A Bet That Changed Us ︱Pablo Gavi

106: Misunderstanding

Isabella's pov

The sun was setting over Barcelona, casting a warm, golden glow on the city. After another demanding day of training, the team decided to unwind at a nearby café—a cozy spot where everyone could relax and enjoy each other's company. We all needed it after the exhausting drills, the high-energy banter, and the mental strain of preparing for the next big match. I walked alongside Pablo, his arm wrapped comfortably around my shoulder, feeling the familiar buzz of excitement that always came from spending time together outside the pitch.

When we reached the café, it was already buzzing with people. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and pastries welcomed us as we stepped inside. We found a large table that could fit all of us, and as everyone settled in, the conversation flowed freely. I sat next to Pablo, with Valentina on my other side. The chatter was loud, filled with laughter and playful teasing, and it was one of those moments that made me realize how lucky I was to be part of this group.

Frenkie and Ferran were in the middle of a debate about who had the best skills on the pitch. "Please," Frenkie said, leaning back in his chair with a smug grin. "You know my dribbling is unmatched."

Ferran scoffed. "Unmatched at dribbling into defenders, maybe!"

Everyone erupted in laughter, and Frenkie threw a napkin at Ferran, who dodged it expertly. The easy camaraderie in the group was one of the things I loved most about these moments. I felt myself relaxing, letting the tension of the day fade away.

Pablo was in high spirits, joking around with everyone and throwing in his two cents whenever he got the chance. But my smile started to waver when I noticed Angie sitting across from us, her eyes locked onto Pablo. She wasn't originally supposed to be here. I learned from a whisper between Mikky and Valentina that it was Pablo Torre who had invited her. Of course, it had to be him. Angie had a reputation for being overly flirtatious, and right now, she was fully focused on Pablo.

At first, I tried to ignore it, convincing myself that it was nothing. Pablo was talking to everyone, after all, but Angie seemed intent on keeping his attention on her. Every laugh was a little too loud, every touch on his arm a little too lingering. I could feel the annoyance bubbling inside me, and I tried to push it down. I didn't want to make a scene in front of everyone, but it was hard to keep my eyes from narrowing in her direction.

"Pablo, remember that time at the beach when you tried to impress everyone with your diving skills?" Angie giggled, leaning closer to him. "You almost belly-flopped!"

Pablo chuckled, seemingly amused. "Hey, I still pulled it off," he defended, his grin wide and relaxed.

"Barely," she replied, playfully swatting his arm. "But you did look cute trying."

My grip on my coffee cup tightened. I could feel the tension rising in my chest, and I knew that if I didn't step away, I might say something I'd regret. Valentina, sensing my mood shift, leaned over and whispered, "Are you okay?"

I forced a tight smile. "Yeah, just need some air."

I stood up, trying to keep my movements casual as I slipped away from the table and headed outside. The cool evening breeze hit my face, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. I leaned against the brick wall of the café, staring up at the sky. Why was this bothering me so much? I knew Pablo wasn't interested in Angie. He'd made that clear before, but seeing her so blatantly flirt with him—and him not shutting it down—felt like a punch to the gut.

I hadn't been outside for long when I heard the door open behind me. I glanced over to see Pablo stepping out, his brows furrowed with concern. "Hey, Isa," he said softly, coming closer. "What's going on? You just left without saying anything."