Fine Line - Ferran Torres
A/N: Hiii, you guys remember me? Some time ago, I mentioned that I had been enchanted by him, and it resulted in this imagine. I wrote it a while ago, but hadnât had time to post it. I hope you enjoy it. P.S.: I donât like this title, but I used it because I was listening to Harryâs song while editing, and in a way, it describes them a little.
Sofia was what most people would call a workaholic. She gave herself entirely to her career, and everything in her life revolved around it. Her promotion didnât come as a surprise â after all, she had worked hard for it.
But becoming a mother, however, had never been part of her plans. Especially not as the result of a one-night stand, and, to make things even more complicated, with a football player who happened to be five years younger.
âYouâre quiet,â the player said, approaching her with a wary look. He held a small ball in his hand and tossed it, expecting the dog to chase it. But the animal was comfortably lying at Sofiaâs feet.
âTraitor,â he murmured, crouching down to pet the dog. A small, proud smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
âWhat happened?â Ferran asked, settling beside her on the couch. His gaze was intent, and it made her bite the inside of her cheek, fidgeting as she tried to calm the flutter in her stomach.
These feelings had been surfacing for weeks now. Yes, she was attracted to him â after all, that attraction had led to the tiny life growing inside her â but since sheâd dropped the bomb about the pregnancy, they had agreed their relationship would exist solely to raise the child together. So when emotions started creeping in, she didnât know how to handle them. Maybe it was the hormones, or maybe it was just the way he gave her attention without judgment, but she could feel something swelling in her chest.
âBaby?â he said, snapping his fingers in front of her face. The nickname still sent shivers down her spine.
âItâs nothing. Iâm behind on some projects, and my boss is pressuring me,â she shrugged, adjusting herself on the couch.
âIâve told you before, you deserve more. You should leave that place,â he leaned closer, looping his arm around her waist, pulling her in until his head rested on her belly. He placed a soft kiss there, making Sofiaâs heart do somersaults.
âAh, easy for you to say. And what am I supposed to live on?â she asked, her voice serious. Her throat tightened at his closeness â his touch was constant, almost instinctual. He gave her an offended look, those large brown eyes filled with mock indignation.
Her eyes widened, and she forced a laugh.
âThe baby has you,â she corrected, causing Ferran to make a face as if truly wounded.
âYou know itâs not like that,â he replied, resting his head on her belly as he stroked it gently.
âWeâve already talked about thisâŠâ Sofia said firmly, frustrated with the turn of the conversation.
âYouâve talked about it,â he countered, leaning back against the couch. She rolled her eyes.
âExcited for your date tonight?â she asked, changing the subject. He stared at her with narrowed eyes and stood up, clearly irritated. He ran a hand through his hair, as if wanting to say something, then just huffed before looking at her again.
âDo you really want me to go?â
âItâs rude to stand her up. It was already plannedâŠâ Sofia nodded toward her belly. Ferran rolled his eyes and grunted.
âYouâre impossible,â he said, crossing his arms. Sofia scrunched her nose, letting out a small laugh as she rose to her feet.
âIâm leaving. Iâll have dinner with my mom and then head back to my apartment. That way, youâve got the whole house to yourself,â she said, giving him a teasing wink. Ferran grimaced.
âBye, baby,â she bent down to hug the dog, who whimpered. âBye, daddy,â she added, hugging Ferran awkwardly as she passed him.
The dog kept whining as they watched Sofia leave. As soon as the door clicked shut, he barked at Ferran as if complaining.
âYeah⊠I know, buddy,â Ferran said, rubbing the dogâs ears, understanding the little creatureâs frustration.
****************************************************
Pedri could see the gears turning in his friendâs head. Ferran was unusually quiet, not showing his usual habit of trying to annoy him.
âEverything okay? Did something happen with the baby?â Pedri asked, concerned. Ferran looked at him.
âNo, everythingâs fine,â he said, scratching his head. Pedri waited. He knew there was more to it. âCan I ask you something?â
âWas Isa a pain in the ass when you were confirming your relationship?â Ferran asked.
