Sophia fixed his collar, a small adjustment that didn't strictly need making, and he noticed her hand linger there a second longer than necessary.
She noticed his leg bouncing and put her hand briefly over his knee.
"You know you're already on the list, right?" she said.
"I know."
"Then what exactly are you scared of?"
He looked at the television. "I don't know."
That was the honest answer.
"That's probably the problem," Sophia said. "On a pitch, you can do something about being nervous. Tonight you can't."
She left it there.
The rankings climbed toward the top twenty, and the room's mood shifted with them.
Demien stood near the television now instead of pretending not to watch.
Isabella sat with both hands together.
Sophia stood close by.
19 — HARRY KANE.
Demien went still.
England captain. Premier League legend. Bayern striker.
Nineteenth.
His own name hadn't come yet.
"Still alive," Marco said, understanding first.
"Don't say it like that," Demien told him.
