David's eyes widened in shock as he sat there, gripping his phone tightly. His thumb hovered over the screen, just a fraction of a second away from tapping on the notification that had just popped up. His heart pounded in his chest, anticipation flooding through his veins.
But before he could fully process what he was seeing, Zoey's voice cut through his thoughts.
"What are you doing? Exit that already! Let's get the match going! Or are you scared?"
Her tone was laced with playful mockery, a challenge wrapped in teasing. Normally, David would have had a witty comeback, something sharp to throw back at her, but this time? This time, he was silent. Completely, utterly silent.
His voice came out quieter than usual, almost as if he was speaking more to himself than to her.
"Manchester's new coach has been confirmed," he muttered, his grip on the controller loosening. The gamepad slipped from his other hand, landing on the couch beside him with a dull thud.
