Become A Football Legend Chapter 376: Boundaries

Lukas stopped halfway through the sentence and straightened up.

Carlos rested both hands on his knees before speaking.

"Joanna tells me she wants to move to Manchester with you during the summer."

Lukas immediately understood why João had sounded so nervous over the phone.

"Yes, sir."

Carlos studied him quietly.

"And you think that’s a good idea?"

"I do."

Carlos raised an eyebrow.

"Surely you understand what I’m really asking."

"I do."

Lukas answered calmly.

Carlos nodded.

"I have nothing against the two of you dating."

He looked directly at Lukas.

"In fact, I like you. I’ve watched you grow up for over 10 years. I know what kind of young man you are, and I couldn’t have asked for someone better to be with my daughter."

He paused before continuing.

"But don’t you think living together is moving a little too fast? You are both still teenagers. What if something happens over those 2 months?"

He didn’t elaborate.

Because he didn’t need to.

Everyone in the room understood exactly what he meant.

Lukas took a slow breath before answering.

"I understand your concern, sir."

His voice remained respectful throughout.

"But I can promise you that what you’re worried about won’t happen."

Carlos remained silent, allowing him to continue.

"I’ve never lived away from Germany before. Manchester is going to be a completely new city, a new country, a new club, a new league."

He glanced briefly toward Joanna before looking back at Carlos.

"Having someone familiar there, someone I trust, would make that transition much easier."

Lukas cupped Joanna’s hands in his.

"And I promise you that, even though Joanna and I love each other, we both know where our boundaries are."

Carlos listened carefully before speaking again.

"I trust you, Lukas. I genuinely do. Just as I trust my daughter."

He sighed.

"But I also remember what it was like to be young. Sometimes emotions take over. Hormones get the better of you," he continued. "One moment becomes another, and before either of you realizes what’s happened, my daughter is starting her first semester carrying your child."

The room fell silent again.

Lukas didn’t look away.

"That won’t happen, sir."

Carlos tilted his head slightly.

"And how can you be so sure?"

Without hesitation, Lukas answered.

"Because my dad won’t let it."

Carlos raised an eyebrow.

"Javi is moving with you?"

"Yes, sir. He’s coming to Manchester with me. He’ll be living there too."

Carlos didn’t reply immediately.

Instead, he leaned back into the sofa, reached for the glass of water Sofia had poured a few minutes earlier, and took a slow sip while quietly considering everything Lukas had just said.

Carlos slowly lowered the glass back onto the coffee table.

Before he could say anything, Sofia reached over and gently squeezed his hand.

He looked at her for a moment. She didn’t say a word. She simply gave him a small nod.

Carlos let out a quiet breath before turning back toward Lukas. His eyes shifted briefly to Joanna, then back to the young man sitting across from him.

"I can trust you... right?"

Lukas met his gaze without hesitation.

"You can trust me, sir."

Carlos remained silent for another couple of seconds before finally nodding.

"All right."

He leaned back into the sofa.

"Take care of my daughter."

His voice had softened considerably.

"I’ll be entrusting her to you for the next 2 months."

Lukas smiled.

"I will, sir. I’ll make sure she doesn’t lose a single hair from her head."

João immediately burst into laughter.

"Bro... how exactly are you planning to do that? Have you seen this girl brush her hair? Half of it comes out in the comb."

"João!"

Joanna snatched one of her slippers off her foot and launched it across the living room.

João saw it coming and ducked just in time.

The slipper smacked against the wall before dropping harmlessly onto the floor.

Carlos pointed toward his daughter.

"Look at yourself."

He shook his head, trying not to smile.

"See what I’m talking about?"

Then he looked back at Lukas.

"If she gives you any trouble, you call me. I’ll put her in her place."

Joanna stared at her father in disbelief.

"Dad! I’m your daughter!"

"Aren’t you supposed to be telling me to call you?"

Carlos shrugged.

"I’m more worried about what you’re going to do to Lukas than what he’s going to do to you."

The entire room erupted into laughter.

Even Joanna couldn’t stop herself from smiling.

The tension that had filled the house only minutes earlier completely disappeared.

Deep down, Carlos already trusted Lukas. More importantly, he trusted Javi. Knowing that Javi would be living with his son in Manchester gave him a great deal of peace of mind. He knew the older man well enough to believe he would never allow the 2 teenagers to make the kind of mistake he had spent the evening worrying about.

Sofia stood up from the sofa and clapped her hands lightly.

"Enough serious talk."

"Dinner is ready."

She smiled warmly at Lukas.

"You’re staying."

Lukas immediately shook his head.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jimenez, but it’s all right. I’ve got food waiting at home."

Before Sofia could answer, Joanna spoke.

"You’re staying."

Lukas looked at her.

"...Okay."

Sofia folded her arms with a playful smile.

"So when I tell you to stay, you refuse."

"But your girlfriend says 2 words and suddenly you’ve changed your mind."

A faint blush crept onto Lukas’ face.

He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I... can’t really say no to her."

"Ewww..."

João pulled a face.

"Take your lovey-dovey nonsense somewhere else."

A few minutes later everyone gathered around the dining table. Sofia had prepared grilled chicken, roasted potatoes, fresh salad, warm bread and rice, with a jug of homemade lemonade in the middle of the table. Conversation flowed much more naturally now, and the earlier tension felt like it belonged to a completely different evening.

Halfway through dinner, Carlos looked across the table.

"Is Javi home?"

Lukas shook his head.

"No, sir. He went to see Anne."

Carlos nodded thoughtfully.

"Will she be moving to Manchester as well?"

"I’m not sure."

Lukas took another bite before answering.

"She has her job in Frankfurt, so I don’t think she’ll move permanently. But she’ll probably come and visit from time to time."

"I see."

Carlos simply nodded and continued eating.

By the time everyone had finished dinner and Sofia was collecting the empty plates, Carlos cleared his throat once more.

"I’ve been so focused on being a father tonight that I almost forgot something."

Lukas looked over.

"Congratulations. On Manchester City. I know how much this move means."

He smiled.

"You’ve made your father very proud."

Then he paused.

"And, for what it’s worth..."

"I’m proud of you too."

A genuine smile spread across Lukas’ face.

"Thank you, sir."

"I really appreciate that."

João immediately pointed a thumb toward himself.

"Don’t worry."

"Soon it’ll be my €100 million transfer everyone’s talking about."

Joanna rolled her eyes.

"How about you establish yourself in Darmstadt’s starting 11 in the 2. Bundesliga first?"

"Then we can start talking about €100 million."

João looked at her dramatically.

"I’m not even going to say what’s on my mind."

Lukas laughed.

"Please don’t."

The entire family burst into laughter again.

A little while later, Lukas stood up and thanked Sofia once more for dinner.

"I should get going."

Joanna stood up as well.

"I’ve got to start packing anyway."

"We’re leaving tomorrow evening."

She walked him to the front door.

Once they stepped outside into the cool summer night, the laughter from inside the apartment became little more than a muffled hum behind the closed door.

Joanna looked at him.

"I hope... all of that didn’t scare you."

Lukas smiled softly.

"No. I was surprised... But not scared."

She stepped closer, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him gently.

"I love you. I’ll see you tomorrow."

Lukas smiled back before resting his forehead against hers for a brief moment.

"I love you too. See you tomorrow."