing room, "I think soon." But I don't know why they haven't moved yet. ”

Rose said, "Congratulations, Pat, but I think I told you that after the game." Your Barcelona team-mates ......"

Rose didn't finish his sentence when he was interrupted by another voice, which was very cold.

"Rose, tomorrow morning, don't forget, I don't like people being late. ”

Nicholas looked no different than usual, he was still neat and straight, not at all like a manager who had just lost an important game. He even offered a nod to Patrick to say hello.

Patrick nodded. However, the two barely made eye contact.

Rose said, "I'm not going to be late, see you tomorrow morning, boss." ”

Nicholas nodded at Ross, then walked over to the other man.

"Sorry, babe, to keep you waiting. The Spaniard's voice suddenly warmed up.

****

The only thing Lu Ling could be sure of was that there were many things in the dark brown eyes in front of him, tired, frustrated, and most thoughtful.

"Nick, what are you thinking?" she couldn't help but ask.

Nicholas shook his head, he didn't want to hide anything, he just didn't know how to describe it precisely, and after hesitating for a while, he finally said, "Too much." The main thing is the competition. ”

"What are you expecting to find?"

"The reason for all the mistakes I made, the mistakes I didn't catch the other party made, these. ”

Lu Ling suddenly smiled, "It took me a while to have the courage to watch the game I lost at the Camp Nou, and I rarely remember this kind of game that makes me feel sick when I think about it." ”

He smiled slightly, "Me too." Maybe it's because we have too few games to coach. ”

"You're right. Lu Ling sighed.

They kept talking like this, but they hadn't had any physical contact since they met, which was unusual. Both of them realized this in this brief moment of silence.

Nicholas moved first, he raised his arm, took her into his arms, and sniffed her hair, "The smell of the HMM studio." ”

"What does the studio smell like?"

"I don't know, don't you think the media smells? I smell it every time I walk into the post-match press conference. ”

Lu Ling thought for a moment, "Indeed. ”

Then, he let go of her.

"Back to London in a moment?"

"Yes. ”

"You came by car?"

"No, I came by train, then rented a car, and it's still in your parking lot, but I'm not going to drive back to London, I'm a little tired. I'll make a phone call in a moment, call a comfortable car, sleep in the car, and resume sleeping when I get home. ”

"You can also leave tomorrow morning. ”

"We're all busy and time is tight, so I thought I'd better go back tonight. ”

Nicholas didn't force it anymore, he smiled faintly and said, "Then I want to see you next month." ”

"Next month. "The penultimate round of league meetings. "It's as if everything is getting tense. Lu Ling said.

"yes. He agreed briefly, then glanced in the direction of Patrick and Rose, "Good night, then." To be honest, I'm a little anxious to go back and watch the footage of this game, and I guess you still have something to say. ”

Lu Ling was noncommittal, "Good night." Actually, I want you to go back and get some sleep, but I guess you can't sleep all night. ”

"You know me. Nicholas kissed her on the lips, which was the best placebo, he thought, and he finally hugged her again and said again, "See you next month." Don't forget to give me a call when you get home, I'm definitely awake. ”

"Good. ”

****

Nicholas is gone, Rose is gone, and there's finally movement in the visiting dressing room, and it's time for them to go.

Patrick was holding the ball, and she was standing about a meter away from him, and he wanted to pass the ball over and ask her to write a sentence, like he had scored his first hat-trick. But he didn't. There are many balls, and none of them have her handwriting. Later.

"I'll see you later. He said.

Lu Linggang wanted to speak, but he said it again, with a beautiful smile, "See you later, Christine." ”

She watched him turn around, she moved her lips and whispered "I'll see you later", presumably he couldn't hear him.

She walked a few steps, thinking about the "Christine." She thought it strange at first, but she suddenly realized something and laughed again.

She remembered that many years ago, a little blonde boy followed her and called her name "Christine, Christine" over and over again. At that time, his blonde hair was pure blonde, and then it gradually turned into a bit of a variegated blonde, because he had grown up.

The "Christine" was not unfamiliar at all, it was called in the first place.

****

The sun was shining at six o'clock in Bournemouth, and he stuffed a toffee into her mouth, filled with chocolate, thick viscous and fragrant. After eating, she felt a little unsatisfied.

"You said you didn't like it. He raised his eyebrows and spent a week at the beach, his skin gradually turning a sexy wheat color.

"It's just a coincidence. ”

"Tina, say you like it, I'll give you another one. ”

"No, that's not going to happen. ”

"If you don't say it, you won't give it. ”

"Then don't give it, I don't want to eat it. ”

He still stuffed one into her mouth, "I miss you so much, so I'll give you another one." ”

She felt the rich chocolate filling in her mouth and sat on his lap.

"Pat......" she scratched her finger across his face, calling his name.

"What?" he looked at her and smiled as he waited for her question.

"You always say you miss me, so when you miss me, what are you thinking?"

His smile spread a little at the corners of his mouth, but his eyelids drooped slightly, and his voice blew into her ears with the sea breeze, very soft, but very clear.

"How are you? What are you doing? Are you thinking about me?"

From the moment he spoke, her heart was like a calm blue sea that suddenly set off a huge wave. She looked at his face, he was a little overwhelmed, he should be shy, but his gaze did not dodge, there was a strong fiery reckless love and infatuation.

She didn't know what to say, and she didn't think she should kiss him at this moment. It's as if such a gaze would make time stand still.

Patrick reached out and touched the soft black hair of the girl in his arms, who had been in the sun for so long, and scalded his palm. 166 Reading Network