Fortified -Pau Cubarsí-

19 - Empanada night

The streets of Barcelona are calm tonight, the golden glow of streetlights spilling onto cobblestones, painting everything in soft, warm hues. As I pedal through the city, the quiet hum of my bike wheels is the only sound breaking the stillness. It's a peaceful contrast to the day I've had, where everything felt like it was about to spiral out of control.

Mackenzie's grating voice echoes in my head, her high-pitched critiques of everything and everyone, her cutting comments that made the girls' day fall apart before it even started. My grip on the handlebars tightens, but before I let the annoyance bubble over, I reach for my phone and hit Pau's number.

He answers almost immediately, his familiar voice washing over me like a wave of calm. "Hola."

"Hola," I say, already feeling the corners of my lips tug into a smile. "Do you want empanadas? I'm passing your favorite place."

"Empanadas?" His voice perks up, warm and eager. "Sí, sí, sí. Definitely, yes. You're the best, Cesca."

"I know," I tease.

"Can you get the beef ones? And the chicken? Oh, and maybe the mushroom ones, too?" He pauses, his tone dropping to something softer. "You're really getting them for me?"

I roll my eyes but can't help smiling. "Yes, I'm getting them for you, Pau. I wouldn't have called otherwise."

"You're a literal angel," he says dramatically. "Are you sure you're not secretly a saint?"

"Keep this up and you'll be eating rocks, not empanadas," I warn, though the laughter in my voice undermines the threat.

He laughs, and I can hear the grin in his voice. "I can't wait to see you."

"ill be home in 15 minutes" I reply, hanging up before he can respond.

The empanada shop smells heavenly, the scent of baked dough and savory fillings wafting into the street. I grab a mix of Pau's favorites and a couple for myself, the bag warm and comforting in my hands. By the time I make it to his building, my legs are tired, but my heart feels a little lighter.

When Pau swings the door open, he doesn't even wait for me to step inside. Instead, he wraps me in a bear hug, nearly knocking the bag of empanadas from my hands.

"Finally," he mumbles, burying his face in my neck.

"Pau, i took two more minutes than i said," I say, laughing as I awkwardly try to hold the food away from his chest.

"Too long," he replies, his voice muffled against my shoulder.

"You're being dramatic," I say, though I don't push him away.

"No, I'm being honest," he counters, his arms tightening around me. "I missed you. And you smell so nice."

"That would be the food," I reply dryly, trying not to laugh.

He pulls back just enough to look at me, his green eyes soft and filled with something that makes my heart skip a beat. "Nope. It's you. You always smell like sunshine and..." He leans in, sniffing exaggeratedly. "...magic."

I roll my eyes. "Okay, clingy. let me put the food down before you suffocate me."

Reluctantly, he lets me go, though one arm stays firmly around my waist as I head into the kitchen. He hovers like a shadow as I unpack the empanadas, his chin occasionally bumping my shoulder as he leans over to sneak a peek.

"These are all mine, right?" he asks, eyeing the pile of food.

"You wish," I say, swatting his hand away.