First love (Pedri & Eric García)

Chapter 3

Laia felt so brave when she said yes to Pedri's proposition and so nervous when she was getting ready for the date. He had decided they should meet at his place when his brother was away. Laia hoped he wasn't expecting certain things to happen for sure and that was why he offered that venue and not another one.

Her phone beeped while she was giving the final touches to her make-up and she saw it was Pedri telling her he was waiting for her outside her house. Laia took a very deep breath, picked up her bag and went outside to meet Pedri.

"Hi", she said, briefly looking at Pedri before looking away.

"Hi. It's nice seeing you again".

"Yes, you too. Should we go?"

"Sure. You look great, by the way".

"Thank you", she told him, smiling at him before looking away again.

Pedri started to drive and Laia mostly looked outside the car. Her hands felt a little numb from the anxiety she was suffering. They had been chatting for a couple of weeks but now felt like they didn't know how to speak.

"This is stupid", muttered Laia.

"What did you say?"

"That I feel stupid. We're not kids, why am I so nervous to talk to you? I feel like a silly teenager or something".

"That's ok", she finally looked at Pedri and saw him smiling at her. "It's ok to be nervous. I'm not feeling as confident as I might look".

That made Laia feel a little better. And soon they got to Pedri's house.

Laia looked around, admiring the big house. Hers wasn't small but this was another level. Football player level. She could only imagine how impressive it would look on the inside but she was also going to find out soon.

"Nice house. Maybe a bit small for just you and your brother?"

Pedri smiled at her joke. "We manage. Would you like something to drink? We have a bit of everything".

"A glass of water is fine".

Pedri showed Laia around the kitchen and living room before they sat down on the sofa to talk.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet me. I wasn't so confident you would".

"I wasn't going to", she confessed.

"Why?"

"It's...a lot to explain. And I wouldn't know how to explain it anyway. But I'm here".

"And I'm really happy you are".

The intensity of Pedri's gaze made Laia look away for a second. I can't do this, she thought.

"I haven't done this for a while, you know?"

"What haven't you done?"

"Flirting. Like, trying to flirt with a guy like this. Not just at a club for something casual".

"Ok, that's fine".

"And I've never really had to do much, to be fair".

That comment made Pedri burst out laughing. Laia chuckled before joining him in laughing.

"I appreciate the honesty. And I believe it".

"It's just...I broke up with my ex 5 years ago and then it's all been just casual, like I said. I didn't spend time talking to men. Just wore something nice and let that do the talking".

"I haven't needed to make much of an effort either but for different reasons", told her Pedri.

"So just showing some cleavage wasn't enough for you?"