#futfem fics

⋆˙⟡♡ The last thing you expected on the night of what should’ve been your tenth anniversary with your boyfriend was to be wildly tequila-drunk in some club at Ibiza, making out with a gorgeous footballer.

If someone had told you a year ago that you’d end up single and kissing a girl — let alone a stunning, hazel-eyed goddess with cheekbones for days — you would’ve laughed in their face and probably told your boyfriend Matt how ridiculous that sounded.

But life had a funny way of blindsiding you right when you thought that you’ve got everything figured out. A year ago, you never would’ve imagined how completely your life was about to blow up.

And it all started when Matt broke up with you.

⋆˙⟡♡ You’ve been with Matt since you were thirteen. He sat next to you in art class and just randomly slipped you a note asking to be your boyfriend, and, somehow, you just… never broke up. You went through everything together from high school, college, and eventually, moving in together. He was your constant.

Even as life pulled everyone else away — first with your brother leaving for college, your dad passing, your mom traveling to cope with the loss — you stayed. Law school was the biggest change you allowed yourself, but even then, Matt remained the one stable thing in your life. It made you feel safe... or rather, secure. He was the reason why you felt no urge to step out of your comfort zone. 

You were mostly happy. But when your college friends started getting engaged, buying houses, having kids, you couldn’t ignore the creeping feeling of stagnation. While they were moving forward, you were still in the same town, with the same boyfriend, doing the same things you did ten years ago.

So, for the last year, you started dropping hints that you desired an engagement: a couple wedding Pinterest boards left open on your desktop, reposting engagement videos on Tiktok for him to see, mentioning that yet another college friend is getting married. You figured if you took that step, maybe things would shift, maybe you would finally feel like you were moving forward.

And you expected that he'd get the hint and pop the question before your tenth anniversary... only for him to drop a bomb on you.

"I think we need a break," he dared to say. "I just... think we're getting too comfortable and settled in our ways. We've grown boring."

He kept rambling about spontaneity, about trying new things, about how maybe time apart would magically make your relationship stronger… as if that made sense.

You sat there, irritation simmering under the surface. You were the one who put in the effort: planning dates, booking weekend trips, making sure things stayed somewhat interesting. And yet, somehow, that wasn’t enough. You never saw him make an effort on that aspect and now, he wanted an out? It was infuriating to you but you didn’t bother arguing. You were too busy thinking of a way to make him regret it.

⋆˙⟡♡Your brother was getting married in Spain in three months, to a beautiful and ridiculously wealthy woman named Inés. The wedding was set to be held at her family’s private resort on an island near Ibiza which meant that your whole family was flying in for two weeks of all-expenses-paid luxury. It was a dream… and the perfect opportunity.

This was your chance to remind Matt exactly what he was missing: some well-timed bikini thirst traps, fancy dinner photos that made it look like you were going on dates, and a couple of curated clubbing IG posts. Maybe then he’d realize his mistake.

But the idea of staying at home for a couple more months felt unbearable. So, you decided to head out to Spain earlier.

A couple of your close, younger cousins were backpacking in Europe for their summer break from college, and as soon as they heard about your little timeout with Matt, they pestered you about hitting Ibiza with them. 

So, you said fuck it. You drained the savings that you’ve been stupidly putting aside for a wedding, booked a last-minute flight, and landed in Spain with no itinerary or plans. 

How's that for spontaneity?

⋆˙⟡♡ You didn't like parties. Never liked clubs. Always hated the hangovers that inevitably came after drinking. 

But here you were, barely twenty-four hours into your trip, at a club in Ibiza with your college-aged cousins on your very first night and already two shots of tequila in. They dressed you up in their tiny strappy clothes and did your hair and makeup. You thought it was a tad too much, but now that you were stepping out of your comfort zone, you figured you might as well go all out and dive in.

Daisy slid another shot in front of you. “God, you’re so hot,” she said, hyping you up. “Stop looking so mopey, girl, Matt isn’t worth another thought.”

You forced a laugh, though your chest tightened. “It’s just… today was supposed to be our tenth anniversary.” You sighed. “I thought our anniversary would look more like a candlelit dinner where he’d propose. Not this.” You said, gesturing around the club.

“God, that was today?” Cam asked, biting her lip. “Why didn’t you tell us a while ago?”

“Well, duh, I didn’t want to really think about it but now it’s all I can think about.” You groaned, annoyed with yourself. 

“Two more tequila shots and I promise you, you will not be thinking about him for the rest of the night.” Cam said before eyeing the shot in front of you.

You chuckled before taking the shot and drinking it. You winced as the alcohol burned your throat. “How long until the memory loss kicks in?”

Your other cousin Daisy scrunched up her face. "I swear, cuz, if I were you, I would have forgotten about him like years ago." She commented. "He really isn't all that.

Cam nodded in agreement. “He's probably just wants a break 'cause he thinks he's gonna get to fuck around with models and shit. Little does he know you're as good as he can get."

"Gee, thanks, Cam." You retorted sarcastically at your cousin. She laughed at your reaction.

“I’m just saying,” she shrugged. “He’s an accountant from the suburbs who is a couple months away from a bald spot and he bagged you. You were practically doing charity work dating him for that long.”

Daisy snorted. “I hate when ugly men ask for breaks to go find themselves when really they just wanna find other women.”

Can scoffed. “All Matt’s gonna find is the fact that he’s made a huge mistake.”

"Fuck, that's so mean but you're so right." You responded. "I just wish I can show him precisely that — that he got lucky with me, that I'm the catch."

Cam hummed. "If I were you, I'd take a cheeky photo with one of those tan hotties by the bar," she pointed at the group of buff and tall guys, clearly looking around for their conquest of the night. "That's a way to show him."

Daisy burst out laughing. “Girl, please. I doubt she can even ask that guy to pass her a napkin.” She looked you up and down. “No offense, cuz. But you lost your game hanging out with Mister Tax Returns.”

You frowned. "I thought you said I can bag any guy I want."

“Yeah, but… you actually have to flirt,” Daisy said simply. “And I love you, but I don’t think you can. Dating culture has changed a lot since you were last on the market. Guys don’t always make the first move anymore.”

You turned to Cam for backup, but she winced. “Sorry, cuz. If you’re waiting for a guy to come up to you, your chances are about as good as Matt’s hairline.”

“Don’t feel bad though,” Daisy added quickly, patting your arm like she was softening the blow. “I mean, also like… you’re just too nice. You’re like the kind of person who wouldn’t wanna feel like you’re using someone to move on.”

You rolled your eyes, mildly annoyed. Sure, there was some truth to it. You were a little meeker than your cousins, a little more awkward. You could blame Matt for stunting your ability to socialize, but if you were being honest, you’ve always been like this. 

But that was the old you. The one who thought she’d be celebrating a tenth anniversary tonight.

You were rebranding. You weren’t the same small-town girl anymore. You were going to be spontaneous.

“Nah, fuck you guys,” you said, shaking your head as your multiple tequila shots warmed your veins like liquid confidence. “I bet I can flirt with anyone in this club tonight.”

Your cousins’ eyes widened, then slowly lit with amused disbelief.

Cam leaned back, grinning. “I’ll stake a hundred euros on that right now.”

Daisy nodded. "I'll match that bet… but only if you can get absolutely anyone to kiss you right now."

Cam wrinkled her nose. “Ew, not just anyone. Pick someone who is at least a seven out of ten. And you can’t just ask. You gotta work for it, like actually flirt.”

You hummed, considering the challenge. Technically, you were single, so it wouldn’t be cheating. And if you couldn’t even convince your cousins that you could be bold and spontaneous, how were you supposed to convince Matt?

