Sure Thing • Gavi

Chapter 23: Meeting the Family

🎶 It Girl — Jason Derulo 🎶

"Where are you watching the match tomorrow?" Pablo asked while we were facetiming on Monday evening.
"At home in bed with lots of ice cream" I replied and laughed. I had really tried to re-arrange my meetings, but in the end, I wouldn't be able to make it to Granada. It wasn't exactly around the corner from Barcelona.
"Tomorrow I'll score for you" he chuckled.
"If you do that you have one free wish" I said.
"I'll remember that one" he replied. "By the way, it's my Mum's birthday on Friday and my parents and sister are coming to celebrate. It would be nice if you could come too so... you guys could meet." Pablo added.

I started sweating. He had told me that his Mum wasn't exactly the biggest fan of him being in a relationship, which probably meant she didn't like me either.
"Do you really think it's a good idea? I mean, it's her birthday after all..." I said, trying to save myself from the situation.
"It has to happen sometime. And my sister will be there, she'll be a puffer" Pablo replied.
"Ok" I sighed. "Shall I come earlier and cook?"
"Erm... Mum's cooking I think as they will be already here during the day" he said.
"Ok, I can bring dessert then?" I offered.
"Uh, dessert will be cake" he replied.
"Fine. Don't worry. I'll just bring a birthday present for the mother of my boyfriend, whom I don't know and who doesn't like me. Easy." I said stressed.
"Come on, you're making it more dramatic than it is." he laughed.
"I will remind you of your words the day you'll meet my father" I said and his face immediately turned serious.

After a very long day at work, which included an interview with Barcelona's mayor about some unnecessary street renovations (who is interested in articles about that anyways?), I made it back home just in time for the match. Unfortunately, I missed the warm-up, which was my favourite part to watch as I could completely focus on Pablo instead of the ball, but I was happy to see the team lined up for the national anthem, it was always a special moment. In the 18th minute, Pablo fulfilled his promise and indeed scored a goal. I was ecstatic and hoped that he wouldn't wish for something dirty or kinky. We went into the break with a 2-0 lead and after we extended our lead to 4-0, Pablo was subbed off in the 75th minute. We went on to score two more goals before the final whistle and once again, we had taken full points.

Vicky ❤️
AMAZING, WELL DONE 🥳
So happy for you!
Remember your wish 🧚🏼‍♀️

Pablo ⚽️
See, I keep my promises 😉
I'll think about something 😏

On Friday evening, I ubered to Pablo's apartment while sweating all over my body. What a great impression I'll make by smelling like a farmer coming home from the field after 14 hours of work in the plain sun. I even had found a present I somehow found nice and prayed to the Heavens that she would like it. I rang the bell downstairs and it was opened immediately. Very slowly, I walked up the stairs to not arrive out of breath.

"Hi!!" a very ecstatic girl standing in the doorway exclaimed.
"Hi?" I said. I had seen her somewhere before, but I wasn't sure where. Great, why hadn't I stalked her on Instagram before coming here.
"I'm so excited! Come in, wait, you surely know your way around here" she said and got in.
"I really hope she doesn't already know all the rooms" a woman, that could only Pablo's mother be, said.
Behind her, I saw Pablo turn bright red, but I maintained a cool head. I saw this just as a job interview - I had always aced those and I wasn't going to fail tonight.
"Happy birthday Mrs Páez, it's great to finally meet you. Pablo talks about you a lot" I said, shot her a smile and extended my hand. She took it and eyed me up and down but said: "Nice to meet you."
"You know my boyfriend Javi" his sister said and I greeted him as I had already met him in Ibiza.

"Hi" Pablo said and wanted to kiss me on the mouth, but I turned my cheek to him as I didn't feel quite comfortable to kiss him in front of his family.
"Cake is here!" a man who had just come through the door said. "Oh! The girlfriend! I'm Pablo... too!" he laughed and went for a hug. Wow, what a contrast to his wife. And how creative to name both your kids just like you. "Ok, you girls stay here and us guys will prepare everything. Don't worry, I'm a way better cook than my son" my boyfriend's father joked and pointed at me.
Great, it definitely wasn't a coincidence we were left alone.

"Do you remember me, by the way?" Aurora asked, trying to break the ice.
"I wish I could" I said and smiled weirdly.
"Nations League final after party" she said.
Of course. "Of course, how could I be so stupid! That evening was just... a lot for me" I said and laughed. Pablo's mother rolled her eyes.
"Yeah... a journalist. Being with my son must have surely helped in the past week" she said dryly.
"Unfortunately not. Turns out your son doesn't know much about international or national politics and so I always have to do all my research alone" I fired back very politely.
"I wanted to stalk you on Instagram when Pablo told me your name as I remembered you but your profile is private unfortunately" Aurora intervened quickly.
"Yeah, I don't really like the thought of everyone going through my pictures..." I replied.
"That's clever, Aurora you should take an example" his mum suddenly said and my eyes shot up to meet hers. Was she really warming up?
"Ugh... I think it's fun to show what I'm up to!" Aurora said annoyedly.
"I have a public Twitter though, if you want to stalk me. Although you'll probably only find boring comments from Barcelona's mayor on some tunnel renovations that I had to write on about. It's very much only work stuff. I'm a very private person" I chuckled.

In the corner of my eye I saw Javi lurking around the corner, he was probably checking if we weren't strangling each other yet. But it was going better than I would have expected. The boys eventually called us to the table and I was seated far away from Pablo, between his father and Javi. His mother started saying grace and I noticed her being surprised about me joining in and even knowing the words to her chosen prayer. Thanks for Catholic high school. The atmosphere was quite good and I kept myself in the background as it was very much a family dinner where they wanted to catch up as they didn't see their son and brother too often.

Then we moved back to the couch for cake and presents. We sang two or three birthday songs and I took some nice pictures of the family. Pablo waved me over at one point, but I quickly shot him a deadly glare signalling him not to push it. Then it was present time and I was getting anxious. Aurora and Javi had bought her plane tickets for a week-end in Paris with them, her husband had gotten her a pendant with "P-A-P" engraved on it - his and their children's initials and Pablo had bought her a Louis Vuitton bag she apparently had wanted for a long time.
"This one's from Vicky. Let's see" she said as she ripped open my perfect wrapping. She gasped when she saw what it was and turned it around for everyone to see. It was a "My Life Story So Far" book, where there were different pages for her to write down her memories from school, growing up, having children as well as her favourite recipes or things to do.
"Thanks Vicky, that is really thoughtful" she said and flashed me a smile. Yes! I had the same feeling that Pablo probably had when scoring a goal.
"Your kids seem like the type of people who would love to read that at some point" I said and smiled back at her. We held a friendly eye contact for a few seconds before she laid the book to her other presents.
Pablo pulled me a bit closer to him and I could sense that he was happy, which was the most important thing for me.

"Ok, we'll get going now, you young people can enjoy your evening now" his father chuckled and stood up.
"Are you driving back to the city?" I asked.
"Yes, why? You need a ride?" his mum asked.
"Are you disappointed if I go now?" I asked Pablo and put a hand on his knee.
"No of course not, you have to be in Madrid tomorrow morning right?" Pablo asked and I nodded.
"Ohh, are you burning down the Bernabeu?" Javi asked.
"I'd never do that. Then we couldn't witness their downfall in their own home when we beat them" I replied and everyone erupted in laughter. Pablo was so happy about my joke that he just kissed me and I turned dark red.
"Aw, wait, let me take a picture of you two. I have to show you off to everyone at home" his mum said and we posed for her with huge smiles on our faces.