Pedri smiled, proud. He always felt accomplished when people asked for relationship advice, especially since his own relationship with Isa had become serious.
âA pain? How polite of you, tiburĂłnâ Pedri teased, earning an exaggerated eye-roll. âWhatâs going on?â
âSofia⊠sheâs annoyingly stubborn. Not really, you know? But⊠she keeps pushing me toward other girls, saying I need to find a girlfriend, but it has to be approved by her because she wonât leave the baby with just anyone. One day sheâs super attentive, spoiled, and affectionate, and the next she pulls away completely, only talking about the baby.â
âBut thatâs what you agreed on, right?â Pedri reminded him, based on what his friend had already shared. Both of them turned their attention to Gavi, who was approaching and sitting on the grass beside them.
âThatâs what she decided. I didnât really have a say,â Ferran said, standing up, irritated. He stopped suddenly and looked at Gavi, serious. âBy the way, this is your fault. Yours and your little girlfriendâs,â he accused, pointing at Gavi, who raised his hands in surrender.
âWeâre not going around making babies,â Gavi replied, jokingly, earning a slap from Pedri.
âI told you she was terrible,â Pedri commented, shrugging.
âMy God, too much information,â muttered a member of the coaching staff nearby, picking up some equipment. The three of them laughed.
âDonât talk about her like that. Sheâll take care of Axel for you to get rid of Isaâs bad mood,â Gavi said, annoyed.
âMy God⊠guys,â the man raised his arms, his face red.
âPoor baby⊠will end up with her.â
âDoesnât Axel like her?â Ferran asked, looking at Pedri.
âHeâs talking about me,â Gavi rolled his eyes, and Pedri ruffled his hair. Ferran laughed.
âGuys, this is serious. Itâs about me,â Ferran said, impatient.
âDude, the situation with Isa was different. Her uncertainties were⊠different. She had no doubts about me⊠because itâs me, right?â Pedri joked.
âI canât wait to tell her about this conversation,â Gavi hummed.
âBut her whole situation was complicated, because of the ex-husband. And the trauma with his familyâŠâ Pedri continued. âYou and Sofia are going to be parents by accident. Thatâs a big deal.â
âWow, you didnât help me at all,â Ferran said seriously, making Gavi burst out laughing.
âBut why are you so tense about this?â Gavi asked.
âSheâs pushing me toward other girls,â he said loudly, as if his frustration was obvious.
âCalm down, man. Maybe you just need to say how you feel. Sometimes you just need to talk, thatâs it,â Gavi suggested.
âWerenât you the one who ignored the Madrid girl for weeks, even when she was trying to talk?â Ferran shot back, and Gavi made a face, laughing. âYou guys donât get it. You and Isa are⊠you and Isa,â Ferran pointed at Pedri. âAnd your girl⊠sheâs got heart eyes for you 24/7,â he pointed at Gavi. âI just⊠I donât even know what I want,â he confessed, looking downcast.
âMaybe thatâs why she pushes you toward others. If it was an accident, maybe she thinks you donât want this,â the staff member said, clearly having overheard everything.
âYou were listening?â Ferran asked, hand on his chest.
âUnfortunately. Now you three, go train. I really donât need to know more about your personal lives,â he muttered, nudging them toward the field.
***************************************************
Ferran and Sofia waited anxiously in the examination room. Sofia was far enough along to find out the babyâs gender. And then, everything would become real.
He could see that the nervousness wasnât only his. He felt the sweat on her hands as they gripped his like her life depended on it. But she said nothing, and he desperately wanted to know what was going through her mind.
âAnd you wanted to wait until the birth,â Ferran teased, mocking her original idea. Sofia rolled her eyes.
The doctor entered, asked routine questions, and Sofia answered promptly. She laughed when she felt the cold gel applied to her belly as the equipment slid across her skin.
âMy God, itâs huge compared to the last scan,â Ferran commented, mouth agape as he watched the little being moving inside her.
He looked at Sofia and saw her eyes brimming with tears. It made his heart ache. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. She smiled at the gesture, gripping his hand even tighter.
âAre you ready to find out, parents?â the doctor asked.
