The rest quickly followed.
"Listen to him."
"Already talking like he's been here for years."
"I hate this kid."
"You definitely don't."
The conversation continued well into the evening as the sun gradually disappeared behind the horizon.
By the time dessert arrived, football had already been forgotten again.
* * *
The week passed far quicker than any of them expected.
What had initially been planned as a short holiday somehow turned into one of the most enjoyable weeks Lukas had experienced in a long time. There was something refreshing about being surrounded by people who understood exactly what life as a professional footballer was like. Nobody needed to explain the pressure, the expectations, the criticism, or the sacrifices. Everyone sitting around that castle had lived it in one form or another.
Most mornings began at the beach.
