Page 139 of My Spanish Love Affair

“Good.” He takes another bite of his food, watching me carefully. “Because I actually have something else to tell you.”

I raise an eyebrow. “There’smore?”

A slow smile tugs at the corner of his lips. “Yeah. The offer… it’s not actually for a team in Madrid.”

I tilt my head, confused. “What do you mean?”

He sits back, running a hand through his dark hair. “I got an official contract offer. The training would be in Madrid, but the offer….” He pauses, eyes locked on mine. “It’s from England.”

Silence. The words hang in the air between us, and my braintakes an extra second to catch up.

“England?” I repeat, my voice barely above a whisper.

Santi nods, his expression unreadable. “An English team. They want me. And… I think I’m going to accept.”

A rush of emotions barrels through me all at once.

Shock. Excitement.

Disbelief.

“Wait -” I shake my head, trying to piece it all together. “You’re thinking of moving toEngland?”

His lips twitch at my reaction. “I wasgoingto ask you something first. Before I did say yes.”

I swallow, my heart pounding.

“What?”

Santi leans forwards as his fingers lacing through mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in slow, soothing strokes.

“I want you to come with me.” His voice is quiet but firm. “After your summer programme. Move with me.Livewith me.”

The breath I was holding rushes out of me in a soft laugh, and suddenly, the tension I’d been carrying melts away.

Lost for words, it’s all I can do to let out a small, breathless, “Oh.”

His lips curve upwards, a mixture of nerves and amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Is that a good‘oh’or a bad‘oh’?”

I laugh heartily before I practically launch myself out of my chair and into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. Santi lets out a startled laugh, catching me easily.

“Yes,” I say against his cheek, pressing a kiss there. “Yes, yes,yes.”

His arms tighten around me, his laughter warm against my skin. “Good.”

And just like that, everything falls into place.

As I sit there in his arms, my heart thundering with excitement, I think back to the girl I was just months ago: the one who never would’ve imagined herself here, in this moment. The one who had spent so much time second-guessing, worrying, wondering if she was brave enough to chase something that felt too big, too bright, too impossible.

But here I am. And hereheis.

I took the leap.

I trusted myself, trusted my heart, even when it felt terrifying. Even when it meant stepping into the unknown with nothing but hope to guide me.

And it’s paid off in ways I never could have imagined.

Santi presses a slow, lingering kiss to my temple, his arms tightening around me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking. Like he’s silently telling me,See? You were always meant for this.

I smile against his skin, breathing him in, grounding myself in the warmth of this moment. The future isn’t set in stone, and there will be challenges, changes and unexpected turns, of course; but I’m not afraid anymore.

Because I know without a doubt that no matter where life takes us, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

And this time, I’mall in.