In quarantine

Birthday ballons

6 days later
*LZ*
"Morning". I step into the kitchen, kissing first Sherry, then Emilia.. on the cheek. "Uhh you are cooking for Nick's birthday breakfast.. what's in the oven ?"

Sherry smiles at Emilia. "It's argentinian breakfast rolls.. Emilia here made them".

"They smell absolutely mouthwatering.. so you cook ?" I look at here, is there really nothing she can't do.

She blushes slightly and shrug. "Well I am not an expert or anything.. but I can keep a man from starving".

I look around.. as mostly there is no Matt in sight. "Talking about men.. where is Matt ?"

"In the tent.. he... needed to rest.. again". She looks disappointed. "He said he will be in for breakfast".

"Oh.. so you need a hand with anything ?" It seems that Matt is spending more and more time in the tent.. Is it bad that I am happy about that ? It has let me spend a lot of time with Emilia and truthfully..I enjoy her company quite a lot.

Sherry quickly jump in. "Oh no LZ.. we got this covered.. but you can blow up some balloons and snap some pictures".

"Okay". I would have preferred to.. Well help Emilia, but I can't really say that can I now.

So I sit here and watch her cook with Sherry while blowing up balloons til I am all dizzy and breathless.. like Nick even care for balloons.. what is he 8 ?

Emilia throws her head back laughing.. Matt is a fool if I have to be honest.. he has the most amazing and beautiful girlfriend, but he keeps letting her down.. if she was mine I would never hurt her like that.

Do I wish she was mine.. I can't really deny it can I ? Yup I have fallen helplessly in love with her against all common sense. But I have of course not acted upon my feelings.. not really.. I mean I have been there for her when she needed to talk, held her hand and hugged her.. but no more than that.

Out from the back porch I hear Zac and Pilar biggering as always.. seriously those two are like an old married couple.. either they are sitting close somewhere deep in conversations the rest of us don't get or they are fighting about something.. he should probably just get himself together and kiss her.. I have no doubt he wants to.

I turn my attention back to Emilia.. she is always nice to me.. but probably just like the others she sees me as the nice guy you can be friends with.. It's not that I have a problem with that as such.. I like being nice and likeable.. but well.. sometimes I wish at least some women would se me as more than a .. reserve brother.

On the other hand, well she has a boyfriend and even if they are going through a rough patch, Matt is generally a nice guy and he is also Nick's cousin so.. I can't really do anything about this.

"Aww you blew up all the balloons.. you must be breathless". Emilia is smiling at me. "Thanks chiquito".

"No problem.. and I.. am okay.. I run and stuff you know". Way to sound like a complete idiot LZ.

She gives me the sweetest smile. "Yeah I have seen that.. you are.. I mean you look to be in good shape".

"Thanks.. you have a nice shape too". I feel my cheeks heat up.. dammit could I like stuff my foot deeper into my own mouth. "I mean.. you look to be in good shape too".

A soft giggle that makes my heart palpitate leaves her. "Well, mostly lucky I guess.. I am not big on working out to be honest".

"And you don't need it". Okay I need to stop talking her.. Sherry is looking at me weirdly.. problem is.. it's kinda hard for me to stop talking when I am on a roll, no matter how dumb a roll it is.

"LZ.. hold you go feet the chickens and bring back the eggs". Sherry interrupt my dumbness.

I feel relieved for someone to give me a way out. "Thanks.. I mean sure.. I'll go now".

I hurry out the house.. damn I really need to control myself better.

*Pilar*
"Poor LZ". Zac look after him as he hurries off.

I look after him.. to be honest LZ is one of the few men I have never felt uncomfortable around. He is legit the sweetest guy.. you just cannot like him. "Why ?"

"Seriously didn't you hear him ? I think he.. likes Emilia". He makes a face telling me I need to keep up. Inside Sherry has turned up the radio a bit so we can't hear them and they can't hear us.

"Oh..". I think for a moment. "I think you are right.. actually I saw them holding hands walking the other day.. you think she would..?"

His eyebrows pop up in that funny way. "That she would.. cheat on Matt.. hmm hard to say.. you know her better than me.. but hey we hold hands.. does that mean you would cheat on that stick up your ass ?"

"Zac !" I slap him on the chest, making him laugh. "Dammit you are such a bastard".

"You still love me". He takes my hand, kissing it. "I mean the holding my hand gives it away don't it ?"

I shake my head feeling irritated as I try to make my heart stop doing that annoying wobbly thing. "Holding hands mean nothing.. I just try to make sure I know where I have you, and your hands".

"So.. Emilia and LZ holding hands makes you wonder.. but you holding my hand means nothing ?" He look down at my hand and kinda weave our fingers together, damn he doesn't have hands, it's more like .. shovels.

"It's not the same.. it's .. oh shut up Zac and go get the streamers from the box". I pull my hand away from his grasp.

I hate that he mostly look right through me.. Well except I think I have managed to hide my feelings so far.. yup I've gone and done what I shouldn't and .. well okay so I have a crush on him.. I can ignore that till this is over and we can leave. I still don't trust him completely.. not to an extend where I dare let anything evolve from this.

"Yeah yeah miss bossy". He goes over to the big box and bend over to rummage through it.

"You love me being bossy with you". I step up beside him, unable to stop myself I slap his ass rather hard, making him yelp.

He stands up in his full height kinda glaring at me. "Hey Hey.. hands of the goodies.. nooo slapping the ass".

"Admit you love it when I smack your ass.. else way you wouldn't strut it". I grin at him.. yeah sorry, not sorry.. but he has a really nice ass.

He stick out his tongue. "I am not strutting it.. it's not my fault that it's naturally .. perky".

"Sure.. it just pop out on it's own". I shake my head and start looking through the box, but then I feel his eyes on me and quickly stand straight holding up my hand. "Oh no no no.. don't you even think about it".

"Why ? You are definitely strutting that thing and it's perky too". He grin, rubbing his hands together.

I shake my head.. he has slapped my ass once.. it freaking stung for ten minutes. "No.. you don't do.. subtle.. I'll kick your balls if you ever do that again".

"Okay.. to bad.. it did jiggle so delightfully". He scrunch up his nose.

"Oh god I hate you". I roll my eyes and go back to finding the streamers.