Saturday, 6:38 p.m.
The Marisma stadium was completely full.
More than fifty thousand people filled the stands while the players went through their final warm-up exercises.
The giant screens showed the lineups.
The music thumped through the speakers.
And Amaia Telleria looked like she was about to lose her voice before the match had even started.
"OH MY GOD, I'M SO NERVOUS!"
The blonde adjusted her team jersey before looking at you.
"I swear, if my brother misses another penalty, I'm going to pretend I don't know him."
She burst out laughing.
"Though my mother will probably disown me before she lets me do that."
you was wearing a rather large jersey that Amaia had lent her before they left.
It was black, with gold details.
On the back was the number nine.
BENNETT.
—By the way —Amaia commented while rummaging through her bag—, after the match we're going to dinner with the guys.
She looked up.
"Not that face. You promised to come with me."
Meanwhile, on the field…
"HEY, BENNETT!"
Iñigo stopped the ball under his boot.
His teammate Félix Arriaga appeared beside him with a suspicious smile.
"Since when do you have a girlfriend?"
Iñigo frowned.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Do not play dumb."
Félix pointed toward one of the stands near the players' tunnel.
"There. Next to your sister."
Iñigo followed the direction of his gaze.
First he found Amaia.
It was impossible not to recognize her.
She was waving her arms as if she were trying to personally coach the team.
But then he saw the girl standing next to her.
Hair moving slightly in the breeze.
A black jersey that was too big.
And when she turned to talk to Amaia, Iñigo managed to make out the number on her back.
- BENNETT.
He blinked.
"What…?"
Félix started laughing.
"HA! We caught you!"
Eloy Ochoa, another of the forwards, walked over.
"What's going on?"
"Telleria has a mysterious girl in the stands."
"Seriously?"
Eloy immediately looked where Félix was pointing.
"Wow."
He smiled.
"She's gorgeous."
Iñigo gave him a small shove on the shoulder.
"Stop looking, idiot."
Eloy raised both hands.
"Easy, Romeo."
"She's not my girlfriend."
—Then who is she? —Félix asked.
Iñigo looked at the stands again.
Amaia had just said something to the stranger and both of them started laughing.
"I have no idea."
Félix burst out laughing.
"Wait, wait. You don't know who the girl wearing your jersey is?"
"That's what I just said."
"Bro, this is amazing."
Eloy grinned from ear to ear.
"Well, if she's not your girlfriend, you could introduce me."
Iñigo looked at him.
"I don't even know her name."
"Even better. That gives us something to talk about."
Félix laughed.
"Relax, Telleria. We'll handle it."
Iñigo rolled the ball under his foot.
"You two are insufferable."
However, before going back to training, he looked up one last time.
Just at that moment, Amaia seemed to recognize him from the stands.
His sister smiled mischievously.
Then she pointed at you.
And raised both thumbs.
Iñigo narrowed his eyes.
"No…"
Félix watched him.
"What?"
Iñigo slowly shook his head.
"I know that face."
"What face?"
"The face my sister makes when she's planning to ruin my life."
The coach's whistle interrupted the conversation.
"BENNETT! STOP LOOKING AT THE STANDS AND FOCUS!"
The players started laughing.
Iñigo raised a hand.
"I'M COMING!"
Before walking away, Félix patted him on the back.
"Good luck, Romeo."
"Go to hell."
Iñigo returned to his position.
But now he had a question circling in his head.
Who was the girl who had shown up next to his sister wearing his jersey?
And, above all, why did Amaia look so pleased about it?
In the stands…
Amaia put her phone away and turned to you with a much too innocent smile.
"By the way, there's something I forgot to tell you."
She leaned slightly toward her.
"My brother wants to meet you after the match."
She paused.
"Well… technically he hasn't told me that yet."
She smiled even wider.
"But I know him. And I'm pretty sure he's going to want to know who you are."