âYes, please!â Sofia replied, her voice high with excitement, making the doctor laugh.
âWeâve got a little line here⊠another one here⊠congratulations! Youâre going to have a baby girl.â
Sofia gasped. Ferran felt certain the world had stopped. His heart was pounding so fast he was surprised he was still standing.
âMy GodâŠâ he murmured. âWeâre going to have a baby girl, baby.â
She smiled proudly, and the smile hit him like a punch to the chest. God, she had the most beautiful smile in the world.
The doctor finished the exam and gave them some instructions. They left the office hand in hand, completely silent â as if they still couldnât believe it.
Ferran guided her to his car, and the drive home was filled with a comfortable quiet.
âMy God, I didnât even notice we got here. I must be in shock, I didnât even notice the way. You could have dropped me at my apartment,â Ferran said, making a face.
âStay here tonight, please. I want to be close to our daughter in this moment,â he said, looking expectantly at her.
She hesitated for a few moments, then nodded in agreement. Instinctively, Ferran smiled, thrilled, and got out of the car to open the door for her.
When Ferran opened the door, their dogs came running toward them. Ferran positioned himself in front of Sofia to soften the impact of the dogsâ excitement, and she bent down to give them attention.
âYouâre going to have a little sister very soon,â she said in a higher, baby-talk voice, as if already speaking to her daughter. The dogs rubbed against and licked her, and Ferran could swear his heart skipped a beat at the sight.
Since he had brought Sofia to meet his home, the dogs had formed a certain bond with her. Normally, they were cautious around strangers â but not with her. Definitely not with her. It was funny because whenever she got up and moved somewhere, they were right behind her.
âDid you hear me?â Ferran hadnât even noticed she had stood up and was now looking at him worriedly.
âNo⊠what?â he asked, focusing on her.
âIâm hungry. Me and your daughterâŠâ she pouted, and Ferran suppressed the urge to kiss her. He took her hand, stroked her belly, and led her to the kitchen, both being followed by the dogs.
And there, in that scene â him cooking for his women, accompanied by their dogs â it was a moment he could definitely get used to⊠and wanted to.
****************************************************
Sofia definitely regretted going to that event, silently grateful that the lighting was dim, so her discomfort wouldnât be so obvious.
She was on the verge of tears. She didnât want to be there. Her heels were uncomfortable, her feet swollen. The tight dress, hugging her belly, made her feel like she might burst at any moment, even though the footballer had told her countless times how beautiful she looked. She didnât feel that way. At 22 weeks pregnant, she felt much bigger, her belly having tripled in size.
Ferran said she was overreacting, that it was just the belly that had grown, but it didnât help. In her mind, it was her entire body. Especially when she was surrounded by beautiful women â tall, slim models. Even though Barcelona was a family-oriented club, events like this were always filled with such girls to decorate the room.
Normally, Sofia was confident. But not that night. Not when everyoneâs eyes were on her. All that attention felt suffocating.
She looked around, searching for Ferran. She wanted to ask to leave, but he was nowhere in sight.
âAre you sure you donât want some? Itâs divine!â Isa, Pedriâs girlfriend, said beside her, putting a bite of dessert in her own mouth.
Honestly, deep down, Sofia did want some, but she felt like she would explode if she ate anything, so she just shook her head. Isa narrowed her eyes at her.
âI havenât seen you eat anything since you arrived,â Isa said in a maternal tone.
âIâm a bit nauseous today,â she lied.
Isa studied her carefully, but Sofia was grateful when the woman didnât press further.
A few minutes later, Ferran returned to her side, and she let out a relieved sigh. He sat down, instinctively resting his hand on her belly, and it calmed some of the agony she was feeling.
âYou okay?â he asked, leaning close to her ear.
She nodded, looking at him. The playerâs large brown eyes watched her intently, and the intensity sent shivers down her spine. She was ready to ask to go home. All she wanted was to take off those heels and that dress, slip into one of his shirts, and lie down. But his gaze drifting toward something behind her made her change her mind.
âIâll be right back,â he said, kissing her cheek. Then he stood and walked away.