You had to do this. Not just to prove it to them but to prove it for yourself.

“Okay. Game on.”

⋆˙⟡♡ All your confidence was slowly being chipped away with every failed flirtation attempt.

You went big for your first try: the tall, tan guy who looked like he belonged in perfume commercials or romantic erotica book covers. You walked up to him, determined to charm him and get him to kiss you. Only for you to stumble upon the first three words you said. In an attempt to save face, you just pretended to be looking for the toilet, too pussy to continue after fucking up your introduction.

You settled for another guy: someone who resembled Matt more, someone who looked like they could be a suburban guy. This one, at least, looked like he was a tourist too. There was less pressure to speak in your broken and barely practiced Spanish. But even your English failed you. 

"Hey," you smiled at him. "Are you here alone?”

The guy smiled. “I’m with friends.”

You hesitated, nodding. “That’s one thing we have in common then. We both have friends.”

“...Right.” The guy responded, unsure of what else to say as he looked at you with confusion. You stood still there for a moment, unsure of how to salvage the situation, before apologizing and walking away.

You were ready to give up when you made eye contact with another guy on the dance floor. Moderately cute, definitely fit, chest obnoxiously exposed, overly tan and hair gelled within an inch of its life. Basically a walking red flag, but at this point you were desperate.

He motioned for you to come over and dance with him. You gulped and nodded, trying to spread out the morsel of confidence left in your body. For a moment, it felt like shit was going well. You weren't speaking, which was good, because as verbose and well-spoken you were in your regular life, you seemed to have misplaced twenty IQ points on the plane ride to Spain. You followed the rhythm, dancing near each other.

You figured this could be your shot... until he touched your waist. That caused you to jump like a ghost and scurry off, uneasy over the physical touch from someone who looked like a herpes magnet.

You didn't have to look over to your cousins to know that those two were having the time of their lives watching you make a fool out of yourself. They were amazing girls who were always supportive of you but they did enjoy teasing you a bit. 

Those bitches, you thought as you dragged your feet to the bar, deciding that you should just settle for getting plastered instead of getting kissed. You figured you set too high a bar for your first night of spontaneity.

"Well, that was painful to watch." 

You turned around to see a girl walking up to you. She was tall, had light brown hair that was slightly curled, framing her beautifully chiseled face. If she wasn’t so intimidatingly pretty, you would've scoffed at her statement. "Excuse me?" You blinked.

"I've been noticing your little... attempts," she gestured lazily toward the dance floor. "I mean, I respect the hustle but... wow."

You sighed, resting your head in your hands that were propped up on the counter. "You noticed all of that, huh?"

You felt her step closer to you, resting her hand on the table space beside you. "Hard not to," she said with a low, teasing voice. 

A groan escaped your mouth, feeling a bit annoyed that this girl was all up in your busInéss but you knew she was right. "I'm just... out of practice, okay?"

The bartender set the shot of tequila you just bought in front of you. You quickly got it with a curt thanks and threw it back into your mouth. The taller girl looked at you with amusement. She smiled. "Yeah, clearly."

You turned to face her again as you set the shot glass back on the counter. This time, you got a better look at her... and she was even prettier when you took the time to notice.

She was tall and incredibly beautiful. Her muscular body was evident from her cropped vest top, which gave you a sight of both her abs and her sculpted arms. There was a small smirk on her face and a twinkle in her eyes that just added a bit more of an intimidation factor on top of all that. You gulped.

"What?" The girl asked you, raising her eyebrows as she noticed you staring.

You paused. "Nothing, you just look like someone who knows how to flirt." 

She laughed. Fuck, even her laugh is hot, you thought. "What makes you think that?" She asked. 

You shrugged in response. "I don't know. You tell me."

She shrugged back, mimicking you. "I guess I do okay when it comes to flirting." Her smile grew. "Better than you did, definitely. Not that that was hard to beat.”

You rolled your eyes and sighed. "Well, if you're so good," you dared. "Show me how."

She laughed again. "Show you?"

"Yeah, like, teach me."

She paused, taking a moment to eye you up and down. Her eyes scanned your face, then your small top, your skirt, your legs. Her gaze made you feel tense... but not in a bad way. A small shiver ran up your spine.

You bit your lip, breaking the tension that you were suddenly feeling. "Okay, I'll be honest," you said. "My cousins actually dared me to flirt with anyone, and they're paying me if I do it successfully."

She raised an eyebrow. "The two girls in the corner?" She nodded her head towards them slightly. "Yeah, they've been cackling at you the entire time."

You groaned. "Fuck, I know. Those two are my best friends... but they could be such bitches."

She laughed. "And how much is the bet?"

"200 euros," you sighed, knowing there was no way in hell you were winning that bet anymore. Could've used that money to buy new sandals, you thought to yourself sadly.

The brunette whistled lowly. "Damn. They really didn't believe in you, huh?"

"Not even a little," you shook your head. 

The girl looked at them surreptitiously before looking back at you. She paused, biting her lip as if considering something. "Okay, fine," she smirked. "Split the cash prize with me and I'll teach you."

"A hundred euros for an impromptu flirting lesson," you scoffed. "Sounds a bit steep."

She shrugged. "I think it's a fair price, given your current capabilities."

You squinted, feeling a bit annoyed with the teasing but you sighed and nodded your head. "Fine, deal."

The tall girl smiled moving closer to you. She moved her hand, touching and fiddling with the necklace on your neck with your initials on it. You were a bit startled by the sudden gesture but you stayed put.

"Physical touch is key," the girl explained as she continued to touch your necklace. "It can be as subtle as touching their shirt or their arm..."

She paused, moving her hand from your necklace, slightly grazing fingertips along the skin of your collarbones before moving to tuck a stray hair behind your ear. "Or, it can be as deliberate as this."

You gulped, looking away and nodding. You never thought of being attracted to girls before but suddenly, you were feeling a bit flustered already. Fuck, she is good.

Suddenly, the girl's hand was under your chin, tilting your head gently so that you'd look at her. Once your gaze met hers, she dropped her hand gently. "Also, eye contact is key," she said. "This makes the moment more intimate."

You nodded, feeling a bit hypnotized with the sight of her hazel eyes. They sparkled so slightly under the light from the dance floor, shifting colors as the club lights danced around the space. 

Alexia smirked. "See? I'm not even touching you and you already feel connected to me, right?"

You nodded. "Okay, is that it?"

She shook her head and chuckled. "No, you gotta ask them stuff too. Make it seem like you're absolutely interested in what they're saying even if it's a bunch of nonsense," she said. "Why don't we try it out? Just say a bunch of random crap and I'll show you."

You huffed a bit but acquiesced. "Uh, I don't know? Monkeys like bananas?"

The tall girl moved in closer and suddenly, her hand was resting on the curve of your waist comfortably as if that was where they always belonged. She bit her lip as a subtle smile grew on her face. "Yeah? Where'd you learn that?"

You felt yourself grow a tad flustered at the feeling of her body almost pressed against yours, her warmth wafting on to you. "Uh," your voice came out softer than you intended. "Grade school."

"Sorry, I didn't hear that," She moved in closer to you, so close that you could smell her shampoo. "Can you say that again?"

You gulped. "Uh, school..." you repeated.

She lifted her head back to her normal position, hand still on your waist. "See?" She said with a small smirk on her face, clearly enjoying how flustered you were by her.. "I'm pretty good at this, huh."

You sighed, nodding in agreement, unable to say anything more.

"Okay, you try."

"What? Now?" You said worriedly. 

She smiled. "I mean, practice... on me."

You paused. "Okay," you agreed. Slowly, you tried following her steps. You looked down on the hand on your waist, tracing it up with your gaze before your eyes settled on the tattoos on them.

