cruel summer | PEDRI GONZALEZ

[46] fernando

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MARISOL's POV

"literally where did you find this spot?" i ask fernando as we look out at the farm in front of us while we eat take out in his convertible.

"pedri did, actually."

makes sense.

i take another bite of my food and try to move away from the topic of his brother, but he's begun and i'm only continuing. "did he ever tell you that he did this too for like... the second time we hung out? except it was at the beach."

"he what?!" i guess not. "i thought it was our thing." that somehow made me feel bad. "i thought you knew, i'm sorry!" but i can't help but laugh a little. "what? don't be. at least it was just you... right?"

"why do you ask like that?"

"because if he's done this with abril i'm kicking him out the house."

i get nauseous at the sound of her name and have to take a sip of water before i could even answer that. "you don't ask about his dates with her?" last time i remember, they're really close. "why would i want to? i'm not exactly her biggest fan." i don't know why... but i'm currently hiding the biggest grin i possibly can.

"what's so funny?" nothing... just the fact that he basically told me he hates her. "i don't know, i guess i was just curious to know what she did to you."

"nothing. pero no me gusta para mi hermano. (but i don't like her for my brother)"

this truly makes me wish i had an older sibling. i smile at that and continue eating anyways. "hey, marisol?"

"you can call me mari, everyone does."

"entonces mari, porque tu no tienes novio? (well then mari, why don't you have a boyfriend?) that's something i also wanna know. "i suck at commitment and honestly... i'm picky." it may not be the best term to put it in, but i have nothing else. "picky?!" see.

"it's the best excuse as to why i don't!"

"i'm surprised. but good for you for focusing on your career and putting yourself first." i love to hear that from people, i really do. "you're good at this whole comforting people thing."

"i'm used to it with pedri." of course he is. but if it wasn't obvious, i kinda wanted to move away from the topic of him. "y'know, i hear you're a good chef."

"jeez, how much did he say about me?" enough, that's for sure.

"is there a possibility i'd ever get to try your food one day?" plus it wouldn't hurt to see him in action. "you should totally come over for dinner one of these days! it's normally just pedri and i but with you it'd be so much better."

shit, i didn't expect it to escalate like this.

"honestly, i was expecting something in tupperware."

"it's better when it's just come out. you really should!" but i don't say anything back except awkwardly giggling to hopefully air this out. "fer, why don't you actually like abril?"

now he's the one not saying anything.

"i thought you'd know. he hasn't told you?" he turns his whole body around to look at me and i can't tell where this is going. but i shake my head no in response. "she's... well i don't know how to put it but in the simplest way, she's controlling and really manipulative. jealous most of all."