Ruben and Carla have grown apart. With Rubens career taking off he leaves Portugal to live the life of his dreams, breaking Carla's heart doing so. Years later, upon his return home, Ruben learns that Carla has moved on, happily engaged to another man, but not any man, Ruben's childhood bully João Mendes.

Enjoy!

"I'm pregnant."

"No you're not."

Ruben stood in his kitchen, once again preparing his post workout shake. Santina saw him jog through the neighborhood and showed up on his patio shortly after.

"But I could." She said,

"Could what?"

"Get pregnant by you. We'd make a cute family."

Ruben closed the lid to his cup and shook it in one hand. He felt for Santina, he really did. The loss of her family at such a young age left her desperate with no sense of direction. She had more money than she knew what to do with it, leaving her restless and bored of her own success.

"I'm sorry Santina, but I'm not interested."

"Because of Carla?"

Ruben downed the shake in one go, washing the cup in the sink before placing it in the dishwasher.

"Carla and I are over. She's marrying João Mendes." The words left a bad taste in Ruben's mouth. However his last encounter with Carla had brought him closure, accepting the fact that whatever they had was something of the past. Ruben decided that before he went back to Manchester, which was soon after Portugal played their friendly against Serbia to be exact, he would have Carla return his grandmother's ring. Preferably after the game. Although Ruben had no idea on how he would get her to come. But it's what she deserved, to be set free.

"I heard she's already picked out a dress." Santina came around the kitchen island, approaching Ruben where he stood. "She's getting her happily ever after, why shouldn't you get yours?"

Ruben clenched his jaw, fighting himself not to give into her.

"You deserve your happily ever after, don't you Ruben?"

"Just get in the sauna Santina."

Her smile was devious "As you wish."

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