You gently rested your fingers on her arm, tracing the outline of the tattoos, staring at them to admire the detail before looking up at her to look into her eyes. "These look so good," you complimented. "Where'd you get them?"

She smiled, silently impressed by how quickly you were picking up her lesson, integrating all three of her tips into one move. "Barcelona," she responded. "I actually live there."

You nodded, hand moving to graze her biceps a bit. "Yeah? What do you do there?" You asked. "Are you a bodybuilder or something?"

She laughed at your lame attempt at a compliment but she let it slide. "I'm not remotely buff enough for that," she responded. "But I am a professional athlete. Do you like sports?”

You paused. “Well, I used to watch my brother play Fifa when we were kids.”

She laughed. “Fifa, huh? You ever played?”

“God, no.” You were starting to get comfortable. “That was more of my brother’s territory.”

She hummed, eyes scanning your face again. “Do you mind if I pull you closer? I just wanna see how much you can take without getting completely flustered.”

You nodded, a little hesitant. Just moments ago, you’ve been easing into a sense of comfort, no longer completely on edge from her presence. And now, here she was, hands firm on your waist, guiding you closer. The warmth of her body, the scent of her perfume, the way your chest was nearly flush against her body. It was overwhelming. You worried for a second that she might actually feel the rapid beat of your heart with how close you were.

Awkwardly, you rested your hands on her arms, trying to steady yourself. Sensing your nerves, she gave your sides a reassuring squeeze, snapping you out of your thoughts. You met her gaze again.

"Relax," she murmured. "Don’t overthink it. You're doing great."

You nodder, feeling flustered but encouraged at the same time. "Uh, hmm," you paused before abruptly pulling away. "Would you like a drink?"

She smirked and let you break free from her grasp. "Didn't teach you that one but... I guess you're learning pretty quickly." She complimented. "Okay, I'll let you buy me a drink.”

With the help of some cocktails, you started to grow more comfortable with her, not tensing up so much whenever she’d touch your waist or said something a bit cheeky. You learned quite a bit about each other. You mentioned you were studying law, and that she studied Business Administration for sports. Even if your conversation was quite short, you could tell that she was very passionate about football. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she talked about it. 

This woman is insanely attractive, you thought as she passionately talked about her career. Is it even possible to be this interesting and this hot?

"You think your cousins bought it?" She asked, snapping you out of your thoughts.

You furrowed your eyebrows together. "Huh? Bought what?"

She laughed. "I mean, this whole teaching lesson. I bet that from an outsider's perspective, it definitely looks like regular flirting." She explained. "You think they bought it?"

You paused, not understanding her statement before it finally sunk in. She was "practice flirting" with you to make it appear that you were actually flirting.  "Oh!" You exclaimed. 

You took a quick glance at your cousins and just with a microsecond of a look, you could tell that they were absolutely invested with the sight of you flirting with this gorgeous woman. 

"Fuck, you might be a genius," you chuckled, shaking your head.

She laughed. "Yeah, the easiest hundred euros I've earned."

You bit your lip. "Well... about that..."

"Don't tell me it didn't work," she muttered.

"It wasn't just a flirting bet..." you trailed off, gazing away from her, feeling too awkward to say it to her face. "The dare was actually to get someone to kiss me after I flirted with them."

There was a silence between you and you were almost too sure this girl would call you a lying perv who was just trying to get kisses but when you turned to look at her, she had a lazy smirk and a half-lidded expression on her face.

 She snaked her hand around your waist again. "Well," she said, her voice low. "Let's give them a show."

Before you could even process her statement, she was leaning into you, capturing your lips with hers. In shock, you initially had your eyes open but it didn't take you long to melt into the kiss, wrapping your hands around hers as you allowed her to liplock with you, eyes slowly fluttering shut.

Normally, you'd probably push off anyone who wasn't Matt but this kiss... it felt good. Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the adrenaline. But kissing this beautiful stranger felt almost as good as kissing your boyfriend. Maybe even better.

You didn't even know her but she knew exactly how to respond to your kisses. She knew to kiss you gently first before slowly intensifying the kiss. And there was also a different edge to her kiss.

Her lips were smoother. Her tongue in your mouth felt less imposing, less obscene. It felt... so natural and yet so foreign. 

When you finally broke the kiss, you were breathing heavily. You looked into the girl's eyes, flickering in between them as you held onto her arms. She smirked, but she didn't say anything.

You wanted to lean in for another kiss. Fuck, you wanted more than just a kiss.

But as soon as that thought entered your mind, you were snapped awake and it was as if all the alcohol in your system evaporated in a second. You blinked, stiffening up slightly. "Uh, I gotta go collect the bet now."

You let go of your grasp from her, feeling yourself tense up in embarrassment at the sudden intimacy with a stranger, as you rushed back to where your cousins were sat at the opposite end of the bar.

⋆˙⟡♡ "GIRL, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Cam practically barked at you as soon as you made your way to the table. "THAT GIRL WAS SMOKING FUCKING HOT. GET BACK THERE."

"But why?" You groaned. "I already won the bet and it was getting awkward..."

"It was NOT getting awkward until YOU made it awkward," Daisy scolded, shaking her head. "Did you at least get her number?"

You bit your lip. "No..."

"Ugh, okay, her instagram?"

You shook your head. "I forgot to ask her name."

Cam chuckled. "Y'know what, I'll give you that," she nodded. "Got a kiss before you got a name. Baller move."

Daisy growned. "No, Cam, don't coddle this lame behavior," she scolded. "She needs to go back there and ask that girl out on another date.”

Daisy pushed you slightly. You looked back at her and frowned, wanting to remind her that you were older than her, but you just walked on back. Besides, this girl did give you one of the best kisses of your life. You might as well give it a shot.

But as soon as you got to the bar, she was gone. If it weren't for your cousins witnessing the whole thing, you'd probably think you encountered a ghost. You looked around the area, peeking through the crowd, even asking the bartender in your broken Spanish but she was nowhere to be found.

Fuck, maybe I am an idiot

⋆˙⟡♡ You stared down at the leather sandals that your bet money got you. They sure were cute... but not as cute as that girl from the bar.

Almost a week has passed and you've visited countless clubs, attended various parties, hit all the hot spots in Ibiza and you still couldn't get the tall, brunette girl out of your head.

Something about the way she kissed you, the way it felt better than th way Matt kissed, the way she held you — it was all so good that it practically imprinted on your brain.

Your cousins teased you about it, simulating a scene from Inside Out as if they were the emotions in your head discovering a new core memory after that kiss. It was as amusing as it was annoying. You couldn't blame them. You chickened out and that was a hundred percent your fault. You sighed. At least I got slippers out of it.

"She's staring at her dumbass sandals again," Daisy rolled her eyes as she set down the smoothies you ordered on the table. "Girl, move on. You're acting more mopey about this girl than you were about Matt."

Cam got her smoothie and shrugged. "I'd rather her be hung up on the hottest woman we've ever seen in our life than the balding personification of boredom himself."

You rolled your eyes but couldn't help but smirk at the playful insult. "I just... feel like I had a chance to explore, y'know." You explained. "Explore that flirty side of me... and I completely fumbled it."

You groaned as you grabbed your smoothie. "I can't believe I'm only now finding out I like girls and instead of that making me cooler, it's making me mopier and lamer."

Your cousins looked at you with pity. "You're acting like she's the only girl ever," Daisy commented. "You proved to yourself that you can get a girl... why not use those skills to do it again?"

Cam nodded. "Yeah, maybe Ibiza is all about getting your lesbian on." She smiled then paused. "Maybe I should get lesbian too."

