Home is Where the Heart is - Pablo Gavi

Chapter 22: Sweet Nothings

The sun peaks through the windows, creating a familiar setting for me to experience as I peak my eyes open. I peer around the room, registering our take out boxes on the coffee table, Xavi's shoes inside the front door, and Gavi's face resting right next to mine.

I can't help but smile. He's adorable in his sleep.

I start to recall everything that happened last night. A thick layer of blush creeps up my cheeks. I glance over at Gavi to make sure he isn't awake to see it. His eyes rest firmly closed and his breath continues regularly. I reach behind me for my phone, trying to make as little movement as possible. I get a hold of it and turn on the screen. It's five in the morning. We have training at six, so we'll have to leave in about 45 minutes. I debate whether or not I have time to shower and decide it's necessary.

Although it emotionally pains me, I escape from Gavi's arms, secured tightly around me. I tip-toe up the stairs and get in the shower. I know the water will probably wake the others in the house, but it's about time they'd be getting up anyways.

I take a long shower, enjoying the heat of the scalding water. Once I finally bring myself to turn off the water, I ring out my hair and wrap it up in a towel, enclosing my body in an additional one.

I open the door of my bathroom, my towel wrapped around my body. To my surprise Gavi is awake and sitting on my bed. His head is leaning against the back wall and his eyes are closed. I don't think he heard me come in.

"Hey," I say softly, crossing the room to my dresser.

His eyes flutter open and he sits up from where he was slouching against the wall. "Hey."

"How'd you sleep?" I ask, pulling a pair of leggings out of my drawer, one hand clamped against my towel to hold it up.

"Pretty well, how about you?" he asks, sliding to the edge of the bed.

"Great," I respond, turning back to him with my gathered clothes. I set them down on my bed.

He looks up at me from where he's sitting. "How do you feel?" he hesitantly asks.

I let out a breathy laugh. "Amazing."

He lets out a breath he was clearly holding in.

"How did you think I was going to feel?" I ask, trying to act pre-occupied with laying out my clothes.

"Regret," he confesses.

I unwrap my towel from around my body and set it on my bed. I casually start to get dressed, no longer caring how he can't keep his eyes off my body. After last night, I don't care how much of me he sees.

I'm fully dressed and heading over to throw my towel back in my bathroom when Gavi asks, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah," I reply, stepping inside my bathroom, discarding my towel and then coming back into my bedroom.

"You're leave in two months, no?"

I walk past him and over to my dresser. With my back to him, I start to take my hair out of its towel to brush it. "At the end of August, yeah. Why?"

"Why?" he asks.

My eyebrows furrow. "Why what?" I ask, turning to face him. I'm not sure what he's asking.

"Why do you have to leave?" His voice comes out so vulnerable and instantly I know this conversation is important to him.

"This was always a summer trip," I explain, "I was always only going to be here for the summer. In September I need to go back home and go to University."

"You could stay here," he suggests and I know he doesn't mention it carelessly. "Xavi wouldn't mind, he'd love it actually. You could keep playing for the team, you could be one of the greatest futbol stars in history."