Sofia decided to wait a few minutes before turning to see where he was going. When she did, she regretted it â he was greeting his ex-girlfriend, a friendly smile on his face and a familiarity between them. She swallowed the lump in her throat and held back the tears. It did nothing to help the insecurity she was already feeling.
She didnât even know why she was reacting like this. She and Ferran had agreed to just be friends. She was only the mother of his baby; there was no relationship. Yet she couldnât shake the tight feeling in her stomach. She was young, beautiful, slim⊠God, Sofia just wanted to leave. She looked around: Pedri and Isa were engrossed in a private conversation, ignoring her â and she was grateful for it. It was the perfect opportunity. She stood and grabbed her purse.
âWhere are you going?â Isa asked, noticing her movement.
âTo the bathroom. Pregnant bladder,â Sofia lied, receiving only an understanding smile in response.
She turned and headed toward the bathroom but changed course, making her way to the back of the hall, where there was an exit â the same one they had used to come in earlier, since she didnât want to be photographed.
Once outside, Sofia took a deep breath, exhaling both the air sheâd been holding and the tears. She was thankful not to bump into anyone; she couldnât explain why she was crying. She didnât even fully understand her own discomfort â pregnancy hormones were wreaking havoc on her.
Inside the taxi, she cried uncontrollably. The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror, concerned â he even asked if he should call someone, which made her cry even more. He must have been relieved when the ride ended, dropping her off at her building. Yes, she was being cowardly. She had slipped out quietly and decided she wanted her apartment, not the playerâs house where she had been staying for months, even though he had said he wanted her nearby because she spent too much time away. Remembering that conversation made her cry harder. Her head and throat ached.
As soon as she entered the apartment, she kicked off the tormenting heels and practically tore the dress off, struggling to unzip the back. She sighed. She just wanted the night to end. Before she could step into the shower, her phone rang. She went to the counter to pick it up: Ferranâs name lit up the screen. She exhaled deeply and answered.
âWhere are you?â he asked firmly, though she could hear the worry in his voice. âIsa said you went to the bathroom, but I looked for you and couldnât find you.â
âUm⊠Irene had a problem, and I went to help her. Iâll be spending the night with her,â she lied. She was surprised at how naturally it came out. The line went silent for a few moments.
âBaby⊠youâre spending the night out. Iâm leaving early tomorrow,â he said, a hint of hurt in his tone.
âWell, she needed me. And we spent the day together. Itâs not like youâre helpless,â she said, more sharply.
âWow⊠what are you talking about?â She could hear the confusion in his voice.
âIâm tired, Ferran. Anything else?â
âWhat happened?â he asked, confused. She huffed.
âNothing. I need to go, Irene is calling me,â Sofia said curtly.
âOkay⊠good night. Take care,â he said simply.
She didnât respond, just hung up, tears streaming down her face again. Before stepping into the shower, she opened a chat with her best friend:
âFor all purposes, you had an emergency and Iâm at your place. Iâll explain tomorrow.â
Sofia exhaled, then closed the phone and stepped into the shower, eager to finally end the night.
************************************************
It had been two weeks since Sofia had last seen the player. The busy, hectic Barcelona schedule came at just the right time, giving her space to sort out her feelings, which were all over the place.
Their contact had been limited to messages, and she made sure the only topic was the baby. He had asked a few times what was wrong, and she always gave the same excuse: she needed to get ahead on work before her leave. Part of it was true, but in reality, she was running away â running from the conflicting feelings that were surfacing all over her body. The pregnancy hormones seemed to sharpen those feelings even more. And just when she thought she was getting better, she found herself crying, because the internet had started spreading rumors about Ferran being back with his ex-girlfriend. People speculated about their reunion and how she would feel about it. It was tormenting.
To be honest, she found herself asking the same question: how would she fit into that story? She couldnât let it affect her so much. After all, they had talked and decided that their relationship would be strictly about co-parenting the child. God, she had even encouraged him to go on dates at the start of everything.
But as more time passed with him, she felt the feelings growing. All the attention and care he gave her warmed her heart.
