A Bet That Changed Us ︱Pablo Gavi

62: cooking up comfort

The next morning, I woke up to the soft sound of clinking dishes and the smell of something delicious wafting through the air. For a moment, I was disoriented, the unfamiliar surroundings making me wonder where I was. Then, it all came back—the walk back to Pablo's place, the unexpected situation with Matteo and Clara, and Pablo offering me a place to stay for the night.

I stretched, feeling the tension from the night before melt away as I took in the cozy guest room. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. I could hear Pablo humming softly from what I assumed was the kitchen, and it brought a smile to my face. It was comforting, almost like a scene from a movie where everything felt perfectly in place.

Curious and a little hungry, I slipped out of bed and made my way toward the kitchen. The closer I got, the stronger the smell of something delicious became, and my stomach rumbled in response. When I entered the kitchen, I found Pablo at the counter, focused on preparing breakfast. He was wearing a simple T-shirt and sweatpants, his hair still a bit tousled from sleep, and it made him look even more hot.

"Good morning," I said softly, not wanting to startle him.

Pablo turned to me with a bright smile. "Good morning, Bella. I hope you slept well."

"I did, thank you," I replied, leaning against the counter. "What are you making?"

"Just some avocado toast and smoothies," he said, turning back to the food. "I figured we both have a long day ahead, so something healthy and quick."

I watched as he expertly sliced avocado and spread it on toasted bread, adding a sprinkle of seasoning before topping it off with a few extra touches. It was simple, but it looked delicious. The smoothie he was making was a vibrant green, filled with fruits and what I assumed were some leafy greens.

"You didn't have to go through all this trouble," I said, feeling a bit guilty that he was doing so much for me.

"It's no trouble at all," Pablo replied, handing me a plate with a smile. "I wanted to make sure you started the day off right."

I accepted the plate, touched by his thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Pablo. This looks amazing."

We sat down at the small kitchen table, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of normalcy in the situation. It was like we were two friends sharing a meal before heading off to work, yet there was an underlying current of something more, something unspoken between us.

As we ate, we talked about the day ahead. Pablo mentioned how training was going to be intense, especially after the big win against Osasuna. I told him about the checkups I had scheduled with Joao Félix, Lewandowski, and Raphinha. It was nice to slip into a routine conversation, leaving the awkwardness of our past behind, at least for the moment.

Once breakfast was done, we cleaned up together, and then it was time to head to the training grounds. Pablo drove us, and the ride was filled with easy chatter and laughter. It was as if the tension between us had eased, making way for something more genuine and relaxed.

When we arrived, the day was already buzzing with activity. Players were warming up, and the staff was getting everything ready for the session. I split off from Pablo, who went to join the team, while I headed to the medical area to prep for the checkups.

The first player I had to see was Joao Félix. He had been nursing a minor injury, and I needed to make sure he was fit to continue training. As I worked, I caught sight of Valentina and some of the other players nearby, and I decided to tell them about last night.

"So, guess where I ended up staying last night," I said with a teasing smile as I joined Valentina, Ansu, Balde, and Lamine.

"Where?" Lamine asked, curious.