Unexpected Love

Chapter 14

Ann-Kathrin's P. O. V.

Telling my parents really wasn't that hard. They were happy for me and decided that they actually did like Mario. Mario was definitely happy about that. My family threw us an engagement party. It was a lot of fun. I've never been this happy.

***

Bayern Munich is about to play Real Madrid. The match is in a few hours and right now, the players are doing press conferences. Somehow, Mario got me an all access pass so I can be with him the whole time, even watching the watch from the team bench. I'm standing in the back of the room, watching Mario in his press conference, when I feel a hand grab my waist.

I quickly look to see who's standing right next to me. Cristiano. I take a step back, "What do you want?" Cris smiles, "I want to talk to you. Baby, I miss you." I shake my head, "I moved here from Madrid to get away from you. I don't want to talk to you. " Cristiano smiles, "You don't mean that. Come here. " Cristiano grabs my face and crushes our lips together. I try to struggle but he's too strong. I'm punching his chest when I hear, "Hey! Get off of her!"

Cristiano is ripped away from me. I see Mario, looking pissed. Mario punches Cristiano square in the face. I scream as Mario starts beating the crap out of him. Reporters grab Mario and pull him off of Cristiano.

Mario keeps shouting, "How dare you touch her! How dare you lay a finger on my fiancé!" Cristiano, who only has a busted lip and a black eye, says, "Fiancé, huh? Did you bang her and tell her you love her? She'll marry anything with a penis. " Mario tries to hit him again, but reporters drag Mario out of the room. I follow after Mario, crying.

When I walk out of the press room, Mario immediately pulls me into his arms. "Oh, baby, I am so sorry. Are you okay?" I manage to nod but I can't stop crying. Mario takes my hand and pulls me into another room. He sinks down to the floor, pulling me down with him. He holds me in his arms, while I cry. Mario rocks me back and forth, "Hey, shhh. It's okay. I'm here. I love you and I'm here. "

I told Mario I was fine, so he could go play his match with a clear head. Truth was, I wasn't. I lied to Mario. But not about being okay. About something much more important. And I have to fix it. I have to confess to him. But I don't know If I can do it. He'll never look at me the same.

***
Bayern won the match and Mario quickly came and found me, driving us back to our house. We go inside and lay in our bed. A tear rolls down my cheek as I set my head on Mario's chest, "I have to tell you something. " Mario kisses my head, "Go ahead" I take a deep breath, "You know how Cristiano said I would marry anything with a penis?" Mario nods, "yeah. He was just being a dick, Ann. Don't think anything of it. "

I sit up, "No, Mario, you don't understand. I moved to Madrid when I was 16 and Cris was my first friend. We were super close. I ended up dating a guy that Cris introduced me to. We fell in love and were super serious. Then, he was killed by a drunk driver. And just like that, he was gone. I could not cope with it. I loved him, and suddenly he was just gone. Dead. I fell apart after that. I got drunk every night, had sex with to many guys to count. Cristiano brought me out of that rut. He saved me. We dated but after awhile, he decided I was used and gross because of the phase I went through before. He started beating me. Calling me useless. I had to get out of Madrid before he killed me. I lied to you, that night. That night, after John, I told you you were the only guy I had really been with. I lied. I didn't want you to know about my past. I didn't want you to look at me the same way Cristiano did. I didn't want to lose you. "

Mario sighs and strokes my cheek with his thumb, "Baby, you would never lose me. No matter how hard you try to get rid of me, it won't work. Know why? Because I love you more than I've ever loved anything. Ann-Kathrin, I love you more than football. And that, love, is why I want to marry you. "

I smile, "I'm sorry I lied to you. " Mario shakes his head, "It's okay. I don't care. I love you and that's all that matters. "
Mario and I lay in bed for hours, eventually falling asleep.

***

I wake up and wrap a blanket around me, walking into the living room. Mario is on the couch, on his laptop, and looks up when I walk in. He closes the laptop and sits up, "Hi" I sit next to him, "Hi. " Mario kisses me, "How are you doing?" I shrug, "I'm okay. Look, Mario, I'm so sorry that I come with so much baggage " Mario laughs, "Sweetie, I'll take any baggage that comes with you. As long as I get to be with you forever, nothing matters. "

I shake my head in disbelief, "You mean, that after everything that's happened, you still want to be with me?" Mario laughs, "Oh my gosh, Ann. I don't want to be with anyone but you. I love you so much. Baby, I would die for you. You have to understand, I've been waiting my whole life for you. My whole life to find you, that I could love as much as I love you. "

I smile and shake my head, "You're too good to me. I don't deserve it. You're too good for me. "

Mario laughs, "You went through a hard time. You have to let the past be the past. And live in the present. Live, with me, right here, right now. Please, Ann, out this whole thing behind you. Let it go. "

I take a deep breath and nod, "you're right. I'm sorry. I love you. " I kiss Mario, hugging him as hard as I can. Mario kisses my neck, "You have nothing to be sorry for. " He pulls away to look at me, "I love you. " I give him a crooked smile, "And I love you. "

Mario kisses me then lays back on the couch. He pulls me down so my head is laying on his chest. We sit there in silence. Occasionally, Mario leans down and kisses my head but we don't talk. It's not an awkward silence. It's comfortable. And in that silence, I realize that Mario is right. I need to move on. In that silence, I realize just how lucky I am to be where I am now. And how lucky I am to have Mario in my life.