Chapter Forty-One Epilogue
T he last bell of the school year rings, echoing through the corridors like a final farewell.
A split second later, the halls erupt into chaos. Cries of excitement, the stomping of feet and the rustle of backpacks slung over shoulders fill the air, as doors fly open all through the long corridors.
The students spill from classrooms in waves, and I lean against my desk, watching as my students say their goodbyes.
A few of them stop by my desk, offering shy smiles and thank-yous, while others linger in the doorway, hesitating as if they aren’t quite ready to leave just yet.
“Profe - we’ll miss you!”
I press a hand to my chest, feigning exaggerated emotion. “You better! Now go make me proud.”
They laugh and wave as they disappear down the hall until they’re eventually swallowed by the crowd.
I take a slow breath, glancing around my now-empty classroom. The posters on the walls look a little more faded, the desks a little more scuffed from restless hands tapping and feet kicking beneath them.
It won’t be empty for long, though. In just a couple of weeks, my summer languages programme will start, bringing in a new set of eager students.
It’ll be a change of pace - smaller classes and a more relaxed atmosphere - but I’m excited all the same.
By the time I make it home, the exhaustion is beginning to settle in, but before I can even collapse onto the couch, my phone buzzes with a message from Santi.
Hope your last day went well, my love. How does dinner at my place sound? I’ve got something to talk to you about.
I bite my lip, a flicker of curiosity sparking at his message. Since the season ended a couple of weeks ago, I can’t help but notice how Santi has been a little... vague . I’ve picked up on the talk of some kind of transfer opportunity potentially coming his way - something big - but every time I’ve asked about it, he’s brushed it off like it’s nothing.
Hopefully, this suspiciously vague news will provide some clarity on what’s been going on behind the scenes.
Without hesitating for a moment longer, I grab my bag and head over to his place, my curiosity growing with each step.
∞∞∞
Santi is in the kitchen when I arrive, barefoot and effortlessly at ease as he moves around, putting the finishing touches on dinner. The smell of garlic and herbs fills the air, and my stomach rumbles in appreciation.
“You cooked?” I tease, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed as I take in the sight before me.
He’s currently hovering over the stove, effortlessly flipping something in a pan. The sleeves of his shirt have been rolled up to his elbows in order to reveal his thick forearms, and he smirks over at me as he tosses a kitchen towel over his shoulder.
“Careful, princesa. I might take offense.”
I arch a brow as I step further into the kitchen space.
“I’m just saying that it’s been a while since you made me a real dinner,” I say, gesturing towards the pan.
“I’ve been busy, Liv. Didn’t you know this already?” he teases.
I laugh, shaking my head in amusement before closing the space between us. Wrapping my arms around his waist from behind, I press my cheek against his back, feeling the warmth of his body beneath the soft fabric of his shirt.
He smells like soap and something distinctly him , and I sigh contentedly.
His free hand finds mine where it rests against his stomach, his fingers brushing over my knuckles before giving them a gentle squeeze.
I press a kiss between his shoulder blades before finally stepping back, watching as he plates up whatever masterpiece he’s managed to create. He moves with surprising ease in the kitchen, pouring sauce over the dish with an almost arrogant precision, like he’s done this a hundred times before.
“Alright, chef,” I say, sliding into my seat at the small dining table, my curiosity piqued. “Let’s see if this is actually edible.”
Santi chuckles, setting a plate in front of me before taking his own seat across the table.
He watches expectantly as I take my first bite, and to my utter surprise, it’s... good. Like, really good.
I chew slowly, narrowing my eyes at him .
“Alright,” I say, pointing my fork at him. “What’s this about?”
His smirk falters slightly, and a more serious expression settles over his features. There’s something unreadable in his eyes - something weighty that wasn’t there before.
He twirls his fork between his fingers for a moment before finally speaking.
“I might have the opportunity to train with a top international team over the summer.”
I freeze, my fork hovering just above my plate as my brain scrambles to process what he just said.
“Wait - what?” I blink at him. “Santi, that’s huge !”
He exhales a small laugh, but there’s something restrained about it. “Yeah, it is.”
I set my fork down, leaning forward. “Why are you saying it like that?! You’re making it sound like this isn’t a good thing? This is incredible , Santi! You’ve worked so hard for something like this.”
His gaze flickers to me, and he hesitates before speaking. “The training - it’s in Madrid.”
Ah.
The words land like a small stone dropping into the pit of my stomach.
Madrid. Hours away. A different city entirely. And I have my summer programme, here…
I straighten slightly, trying to keep my expression neutral. “Oh.”
Santi watches me carefully, his fingers tapping lightly against the edge of his plate.
“It’s just for a trial period at first,” he explains, his voice calm, measured. “Nothing set in stone. Just training, meetings… seeing if it’s the right fit.”
I nod slowly, processing. “That’s… that’s amazing, Santi. Truly.” I mean it - really, I do.
But I can’t ignore the knot tightening in my chest at the thought of him being so far away.
He studies me, his green eyes searching my face. “I didn’t want to bring it up until I knew more. And I don’t even know if I’ll take it. But I had to tell you.”
I manage a small smile. “Of course you did. And I’m really proud of you.” I reach across the table, covering his hand with mine. “You deserve this.”
His fingers squeeze mine, his expression softening. “I don’t want this to change things between us, Liv.”
I inhale deeply, pushing down the uncertainty creeping in. “It won’t,” I say, more determinedly than I feel. “We’ll figure it out. Together .”
He studies me for a long moment, then nods, as if making a silent agreement with himself.
“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’s more ?”
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 brain takes 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 to England ?”
His lips twitch at my reaction. “I was going to 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. Live with 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 here he is.
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’m all in.