"Here, we can just go home now, and then come back later and we can grab some food and just watch the sunset, does that sound good?" Pedri asks as I stand up, brushing the sand off of my legs.
"Yeah, that sounds perfect." I whisper as he puts his hand on my lower back as we begin walking to his car.
It's nearly four so we spent a couple hours here, walking down the beach, but mostly just sitting there and talking. I feel like with Pedri I don't need to do anything crazy to feel like I'm making the most out of my time. Literally just the simple thing.
Like he didn't need to skip training, but he did. And to say the least I'm grateful for him, I really am.
"And then I figured we could make some cookies or something, because you like cooking. And I'm sure the guys would like some cookies as well." He laughs as I nod.
"Okay, but then you're helping me." I say as I look at him quickly as we begin heading back home.
"I will, I will." He smiles as I roll down the window, reaching for the warm air, just like I did earlier.
We sat in a comfortable silence besides faint music playing, and about 5 minutes pass we arrive back at home and I go in my room, grabbing my phone, still lying on my bed.
"Do you just want to make sugar cookies or something?" I question as I go back out to the kitchen, leaning against the island.
"Yeah we can do that, I'll find some cookie cutters, and then maybe we can decorate some cookies later with the guys." He suggests as he begins opening up cupboards, trying to find the cookie cutters.
"Arts and crafts with the kids." I joke before I begin humming as I find a recipe and he lets out a triumphant 'Aha!' as I laugh, turning around to turn on the oven.
I grab the stand mixer and put it in the middle of the island for easy access and I show him the recipe as we begin grabbing the ingredients. "Can you pass me the baking powder?" I question as I begin measuring flour.
He slides me the box and I pick it up, looking at it as I turn, staring at him blankly. "This is baking soda."
"See, they gaslight you. Baking soda and baking powder are definitely the same thing. There's no difference." He scoffs as he takes the baking soda and he goes into the pantry, exchanging it for baking powder.
"You use baking soda with an acid and that helps them rise, usually like a cookie, and baking powder creates a more light and fluffy baked good, like a cake." I say as I measure it and he looks at me weird.
"We're making cookies though." He says, completely baffled.
"We're making sugar cookies, they're a lighter cookie, hence us using baking powder. And plus there's no acid in the recipe." I say as he smiles.
"Why do you know that?"
"It's basic chemistry, they're both sodium bicarbonates, but one needs to be activated with acid, the soda, and the other has acids premixed in the powder. And i love baking, remember?" I shrug as he stares at me, a big smile on his lips.
"You're the perfect person. I don't know why or how you know that, but wow." He says as he leans against the island, watching me as I turn on the mixer, putting in the butter and sugar.
I roll my eyes with a smile as I cross my arms, "Are you not going to help?" I question as he shrugs.
"I could watch you all day, it's not like I'm missing out on anything." He smiles as I look at him, raising my eyebrows slightly as I turn off the mixer, adding egg and vanilla before flipping it on again.
I finish measuring the rest of the dry ingredients as Pedri literally does what he says, watching me as he's sitting across from me. "You're going to roll it out when it's done." I mumble as I point at him and he nods.
"I can do that." He whispers as I pour the dry ingredients in the bowl. I mix it once more and after about a minute I turn the mixer off and Pedri goes over to the sink.
He quickly washes his hands before sprinkling flour on the surface of the marble countertop. He puts the dough down as he begins rolling it out before i wash my hands and i go sit on the stool he was just sitting at.
I go on my phone to find a recipe for icing, and I keep the tab open, saving it for later before i set my phone back down, watching him as he picks up the cookie cutter.
He begins cutting them as I watch him, well more like watching his hands. He has good hands in my defense, so thats not my fault that I get a little bit distracted.
He glances at me as I watch his hands and a smile tugs at his lips. "Amor, can you grab a pan and put the baking mat on it?" He questions and I look up, nodding my head.
Amor alone is enough to make me fold.
I take a deep breath as i grab a pan out, setting the baking mat on it before i go back over to my spot. He begins placing cookies on the pan, "How long?" He asks as he nudges his head down at the cookies and I grab my phone.