Daisy laughed. "Fuck it, let's all go lesbian!" She raised her arms. "Woooh! Lesbian holiday!"

⋆˙⟡♡ The concept of lesbian holiday was abandoned soon after. Later that night, Daisy found herself making out with a tanned guy who did not speak a lick of English, and every night, Cam seemed to find some random guy who would indulge her with drunken salsa dancing. 

Meanwhile, you were the only one who actually stuck to it – not that it felt like some noble commitment. Maybe it was because you were on a break from Matt, and this was your one chance to explore something you would have never let yourself consider. Maybe you were actually bi or something and just never realized it. Either way, you took advantage of the opportunity.

With the skills that stunning girl from the club taught you, you managed to almost perfect your flirting skills. It started off rocky but after a few nights out, you were practically a different person. 

And of course, you kissed girls – femme girls, masc girls, tall girls, short girls. Ibiza never seemed to run out of beautiful women..and yet none of them came close to her. 

No matter how many lips you tasted, nothing replicated that night with the tall, stunning Catalan. You’d go through the same motions of flirting as you did that night — the eye contact, the flirtatious touching, the feigned interest in whatever the other person was saying – but it just… did not feel the same. There were a lot of girls who were probably just as interesting and just as passionate about their careers but they never really made an impact on you. 

And, sure, plenty of those girls were great kissers. But the way she kissed you… it was something else. It felt like cliff diving, like free-falling, like discovering what kissing actually should feel like.

You wondered when you could ever feel that way again.

⋆˙⟡♡ Time moved fast, and before you knew it, your wild month with your cousins had come to an end. Now, you were on a yacht, sailing toward your future sister-in-law’s luxury resort in a nearby island.

The next month seemed more your speed:  private beaches, morning yoga, spa sessions. A welcomed change from Ibiza’s chaos, especially in the no more hangovers department.

You had done what you set out to do. Your Instagram was flooded with party clips, bikini thirst traps, and blurry videos of late-night adventures. You flirted, dance, and kissed with every pretty girl that caught your eye. There was no doubt that you had stepped out of your comfort zone — travelling and partying and making out with a stranger, things you’ve never done before — but all of it felt inauthentic. 

Perhaps Matt bought the illusion. Maybe even your cousins were starting to believe it too. But you knew it was what it was: just a façade. 

But now, it felt more than just that. You were beyond proving to Matt that you could be fun. You wanted to prove to yourself that you could be a complete, full person without him, without the safety net of your boring stability. 

And sure, you had learned things about yourself over the past month, like the fact that you hated flaming shots, that you could apparently do the splits while drunk, and that... you liked girls. But it still felt like you were only scratching the surface, dipping your toes in without truly diving in.

You had just over a month left in Spain before you’d be back in your same hometown, your same apartment, your same routine. And you knew yourself. Once you were back in your bubble, it’d be too easy to shrink back into old habits, to stop exploring, to let fear keep you from changing.

Maybe this was your chance... to get to know yourself in a quieter way, away from the sloppy make-outs with strangers, body shots and neon lights. Maybe being around your family again, seeing all of them together for the first time in years, would remind you of something you’d forgotten.

Maybe, in a different way, this next month could change you just as much as the last.

⋆˙⟡♡ You settled in pretty quickly with the help of the very hands-on staff of the resort. You knew from stories and photos that your brother's fiancé was loaded but you didn't know that she was this loaded.

The staff treated you like royalty, carrying your bags and escorting you. Not to mention that the resort itself was serene and beautiful; the kind of place you knew you could never dream of affording with your own money.

"Another smoothie?" The staff at the juice bar asked. 

Your eyes flickered to the clock on the wall. Your cousins were late again. They agreed to meet up and head to your family lunch together but of course, those two were taking their sweet time curling their hair and applying their lashes. 

You sighed and shook your head. "No, I'm good, thank you."

As you were about to dial up Daisy, someone behind you spoke up.

“Hey, don’t you owe me a hundred euros?”

You turned around, and your stomach dropped. It was her.

The girl from the bar.

After days of scanning every club, every crowd, hoping you’d run into her again, here was where you found her. And she looked even better than you remembered.

She smiled as she slid onto the stool beside you, casually ordering a smoothie like this wasn’t completely throwing your brain into disarray. Her hair was in a low bun, strands falling loose around her face, and she wore a white linen vest and matching shorts. The sunlight caught on her skin, golden and warm. She looked incredibly stunning.

You realized you were staring. “Oh my god,” you breathed before you could stop yourself.

Her smile widened, amused at your reaction. “So, should I give you my bank details, or do you have the cash on you?”

Your brain short-circuited for a second before you processed the teasing lilt in her voice. You chuckled. "Cash good?"

"I change my mind," she smiled warmly at you. "No need to pay me."

You narrowed your eyes. “Huh?”

“The sight of you in that dress is already worth a hundred euros.”

Your breath hitched. You thought that after all that flirting practice that you would be more chill about this but apparently not, not with her. Heat crawled up your neck, flushing your cheeks but you managed to roll your eyes, trying desperately to play it cool. “You really are a flirt.”

She grinned, taking a slow sip of her smoothie. “Yeah… but only with cute girls.”

You swallowed, gripping your glass a little tighter. You tried to think of something clever, something equally flirty to say back, but your brain was a static mess.

She must’ve noticed the way your confidence wavered because she let the moment linger before speaking again. She chuckled. “I really hoped that I’d see you again after that night,” she admitted, her voice softer now, more sincere. “I was so annoyed I didn’t get your number.”

Your fingers curled slightly around your glass. There was something about the way she said it – so effortlessly honest – that made your stomach flip. You exhaled, your voice quieter when you spoke, meeting her eyes. “I’ve been thinking about that kiss too.”

The brunette girl chuckled, tilting her head slightly. “Hmm. Are you just practicing flirting with me?”

You shook your head quickly. “No, I mean it.”

That made her smile. It didn’t look teasing or naughty. It looked genuinely, like she was relieved you’d say so.

“Yeah,” she said, watching you. “I believe you.”

You let out a small, nervous laugh, rubbing the condensation off your glass with your thumb. “I feel like such a wimp,” you admitted. “Sorry, but… yeah. It was a nice kiss.”

She hummed, like she was replaying it in her mind. You looked at her, noticed the playful glint in her eyes and the curve of her smirk. God, this woman is so beautiful. 

"You’re getting better at this, though.” She leaned in closer, brushing her knees against your deliberately.

You looked back at her, confused. “At what?”

She smirked. “Flirting," she answered, her tone back to a playful tone.

Your breath caught slightly. "Hmm?"

She tilted her head, eyes scanning your face like she was committing every detail to memory. “You actually held eye contact just now," she mused, clearly amused. "Last time, you could barely look at me without turning red.”

You pressed your lips together, trying not to react. "I did not turn red."

She smiled like she knew she had you exactly where she wanted. “Mmm.”

You scoffed, but the pink dusting your cheeks betrayed you. “Don't be cocky now.”

She shrugged, taking a slow slip of her smoothie. “I don’t know. I think I have a pretty solid case.” She chuckled. “But yeah, you’ve been practicing without me?”

You bit your lip, hesitating just long enough for her to catch it. Her eyebrows lifted in amusement before she pouted at you, clutching her chest in mock heartbreak. “Aww, that look just gives it away,” she sighed dramatically. “And here I thought I was special.”

You rolled your eyes, but the growing heat on your cheeks told a different story. “Hmm… I didn’t say anything.”

You hated how much she was enjoying this... and how much it made you flustered. 

