A Bet That Changed Us ︱Pablo Gavi

115: Rehearsal dinner

The excitement of Clara and Matteo's wedding was palpable as we arrived at the airport, surrounded by friends and family, all buzzing with anticipation. Today marked the beginning of their wedding celebrations, and you could feel the love and joy in the air. Familiar faces from the Barça crew were here too—Pedri, Balde, Ansu, Lamine, Hector, Fermin, Ferran, and Frenkie—alongside Mikky, Valentina, and other close friends. It was like a mini-reunion, everyone ready to celebrate the union of two wonderful people.

Pablo and I found our seats on the flight, settling in next to each other. He reached over, lacing his fingers through mine, and leaned in to whisper, "You look beautiful today, mi amor."

A smile tugged at my lips, and I leaned into him. "Thank you, Pablito. And you look quite handsome yourself."

He chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners with that familiar warmth. I loved seeing him like this, relaxed and happy, surrounded by friends.

The flight was filled with chatter, laughter, and a few rounds of card games. Frenkie and Mikky were arguing over a game of Uno, while Ferran tried to mediate. Meanwhile, Lamine and Ansu were deep in conversation about some upcoming matches, and Balde was napping with his headphones on, completely oblivious to the chaos around him.

When we finally landed, everyone split off to find their rooms at the hotel. Pablo and I made our way to our room, pushing open the door to find a stunning view of the ocean right outside our window. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the water.

"Wow," I breathed, stepping closer to the window. "Look at that sunset, Pablo."

He came up behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist. "It's beautiful," he murmured, his lips brushing against my ear, "but not as beautiful as you."

I felt a shiver run down my spine at his words, and I leaned back against his chest, feeling his heartbeat against my back. We stood there in comfortable silence, watching the sun dip lower and lower, the sky transforming into a breathtaking canvas of pinks, oranges, and purples.

I was in the midst of watching the sunset when Clara knocked on the door, her face a mix of nerves and excitement. "Isabella, I need to tell you something," she said, her voice low and hesitant.

 "What's up?"

Clara took a deep breath, then said, "I hope you don't mind, but your father is coming to the wedding. I know it's a surprise, but I thought it might be a nice gesture."

My heart skipped a beat at her words. After meeting my father at the dinner we still weren't better yet, and the idea of him being at the wedding was both surprising and unsettling. I managed a shaky smile. "Oh, um, okay. I didn't know he was coming."

Clara's eyes softened with sympathy. "I didn't want to upset you, but I thought you should know before the wedding. I hope it doesn't cause any issues."

I nodded, though my mind was racing. "Thanks for letting me know, Clara."

After that Clara left our hotel room leaving me and Pablo alone agaim.

 I spoke after a while, voice tinged with frustration. "It's just... the fact that my father is coming, and I didn't even know about it until just then. It feels like a lot to handle."

Pablo looked at me with concern, his eyes full of understanding. "Isabella, I know this situation is unexpected and can be overwhelming. But I want you to know that it's okay to feel this way. You're allowed to have mixed emotions about it."

I sighed, feeling a mixture of relief and lingering unease. "It's not just about him coming. It's the fact that Matteo didn't mention it to me directly. It makes me feel like I'm not being given the courtesy of knowing about it beforehand."