OFFSIDE

69

❝ I get drunk on jealousy. ❞
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Pedri's POV
"Emma, we're a bit late. How much longer do you need?" I ask as I walk into my bathroom. Emma is standing in front of the mirror, holding a mascara wand.

"I'm almost done," she reassures me, leaning closer to the mirror as she carefully applies the black substance to her lashes.

I watch her for a moment, admiring her focus and the way she makes even this small task seem graceful. "You look amazing, by the way," I say, smiling.

Emma is wearing a little black dress. It's a bit short, but she can handle it. Emma has a slim figure and the heels she wears show off her long legs beautifully. Luckily she is shorter than I am, even on heels.

She glances at me through the mirror and grins. "Thanks, Pedri. Just trying to make a good impression."

"You'll do great," I say, hoping to ease her nerves. "They're going to love you."

Emma finishes her makeup and turns to face me. "Ready," she announces with a bright smile.

"You look beautiful," I smile. When I look at her all our old memories come back. I realise why I fell in love with her at the first place.

"I'm a little nervous. You know I'm not that good with new people," she says and I can see her hands shake. "Please, don't worry. The boys are very lovely. They'll love you. And the girls are super nice too. Super friendly."

She nods and I take her hand and give it a little kiss.

We head out the door and drive to Alejandro Balde's birthday party. The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement as we arrive. The place is packed with our friends, all eager to celebrate.

As we walk in, I can feel Emma tensing up a little. I squeeze her hand reassuringly. "Just be yourself," I whisper. "They'll love you."

Inside, the party is in full swing. Alejandro's place is filled with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses. We spot him across the room, surrounded by a group of friends. He notices us and waves enthusiastically.

"Pedri! Emma! Glad you could make it," Alejandro greets us warmly, giving me a hug and then turning to Emma. "Nice to finally meet you. Heard a lot about you."

Emma smiles nervously. "Nice to meet you too, Alejandro. Happy birthday."

We make our way through the crowd, greeting friends and introducing Emma. Most of them are warm and welcoming, and I can see Emma starting to relax a bit.

After a while I spot Elena. I can see her across the room, standing with Julieta. She is wearing a dark blue dress that hugs her curves perfectly. The dress is elegant yet simple, but my mind instantly flashes back to the photos Julieta had sent to the group chat of Elena in those stunning red dresses.

I remember the moment I saw the pictures. Elena in the red dresses looked breathtaking—beautiful and incredibly sexy. The deep crimson fabric clung to her body, accentuating every curve, and the high slit revealed just enough to be tantalizing without being too much. It was a sight that made it hard to think about anything else.

It took everything in me to not react to those photos. I had typed out a response several times, each one more revealing of my thoughts than the last. But in the end, I couldn't bring myself to send any of them. It would have been too obvious, too inappropriate. And too confusing for her. So I stayed silent, despite the turmoil it caused inside me.

Now, seeing her in that dark blue dress, my mind wanders back to how she looked in red. I imagine her standing here at the party, the red dress flowing around her as she moves, her presence commanding attention. She would have been the center of attention, no doubt.