A Bet That Changed Us ︱Pablo Gavi

7: A night out

A few days after our coffee, Valentina and I made plans to hang out at one of the popular clubs in the city. It was a Wednesday night 2 days before the match against villarreal and I was looking forward after a long day.

When I arrived, the place was already buzzing with energy. The music was loud, the lights were flashing in rhythmic patterns, and people were dancing, laughing, and enjoying themselves. Valentina spotted me at the entrance and waved me over, her smile bright under the club's neon lights.

"There you are!" she shouted over the music, pulling me into a hug. "Ready for a fun night?"

"Absolutely!" I replied, feeling the infectious energy of the crowd.

We made our way to the bar, and Valentina ordered us both drinks. As we waited, she leaned in, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "I have a feeling tonight's going to be interesting."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How so?"

She just grinned and handed me my drink. "You'll see."

As we clinked our glasses and took the first sips, I noticed a group of guys entering the club. Even in the dim light, I recognized them instantly, Pablo, Pedri, Ferran, Fermin, Ansu, Balde and Lamine (who probably got snuck in). They moved through the crowd with the ease of people used to being in the spotlight, attracting attention wherever they went.

Valentina nudged me. "Looks like your friend Gavi decided to make an appearance."

I couldn't help but smile. "What a coincidence."

The group spotted us, and Pablo walked towards our table. His usual confident grin was firmly in place as he approached.

"Isabella, Valentina," he greeted us, nodding at Valentina before turning his attention to me. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Hey, Pablo," I replied, hoping my voice didn't show the slight flutter in my chest. "Out for a night with the guys?"

"Yeah, we're just blowing off some steam before the big game," he said

"Mind if we join you?" Gavi asked, glancing at Valentina.

"Not at all," Valentina said, clearly enjoying the situation.

The guys pulled up a few chairs, and soon, we were all chatting and laughing. Gavi sat next to me, his presence warm and easy, and I found myself relaxing more than I expected. The conversation flowed effortlessly, touching on everything like upcoming matches.

"So," he said as we waited for our order, "you seem like you're having a good time tonight."

"I am," I admitted. "It's nice to just relax and not think about work for a bit."

"I'm glad," he said, his voice softening. "You work hard, Isabella. You deserve to have some fun too."

There was a sincerity in his tone that caught me off guard, and for a moment, we just looked at each other, the noise of the club fading into the background.

"Thanks," I said, my voice almost a whisper.

The bartender handed us our drinks, breaking the moment. We both took a sip, the cool liquid a welcome distraction.

"Here's to more nights like this," Gavi said, raising his glass.

"To more nights like this," I echoed, clinking my glass against his.

Pablo's Pov

The club was already packed by the time we arrived. It was the usual scene, pulsing music, flashing lights, and a crowd that seemed to move as one. I'd been looking forward to a night out with the guys after a long day of training and an upcoming game, but as soon as we walked in, something caught my eye.