âI think the dogs are missing you. Theyâve been a bit sad lately,â Ferranâs sister said, breaking the silence in the car. Sofia had invited her and the playerâs mother to come along to the ultrasound, and they had accepted enthusiastically.
âYeah, dear, when are you coming back home?â Sofia made a face at the comment from Ferranâs mother.
âIâm just finishing up things at work. I donât want to leave anything pending,â she replied simply. Ferranâs mother took her eyes off the road for a few seconds to look at her. Sofia waited, expecting the woman to say something, but she didnât â she just returned her attention to the road to the clinic.
Both women were excited. At the first scan they had attended, the baby had been just a tiny thing; now it was fully formed. Ferranâs mother squeezed her hand, visibly emotional, and Sofia smiled at her.
âMom, have you felt any discomfort these past few days? Contractions, bleeding?â the doctor asked after a few minutes of silence, and Sofia immediately went on high alert.
âUm, no⊠I havenât felt any of that. Why? Is everything okay?â she asked, feeling her throat tighten.
âHave you experienced any stress recently?â the doctor continued, and Sofia felt her heart race.
âSheâs been overwhelmed with work lately,â Ferranâs mother answered for her. Sofia felt for the woman. She couldnât exactly say that her stress over the past few days had nothing to do with work, but rather with her son.
âAlright. Mom, Iâm seeing a small placental detachment. Itâs very minor, but we still need to be cautious, as this could indicate a premature labor. Not feeling pain or bleeding is a very good sign,â the doctor explained, and Sofia felt like vomiting.
âIâm going to prescribe some medication, and in addition, I need you to have complete rest. If work is causing you stress, Iâll provide a medical certificate so you donât have to work. We have to do everything possible to prevent a premature labor.â
Sofia nodded automatically. She was too shocked to respond. Her chest felt tight, and she wanted to cry. She listened as the playerâs mother and sister asked the doctor questions, but she couldnât speak â she was too scared.
She hadnât realized that they had brought her to the playerâs house, not her apartment where they had picked her up earlier. She only realized because she could hear the dogs barking. Ferranâs sister opened the door to hold the dogs back in case they were too excited, but as if they sensed something was wrong, they calmly approached Sofia. She bent down to pet them, then moved to the sofa, followed by the dogs.
âWow, my brother really trains them well,â Ferranâs sister said, teasing.
âItâs the mom,â Ferranâs mother replied.
âIâll get my bag, then we can go,â Arantxa said, stepping aside and leaving Sofia alone with Ferranâs mother, who watched her closely.
She didnât know if the older woman was judging her silently or was simply curious about the relationship. After all, at the end of the day, Sofia was an older woman who had become pregnant by her son. She knew how that was viewed outside, but if the woman had any thoughts, she didnât voice them. Sofia assumed, in part, it was because Ferran hadnât left room for comments.
The two women said goodbye with hugs and kisses on her belly. And then Sofia found herself alone in the house â not entirely, as Ferranâs dogs didnât give her space, which comforted her.
Sofia was anxious â partly because the doctorâs words hadnât yet fully sunk in, and partly because she was eager to see the player. The weeks apart had been painful. She was used to his presence in her life, the touches, the care. But she needed space to process and understand the feelings that had overtaken her.
She huffed, checking the time on her phone. It was close to the hour when the player usually returned from training. She took off her shoes, grabbed her phone, and went to the house entrance, sitting on the steps â the dogs her faithful companions.
It didnât take long for the playerâs car to stop in front of the house. Sofia stood, waiting for him to approach. There was a certain relief on his face as he looked at her, but it was also evident that he had cried â his sister and mother had probably already told him the news.
He said nothing, just held her. And in that moment, in the playerâs arms, she allowed herself to switch off the autopilot and cry. Because even if she wouldnât admit it to herself, she knew that now everything would be okay. That he would make everything okay.
***************************************************
Ferran watched the woman huff for the umpteenth time. He tore his eyes away from the game he was playing; she was standing there, glancing between him and the TV.
âDo you want to play?â he asked, eyebrows raised.
She squinted and then sat in the chair opposite Ferran.
