Invisible string (Robin Le Normand)

Chapter 29

After her big fight with Robin, Leire stopped going to her favourite park. She couldn't do it. It was full of memories of her and Robin. Memories she was trying hard to forget. But also...she knew he would look for her there. It was the first obvious place to go to and so Leire didn't go back to her favourite spot. The one where she found her inspiration to write her books. Coffee places ended up substituting the park but it wasn't the same. Nothing could never be.

Of course Robin had gone to the park to try and talk to Leire. And seeing that she wasn't there truly told him how much he had messed up. Leire had given up her favourite place, and the place where they met, because of his actions. It hurt a lot.

"I can't believe you stopped writing here", told her Robin when they were walking around the park. Their park. "You loved this place".

"I know. It was very hard but...losing you was worse. This is just a park".

"It's not".

"Well, I know but...".

"No", interrupted Robin. "It's where we met, Leire. This place is very important for us".

"Yeah...you're right".

Leire held Robin's hand and took him to her favourite tree. Another one that wasn't far from hers was no longer there after heavy winds caused some damage to the park. But her tree was still standing. It was nice to see.

"We can sit here for a bit. The weather is so nice".

"Summer in the north is the best", said Robin, sitting down with his back to the tree and moving Leire so she was sitting between his legs. "And you look so pretty when you're here".

"Am I not pretty in other places...", she tried to tease.

"You're always pretty but this place makes you happy. And being happy makes everyone prettier".

"Then you must be really happy".

"My life is perfect. Of course I'm really happy".

But Robin's life wasn't fully perfect. Not yet. Because something was missing and only Leire could help him out with that.

"Are you excited about going to the US?", asked Robin, in reference to the club competition Atleti was going to play in North America.

"Sure. I haven't been to any of those cities where you'll play so that's nice".

"Maybe you find some inspiration for your books there too".

"I hope so. I'm a little behind on my writing schedule so I could use the inspo".

"You'll inspire me", said Robin and Leire turned to smile at him. "I'm really happy you'll travel with us. I didn't want to be away from you for so long".

"That's ok".

"But I don't want you to be there as my girlfriend".

Leire felt like the world had stopped after that comment. Not as his girlfriend... what else could she be there as? She could feel the panic threatening to take over again. There was no way Robin took her to her favourite place to break up with her. That'd be too cruel.

"What are you doing? Are you joking?"

Robin didn't understand her reaction. "Let me explain...".

"No", told him Leire, standing up. "What are you doing, Robin?"

"Leire", he sighed. "You jumping to conclusions can take the romantic side of everything".

"Romantic side...".

And then she saw it. Leire saw how Robin took something from the pocket of his jacket. A little box. Now the panic was gone and Leire felt like she was about to faint. But in a good way. Or as good as fainting could ever be.

"Robin...".

"I'm not doing the knee thing because people will stare but...no, I don't want you to be my girlfriend when you travel to the US with me. I want you to be more. I would have married you years ago had I had the balls to tell you how I felt about you".

"I...", Leire was lost for words.

"So...", he opened the box and Leire saw the ring.

"YES!"

"Sweetheart, you didn't let me ask", he laughed.

"I don't care. It's a yes before the question, during and after".

"By the way, this is what my family and I were whispering about".

"Really?", Leire chuckled and kept staring at the ring.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes".

Leire tried to grab the ring and Robin didn't let her. "I'm not giving you this until you let me ask you the question. Come on...I'm only planning on doing this once my whole life. Let me enjoy it too".

"Honey, you're supposed to get down on one knee!", yelled a lady who was walking around the park and who had stopped to look at the young couple. Leire recognised her as one of the usual park visitors she saw every time she was writing there.

"Thanks!", told her Robin before doing as the lady said. "So...Leire. Would you marry me?"

"Wouldn't it be funny if I said no now...", Robin rolled her eyes and Leire laughed and took his arm so he could stand up. "Yes. You know the answer is always a yes".