She tapped her straw against the rim of her glass, watching you with the kind of interest that made your pulse stutter. “So,” she said, dragging out the word, “what brings you here? Aside from fate bringing us together as destined lovers, of course.”

A breathy laugh escaped you, shaking your head. “Well, aside from that, I’m here for a wedding.”

Her eyes lit up. “No way. I’m here for a wedding too.” She said, eyebrows furrowing together in genuine surprise.

Your gaze snapped back to hers. "You're joking."

She leaned in just a little more, a smirk playing at her lips. “Would I lie to you?”

Your heartbeat quickened. “I don’t know yet.”

She chuckled, leaning back and shaking her head. “But yeah, I am here for a wedding.” She nodded. “My friend’s getting married and they’re treating us with a mini vacation. I genuinely don’t think I can afford to stay here for more than a couple days without going bankrupt.”

You furrowed your brows as it sunk in. “Wait, so you must be Inés’ friend?”

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could—

“Bunny, is that you?”

You barely had a second to react before a familiar voice cut through the conversation. You turned to see your brother Xavier making his way toward you, his face lighting up.

“Oh my god,” you muttered under your breath before standing up just in time for him to pull you into a tight hug. It had been two years since you’d last seen him, back when he visited home.

Even though Xavier was seven years older and had left home to study in Spain for college, you had always been close. Growing up, he had been more than just an older brother; he was your best friend. He was the kind of brother who was incredibly protective but also very caring. When you were little, he was the one who carried you on his back when you got too tired to walk, who stayed up with you when you were scared of the dark. He helped you with your homework, even when he was busy with his own. He was your number one person, even after you met Matt.

Although, in the past couple years, you did grow apart only. When he finished med school and got a job, he was always busy or exhausted. Your late night calls practically stopped when you entered law school too, with your own schedule becoming just as hectic. The last time you two saw each other was when your dad passed, and that has certainly been too long.

“Did you get taller?” he teased, patting your head.

You rolled your eyes and wafted his hand away. The last thing you needed was your new crush seeing you get treated like a kid by your brother. “You’re a doctor, Xavier. You know the answer is no.”

He chuckled before his eyes flickered to the brunette girl. He furrowed his eyebrows together, looking at you then looking at her. "You didn't tell me you knew Alexia?" He said with an amused tone.

You blinked and turned to face the girl who looked just as surprised as you did. "Alexia?"

Xavier nodded. "Yeah, I told you about her over call. Alexia's my best man... or, best woman? Best lady?" He corrected, chuckling. "I told you about her. She's my friend who is an absolute football superstar."

You looked at Xavier then at Alexia. You cursed yourself mentally, thinking you should have guessed it sooner. Alexia did briefly mention being a football player and being from Barcelona. And now that you were looking back, you were starting to remember Xav and Inés’ posts with their friends where you must have seen Alexia from before. After all, she did seem familiar. But maybe you were too drunk then and too nervous now to piece those two facts together.

After med school, your brother secured a job as one of the resident doctors for Barcelona FC. He mostly worked with the men's team until one of the women's team's star players got injured, and he was assigned to monitor her recovery. Xavier told you about her a bunch of times before, mostly in passing, either bragging about his friend won all these awards or talking about the women’s team. You just never really tuned into it. 

“When you told me about your sister, I thought she was a kid,” Alexia said, eyeing Xavier. “Is she really named Bunny?”

You groaned, shaking your head. “No, Xavier just calls me that because I used to chew like a rabbit when I was little.” You corrected, rubbing your elbow awkwardly as you turned to Xaviewr. "Alexia and I just met now, actually, Xavs. I recognized her maybe from one of your photos and we chatted just a bit before you got here."

Alexia cocked an eyebrow up at your made-up story. "Yeah..." She responded, going along with it without questioning you. "Your sister's shy, huh?"

Xavier ruffled your hair again much to your annoyance. “Yeah, she’s not a loud motherfucker like me.” He slung an arm around your shoulders. “Anyway, as much as I’d love for you two to hang out, I gotta take Bunny to the family lunch. Her cousins who we're supposed to pick her up ditched her.”

Alexia nodded, her expression unreadable. “Right. We’ll catch up later.”

You hesitated before following Xavier, sneaking one last glance at her. She gave you a smile and a look that you knew meant that you had some explaining to do.

⋆˙⟡♡ "My poor, sweet, angel baby," your mother cooed in an infantilizing tone as soon as you entered the restaurant. She wrapped her arms around you and took you in for a hug. 

Xavier furrowed his eyebrows. "Damn, mom, you haven't seen me in a while too but your greeting for me was way less dramatic." He feigned offense. "Favoritism much?"

Your mother pulled away and glared at your brother. "Well, you're not the one who got broken up with, right?"

Xavier blinked and the smile fell from his face. "What?"

You bit your lip. On the walk to the restaurant, you two caught up with each other — law school, his job, wedding prep — but the one thing you purposely left out was Matt.

Xavier and Matt got along pretty well. They used to go on jogs together and play video games. Another reason as to why you held onto Matt for so long was because he got along so well with your family, especially Xavier. 

You had no idea how to tell him that you and Matt were on a break. Or that you weren’t even sure if the break would ever end. You haven’t figured it out yet.

“You didn’t tell me you and Matt broke up,” Xavier said, his voice softer now as he placed a reassuring hand on your back.

Before you could respond, your mother took it upon herself to answer for you. “Oh, Xav, it’s even worse,” she sighed as she took her seat, the two of you following suit. “They’re on a break.”

Your aunties and cousins tutted their tongues in disapproval.

“It’s like relationship limbo, Xav!” your mother went on, shaking her head. “Imagine the horror of a breakup but without the certainty. It’s tragic.”

Cam seated across from you, wiped her mouth with a napkin before chiming in. “Don’t worry, Auntie. Your daughter has been managing well under Daisy’s and my care.”

Daisy nodded, grinning. “She’s moved on! Never mind that bum,” your loud-mouthed cousin exclaimed. “It’s her time to flirt and be free! You should’ve seen her in the clubs, especially our first night here when we met this gi—”

You shot her a wide-eyed look, shaking your head violently in warning. daisy hesitated before clearing her throat and turning her focus back to her salad. “Never mind,” she muttered, exaggeratedly poking at her salad. “Forget everything I said.”

Xavier let out a small chuckle but didn’t look entirely amused. “So… are you guys actually broken up?” he asked, tilting his head as he looked at you. “Like, for real?”

You exhaled sharply, picking at the napkin in your lap. “I don’t know,” you admitted. “It’s complicated.”

Xavier hummed, nodding slowly, but his expression was tight, like something about this didn’t sit right with him. He was always the traditional family guy. Not in a homophobic way, but in the way that made him sentimental about things that felt secure, structured. He liked the idea of you and Matt. Liked that Matt was a “good influence,” someone who pushed you to be your best, just as you had for him.

And now? Now it probably looked to him like you were throwing all of that away to mess around.

⋆˙⟡♡ Xavier pulled you aside after the family lunch. Even if you managed to dodge all the questions about Matt, you knew there was no escaping your brother. He was too… doting and protective, to say the least.

You sighed, already sensing where this was going. "Xavs, if this is about—"

"I just want to make sure you're okay," he cut in, arms crossed. His tone was light, but the concern was clear in his eyes. Xavier studied you carefully. "So are you…okay?"

You let out a small laugh. "Yes, Xavs. I promise."

“Okay, cause I didn’t hear much about how you’re coping with it,” He didn’t look convinced. "And it’s just that Cam was saying—"

You groaned. "Ignore Cam."

Xavier narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly not satisfied with that answer, but he let it slide. "Fine. But I just want to make sure you're coping healthily. And not just doing things to hurt yourself." His gaze flickered over your face, reading you. "Or others."