"12 minutes." I confirm as he nods, putting them in the oven.
"So what are you thinking for dinner?" He questions as I cross my legs, tapping the counter.
"Mmm, well I don't like making decisions, so maybe you can do that for me." I smile as I point at him and he laughs.
"But its Tate day. That means Tate makes the decisions." He insists as I shrug.
"Oh well." I smile as he pulls out his phone, "and its more like Pedri and Tate day, so that means you can make the decision as well."
"Yeah but I don't want to make a decision that you won't like." He suggests as I purse my lips.
"Nope it's okay, I'll agree to anything you say." I smile as I cross my arms.
"Chinese." He says simply.
"Anything but that."
"Dude, why?" He mumbles.
"I'm just kidding yeah we can have that. We have it a ton, but that's okay." I smile as he rolls his eyes.
"We have it a ton because it's good." He counters as I nod.
"Because Jude always wants it, but he has taste at least." I say as he smiles, nodding his head.
"That's true, could be way worse." He shrugs as I stare at the counter.
"Mhmm." I hum as he comes over to me, placing his hands on my shoulders as he leans forward, kissing my cheek.
"It's okay." He consoles as he begins to rub my shoulders, and I roll them back slightly as I take a deep breath.
"What do the guys know?" I question.
He clicks his tongue, "nothing, just that you're not feeling good, but whatever you tell them is up to you. You can open up about whatever you want, and it's your decision." He whispers as I turn around on the stool, looking up at him.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
I shrug as I play with the material of his sweatshirt, avoiding eye contact, "for just spending the day with me. You didn't need to skip training but you did." I smile as he nods.
"Of course, I'd do anything for you, skipping training included, so you don't need to thank me." He says as I look up at him again. "And as fun as conditioning is, I'd rather be here." He adds with a shrug as the oven beeps.
"You'll probably have to do it tomorrow then." I say as he goes over to the oven.
"Eh, it is what it is. If Xavi tells me to, I'll just tell him uno reverse." He smiles as I shake my head.
———
"I feel like I'm eating sand." I say as I wipe my mouth as he laughs.
"Yeah probably, just some added flavor." He jokes as I shake my head, standing up.
"Are you finished? I can go throw it away." I say as I wipe my legs and he hands me his trash and I go throw them away before I go back to our blanket, sitting down again.
I pull my knees to my chest as I look out at the sunset. "Do you come here a lot?" I question as he shrugs.
"Yeah kind of, like no one ever comes here so it's nice to just think here. Or when I needed alone time from all the guys I'd come here, it's like a safe place I guess." He says quietly as I nod.
"You know, in a way, I think you're my safe place." I whisper as his gaze softens.
"You've been mine for years." He says as he puts his hands behind him for support as I smile.
"Way to just one up me." I joke.
"Hey, it is what it is." I watch the water as I take a deep breath, before my phone buzzes. "Who's that?" He asks.
I look at my phone before I flip it over. "Just Jude asking how I am." I say as I lay down.
"It's nice he's checking in on you though." He says as I shrug.
"Yeah I mean, im sure they probably talked about me at training, so who knows what they're all thinking." I mumble as he looks down at me.
"They just want to make sure you're okay. Like you're pretty closed off so we all know when stuff like this happens you just keep it to yourself. It doesn't hurt to be open sometimes, especially with the guys. Like we all get in weird moods, everyone has that happen."
"Yeah I know, I know. Just weird to bring up sometimes."
"Well I'm sure at some point tomorrow they'll probably text the groupchat to see how you're doing, so just look out for that." He says as he lies down, putting his arms behind his head as we stare up at the sky.
"I'll have time to mentally prepare." I joke as he laughs quietly.
"Just putting it out there. They all care about you."
"Yeah I know." I whisper as I take a deep breath. "I know we already finished eating but do you just want to stay longer? I like the fact that all you can hear is the water."
"Of course, we're not in a rush." He agrees as I stand up, taking off my shoes. I go down to the water and I sit back far enough that when the water comes up it only touches my feet, and I smile.
Yeah I'm definitely taking this spot from him.