A Bet That Changed Us ︱Pablo Gavi

5: confessions during dinner

Isabella's pov

When I got home that evening, the familiar scent of my brother's cooking greeted me as I opened the door. The aroma of garlic and herbs filled the air, a comforting reminder of the normalcy of home life after a whirlwind day at the club. I hung up my coat and walked into the kitchen, where Matteo was busy stirring a pot of something that smelled delicious.

"Hey, Bella," he greeted me with a smile, using the nickname he'd given me when we were kids. "How was work today?"

I dropped my bag on the counter and leaned against it, watching him stir the pot. "It was... interesting."

He raised an eyebrow, glancing at me as he added some seasoning to the pot. "Interesting, how come?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to start. Mattero and I had always been close, every since our dad left, he acted like a father figure, and I knew I could tell him anything, but I wasn't sure how to explain what had happened without making it sound like a bigger deal than it was.

"Well," I began slowly, "you know how I've been telling you about that player, Pablo?"

Matteo nodded, his expression curious. "Yeah, Pablo Gavi? the one who twisted his ankle last week, right?"

"Right," I confirmed. "Well, yesterday, he invited me out for lunch."

Matteo's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah," I said, trying to sound nonchalant even though I could feel my heart beating a little faster just thinking about it. "We had lunch after training. It was just a casual thing, nothing special."

He turned off the stove and gave me his full attention, leaning against the counter. "But it's not just 'nothing special' if you're bringing it up, is it?"

I sighed, realizing I couldn't just brush this off like it was nothing. Matteo knew me too well for that. "I don't know, Matteo. It was just coffee, but it felt... different. He was really nice, and we had a good conversation, but I can't help but wonder if there's more to it."

Matteo looked at me for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "Do you think he's interested in you?"

"I don't know," I admitted, feeling a little embarrassed to be talking about this. "Maybe? He's been really friendly lately, but I'm not sure if it's just because we work together or if it's something else."

"And how do you feel about him?" Matteo asked, his tone gentle. I looked down at my hands, fiddling with the edge of my sleeve. "I like him, I guess. He's attractive and easy to talk to, but I'm trying to stay focused on my job. I don't want to get distracted by anything that could mess that up."

Matteo nodded, understanding where I was coming from. "It's good that you're thinking about that, Bella. But it's also okay to let yourself enjoy the moment, you know? Just because you're focused on your career doesn't mean you can't explore other parts of your life too."

I smiled, grateful for his advice. Matteo had always been the one who could see things clearly even when I was caught up in my own thoughts. "I know, you're right. I just don't want to complicate things."

"Life's complicated, sis," he said with a shrug. "But that's what makes it interesting. Just take things one step at a time. If he asks you out again and you want to go, then go. But if you're not interested, don't feel pressured to say yes."

I nodded, feeling a little more at ease. "Thanks, Matteo. I needed to hear that."

"Anytime," he replied with a smile. "Now, how about you help me set the table? Dinner's almost ready."