That last part made your stomach flip uncomfortably. You swallowed, shifting your weight. "I’m not."

"Good," he said, but he was still watching you, like he knew there was more you weren’t saying.

You tried not to fidget. Because if he knew, if he even had the slightest clue that you had kissed Alexia, that you had a crush on his best friend… how would he even react?

You cleared your throat. "Can I go now, or do you have more of your big brother wisdom to impart?"

Xavier huffed a small laugh but didn’t move. "Just… take care of yourself, Bunny. Okay?"

⋆˙⟡♡ Later that day, the rest of the family headed to go for a by-the-beach hangout but you just felt a little too out-of-it to join. You didn’t know why but maybe the fact that your entire family was now intrigued by your break was a factor.

You loved your family but they could be overwhelming. Plus, Cam and Daisy decided to ditch the whole gathering too after meeting a couple of the scuba instructors who looked exactly like their type. You figured that without them, you’d be the target of countless inquiries from your aunts and uncles.

So, instead, you decided to hit the bar which was on the opposite side of the beach. It was quiet, save from a few of what seemed like Xavier and Inés’ friends who were drinking beers and playing beach volleyball.

As you made your way toward the bar, your eyes immediately landed on a familiar brunette. A slow smile curled your lips before you could stop it. She was turned around, sitting on one of the stools with her phone in hand. She had changed into a light blue bikini, the sheer cover-up dress doing little to hide the toned lInés of her body. You bit your lip. God, she’s so fine.

Almost like she could sense you staring, Alexia turned her head, her lips already tugging into a knowing smirk. She pushed her shades to the top of her head to get a good look at you. "You planning on saying hi, or are you just gonna stand there and check me out like a creep?" she teased, reaching for her bag and pulling it off the stool beside her, signalling for you to sit beside her.

You let out a breathy chuckle, slipping onto the seat next to her. "You just looked so busy, Alexia," you said, letting her name roll off your tongue with deliberate ease.

She arched a brow, amusement flickering in her gaze. "Yeah, bunny?" she murmured, her voice dipping just enough to make you feel a bit tense. "You know, the way your brother used to talk about you… I would have thought you were an actual innocent little bunny."

You chuckled, shaking your head. “Yeah, you know Xavier. He’s protective and he genuinely still thinks I’m his baby sister.”

She hummed, bringing her straw in between her lips, taking a sip of her drink and not breaking eye contact. You felt your skin heat under her gaze, your fingers instinctively tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear.

"So, uh," you started, clearing your throat, "you never mentioned that you’re one of the most famous football players in the world."

Alexia wrinkled her nose, shaking her head. "No, no," she laughed, waving a dismissive hand. "I'm definitely not. I mean, I might be a little well-known, but Xav probably hyped me up way more than I deserve."

“Hmm, so a million instagram followers isn’t famous, huh?” You shot her an unimpressed look.  Suddenly, it was your turn to tease her. “So, that means that I must be a total nobody with my 271 followers.”

She smirked. "Oh, so you've been stalking me?"

You leaned forward, tilting your head. "If checking your Instagram counts as stalking, then yeah, whatever." You pulled out your phone, unlocking it to show her the proof. "Also, I don’t buy the whole 'I’m not that good' thing when your pinned posts are literally you holding the award that practically says Best Football Player Ever.”

Alexia pouted dramatically. "No fair. Your account is private."

You chuckled and pointed an accusatory finger. “Hmmm, sounds like someone tried to stalk me too.”

"Guilty as charged," she admitted, resting her chin on her hand. "But can you really blame me? It’s not my fault my best friend’s sister is fine as fuck.”

You bit your lip, a blush growing in your cheek. Alexia smiled, incredibly pleased by your reaction. “So, are you gonna accept my follow request or…”

You rolled your eyes, scrolling through your notifications to approve her request. “Here. Happy?”

Alexia beamed, immediately checking her phone to check out your account. She whistled lowly as she clicked on the photo you posted days ago of just your torso in a tiny, yellow bikini. She liked the photo immediately. You chuckled as you watched her scroll through more photos, liking each and every single one of them. 

You were mildly relieved that you archived all remnants of Matt from your profile or else, you’d be figured out by now.

“I think I’m your number one fan now,” Alexia teased, looking back at you before her eyes fell lower to scan your body. “Kinda a bummer you’re not wearing one of those bikinis from the photo now.”

You smacked her arm playfully. “I seriously don’t know if you’re messing with me–”

“I’m not,” She cut you off. You looked to meet her eyes and while she had a playful smile, her eyes looked warm and sincere. “I genuinely think you’re cute. I’m not just teasing you.”

You paused before nodding, averting your gaze. Fuck, she’s so charming. I actually don’t even know how to respond to this. “Hmm,” you said before turning your head back to look at you. “You better not let Xav hear that though.”

She furrowed her eyebrows and let out a weak chuckle. “Xavier?”

“Yeah, you know him, he still acts like I’m his baby sister.” You said, purposely leaving out the fact that that main reason why you didn’t want him finding out was because your brother had just warned you earlier that day about messing around while on a break with Matt. “He’s just… protective. Last thing I need is him breathing down my neck the entire trip."

Alexia hummed, dragging her straw through her drink before glancing at you. "Well," she said after a pause, "that’s a bummer."

You tilted your head inquisitively. She smiled. "I was gonna ask him if it was okay to take his younger sister out on a date."

You blinked, brain short-circuiting “Oh… what?”

Alexia let out a low chuckle, clearly enjoying your reaction. "Well, if you don’t wanna go out with me since I’m your brother’s friend and all—"

"No!" you blurted, a little too loudly. You clamped your mouth shut, feeling the heat rush to your cheeks. "I mean… no, I do wanna go out with you."

Alexia’s smile fully grew. “Good, cause that would’ve sucked if you said no.”

You smiled. “But… you gotta keep this from my brother, for now. He’s just extra tense about the wedding and he can be such a… bridezilla.” Alexia chuckled at your description, knowing fully well how much of a control freak Xavier was when it came to the wedding. You continued. “So, we can’t let him know… just for now. After the wedding, I’m sure he’ll cool off.”

Alexia nodded, understanding. “Okay, then that will make this more interesting.”

You forced a casual smile, relieved that she had bought your excuse. If she thought Xavier’s overprotectiveness was the only reason you wanted to keep this a secret, that was fine by you. You had a good feeling about the date, even with the circumstances. And surely, there was no way things would go wrong over just one date.

…Right?

⋆˙⟡♡ When Alexia said that she would pick you up from your hotel room at 5 in the morning, you didn’t know what to think or expect of that date. What was more intriguing was that she asked you to wear a swimsuit under your clothes. 

What kind of date is she taking me on? You thought to yourself, yawning as you put on a short, beachy dress on top of your bikini. Are we going to the Little Mermaid’s restaurant or something?

Tote bag in hand, you headed to the port where you agreed to meet Alexia. Your lips turned up to a smile when you saw her standing there in denim shorts and a crocheted white top. “We’re lowkey coordinating our outfits,” you remarked as you walked to her.

She chuckled. “You look stunning.”

A blush crept up your cheeks. "Yeah?" You bit your lip, glancing between her and the sleek boat behind her. "So… why are we here?"

She gestured to the fancy-looking boat behind her. “You mentioned yesterday that you haven’t seen much of the non-tourist sights in Ibiza when you were there with your cousins,” she said. “So, I figured we’d hitchhike on the bride’s boat going there.”

“What?” You said, unable to process what she just said.