âIâll pretend you didnât ask me that,â she replied, huffing again.
Ferran stifled a laugh. He could tell something was bothering her.
âWhatâs wrong, baby?â he asked, dropping the controller onto the sofa and walking over to the chair where she had sat, his arms bracing the back on either side, trapping her. She swallowed hard, her eyes scanning the playerâs face.
âIâm bored,â she pouted.
Ferran chuckled. Given the circumstances of the placental detachment, the woman was practically living with him. His life had completely changed, and he found himself looking forward to coming home. She was a striking presence â whether it was her confidence moving around the place, the way she welcomed his family, or something as simple as waiting for him after training or a trip at the door with the dogs by her side. In many ways, he could say she was the most beautiful sight anyone could see â and it was only meant for him.
He had also discovered that this confident woman was extremely softie. She was always nearby, seeking contact, even if she wouldnât admit it.
âDonât laugh! You can go out, see people, travel, work⊠and I have to stay here,â she said, annoyed. âI know itâs for the greater good, but itâs still annoying,â she repeated the pout.
âCalm down, love. A few more days and weâll see how the detachment has progressed,â Ferran tried to comfort her. âBesides, the doctor said rest doesnât mean staying in bed all the time. So you can go out, just donât overexert yourself.â
He remembered the conversation he had with the doctor, asking her to explain everything so he could help in the best way possible. The problem was, the woman had a strong personality and decided she wouldnât set foot outside the house.
âShall we go out for dinner?â Ferran offered, immediately receiving a grimace in response.
Ferran had offered her several options, but she rejected them all because they involved being in public. Since the event they had attended together, she had been different. They had decided not to talk about it â well, she had decided â so for him, only questions remained about what had happened. The mere mention of being in public was as if he had committed a grave offense.
âStop trying to fatten me up,â she said, standing up, irritated.
Ferran looked her over. Gaining weight was definitely not happening. Yes, the belly was bigger, and friends kept asking if she was carrying twins, but all the weight was concentrated in her belly and breasts â which was pure temptation for him.
âBaby⊠come on. The doctor said itâs fine,â he swallowed the lump in his throat, trying to distract his mind.
Sofia thought for a few minutes, then tilted her head to the side.
âI donât want to go out for dinner, but you can take me to that market, to get some banana ice cream,â she winked and pouted, and Ferran couldnât deny her anything.
Sofia was already on her second tub of ice cream, devouring it as if it were the most delicious thing in the world, while walking through the market aisles. The owners â to her surprise, it was incredibly cozy â didnât mind, saying they couldnât refuse a pregnant woman.
They took the opportunity to grab a few things they were missing at home. Sofia was distracted, looking at some items in the baby aisle, while Ferran went to pick something up, and she didnât even notice someone watching her.
âSofi?â the familiar voice made her spin around, eyes wide.
âMatt?â she said, her voice squeaky. âWhat a surprise,â she added, smiling warmly as she hugged the man.
âWow, youâre even more beautiful, Sofi,â he complimented, with a charming smile.
She chuckled, and before she could respond, firm steps appeared in the aisle.
âBaby?â Ferran approached with a suspicious look. He hadnât been far when he heard her voice and laughter, so he came quickly to check. As soon as he arrived, his blood boiled seeing the mother of his child being hugged by a stranger. He approached with his confident player stance, eyes scanning the man.
âHeyâŠâ she looked at him with narrowed eyes.
Sofia adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder, her smile firm, but there was a stiffness in her jaw that Ferran knew well â the kind she showed when she wanted to appear unshakable.
âFerran, this is Matt, we work together. Matt, this is Ferran,â she said. Ferran looked as if he expected her to say more, but nothing came. Then he extended his hand.
âThe father of her baby,â he said, in a proud, territorial tone.
Matt finally looked down at the womanâs belly, which made Ferran roll his eyes. It was huge â hadnât he noticed? he thought.
âOh, so itâs true⊠Congratulations, Sofi,â he scratched his head, a bit uncomfortable, and Ferran smiled proudly. âBut what a surprise⊠I didnât expect it. After all, you always said you didnât want this, that your career was too important.â The guy looked visibly hurt, and Ferran restrained the urge to punch him right there, annoyed that someone else knew a side of Sofia.
