Sure Thing • Gavi

Chapter 29: Parents Are Coming

🎶 Dog Days Are Over — Florence + The Machine 🎶

Pablo had returned from Mallorca and after his recovery training, I drove to his place to spend the evening with him and catch up. Unfortunately, I didn't spend the night there as I had to take a train to Valencia early next morning for work. When I was on my way back to Barcelona that evening, I got a call from my mother and picked up.

"Hey darling, how are you?" she asked me.
"Good! On my way back home from Valencia right now, I interviewed the mayor about a new city project" I explained.
"Great! Did you have a good time?" she said.
"Well, yes, it was a good day all in all" I replied.
"Listen, we are coming to visit this weekend, are you in Barcelona? We'd love to meet up... and maybe also meet your boyfriend? Kike said it's quite serious and that you've already met his family..." Mum said and I rolled my eyes - Kike that damn gossip queen.
"Um... yeah, I'm there. I'll ask Pablo, they're playing Seville on Friday evening, maybe we could all go? It's a late game, I doubt he'll want to go out after, but I can ask him if he can do Saturday or Sunday?" I blabbered.
"Oh yes! It would be nice to go to the stadium all together again! And sure, just ask him whenever's best for him, we're free!" she replied happily.
"How's Dad taking it?" I asked.
"Well, I'm sure he'll come round once he meets him..." Mum said but she didn't sound so sure. We said our goodbyes and I hung up eventually.

I returned to my flat that evening and Pablo was at Fermin's place with some friends, playing FIFA or God knows what. I quickly sent him a message so that I could start planning the weekend with my folks.

Vicky ❤️
My parents are coming to visit and we're going to the game on Friday
And they want to meet you on Saturday or Sunday, what is best for you?

Pablo ⚽️
WHAT
Ok I'm getting you guys VIP tickets
Saturday dinner? I'll choose a discreet restaurant and book a table

Vicky ❤️
No need for VIP tickets, we can get them ourselves, you can't get tickets for me and random people all the time
Ok perfect 👍🏼

Pablo ⚽️
Random people?! Vicky, they're your parents, I need to be on top of my game, of course you're all getting VIP

I rolled my eyes and put away my phone as I wanted him to enjoy the evening with his friends and not text with me. My eyes fell on the Barca scarf that was hanging in my entrance and my thoughts wandered to what Chiara and Pedri had said the other night - why hadn't he given me a shirt of him? Not like I expected it, maybe he just hadn't thought about it but it would have been a nice gesture. Maybe I should just buy one myself, I thought, and opened the FC Barcelona shop on the team's website. My eyes almost popped out when I saw the price: 150€. No way I was buying a piece of polyester for that price. I'd just ask Pablo if he had a past season one left somewhere.

On Friday evening, Kike and I picked up my parents from the train station and they quickly stopped at their hotel to leave the luggage and then we already got going. We first went to the center to have some tapas and beer before making our way to the stadium. Pablo had left our tickets at a counter and I went to pick them up while the others waited for me.

"VIP tickets, huh? That boy isn't joking around" my Dad said and grinned.
"He knows what's at stake" I said and shrugged. Both Pablo and my Dad were making a way too big deal out of this, couldn't they just be chill and nice?

Pablo was starting tonight and when I saw that Sergio Ramos was too, I only prayed that my boyfriend would make it back off that field alive, and possibly without a career-ending injury. Everyone knew how Ramos could be, he was one hell of a player to never be underestimated. Pedri arrived to the VIP box too and greeted Kike and me, before we introduced him to our parents. He, on his hand, introduced us to Frenkie de Jong, who was injured too now unfortunately. My Dad was very ecstatic to meet them, but as soon as the word "Gavi" fell in the conversation, his face changed and he looked at me with a severe face.

It was a frustrating first half, we had many chances but just didn't seem to be able to finish. Pablo however, was on fire, he played everything at once: defensive, central and attacking midfielder all at the same time and I was struck again by how incredibly good at his job he was at just 19. At 19, I had just finished school and was only good at... partying probably. I really hoped that my Dad would see that he was a serious person and that he could get to know his caring and wonderful character tomorrow at dinner. Luck was finally on our side, when Ramos scored an own goal in the second half, deflecting a header from Lamine. We were able to hold on and roared when the referee blew the whistle! 3 points! We were all ecstatic and clapped along with all the other fans.

"What's your usual procedure after a game?" Mum asked me.
"Um... he usually comes to my place and we just chill out, I try to get him down from his energy levels" I chuckled, making sure that my Dad wouldn't hear.
Mum nodded and grinned at me. "We're going back to our hotel then, I'll see you tomorrow evening then. I'm so curious to finally meet him - he looks great on the pitch. What a catch, Vicky" she said and winked at me.

We all left the stadium and Kike and I returned to our flats with an Uber and I waited for Pablo to arrive. He rang the bell downstairs after approximately half an hour and I ran to open up for him. As soon as he saw me standing in the doorway he ran towards me and picked me up, twirling me around a few times.
"We won!" he exclaimed.
"And you were the best on the pitch!" I exclaimed too.
"Nah. No goal, no assist, could have been better..." he sighed and slumped down on the couch.
"You're too hard on yourself. Without you, it would have looked really bad for the team" I said and sat down next to him, laying an arm around his shoulders. Then, I gathered up all my courage and asked: "Um... do you like... would you... can I have a shirt of yours to wear at the stadium?"
He looked at me and laughed. "I know, I know. Everyone has been bugging me about it already. Pedri, also Ferran, Fermín and some of the boys when they heard. It's just... I want to give you a shirt that is special. One in which I scored a goal or did a mad assist while you were roaring for me in the stands - I want you to have one with... a meaning. But if you want I can just-" he replied, but I cut him off with a kiss.
"That is so thoughtful. I will wait. You will get your goal or mad assist when I'm there. And I will be the loudest in the stadium shouting your name when it will happen. Actually... we could start practicing me shouting it right now in my bedroom?" I said and stood up, biting my lower lip and stretching out my hand for him to take. He just grinned and kissed me before walking over to the other room with me.