Invisible string (Robin Le Normand)

Chapter 14

"Amaia! Hey!", said Robin, hugging his friend. "I thought you weren't going to make it".

"I wasn't planning to but then heard you were here and ran to the party to say hi".

Robin smirked. "Like old times".

"Oh, it's a lot like all times".

"What do you mean?"

Amaia looked back at their group of friends. At Leire. She had caught Robin staring at her like she had so many times before.

"Why did you reject her, Robin? It never made sense to me".

"I...".

"You scared she'd be too good for you?", laughed Amaia.

"She's always been too good for me".

"I know. Everyone knows. Well, maybe she doesn't know or she doesn't care. She's always wanted you anyways".

"It's not that easy".

"Because you complicate it. You're literally living together. How are you still alive?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You get to see what your life would have been like if you weren't a dumbass who rejected the best woman he's ever met. Does it hurt?"

"Yeah".

"You know, I was expecting to see something different tonight. I expected you to be over her after everything that happened. But you aren't. And as fun as being with you is, I'm not taking home a guy who'll be thinking about another woman".

"I wouldn't...".

"You would. And I don't even want to know how many times you were with me thinking about her. I thought about other guys a time or two so I guess I'm not much better".

Robin laughed. "Fair".

"Don't let her go again. There's a reason why I never told her about us and it's not that it was just sex".

"What was the reason? Leire and you aren't even that close".

"She's too good for me too. I knew it'd hurt her to know I was sleeping with you. You hurt her enough. I didn't need to add that to the mix".

"I know. I regret hurting her every day".

"You literally live with her now, Robin. Fix it. And don't hurt her again because almost everyone here will kill you if you do. I might kick you too after they're all done killing you".

"I just don't know how to talk to her anymore, Amaia. I'm scared of being with her all the time. Of saying the wrong thing and having to see her leaving Madrid. Leaving me".

"Think of something and do it quickly. It's not as if she's single for a lack of options. One day she'll stop saying no to all the boys who get close to her".

"She slept with Ander".

"When? On this trip?"

"No. The day after our fight. I pushed her to do that. And who knows if she was with other guys too just because of what I did. I kind of want to rip my eyes out just thinking about it".

"Did Ander tell you that?"

"He just did".

"And you didn't kill him for taking advantage of her?"

"He says she wanted it", said Robin, rolling his eyes. "And is delusional enough to think it might happen again".

"Nah, Ander knows Leire only wants you. We all do".

"Any advice you can give me?", asked Robin, hopeful.

"Probably don't talk to me while we're both here alone. I've seen Leire look at us a few times and she didn't seem pleased. Just let her know she's the only woman in the world who you want to be with. Who doesn't like that?"

"Ok. Thanks".

Robin said goodbye to Amaia before joining the rest of the group again. A half an hour later, he still hadn't been able to be with Leire. It was almost like every time he got closer, she moved away.

"Hey. I'm heading home in a bit. Do you want me to drive you to your place?"

"I don't need you", said Leire, trying to leave again but Robin grabbed her elbow.

"What's going on? Are you mad at me? What did I do?"

"We don't need to pretend here, Robin".

"I'm not pretending. I just offered to give you a ride home".

"Go back with Amaia. I don't want to cockblock you".

"What?", he laughed nervously. What did she know?

"I know you two used to hook up. Gossip moves fast".

"Not that fast. It took me two years to find out about you and Ander".

The colour drained from Leire's face. "Who told you?"

"He did".

"Well...it's not like I have to give you any explanations about who I sleep with or anything so...".

"I don't have to either and yet you seemed very upset about Amaia. I'm not going home with her, by the way. You can relax".

"You're an asshole, Robin".

"No, I think that word describes Ander. I noticed you avoided him. Have you been avoiding him since he took advantage of you?"

"You don't know what you're talking about".

But Robin knew it was that. He knew Leire resented Ander. He had noticed her avoiding him since Ander arrived to the party. And Robin was pretty happy about it. He didn't want to see Ander near Leire ever again.

"Can I drive you home or not?"

"No", she said.

"Ok. Don't let him try and take advantage of you being mad at me again".

Leire left to go sit by one of the tables in the park that people used for little picnics. She sat down and put her hands on her face, making Robin feel like the biggest idiot.

"I'm sorry", he told, sitting down next to her.

"You rejected me...so I went to the person I knew wouldn't do the same".

"I guessed as much. I'm sorry I hurt you in so many ways. I was trying to avoid this but...".

"Yeah, well", she shrugged. "We can't change the past, can we?"

"No, but we can make the future better".

"I'm not sure we can, Robin. That's the problem".