âOh, you know how it is, right?â Ferran said, confident, before Sofia could say anything. His arm circled her waist, pulling her closer.
âMy GodâŠâ Sofia muttered, humorless. âIt was good to see you, Matt,â she said, hugging him once more, to Ferranâs dismay.
âBaby,â she said the word ironically as she passed in front of Ferran, practically pulling him along. Ferran glanced at the man once more, then followed her.
âI canât believe⊠that was your type?â Ferran said, outraged, as he scanned their groceries at the checkout.
She rolled her eyes, which only made him more irritated.
âHe was practically devouring you with his eyes,â Ferran complained.
âAnd then you had to mark your territory,â she replied, annoyed.
âNot that it takes much effort, with our daughter growing in there,â he answered simply, earning a deadly glare from Sofia. He just shrugged, as if he hadnât said anything wrong.
She had no right to be mad â she was the one hugging strangers in the aisles, with his daughter in the middle. He paid for the groceries, and they walked in silence to the car, each with their own irritation.
âSOfI,â Ferran mocked, opening the car door for her, and she rolled her eyes.
âMy GodâŠâ she muttered, massaging her temples. âI might have had the energy to argue, but your attitude reminds me of our age difference, so Iâll just ignore it,â she said, feigning calm, and Ferran opened his mouth, offended.
âWell, baby, you didnât complain about our age difference when we were making the little one,â Ferran said confidently, raising a hand to her belly, and Sofiaâs eyes widened, her mouth opening in shock.
Ferran raised his arms in surrender, a self-satisfied smile on his face.
Sofia rolled her eyes â too indignant to speak, but honestly, her stomach was fluttering with thousands of butterflies stirred by the playerâs reaction. She bit the inside of her cheek to suppress a smile.
*************************************************
Unfortunately, Sofia didnât have the same confidence Ferran had had a few weeks ago at the market to just step into the conversation and say, âHey, nice to meet you, Iâm the mother of his daughter.â Her insecurities, disguised as hormones, wouldnât allow it. Yet, even with all those insecurities, what little confidence she had left allowed her to feel a bit of irritation.
She was there for him, pregnant, and after the scare with the whole placental detachment situation⊠And, to be honest, soccer wasnât really her thing. Sure, she appreciated the excitement and the emotion, but it wasnât her world. Still, she had accepted the playerâs insistence that she come to the game because it mattered to him, because it was his life. She had even cried when he scored and celebrated by pointing to the box where she sat, her hand resting on her belly like a ball.
But now, in a way, she felt disrespected. No â not disrespected, but foolish. After all, there was only one reason the playerâs ex was there. Considering who she was, she wouldnât be there if there wasnât something. She wouldnât, if all the rumors going around were just rumors.
Sofia huffed, irritated, and returned to the box, where she had promised to wait for the player so they could leave together. She considered leaving alone, but she had no car and would probably have to wait a while for a ride.
A few minutes later, the player passed through the door, a boyish smile on his face, and she almost forgot her irritation.
âFinally,â Sofia said, standing up, watching the smile fade from his face, her heart tightening for a few seconds. She sighed, tired and frustrated. âIâm tired,â she said simply. Ferran just shook his head and turned, waiting for her to follow.
The atmosphere in the car was thick enough to cut with a knife. Sofia nervously fiddled with her fingers, feeling the playerâs gaze on her.
âCan you drop me off at my apartment?â Sofia asked.
âDid I do something? Did something happen?â Ferran asked, his voice visibly hurt.
âNo. I just want to spend the night there,â Sofia replied, plainly.
Ferran didnât insist, and Sofia felt relief. If he had pressed, all the questions about the confusion in her feelings would have come to the surface. When he stopped in front of the building, Sofia practically ran out, tears streaming down her face and a deep longing for him to follow, so they could finally confront and clarify those tangled emotions.
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Ferran was sitting on Sofiaâs apartment sofa. His leg bounced incessantly. He was still in his training clothes, having come straight from the training center to her apartment.
