First love (Pedri & Eric García)

Chapter 16

Laia was expecting Pedri to let her know what their plans were. She had told Eric about seeing Pedri, wanting to be fully transparent. However, she didn't need to tell anyone she was really nervous because it was very obvious.

"Hey! I thought you forgot about me", joked Laia when she picked up the phone. Pedri had finally called.

"No, I just...I had a crap day. Sorry".

"Don't be. What happened? Are you ok?"

"I picked up another injury", said Pedri and Laia could hear the pain in his voice.

"I'm so sorry, Pedri. I know how hard you had worked to be back on the pitch again...".

"Yeah. Nothing I can do now".

"How about you come to my place?", suggested Laia. "I could cook you some dinner. Look after you a bit".

"I could really use some pampering right now, to be fair".

Laia smiled and started to cook the moment the call ended. At least while cooking, she'd stop overthinking a bit.

"Hi. Come in".

Pedri got inside her house and when Laia turned to face him after closing the door, he hugged her.

"Thank you for tonight. I needed something to cheer me up and I know you will manage to make me feel better".

"Happy to help. Let's go eat. I just took the food out of the oven".

They sat down and started to eat. But it didn't take long for Pedri to ask what he had been wondering for a couple of days.

"So...how did you and Eric meet again?"

"Oh. Ehh...you didn't answer any of my calls or texts so I went to Girona to see him".

"Ok. Now I'm feeling more stupid about ignoring you", he laughed.

"I just needed one of you to listen to me".

"And Eric took you back immediately, I'm guessing".

"No", Laia didn't like the accusation in Pedri's tone. "We met a few times. And then I went to one of his matches and...".

"You went to his match?"

"Yes".

"You never came to mine".

Laia swallowed. If Pedri was trying to make her feel guilty, he was doing a great job. But she guessed he was just hurt.

"It's different".

"So you're coming to my matches now?"

"I...", Laia didn't know how to respond.

"I see. Yes to Eric's matches, no to mine. Someone is playing favourites...".

"Pedri. It's not that. Plus, you're injured. If I go to the match, would you expect me to sit with you? Because when I told you I don't want the fame that comes with being with you, I wasn't lying. I don't want the abuse either".

"I get that. Sorry. It's just...you've experienced so many things with Eric and not with me. It makes me jealous. I won't lie".

"Don't be. We barely had time together to do many of those things".

Pedri nodded and the conversation moved to safer topics and then they took their dessert bowls to the sofa, so they could eat them while watching some TV.

"Can I do something to help with the injury?", asked Laia when she noticed Pedri grimace in pain.

"I thought you were a dentist, not a physiotherapist".

"Well, I have a general knowledge of medicine. I can probably help more than most people".

"Just being here helps".

Seeing Pedri's smile felt so nice. She had missed it and so she matched it.

"I could massage the area so you can sit without being in pain".

"How did you...", he started to ask but stopped himself. "You're so observant. I had forgotten that about you".

Laia shrugged and went to her bathroom to pick up a pomade that she could use for the massage.

"I won't make any jokes. I swear".

"About what?", asked Laia, frowning.

"You kneeling in front of me like that".

Laia slapped his arm and Pedri only laughed harder.

"You're such a child".

"And I've got a very dirty mind".

"That too".

Laia tried to be careful while massaging the area around Pedri's injury. She wouldn't touch the actual injury for fear of making it worse, but it was the area around it that was hurting him at the moment. He was putting too much pressure on those muscles and had overworked them.

"And done. Do you feel better?"

Pedri nodded and when Laia tried to get up, he grabbed her waist and sat her down on his uninjured thigh.

"Thank you".

"No worries...".

Pedri moved forward and started to kiss Laia's neck. His hand moving from her waist to her hips. She froze for a second, not having expected him to do that. The beginning of the relationship created a rhythm in which Laia always made the first move. Pedri wanted her to feel comfotable and feeling in control of the situation helped her achieve that feeling. So this was the first time he made the first move.

"Pedri, stop".

"I just want to thank you for the massage...".

"No need to...Pedri, really. I want you to stop".

"Tell me you don't want this and I will", he said, still kissing her neck.

"I don't. I can't".

Laia got up and Pedri just stared at her. Was she really rejecting him?

"Why?"

"I promised Eric. I can spend time with you both to try and see what I want but I don't want to be kissing any of you. Or sleeping with any of you. That's not who I am. And I already feel like I'm using you both...it won't help me decide. It'd help me feel guiltier".

"Ok, I get that".

Pedri tried to sound sincere, but Laia noticed something in his voice. He got it...but he didn't like it. Which she couldn't blame him for.

"I don't want to choose, Pedri. Especially if it means you two stop being friends. I hate this".

"I'm not the biggest fan of the situation either. But you have to choose".

"And what happens when I do?", she feared that question but already had Eric's answer. So she wanted to know Pedri's.

"It's all or nothing for me".

"That's not fair...".

Pedri shrugged. "I can't lie to you and say I can be fine seeing you and Eric together, sorry. He's probably lied to you saying he is but it's all or nothing for both of us. Don't let him fool you".

Laia had believed Eric. Completely. But...what if Pedri was right? What if it was all or nothing for both of them?

It was the worst possible outcome. And she hated it.