Anyone but you (Fermín López)

Chapter 29

After a lot of consideration, and a lot of talks with different people, Victoria decided to accept the job at Barça. It was a part time job and she wouldn't be working for them too many days since her priority was doing well at uni. But she accepted it and felt good about it. The fact that she'd be able to spend some extra time with Fermín didn't hurt either.

"Which box is heavy?", asked Fermín again while he picked the things Victoria was taking to his place, which was about to become their place.

"I think...that one".

"Yeah. I can confirm it's heavy".

Victoria laughed while she looked at him carrying the box downstairs and she picked a smaller one she could carry easily.

"Fermín! Come to the kitchen to have something to drink. It's too hot to be carrying all these heavy stuff", called Victoria's mum, who was helping them put everything away.

"Thanks. We only have another box left in the room and Oscar said he'd take it to the car so I'm done".

"Is there anything you need for the house? Food or something?"

"We're good, mum. I've already been buying things to take there so it's all ready".

"Ok. You know you can call me anytime if you need something. Whatever it is".

"I know", said Victoria, hugging her mum before picking up a drink for herself.

Even though there was a conversation going on, Victoria was daydreaming and not paying attention to what was being said. It had only been one year and a month since she met Fermín on a random night out. And even if she liked him since the moment she saw him for the first time...well, she couldn't imagine what life had in store for them. It felt like they had gone through so many things normal couples would experience throughout many years...not just one. But, both the good and the bad, it all made them stronger. As individuals and as a couple. Her love for Fermín kept growning every day and now she got to move in with him. A dream. It was all a dream.

But still...she wanted more. She needed more. And Fermín knew that. He knew her so well and her therapist helped him fill in the gaps of what he couldn't understand. What Victoria didn't say out loud but thought about every day.

"I ordered dinner! It should be here in 30 minutes", said Victoria while she walked around the living room, getting everything ready for when the food was delivered.

Fermín was in their room, taking deep breaths before a talk he knew wasn't going to be easy. But that was why it was necessary.

"Vicky? Can you come here?"

"Coming!", said Victoria, jogging towards the room and when Fermín turned to face her, she saw the little box he was holding and gasped.

"Vicky, I know you want us to get engaged. I know what that means to you and I wish I could do it".

"What?", she felt the tears burning her eyes. "What do you mean you wish you could do it?"

"We're too young. We have all the time in the world for engagements and everything else".

"People get married when they're young too".

"I know. But I don't think that'll be us".

"Ok. Cool".

She tried to leave and Fermín sighed. He had been warned she was going to react like this. He was prepared.

"Victoria...".

"Don't Victoria me, Fermín. What are we doing if you don't think we'll ever get married? Are you even serious about us? We just moved in together, you know?"

"Listen to me", he begged. "I don't think getting engaged now is the right choice. I would only do it because you want me to. I want to propose when it's right".

"What's in that box then? Why do you show me something that gives me hope only to then make me feel like shit? I wouldn't expect something so cruel from you".

"It's a promise ring".

Fermín opened the box and she saw the ring. It was so simple but so gorgeous. Clearly not fancy enough to be an engagement ring but Victoria noticed the little stones matched her eye colour.

"A promise ring?"

"Yes. Because not being ready for something now doesn't mean I don't want that with you, Vicky. I want everything with you. Marriage, children, a big house for our family and our three dogs...".

"I want cats".

"For our cats then. I don't care. As long as I'm with you, the details don't matter. So I want to give you this as a promise. Not just a promise that we'll get married but a promise that I will love you forever".

"I'm sorry I overreacted".

"Vicky, I get it. I get why you think you need the reassurance of us being engaged. But I don't want you to doubt my feelings for you. Or my loyalty to you".

"I won't".

He took the ring and put it in the ring finger of her right hand. It was perfect.

"One day, I'll put a real engagement ring next to this one. I don't know when that day will be and that's ok. I just know it'll happen".

"I'll be the happiest woman in the world that day. Already am now, actually".

"And you don't need us to be engaged to be happy. At first, I thought the comments you made about it were jokes but then noticed it wasn't that. So I talked to your therapist. He told me you need stability in your life and an engagement could provide that. Also, that you still fear our relationship could end because of how things used to be...everything about us being separated against our will. So an engagement would also make you feel like nothing can separate us".

"That makes sense", she conceded before laughing. "But people get divorced, so...".

Fermín laughed too. "Feelings don't always have to make sense. But...yeah, we're not ready for marriage. And I would have asked you to marry me months ago just because I only wanted you to smile and be happy. But that's not how things are done. Now I know we have to work to understand how we feel and how we can help each other deal with those feelings".

"You're doing a better job than me, Fer".

"It's not a competition and even if it was, we don't compete against each other. We are a team. But I also knew I had to prove to you how serious I am about this relationship. And the ring does that. Or I think it does".

"It does", she said, grabbing his face to kiss him. "Your actions do that every day too. I hate that I have to make you work so hard because of my issues".

"And I hate that you have to put up with me when I'm moody after the team loses. We all have our issues, Vicky".

Victoria took the first step and wrapped her arms around Fermín, placing her head on his shoulder and allowing him to hold her close to him.

"But we need to tell your dad what this really is before he sees the ring or he'll kill me".

"Yeah. We do", she laughed, not breaking the hug.

They both felt so content after that conversation. After making yet another promise to each other. And they hugged until the doorbell rang to let them know the food they ordered was there.

Victoria kept looking down at her ring and then at Fermín, feeling so lucky she had found someone like him. Her happy place was a person and that person was Fermín. And she was his. And, as they had promised to each other, nothing and no one would break that bond. Because what they promised to each other was forever.