Summer in Barcelona was unbearable, but work wasn't too much thankfully, meaning that I could spend the afternoons at the beach with my daughters after picking them up from kindergarten. Pedri had returned to training after passing his medicals and I'd lie if I told you I wasn't looking at the pictures of him at night, all sweaty in Barca's new training uniforms, dreaming about his touch and kisses on my skin. In those moments I wished to be braver, more carefree and to just let myself fall, risking heartbreak, but I just... wasn't. This wasn't just about letting a man into my heart, it was about letting a man into my home, into my, or mine and Rodri's family. This was a huge deal and Pedri was... so young.
He was scheduled to fly out to the States for Barca's summer tour now, but he had a shoot for TCL Mobiles scheduled before that and I was set to accompany him. Well, it was more me coming to his house as the content was being shot there - in his bedroom out of all places. After dropping off my daughters in kindergarten, I drove to Pedri's, my hands sweating uncontrollably. After taking three deep breaths, I eventually rang the doorbell and it was opened up by a sleepy looking Pedri - with just training shorts on.
"Good morning" I said friendly and he just nodded and raised his eyebrows before turning around and walking back to the kitchen to finish his breakfast. "Good morning Maria" I told his housekeeper that was cleaning up the last things before the shooting crew would arrive. "Good morning Miss Vasquez. I just put on the fresh sheets, like you requested" she replied friendly. "Plain white ones?" I asked her. "Yes, the ones you ordered a few months ago" she said and I nodded at her with a smile on my face, however hearing a frown from Pedri in the background.
"Fresh haircut?" I asked him friendly when I turned to him. "Like you requested" he mimicked his housekeeper and I restrained myself from rolling my eyes. "Sorry... You look nice this morning" he said before standing up and walking past me to get upstairs, making sure that his chest brushed mine for a brief second and that I could smell his scent - and if his intention was to make me horny, he definitely succeeded. I heard the shower running upstairs and I was proud of my composure that resisted the urge of ripping my clothes off and letting him fuck me in there under the warm water.
The TCL crew arrived eventually and Pedri had put on the clothes I had chosen for him - a pair of black relaxed sweatpants with a nice grey hoodie. They shot videos and pictures of him using their devices and everything was wrapped up after two hours to my relief. When they were gone again, I stayed back as I had to talk to Pedri about his upcoming engagements.
"Can we talk downstairs a minute about your schedule?" I asked and he just nodded. He followed me wordlessly and my heart broke with every step I took, but what could I do? My fears were just bigger than my courage. "Ok, so... you have to get to the training center already at 9 tomorrow morning, they're shooting the promo for the away kit - and you're one of the lucky chosen models. Then you'll fly out to the States and return in August again. Hector and I will be there for the team presentation and Joan Gamper trophy game against Tottenham, do you want me to bring Sofia?" I asked, extending somewhat of an olive branch to him. "If you wish so" he just replied and I sighed, this wasn't going to be easy.
"Well then... I'll see you when you come back" I said and smiled at him. He just nodded, making an effort to slightly curl up his lips and I awkwardly patted his shoulder before leaving again. When I was sat back in my car I hit my head repeatedly on my steering wheel. God, why did my life have to be this complicated?!
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📍 Barcelona, Catalunya, España isa.vasquez Nothing better than long, warm summer evenings 🍷🌅
rita_gra Agree 😘 We should meet up sometime soon again!! gzl.0123 Rainy, cold London days spent in a tiny office are so much better
Pedri POV
After the small setback of not being able to play against Juventus because some of my teammates were puking their guts out for days, we were finally set to play against Arsenal in LA and guess who was finally in the starting line-up again? Yes, me! The whole fiasco with Isa had only gotten me into training even more and harder so that my thoughts wouldn't be occupied by her 24/7. They still were though - images of her perfect body on top of me went through my mind at night, during breakfast, when I'd get dressed for training, when I'd shower, basically always except for the times when a football was at my feet.
Unfortunately, I only played the first half of the game, I always wanted to play 90 minutes, but it was only a friendly and Xavi substituted basically the whole starting eleven after the break to try out different set-ups. I tried to follow the game as best as I could but my mind wandered to Isa - was she watching along now? Probably not, it must be five or six in the morning back home. I still hadn't figured out what her problem was, but I was determined to stick by my words - that I'd wait for her. She had fallen for me once, she would definitely fall again, I was sure of that. Patience was what I needed. And to keep her close.
That's why I decided that I'd facetime her when we'd be back at the hotel. "Hey! Where are you going?" Ferran asked me as I walked out the door again only seconds after we had returned back to our room. "Calling Isa. I need to re-establish some sort of friendship with her so that she doesn't distance herself even more" I replied. He was my best friend and already knew everything, might as well confide to him. "I admire your perseverance! She must be great in bed" he chuckled as he was preparing his toothbrush, but I looked at him slightly angry.
"It's not about sex Ferran, it never has been" I clarified. "You... really like her?" he asked, somewhat incredulous. "Yes? Why is that so hard to believe? She doesn't seem to believe that either!" I huffed annoyedly. "It's just... you're 20! And you want to play step-dad?" he asked. "It's what comes with Isa. And I want her, I'm willing to do whatever for that" I said sternly before walking out the door.
I rode the elevator downstairs to the lobby and asked the receptionist if there was some empty meeting room where I could have some peace for an important phone call, which she was quick to indicate me, as there was really none being used at this time of night. And when I had arrived, I pressed the video button next to her contact - it was around 9ish over there now, she must have dropped off her daughters at daycare.
"Hello Pedri?" she picked up and I saw the video of her in her car pop up. "Hi Isa. I just wanted to check in with you" I said in the most neutral tone I could produce. "Oh... That's nice, I'm all good. There's some work but it's manageable" she replied and shot me one of her perfect smiles. "Listen... I get that you're in a difficult position with everything... and I don't want us to be uncomfortable and load that shit onto you too, so... can we just go back to being friends? It would make things so much easier for both of us..." I told her and her face softened. "Thanks Pedri. I'm sorry for my... state, I really wish it was different, trust me. But I'd really like for us to be friends" she told me and my heart broke a little to be pushed back into the friend zone, but patience is key.
"Sure. I don't want to bother you too much, so just get on with your day, I have to go to sleep now anyways" I chuckled. "Yeah... sorry for the loss by the way, but the tactics were good. Also your first half - the magician is back" she said and laughed softly, her hand making some magic wand gesture in front of the camera. "You watched the game?" I asked incredulously. "Of course!" she replied. "But it was at 5am! You have two kids and a stressful day! You need your sleep!" I told her. "The things I'm willing to do for you..." she sighed and that sentence was like a lifeline for me. Hold on to that Isa, I'm willing to do so much more for you, I swear.
