Page 126 of My Spanish Love Affair

But my smile fades slightly when I notice a few new notifications.

My heart sinks when I see the first one. It’s a photo of Santi and I kissing on the pitch, a screenshot that looks as though it was taken from a live broadcast. The headline beneath it reads,Rugby Star Santi Ortiz Shares Passionate Moment with Girlfriend Olivia Bennett After Championship Win, and I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“I swear, the press is like a desperate ex. They just won’t leave me alone.”

Santi looks over at me with a raised eyebrow, noticing my sudden shift in tone.

“What’s wrong?”

I show him the article, and he leans over to take a look.

“I guess we’re going public now, huh?” he says, a little amusement creeping into his voice. “Javier’s loving all of this, by the way. He says it looks great for us both. But is it bothering you?”

“It’s not that,” I tell him. “It’s just... I don’t know. The pictures, the headlines... It’s a lot sometimes, you know? Honestly, I’m better off when I just ignore it, but sometimes the clickbait is just too tempting to resist.”

Santi pulls me close, his arm resting around my shoulders in a comforting gesture.

“I know, baby. Sometimes ignoring them is impossible. But what you can do is not take what they say so seriously. We’re living our lives, and they’re just doing what they do best. It’s not our fault they can’t resist how great we look together.”

I roll my eyes at his teasing. “You’re ridiculous,” I laugh.

“And you love it,” he grins, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “Almost as much as I love you. Now, are you ready to go?”

I take a deep breath, letting the tension from the day ease away.

“Yeah. I’m ready.”

Santi carries both of our bags as we step out of the penthouse and into the elevator. My heart races in anticipation and excitement as he presses the button to take us down to the basement, where his car is parked.

I don’t know where we’re going, but I know that it doesn’t matter. Wherever we are, I’m with Santi, and that’s enough.

The engine of his sleek sports car purrs to life beneath us as we slip inside, and I can feel the excitement bubbling within my chest as he heads out onto the streets. The city lights begin to fade behind us as we drive out of the bustling streets, the quiet hum of the tires on the road blending with the gentle thrum of the car’s engine.

The evening sky stretches above, shifting from soft pinks and oranges to a deeper indigo as the sun sinks lower. The sunsets in Spain are honestly incredible; so bright yet equally so soft, an utterly breathtaking canvas of colour.

With each mile, Valencia’s chaos falls further away, and I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of calm - like we’re escaping into something entirely ours.

I glance over at him in the driver’s seat, and my heart practically skips a beat when he looks back at me. There’s thatlook in his eyes again - the one he gives me when everything feels just right, when it’s like nothing else in the world matters except us.

As he looks back out ahead, he keeps one hand on the steering wheel whilst the other reaches out for mine. His chiselled jaw is set, green eyes focused on the road ahead, but there’s that soft, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he raises my hand to his face and presses a quick kiss against the back of it.

His smile tells me everything I need to know. No words are necessary - not right now. I feel the connection between us: strong, steady and sure.

For the first time in what feels like ages, I let go of the little voice in my head that’s always questioning, always doubting. In this moment, there are no concerns about the future, no worries about what others might think or what might come next.

We’re in our own little bubble, and nothing else matters.

Totally relaxed, I lean back against the plush seat, letting the rhythm of the drive soothe me. I turn my head to the side and look over at him again, my gaze lingering on the way the light from the dashboard highlights the contours of his face, the strong set of his features, the fire in his eyes.

He’s completely in his element - seemingly confident and calm - but there’s something else there too. Something I can’t quite place, but that makes my heart race.

“What’s the surprise?” I ask, my voice light but laced with curiosity, hoping he’ll finally break and tell me.

Santi smirks, his eyes flicking to me for a split second before he focuses back on the road.

“Be patient, my love,” he says, his voice low and full of mystery. “Trust me, it’s going to be worth the wait.”

The miles slip away, and soon we’re driving through impossibly quieter roads, the landscape changing around us. The glow of the city is replaced by the peaceful beauty of the Spanish countryside as the stars above twinkle faintly. The air feels cooler, more serene, and I roll my window fully to a close as my eyelids begin to feel heavy.

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