Page 84 of My Spanish Love Affair

He smiles, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead before pulling me back into his arms.

∞∞∞

The rest of the week passes by without any further trouble, though the lingering tension from the encounter with the aggressive paparazzi along with the hushed whispers around the school stays with me. Still, I manage to push it all to the back of my mind, instead burying myself in lesson plans and focusing on keeping up the momentum for the upcoming exams.

Little by little, I begin to feel normal again.

Or at least something close to it, anyway.

By the time the bell rings on Friday afternoon and signals the end of the school day, it’s like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

I did it. I made it.

The familiar sound of students laughing and jeering as they leave the building fills the air, and I take my time to tidy over my empty classroom and gather up my things, letting most of the chaos die down before I step out.

There’s a new sense of calm in the finality of a week completed, a brief respite from the pressures that seem to follow me everywhere lately, and I can finally breathe again.

Walking through the courtyard, I inhale a long breath through my nose, letting the warm air fill my lungs. The sun is still shining and the day is certainly not done, but for the first time in weeks, I feel like I have a moment that’s completely mine.

The school grounds are quieter now given that most of the students have already headed home, but as always, there’s a few stragglers lingering around. The familiar clang of a gate closing catches my attention, and I glance over to see a group of my older students waving as they head out.

“Bye, profesora!” one of them calls, her voice carrying across the courtyard.

“Bye!” I call back, waving with a genuine smile. “Have a good weekend!”

It’s a small thing, really; but after an unsettling week of whispers and curious glances, moments like this remind me that not everything in my life is dictated by my connection to the famous Santiago Ortiz.

The weight of the week begins to slip away as I make my way home, replaced instead by anticipation for the evening ahead.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, Sarah’s name flashing across the screen as I pull it out.

Can’t wait for tonight! You ready for a proper night out? Heaven knows you’ve earned it.

I smile at her words, feeling a flicker of excitement bubble up in my chest.

Tonight will be different. A chance to let my hair down, have fun and feel like myself again.

I’m so excited!I respond -

And I actually mean it.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Iturn the key in my apartment door and check three times that it’s definitely locked before I make my way down the stairs, out of the door and onto the street. My mind is already turned to the evening ahead, and I step into the taxi that’s waiting to take me into the city.

Whatever tonight brings, I’m ready for it.

Sarah is practically bouncing with excitement by the time that the taxi stops at her place to pick her up.

“You look amazing,” she says as she sits down beside me.

“Thanks. You don’t look too bad yourself,” I laugh.

Her grin widens when we reach the bar just a few minutes later, and she loops her arm through mine as we step out of the car.

“This is going to be good for you. Trust me.”

I’ve never been to this particular bar before, but it’s like many of the other authentic Spanish establishments that I’ve frequented over the past couple of months: cosy yet lively.

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