Invisible string (Robin Le Normand)

Chapter 22

Leire was absolutely obsessed with Pistacchio and it was becoming hard for her to leave the house for long periods of time, worrying about the poor kitten feeling lonely. It was one of the reasons why she feared having a pet, knowing she would worry too much about its wellbeing. But also, it was so amazing to feel the love back.

"You sure Robin is ok with me being here?", asked Fran when Leire opened the door.

"Yes. He just doesn't want people going upstairs near his room. But being in the living room, kitchen or garden is fine".

"Do you mean your room?"

"What?", Leire looked back at him before going upstairs to pick Pistacchio up.

"It's your room too. Not just his".

"It's his house so I call everything his", she said quickly, noticing Fran was not convinced by that correction.

"You should get used to calling all of this yours too, babe".

Pistacchio was sleeping in Leire's room but woke up when he heard someone approaching. Leire smiled seeing his excited face when she said hi to him.

"How's my little baby?", she asked the kitten, kissing his little head. "Come downstairs to meet Fran. You'll be good, right?"

And Pistacchio was good but he was a bit afraid of someone he didn't know. So Leire kept him in her lap until he started to get a bit more comfortable and they all moved to the kitchen to have something to drink. The kitten was having the best time walking on the kitchen island.

"Leire?"

Fran smiled hearing Robin's voice and Leire felt nervous about Fran and Robin being together. She knew Robin didn't like her friend.

"We're in the kitchen".

"Where is my favourite kitten...", Robin stopped talking when he saw Fran in his kitchen. "Oh, hi. I didn't know you were here".

"Just wanted to see the cat".

"Of course".

"Do you want a cup of coffee too?", asked Leire, to try and get Robin's attention back to her and mostly away from Fran.

"Please".

Leire moved towards the coffee machine and then noticed someone moving closer to her. She tried to focus on what she was doing instead of on how close to her Robin was. She could even feel the warmth radiating from his body but his closeness made her body want to shiver.

"What are you doing?", she whispered and Robin leaned down to whisper back.

"I don't like him being here".

"Well, you told me I could invite friends to hang out with me here".

"Yeah...I hoped you'd bring other friends".

After shaking her head, Leire made the mistake of turning to face Robin. He really was so close... "Your coffee".

"Thank you, baby", he said loudly so Fran could hear them.

"Baby?"

"We have to pretend".

"Couldn't you use a cute French nickname instead?", she suggested and Robin smirked.

"I don't want you to get all flustered".

Leire shoved him, pretending to do it playfully for Fran's sake. But Robin was right. She would have turned into a tomato had he said anything cute in French to her. Or anything naughty. And she probably should stop thinking about him saying naughty things to her, in any language.

"Good training today, Robin?", asked Fran and Leire decided to position herself in between the two men.

"Sure. Just did some gym, kicked some balls, ...the usual".

"Sounds thrilling", chuckled Fran and Leire tried not to sigh.

She then noticed Robin putting his mug on the kitchen island next to her. While Robin grabbed Pistacchio to bring him closer to Leire with his right hand, he also used his left to place it on Leire's shoulder and bring her closer to him.

"How has our little boy behaved today?"

"Same as always", said Leire, trying not to think about how Robin was touching her. "He played a lot this morning and then slept".

"Cute...almost as cute as his mum".

Leire rolled her eyes and Fran caught that reaction, chuckling again.

"Robin, honey...you know I'm gay, right?"

"Yeah".

"You don't have to mark your territory", laughed Fran. "I know Leire is yours and I'm not interested in her like that anyway. Just want her friendship".

"I know", told him Robin but Leire could notice how his body tensed.

Pistacchio started to walk to the edge of the counter but it was too high for him to jump down. Leire soon noticed he was trying to leave because he needed to use the litter box.

"He needs to pee!"

Robin moved quicker than she did, grabbing two napkins to put underneath the kitten and he lifted him to take him upstairs so he could do his business.

"Your boy is so possessive", said Fran when Robin was already gone.

"He's an idiot", she said and Fran frowned hearing the tone of her voice.

Robin decided to stay upstairs with Pistacchio, not wanting to see Fran again. And soon he heard someone knocking on his door and opened it to find an angry Leire.

"What part of don't push me do you fail to understand?"

"What did I do?", he asked innocently.

"You know what you did, Robin! Even Fran had to call you out for being so ridiculous!"

"Relax, I was just pretending because your nosey friend kept looking at our every move".

"He wasn't the problem today", said Leire, getting more and more annoyed. "You were".

"And? I just put my arm around your shoulders, Leire! Stop overreacting".

"I don't want you to touch me!", she yelled back.

"You do. Like I want to touch you all the fucking time! Stop lying to yourself".

Leire pushed Robin but didn't manage to move him.

"I hate you!", she yelled.

And Robin's response was moving closer to Leire, grabbing her face and kissing her.