𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 || 𝐏𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐢 𝐆𝐨𝐧𝐳𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐳

016 | Pretending

Monday 09.30.24

The next morning, the villa was filled with the scent of fresh coffee and pastries. The sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the stone walls. I stretched lazily, feeling surprisingly refreshed after skipping the bar last night. Outside, I could hear João and Ansu laughing about something, probably last night's shenanigans. The rest of the guys were still waking up—or hungover, more likely.

After getting dressed, I made my way to the kitchen, where João's mom, Carla, was already busy preparing breakfast. "Morning!" I greeted, grabbing a cup of coffee.

"Morning, dear! I hope you slept well," Carla said with a smile. "The boys stayed out quite late, but they seem to be handling it alright."

"Yeah, they'll survive," I chuckled. "Anything I can help with?"

"Oh no, you relax. You're on vacation!" she insisted, waving me off.

I took my coffee out to the terrace where João, Ansu, and Ale were lounging, looking half-asleep but content. The view was breathtaking. Rolling hills stretched as far as the eye could see, with the occasional farmhouse dotting the landscape. It was peaceful, a stark contrast to the noise and chaos that usually surrounded our group.

"How was the bar?" I asked, taking a seat beside them.

"Wild," João said with a grin. "But you missed out. The locals loved us. Ale even tried to dance—if you can call that dancing."

Ale groaned, covering his face. "Never again."

"You were a hit, though," Ansu added with a laugh. "The bartender gave you free drinks all night. I think she had a crush on you."

I laughed, trying to imagine Ale's awkward attempts at flirting. "Sounds like I dodged a bullet."

Just then, Pedri appeared on the terrace, his hair a mess and sunglasses shielding his eyes from the sun. He plopped down in the chair next to me, looking as if he'd just rolled out of bed.

"Morning, sunshine," I teased. "Rough night?"

"Something like that," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "Did you sleep well? Missed you last night."

His words had that same teasing edge from before, but they were softer this time, almost tired. I ignored the little flip in my stomach and sipped my coffee instead. "Like a baby. Looks like you should've stayed in too."

Pedri smirked, but before he could reply, João stood up and clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough lounging around. We've got plans today! There's a beach an hour from here that we have to check out."

There was a collective groan from the guys, but I could see the excitement building. João was like a walking itinerary, always eager to show off the best spots, and none of us could say no to a day at the beach.

"Come on, it's gonna be great," João continued, pulling out his phone. "It's this little secluded cove, barely any tourists. Trust me, it'll be worth the drive."

We spent the next hour getting ready, packing bags with towels, sunscreen, and snacks. Pedri lingered near me the whole time, making small comments here and there, but it felt different from before. He wasn't pushing, wasn't trying to bring up what had happened between us. Maybe last night had worn him out enough to give me a break.