Wrong choice (Ferran Torres)

Chapter 20

Anna

I'm going to your hometown tomorrow.

Ferran

Why?

Anna

Work.

And since you were annoyed I didn't tell you last time...

I'm telling you now.

Ferran

Thanks 😂

I'm in Valencia at the moment actually.

Anna

You are?

Ferran

Yeah. Got a few days off and decided to visit family.

Anna

Nice

Maybe I'll see you there.

Ferran

Yeah, maybe.

Ferran wanted to ask Anna to go to lunch with him while she was in Valencia. He wanted to take her to so many places, really. But that felt more like a date. And he was trying to keep his distance to protect his heart but...he kept going back to Anna because how could he not?

Even if Ferran didn't like the Hugo dating Anna, he liked other people called Hugo. One of his best friends from the Valencia academy was Hugo Guillamón, who now played for the first team. And it was this Hugo who texted Ferran to let him know his "journalist friend" was there interviewing one of his teammates.

"Ferran? What are you doing here?"

Pepe, one of the guys that had worked at the Valencia training centre for decades, spotted Ferran and was very confused by his presence there.

"Just visiting Hugo. Is training over?"

"Yes and he left. They all left but Canós. He's being interviewed today".

Ferran pretended to be surprised by that but then he saw Canós getting out to walk to his car and expected Anna to do the same soon.

"Oh, there's another friend", said Ferran, pointing at Anna. "So I didn't waste my time driving here. All good around here, Pepe?"

"Great. You doing well in Barcelona?"

"It's not bad", laughed Ferran and then Anna spotted him. "I'll go talk to my friend. See you soon".

Anna was surprised to see Ferran in the parking lot. Did he know she was there? Or was it a coincidence?

"Ferran? What are you doing here?"

"I was going to pick up one of my friends but he's left already. Do you need a ride?"

"Sure. I was going to call a taxi but...".

"No need", said Ferran, walking back to his car and hoping Anna was following him. "Did you have lunch?"

"I didn't have time".

"I could take you to one of the places I recommended you go to...".

Even if they hadn't spent as much time together lately, it was so easy for them to go back to their usual routines.

"This place is really nice", said Ferran while he held the door open for Anna. "Small and no one will bother us".

"That sounds good".

A waitress led them to a table and she left after getting their orders.

"So how have you been? I haven't seen you much lately".

"It's been a busy time", said Anna, trying to find an excuse. "But I'll be in Barcelona more now. Plus it's time for the holidays so...".

"Are you spending them with your family or Hugo's?"

"A bit of both. And then New Year's with friends, I guess".

"Come to my party", said Ferran, desperate to see Anna more often.

"I didn't know you were going to host one".

"I will".

But Ferran hadn't planned on hosting one. He just said it because it was the first thing that came to his mind but...it was two weeks before the 31st. Surely he'd have enough time to organise everything.

"Ok. We'll be there".

We, because if Anna was there, Hugo was going to be there too.

When their food arrived, they started to eat while they kept catching up. Anna couldn't wipe the smile off her face. It felt so good to be spending all this time with Ferran.

"Ok, so the cake for you. I'll bring it in a second".

"You sure you don't want any dessert?", asked Anna.

"No. My mum has been feeding me too much food these last few days. I don't need more sugar".

"You can try a bite of my portion if you want to. It won't kill you".

Ferran laughed but when he saw the cake Anna had ordered, he took her on the offer. Anna picked a bit of cake with her fork and extended her arm so Ferran could eat it.

"It's really good".

After Anna finished her dessert, Ferran asked for the bill and the same waitress that had been attending them the whole meal brought it to him.

"Congratulations", she said to Anna while Ferran was paying for their meal.

"For what?", asked Anna, thinking the woman must have been confusing her for someone else. But then she pointed at her ring. "Oh...thank you".

"Thank you", she said, taking the card machine from Ferran. "I hope you enjoyed the meal. And that you're very happy. You make such a good couple".

They both muttered a thank you to the waitress and got up to leave. That was...uncomfortable. In more ways that they'd both admit.

"A man and a woman having lunch together...honest mistake", said Anna, trying to laugh.

"Yes. She meant well".

But even if the waitress meant well...