Wrong choice (Ferran Torres)

Chapter 16

Right after the celebration party, Anna had to leave to work in Madrid for two days. But she made sure she was going to make it back on time to go to the celebration parade. She didn't go to that as a journalist but as a fan. It felt nice to be able to do that every once in a while. To be able to let go.

"Want one?", asked her Pedri when he spotted her.

"One what?"

"One of this", he said, showing the can of beer he had in his hand.

"Why not? I'm not working today".

"Here".

Anna took a couple of sips of her beer and sighed. Yeah, it felt nice to let go even if it was just for a few hours.

"Which shirt are you wearing?"

"It's an old one", she said turning to show him the back.

"Iniesta. I approve. But didn't you get a new one for this season?"

Pedri knew the answer but asked her anyway. "Yes. But I just felt like wearing this one today".

Because she couldn't wear the shirt Ferran gave her. Not in public. Not after everything that had happened. Even if Hugo made sure everyone knew they were together all the time. Anna...well, she didn't love how he sometimes talked about being with her like it was an achievement.

When Ferran saw Anna talking to Pedri, he smiled. Pedri liked her and that made him happy. Eric...he worried too much about Ferran being hurt to appreciate Anna.

"Is there a beer for me?"

"No, I gave yours to Anna", joked Pedri. "Maybe you can share it".

"There is a bucket full of them over there", she said, pointing at it and Ferran walked towards it to get a beer.

"Cheers", he told them and they toasted together. "I've been thinking about getting a new tattoo".

"Something about winning the league?", asked Anna.

"Nah, just a tattoo in general. I'm trying to come up with any ideas".

"Maybe...", started Pedri but Ferran glared at him. "Nevermind. What do I know about tattoos?"

"You don't have any?"

"No", told her Pedri. "Not really my thing. What about you?"

"I don't either but I want one. I just don't know what".

"Maybe Ferri can help you chose one".

"That's too personal", said Ferran. "But I can recommend artists to you when you know what you want".

"I'll make sure to ask you when I know".

The parade was about to start so Ferran and Pedri left to get inside the bus and Anna went back to where she was supposed to meet Hugo. He was already there with the rest of the people who worked with them on the radio and Hugo opened his arms wide for Anna to walk into them.

"I like your shirt", whispered Hugo, happy to see her not wearing her Ferran shirt. He had seen it in her closet and hated the thought of Anna wearing his name.

"Can't go wrong with an Iniesta shirt".

"You can't".

Being around a football celebration was always so much fun. Anna didn't want the parade to end but that wasn't how it worked. At least the bus was driving slowly so as many fans as possible could see the players who were in it.

"There they are!", started to scream someone.

When the bus was in front of them, Ferran spotted Anna and he smiled at her. He didn't want to make a big gesture that would get a lot of people's attention directed to Anna. But she knew the smile was for her and smiled back. Hugo noticed and he waved at Ferran before wrapping his arms around Anna again, forcing Ferran to look away.

"We can go home now", he whispered in her ear. "We've already seen the bus".

Anna nodded and they said goodbye to everyone else.

"I've been thinking about getting a tattoo", she told him while they walked to his place.

"Why?"

"I don't know. The idea has been in my head for a while".

"Keep it there. Tattoos are tacky and you are anything but tacky".

"But...", Anna could see the disgust on Hugo's face after he mentioned the word tattoo.

"I've been thinking about something too".

"What is it?"

"You like my house, right?"

"Yes...", where was he going with that question.

"Move in with me".

"What? Hugo...we've only been dating for 6 months. Isn't it too early?"

"Not too early when you love someone".

Anna stared at Hugo's big smile. At the way his eyes shined while staring into hers. And she remembered Aaron, her ex boyfriend from London. She was so afraid of doing everything "too early" that they only lived together for 4 months before breaking up. Anna had always been impulsive but there was something about Aaron that made her be the opposite when it came to their relationship. Hugo was different. She could envision a future with him so...maybe there wasn't such a thing as "too early".

"Ok. Let's move in together".