"Inés’ bridal team has to pick up a few things in Ibiza, so I pulled some strings and got us on board." She gave a little shrug, like it was no big deal. "Hope you’re not prone to seasickness, because I kinda had the staff prepare breakfast for us too. Called in a special favor from Inés."

Your eyes widened. "Wait, she knows?"

Alexia chuckled. "Relax. I didn’t tell her about my secret date with her future sister-in-law." She shot you a wink before holding out her hand. "But we gotta hurry. I wouldn’t want us to miss any part of our itinerary today." 

You let her take your hand, heart skipping a beat, and let her lead you into the boat.

⋆˙⟡♡ The boat was spacious, the sea breeze light and refreshing as Alexia led you to a seating area with a cushioned booth and a small table. Waiting for you was a basket of empanadas and carafes of juice.

You slid into the seat beside her, eyeing the pastries curiously. "I’ve never actually had an empanada before."

Alexia’s head snapped toward you so fast you almost laughed. "Huh? No way. You’ve never had one?"

You shook your head, amused at how scandalized she looked. She grabbed a plate and served one for you. "That’s insane. Inés makes really good ones too. She usually makes some whenever I visit." She shared. “These ones are prepared by the hotel staff though.”

You took a small bite, eyes widening as you bit into the buttery pastry, humming with satisfaction. "Fuck, where has this been all my life?"

Alexia grinned. "Told you. You’ve been missing out."

You wiped a few crumbs from your lips, leaning back. "Story of my life," you muttered, more to yourself than anything.

She raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

You hesitated before shrugging. "I’ve never been to Spain before. Actually… I don’t really travel at all."

Alexia looked surprised. "Really? That’s the total opposite of your brother. He’s been everywhere."

You laughed softly, shaking your head. "Yeah, well, Xavier always was the more adventurous one. I mean, I’ve always wanted to do the same but I guess, life just always got in the way…" You trailed off, leaving out the real reason: how much of that was because of your ex. How you turned down trips, stayed behind, convinced yourself that you didn’t need to see the world because love was enough.

And now that it was over, you were realizing just how much you had missed.

Alexia studied you for a moment, then nodded, looking out at the ocean. "I travel a lot for work, but nothing ever compares to Barcelona. That’s home." She glanced at you. "Maybe it’s the same for you? Love for your hometown?"

You exhaled, shaking your head. "No," you admitted. "I think I just didn’t know what I was missing out on."

She smiled, something warm and knowing in her gaze. "Well, then that’s more reason for me to show you a good time today.”

The moment stretched between you, lingering just long enough to make your pulse quicken. Then, with a playful nudge, she gestured to the table. "Come on, cariño. Eat more of the empanadas before they get too cold."

⋆˙⟡♡ "I don’t know about this," you said, watching as Alexia swung a leg over the Vespa with effortless ease. You held the helmet between your hands, feeling iffy about getting on the motorcycle. “I’ve never really ridden a motorcycle.”

Alexia chuckled and gave you a playful look. “Come on, trust me.”

You hesitated, gripping the helmet a little tighter. The idea of speeding through unfamiliar streets made your stomach twist. But then you thought about what you had just been saying. You wanted to experience more, to stop holding yourself back. And here was your chance.

You met Alexia’s gaze, and even though you barely knew her, something about her made you feel safe. You exhaled, put the helmet on, and climbed onto the Vespa behind her.

She smiled, adjusting her grip on the handlebars. "Hold on, cariño."

As soon as the Vespa took off, your hands hovered awkwardly at her sides, unsure. But when the wind picked up and the city blurred past you, your instincts took over. Your grip on her waist tightened, and Alexia let out a quiet chuckle. You felt her laughter through your chest, warm and steady.

At first, the speed made your heart race. It felt even more frightening than a rollercoaster. As much as Alexia liked how close you were, clinging onto her for dear life, she felt like she was going to suffocate with how tightly you were hugging her waist. “Cariño, relax. I won’t be reckless, I promise.”

You took a deep breath before loosening up, hands still around Alexia. You straightened your back a bit before looking around, taking in the views around you. 

Alexia slowed the bike as you neared the farmer’s market. “Still full from the empanadas, cariño?” she called over her shoulder, her voice rising above the hum of the cars and the market’s chatter.

You looked at the farmer’s market and immediately spotted a booth that sold fresh smoothies. You could practically feel your mouth water at the sight of the seller slicing strawberries. “Never too full for a farmer’s market.”

Alexia laughed, pulling the bike to the side and parking it. She hopped off first, offering her hand to help you down. You hesitated, your heart picking up pace as she held your hand, guiding you gently as you dismounted.

A warm blush crept up your neck as she turned to you with a playful smile. “You don’t have to take my hand if you don’t want to,” she said, her tone softening. “I just don’t want to lose you in this crowd.”

You glanced at the market. There weren’t even that many people. Sure, it was busy but you doubted you’d lose her that easily. Still, you played along, taking her hand in first, allowing her to fit her fingers in between yours. The warmth of her skin emanated against yours, causing your blush to grow.

“So, what do you want to try?” Alexia said as she led the way.

You hummed, looking around. “I kinda want a smoothie but maybe we should go around first? See what else they have to offer?”

Alexia nodded, agreeing, keeping you close and not letting your hand go as you two weaved through the stalls. The two of you tried some cheese, cured meat, bread, and a lot of other goods, humming in delight as you indulged in the free samples. Alexia seemed incredibly intrigued by cherry wine, even taking note of the name of the seller to buy from them later on. 

You couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed, though. Everywhere you looked, there were tempting options. What to eat? What to drink? The variety was endless, and you didn’t want to fill up on something just to find something even better a little further down the path. As you were lost in thought, your eyes landed on an ice cream stall. The warm afternoon sun was starting to set in, and suddenly, the idea of a cold treat felt like the perfect answer.

Alexia noticed your lingering gaze at the stall, chuckling a bit. “Never thought you’d have a sweet tooth,” she commented. “Want to get some?”

You nodded shyly, feeling caught staring longingly at the ice cream. She smiled back at you, hand still entangled with yours, leading the way once more and taking you there. The stall owner, a small tan lady with short curly hair, gasped as you two approached their booth. 

“La reina! En persona!” The woman gushed, clearly starstruck by Alexia.

“Ah, sí, sí,” she said, offering a warm handshake with her free hand. The vendor practically shook with giddInéss as she continued speaking quickly in Spanish, her words tumbling out as she gushed about how amazing it was to meet Alexia in person.

You stood there awkwardly, trying to follow the conversation, but your Spanish was rough at best. You caught a few words — novia and guapa —and your cheeks instantly heated up. You bit your lip as you felt your face grow warmer, gaze falling to your feet. 

You only looked up again when Alexia squeezed your hand, eyes fixed on you with a soft expression. She gave you a small smile before looking back at the lady. “No, aún no…” She responded in Spanish but continued in English. “But who knows? Maybe soon?”

The vendor yelped out, giggling like a schoolgirl as she bounced on her feet, speaking in fast Spanish that you could barely catch a word of. But her body language and the way she teasingly pointed at Alexia then at you told you all you needed to know. Alexia just chuckled as she watched you blush even more.

“Okay, now, what flavor do you want?” She asked you. 

You almost forgot about the ice cream because of the exchange. You looked inside the display to see huge containers with simple labels, all in Spanish. 

You blinked, momentarily forgetting about the ice cream, your mind still stuck on the exchange. When you finally looked at the display, you saw a bunch of large containers with simple labels, all in Spanish. You hummed, feeling a little overwhelmed. “I have no clue. They all look so good.”

Alexia chuckled softly, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Would you mind if I chose for you?”

You  shook your head, not needing to think twice. “I’d prefer it either way,” you admitted with a shy smile.

