First love (Pedri & Eric García)

Chapter 18

It had been a few days since Laia last saw Eric, so she was very excited about his little visit to Barcelona. They had planned a day full of activities and it felt so much like old times.

"Hi!"

"Hello stranger. I hear you see my sister more than you see me these days".

"She's been trying to get me to choose her, you know?", joked Laia.

"Of course she has".

Eric put his arm around Laia's shoulders and kissed the top of her head before they started to walk. The deal was no kisses and no sex. So...was this ok? Laia stopped thinking about it quickly because that was them. Even before dating, they had always been hugging and touching. Maybe they didn't even know how to be together without doing that. But to anyone who saw them, they looked like a couple.

Laia wondered how it'd feel to do that with Pedri. To walk around Barcelona holding his hand instead of hiding. She knew he didn't leave the house much so...she could only daydream for now.

"So...how have you been doing?"

"Ok. I've been very busy with coffee dates, actually".

"Really? Who did you meet?"

Laia turned to look at Eric so she could see his reaction. "Well, Ali and I met a lot. And...I also met Ferran".

"Why?"

"I wanted to talk to him. To see if he could help me, maybe".

"Ok", Eric nodded. "Did he help?"

"A little. But I feel terrible knowing how much this is affecting him".

"I know. I do too. But I'm glad you met him. He's one of my best friends. And Pedri's too so whoever you choose, well...Ferran is part of the deal too".

"Really?", laughed Laia. "I can live with that. He was very nice".

But what Eric really wanted to ask was something else. So he took a deep breath and did it.

"Have you seen Pedri lately?"

"Yeah. We met the other day. He was really upset about the new injury so, you know, we chatted and I tried to stop him thinking about it".

"He's been so unlucky with injuries", Eric shook his head, looking genuinely sad. "Did he...did he ask about me?"

"Sure. He was curious about how we started to hang out again".

"Makes sense".

"Are you...", started Laia. "Are you comfortable talking about me and Pedri? We don't have to".

"Well...want me to be honest?", Laia nodded. "I miss him. So I feel like it's only through asking Ferran and maybe you that I can find out how he's doing".

"I'm sorry. It's my fault".

Eric looked away and sighed. He didn't mean to hurt Laia with his words but had messed up.

"No, don't feel bad. Please. Pedri and I have done a lot wrong. It's us who have messed up, really".

"I started it...".

"Laia, please...I can't see you hurting. Just...forget I made that stupid comment. Yeah? Let's just enjoy the day. I want to see that beautiful smile".

A small smile formed on Laia's face upon hearing those words. "I'll try".

"See? The most beautiful smile", he whispered, holding Laia's face with his hand. "The most beautiful girl".

There was nothing Laia wanted more than to kiss Eric. Literally nothing. But she couldn't...she couldn't do that to Pedri. So she just hugged him and allowed Eric to hold her. And before she separated from him, she mouthed the words she wanted to say out loud. I love you.