Wrong choice (Ferran Torres)

Chapter 11

But Anna ended up saying yes to Ferran's invitation. And felt stupid when she got there. Was there a bigger way to friendzone someone than inviting her to hang out with his friends? All of them male friends. There wasn't one woman there.

Not that Anna should care. She was dating someone now so of course she was just Ferran's friend. But still...

"Ferran, we might ask Anna to take your place on the friend group. She's so much better than you", joked Gavi, making Anna laugh.

"You just say that because she's pretty", said Balde. "But I agree".

"Well, she's my friend. Not yours", argued Ferran.

"I'm everyone's friend", said Anna and all the boys cheered.

Looking at her phone, she realised how late it was getting. She didn't like driving when it was too dark outside so she needed to leave soon.

"Ok guys, gotta go home. It's getting late for an old lady like me".

"See you soon, Anna".

"Yes, it was good seeing you guys", she told them, getting up from the sofa and waving at them.

"Do you need someone to drive you home?", asked Pedri. "I wouldn't mind...".

"No, I have my car here. But thank you. I'll go to the toilet and then head home. Bye everyone".

While she was there, all of his teammates looked at Ferran.

"What?"

"Let's leave quickly before Anna comes back...and we won't ask tomorrow if she actually left or stayed the night".

"Stop it", told them Ferran, tired of their teasing.

"Have fun", told him Pedri, who was the last one who left the house.

Anna noticed the house was very quiet when she left the bathroom and followed the noise of the TV to find Ferran sititng on his sofa, watching a movie.

"I'll head home now...", she started to say before she looked at the TV. "Oh, I love that movie".

"It just started".

"It'll be finishing by the time I get home", she laughed. "It's fine. I've watched it a thousand times".

"You can stay and watch it".

"It's getting late...".

"You can stay here tonight. I have 3 guest rooms, it's fine".

Ferran's offer was so innocent. Nothing a friend wouldn't offer to another friend but...she was a friend with a boyfriend now. Should she be staying at a male friend's house? Especially when that male friend was Ferran.

"Eh...sure. Why not?"

"Do you want something to drink or eat?"

"I can make myself a cup of tea...", she said but Ferran got up before she could finish the sentence.

"I'll make it".

"But the movie...".

"It's you that likes it. Go watch it".

Anna looked around the living room when Ferran left and decided to sit down next to where he had been sitting. There was a blanket near her spot so she picked it up and was placing it over her legs when Ferran got back with her cup of tea.

"Thank you. Do you have another blanket?"

"Are you cold?"

"No, I meant for you".

"I'm fine", he shrugged but she saw him picking up a hoodie to put it on.

Anna laughed and moved closer to him, placing the blanket over his legs too. "We can share it. It's big enough".

Ferran had been close to Anna so many times and yet this felt different. It took him so long to relax feeling her so close to him. Because it felt so wrong to be so close to her and not being able to touch her. To hold her.

He then noticed her head falling on his shoulder. Anna had fallen asleep and Ferran could just stare at her...and then he saw the hand that was over the blanket and grabbed it so he could hold it between his hands. It felt so right. That felt right. To have Anna by his side, to hold her hand while she slept...but then he remembered Cecilia. This wasn't cheating...right? He was holding Anna's hand. Not kissing her, not touching her more intimately...but it felt like cheating in a way. His head was a mess. But he didn't let go and kept holding Anna's hand until her phone started to ring.

"What?...I fell asleep. Sorry".

"It's ok. But that's your phone ringing".

Anna picked it up and Ferran could see the name on the screen. Hugo. He knew that was her boss or someone that worked with her bosses but...why would her boss call her at almost midnight on a Saturday night?

"I have to get this. Sorry".

When Anna was far away enough, she answered the call.

"Hey! I was sleeping. Sorry I didn't answer faster".

"That's ok. I thought we could go have breakfast together tomorrow", offered Hugo. "I could pick you up".

"No. Just let me know when we'll meet".

"Why? Are you hiding something at home?"

Yeah, the fact that she wasn't there. "No", she giggled. "It's just women't stuff. Don't ask".

"I won't. We could go to the same place we went to the other day. Meet me there around 11?"

"Sounds great. See you there".

"Sleep well. And sorry for waking you up".

"Don't worry. See you there tomorrow".

Anna took a few deep breaths after the call ended. She hated lies but...she couldn't tell Hugo she was staying with Ferran. He'd think the worst when it was nothing like that...or was it?

She couldn't lie to herself and say she didn't move closer to Ferran because she wanted to be closer to him. That she had noticed how she was falling asleep, her head falling on his shoulder, and she could have gotten up to go to bed but she didn't. Because it felt good to rest her head on his shoulder. To fully fall asleep feeling the warmth radiating from his body.

But she shouldn't feel that way when she was dating Hugo and not Ferran. When Ferran was dating Cecila and not Anna. Why did she do this to herself?

"Everything ok?", asked her Ferran when she made it back to the living room and she nodded.

"Yeah. It's all good".

"Was the call about work?"

"No", she said and noticed the change in Ferran's expression. "I'm...I'm kind of seeing this guy from work".

"Cool. That's...that's cool. Are you going to meet him now?"

"Are you kicking me out?", she tried to joke. "No, we'll meet for breakfast. I'll stay here if that's ok".

"Of course. I offered already. Let me show you your room".

Anna followed Ferran up the stairs and felt a knot in her stomach. Something had changed when she told him about Hugo and she hated that.

"This is my room", said Ferran, pointing at a closed door. "If you need anything, I'll be there. And those three are the guest rooms so...pick one. They're all the same pretty much".

"This one will be fine", she said, picking the one closest to Ferran's room.

"Do you need some clothes to sleep in?"

"Just a t-shirt should be fine".

Ferran didn't say more and got inside his room, closing the door behind him. Anna stayed in the corridor waiting for him, feeling more and more nervous.

"Here. There are blankets in the closet if you get cold".

"Ok. It'll be fine, thank you. Goodnight".

"Goodnight, Anna".