Home is Where the Heart is - Pablo Gavi

Chapter 29: Car rides

"Do you guys want to hangout after training?" Gavi asks Pedri, Alex and I during our cool down. He drove my friends and I home at a reasonable time last night, regardless we struggled to get up for today's ten am recovery session I have no choice but to attend---Xavi was feeling generous again and moved it from eight am to ten am because Barca and it's players have been on numerous winning streaks. Right now the four of us are positioned on the grass, stretching our arms and legs.

"Can't," Alex says, "my parents want me to head home so we can visit my grandparents for a while. We're leaving as soon as I get back."

"I've got the goons to look after," I say, gesturing to the stands where my friends are sitting. I've glanced up at them to check and see if they're still there a few times and so far they haven't budged.

"Perfect," Gavi says, "they can come too. Pedri do you want to drive or you want me to?" I don't add how I could drive because yesterday when I tried to the job got stolen from me. I'm not mad about it though.

Pedri scoffs. "No way I'm coming."

"Why not?" I ask. "Got a girlfriend to get back to?" I'm fairly certain he's not seeing anyone right now, but as Evie's bestfriend it's my duty to check.

"Nope," he replies. "But if they're going, I'm not." He nods at the stands.

I glance over at them as well, thinking maybe someone else Pedri dislikes is over there. "Why do you hate them so much?" I ask him. He's known them for less than two days and he already has a personal vendetta against my bestfriends.

"Were you not there when they did that to Gavi last night?" he asks, referencing the game of truth of dare.

"They were drunk," I argue. It's not an excuse, but it is an explanation. They would've never so blatantly have done something like that sober.

"I bet you told them too--" Pedri starts, with venom in his voice. I'm not sure where this is coming from.

"Pedri," Gavi steps in. They share a look and Pedri closes his mouth and keeps it shut.

"I feel like I'm missing something," Alex says. He definitely is. Based off of Pedri's comment, I'd guess Gavi told him what has happened between us. Plus he walked in on the kiss. I don't blame Gavi, I mean I told Alana and Evie. I don't regret telling them, I needed a second opinion to realize there is most definitely something between Gavi and I, now I need to find out if it's worth pursuing. Nothing safe is worth the drive.

"Fine I'll come," Pedri concedes. "But I'm driving and you're in the front." He sticks a finger to Gavi's chest.

"Got it," says a smiling Gavi, happy he has won.

"Thanks Pepi," I lean over and hug him.

"Nothing better go wrong tonight," he tells me sternly, "no shady business."

"That'll be an issue, I only deal in shade, how else do we stay cool on sunny days?" I ask innocently.

Pedri rolls his eyes but I can see the grin trying to make its way onto his lips.

"You could go swimming," Alex suggests, clueless of half of the conversation.

Gavi laughs at how out of touch he is from the conversation. Alex gets embarrassed and they start swatting at each other. Pedri and I bond by scolding them.

After training Pedri, Gavi, Alana, Evie and I pile into Pedri's mini cooper. I'm in the middle seat in the back. When we drive out onto the street there are predictably many fans waiting for us.

"We don't have to stop for them do we?" to my right, Evie asks with anxiety evident in her voice. I'm about to respond in the affirmative when Pedri replies faster.