Invisible string (Robin Le Normand)

Chapter 21

It was sometimes funny to Leire how they did things "right" without meaning to. Leire posted the photo Robin took of her and Pistacchio, not looking at what else was in the photo. But people did look and they noticed that behind her was a bedside table. And on that bedside table, there was a photo of Robin and his siblings because that was his room. And Leire was sitting on his bed...so two plus two equalled they were 100% dating. Or so people thought.

What people didn't know was that Leire kept working on two books. Her next one that she would publish and the one that contained all of her fantasies. It was actually fascinating all the things her mind could come up with when it came to fantasising about Robin but she shouldn't be surprised.

"I brought cupcakes!", yelled Robin when he got back home and Leire clicked on the real book document so he wouldn't see what was on her screen. She didn't mind him reading the non-smutty book.

"You don't eat cupcakes".

"They're for you. My apology for this morning".

"Ok. Thank you", Leire opened the box and almost felt like drooling. Those cupcakes looked so good. "I'll make a cup of coffee to have with them. Do you want one?"

"Sure. I might have one of the smaller ones. A bit of sugar can't kill me, right?"

"You'll be fine".

Leire picked up two mugs and took them to the coffee maker so she could make the coffee. She liked it stronger than Robin did so she made sure to use the right coffee pods for each of their cups.

"What is this?"

"What's what?", she asked, looking at Robin staring at her laptop. "It's just my new book".

"I didn't know you had changed genres".

"I haven't...".

"This sounds very naughty", he laughed and Leire realised she must have left the wrong document opened on her laptop.

"Don't read it!"

"Come on! You used to let me read your books while you wrote them".

"I'm not writing that book. It's just random stuff...".

But Robin had already picked up the laptop and he was reading the book, his eyes opened wide.

"I can't believe you're writing smut. Look at my innocent Leire being not so innocent".

"Stop it, Robin. Give me the laptop back".

"And...Román? That sounds a lot like Robin. Is this about me?", he now looked at her and Leire tried not to blush.

"Oh my God, Robin! Shut up!"

"This is dirty...wanna try and see if Román can do all that?"

"I don't like when you act like this", she told him and Robin could tell how serious she was again.

"Like what?"

"Like what everyone expects men and footballers to act like".

"Well, at least I have perfect little you to make my image better while I'm how everyone expects me to be".

That cut deep. Once again, they had both gone for the comment they knew the other would be hurt by. It was a never ending story...

"It's not what I meant".

"I know what you mean, Leire. But that Robin doesn't exist. No matter how much you fantasise about him".

"I don't fantasise about you being perfect. I know you too well for that".

Leire took her laptop from Robin's hands and went back to her room. She didn't want to see him or she'd say more things she'd regret.

Robin stayed in the kitchen for another few minutes. He wished the perfect Robin Leire fell for existed. But he was just as flawed as everyone else. And that was why he never felt good enough for her.

"Leire", he knocked on her door but got no answer. "Leire, please open the door. I want you to have Pistacchio now. He wants to be with you".

When Leire opened the door, he could tell she had been crying. "Give me the cat".

"I'm sorry".

"Don't you get tired of apologising? Because I'm tired of hearing you do it".

"I was just joking. It caught me by surprise to see you writing something like that...".

"Ok, Robin. I forgive you", she said, not meaning the words and he could tell. "Just give me the cat".

"Take him downstairs with you. Have your coffee and the cupcakes I got for you. I'll be in my room and I won't bother you".

"This is your house, I can't make you hide because I'm mad at you".

"It's your house too, Leire. I already fixed a little area in the living room for Pistacchio. Take him there. I'll go back downstairs when it's time for dinner. I promised I'd order your favourite food".

Leire felt like crying again. Robin insisted he wasn't the perfect guy she imagined him to be and then he did something like that. "You can play with us. He still likes you better than he likes me. It'd be good for Pistacchio if you are also there".

While everything else failed, they at least had the cat doing the job for them.