He ran his hands over his face once more. Irritation consumed him. She was ignoring him, spending the night out, leaving him with the dogs â spoiled by her â and all of this just to spend the afternoon with that guy.
He huffed and opened her Instagram to see the photo sheâd posted in her stories. She was holding a bouquet of flowers, a huge smile on her face, surrounded by her colleagues. It was clearly a farewell picture, since she was about to go on maternity leave. Fine, he could handle that. What he couldnât accept was the damn colleague, the so-called Matt, with his arm around her belly â as if that moment belonged to him.
Ferran saw red. Who did he think he was?
Pedri and the others at training said he was overreacting, that it was just a gesture between coworkers. But they hadnât seen the way that idiot looked at her at the market.
He huffed again, impatient. It was already getting dark, and Sofia still hadnât returned. He thought about calling her again, but the apartment door opened.
âFinally,â he said, impatient, walking toward her.
Sofia looked at him, surprised and confused. Ferran cupped her face in his hands, then moved to her neck, his hands resting on her belly â as if it were a customary gesture.
âWhy are you here?â she asked, still confused.
âI came to get you. So we can go home,â he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
She raised an eyebrow and sat down on the sofa.
âI think I want to stay here,â she shrugged.
âWhy?â he asked, confused, sitting next to her. âItâs so small here, the dogs wonât fit.â
Sofia looked at him, suspicious.
âWhy would the dogs come here?â
Ferran stared at her as if sheâd asked whether the sky was blue.
âIf youâre here, I have to stay here too. Youâre in the final stretch, baby. Iâm not leaving you alone.â
She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.
âAnd what will your girlfriend think about this?â she asked after a few moments of silence. Ferran frowned. âYour exâŠâ
âSira?â Ferran made a face. âSheâs not my girlfriend.â
âThatâs not what the internet says,â Sofia said, getting up and walking down the hall toward the bedroom. Ferran promptly followed.
âThe internet doesnât know anything,â he said, irritated by the direction the conversation was taking.
He flopped onto the bed, watching her. She removed her boots and then her pants. When she went to take off her shirt, she paused and looked at him with a furrowed brow.
âStop staring at me!â she scolded.
âBaby, itâs not like I havenât seen it before.â
She rolled her eyes and went to the bathroom. Ferran followed her leaned against the doorway, watching her body. His eyes landed on her belly, and his anger resurfaced.
âYou should delete that photo from your profile.â
Sofia looked at him, confused. Her face turned red as she realized he was still staring. Ferran smiled at her reaction.
âW-why?â she asked nervously, turning on the shower.
âBecause that guy was holding your belly as if he were responsible for it.â
He let out his frustration. It had really annoyed him. He had even shown the photo to the coach, who agreed it was weird.
Sofia let out a little laugh.
âMatt? It wasnât a big deal.â
âMatt,â Ferran repeated, disgusted.
âYouâre obsessed with him, huh?â
He ran his hands over his face and decided to leave her alone in the shower, for his own sanity. His body still reacted just from seeing her naked.
A few minutes later, Sofia emerged from the bathroom, towel wrapped around her head and wearing a robe. Even so, she was undeniably beautiful.
âAnd you donât have any photos of me on your profile. People will think heâs the father, the way he was holding your belly,â Ferran commented, more affected than he wanted to admit.
âYou donât need to mark your territory. Everyone will know sheâs yours,â she said, shrugging as she brushed her hair.
âItâs not about marking territory. I just want them to know Iâm the father of your children.â
She froze mid-brush and turned to him, eyes half-lidded.
âYes, children. She needs siblings. I know youâre an only child, but my sister and I are very close. I want our daughter to have that too.â
Sofia said nothing. She simply nodded and continued brushing her hair.
Ferran shifted uncomfortably. His body still reacted to the images from earlier. He decided he needed a cold shower â to rid himself of both the irritation⊠and the arousal. Meanwhile, Sofia tried to control where her mind and heart wandered after the playerâs words.
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I hope you guys like this, and let me know if you want a part 2