Alexia continued talking to the vendor, and you watched the lady scoop generous amounts of ice cream into your cones. When it was time to pay, the lady was insisting that Alexia not pay, practically forcing Alexia’s money back to her pocket; the whole sight made you laugh. Alexia finally agreed not to pay but while the vendor’s guard was down, she slipped her money into the tip jar, throwing a cheeky wink at the lady.

“Okay, ice cream time,” Alexia said, smiling wide as she held up the cones slightly. “Fuck, these are heavy. I think she wants to give us a toothache.”

You chuckled and glanced at the flavors Alexia had picked. “Which one’s mine?” you asked, a little unsure.

“The strawberry and balsamic one,” Alexia replied, her smile widening as she nodded towards the cone in your hand. “I saw you practically lusting after those strawberries earlier, so I thought you might like this one.”

You raised an eyebrow, still skeptical. “Strawberries with balsamic… vinegar?” you said, voice cautious, not quite sure what to expect.

She laughed, the sound rich and warm. “Trust me, it sounds crazy, but it’s perfect. You’ll see.”

“Hmm, and what did you get?” You looked at her cone. “Looks like chocolate.”

She nodded. “Yeah, I got a basic flavor just in case you don’t like yours so we can switch.”

You couldn’t help but feel even more drawn to Alexia and the date had barely begun. She was just so unbelievably thoughtful, remembering you mentioning the strawberries from earlier, noticing you looking at the ice cream stall, even picking a flavor you would have never chosen for yourself. She just felt so confident about you liking it but still making sure to have a back-up plan in case you didn’t. It may have seemed like such a small thing but it said a lot about her to you.

Suddenly, you were thinking about Matt. You two were together for years and yet he had not ever displayed the same level of thoughtfulness as Alexia had, and you practically only just met Alexia.

Feeling a drop of ice cream reach your knuckles, you hurriedly licked up the drips on the side of the cone. A hum escaped your lips as you tasted the ice cream, eagerly eating more of it. Alexia smiled as she watched you, a soft gleam of pride in her eyes. “See, I knew you’d like it,” she said with a warm tone. 

“Mmm, s’good…” you said, having more of it. You paused, looking at her before offering. “Do you want to try some?”

She paused for a moment, looking at your face as if to study you before simply leaning in. You gently moved the cone towards her lips, watching as she took a delicate lick of the ice cream. It wasn’t seductive or sexual but something about it made your heart beat faster. You bit your lip as you watched her lift her head, lick her lips and nod approvingly. 

Alexia noticed your look, the redness of your cheeks, the way you were biting your lip and the bashful look in your eyes. She was about to tease you but before she could even say anything, you could hear the vendor giggling, a few meters away. The two of you turned to look at her and she just have you two a playful air swat and a head shake from behind her booth. 

“Looks like we got our first fan,” Alexia teased.

⋆˙⟡♡ After roaming a bit more around the stalls, you finally made your way back to the motorcycle. Alexia revved the engine, and you slipped on your helmet, even if you had been on the motorcycle early today, a part of you still felt nervous getting on it.

You asked as you two took the road, feeling the warmth of the noon sun against your shoulders. “Where are we off to?” you asked loudly, above the sound of the cars beside you.

Alexia kept her eyes on the road ahead. “It’s not too far,” she said. “You’ll know when you see it.”

You took a deep breath, suddenly feeling yourself get a bit nervous. You weren’t someone who had ever done this kind of thing: travelling abroad with beautiful women, riding a motorcycle, allowing said woman to decide your fate for the day, taking you to places you have never even heard of before. It was all new to you. 

And yet, despite the nerve-racking uncertainty, there was this other new feeling bubbling up inside you. Excitement. It was the kind of excitement you never really knew you were capable of feeling. It wasn’t the excitement you’ve known, like the kind of excitement you got for birthdays, going to Disneyland, or prom. It felt much bigger than that.

Alexia shifted slightly, adjusting her grip on the handlebars, her posture relaxed. She didn’t seem nervous at all. 

The engine revved again, and Alexia’s voice broke through your thoughts, a little louder now to cut through the wind. “Hold on tight, cariño,” she shouted over her shoulder, giving you just enough time to adjust your grip on her before she sped up, zooming up the inclined road.

You yelped as you felt the speed, holding on tighter to Alexia. You could feel Alexia’s body vibrate with laughter, clearly amused by your vaguely frightened screams. Normally, you’d be a bit embarrassed holding onto someone like this but you were too anxious to care; you weren’t going to risk falling off and cracking your head.

“Relax, cariño,” Alexia teased, her voice cutting through the rush of wind. “You’re safe with me.”

And just like that, suddenly, you felt your body loosen up a bit, becoming more relaxed. You straightened up a bit, hands still wrapped around Alexia. Now that you calmed, you could finally appreciate the wind, the sight of the trees you passed, the sight of the ocean just peeking past the trees. It was beautiful.

You still had no idea where you and Alexia were heading but if this was the journey towards it, the destination must have been out-of-this-world.

⋆˙⟡♡ “There is no way in hell that I am jumping off of that, Alexia!” 

The Cataln laughed at you, gesturing with her hand for you to come over. “Come on, it’s really fun, I swear.” She urged with a wide smle. “Besides, we’re not jumping off here. We’ll take a few more steps down there and jump off that cliff.”

She pointed at a cliff that was significantly lower than the one you first encountered during your hike up from where you two parked. You sighed deeply, contemplating whether or not you would still go with it. On one hand, the thought of jumping off was already making your knees shake and your hands clammy. On the other, the hike up here was already enough to knock the wind out of your lungs… and you did say that you wanted to be more adventurous.

“If you don’t want to, we can just hike back down to the motorcycle,” Alexia offered with a shrug, seemingly unaffected by the walk up. “It’s no problem.”

“No problem for you, you’re literally a world-class athlete.” You joked, shaking your head. You took a deep breath and peeked once more at the cliff Alexia was pointing too. The jump did not seem that high. The water seemed calm too. “How many feet is that?”

Alexia paused, looking over to the cliff. “Uh, I don’t know in feet but maybe a little over 3 meters?” She responded. “It’s gonna be fun, I promise.”

“If you’re nervous, I can go first, break the surface tension a bit. That will make it easier for you to jump in after me, soften the impact.” Alexia offered, sticking her hand out to you for you to take. “We can also swim back to where we parked from down there.”

The sun beat down, making the idea of jumping and swimming in the cool ocean pretty tempting. You bit your lip, then carefully took her hand, nodding. Alexia smiled warmly and led the way down toward the smaller cliff.

Alexia went first on the way to the cliff, carefully making her way downthe rocks that were conveniently shaped like steps. You took a deep breath as you used one hand to hold on to the rocks and the other to grip Alexia’s arm tightly as you stepped down. Finally, you were on the lower cliff and being closer to the sea, you could hear the soft sounds of the waves beneath you.

You looked over at Alexia who was now taking off her clothes to reveal a small white bikini underneath and suddenly, the nerves were replaced by a flustered feeling. There is no way that I’ll ever get used to seeing her body, you thought to yourself.

She caught you staring and laughed. “I know I look good, but you’re going to have to change into your bikini too,” she teased. “Swimming in those clothes would be way harder.”

You nodded. “But where do we put everything?”

Alexia held up a black bag. “I brought a waterproof bag for exactly that.” She grinned. “Just toss your shoes and clothes in here.”

Feeling a little shy, you slowly peeled off your clothes. The hard rock under your feet made you wince as you slipped off your shoes. You stepped closer, reaching over Alexia to place your things in the bag.

She watched you with a smirk, her eyes lingering appreciatively on your body before letting out a low whistle. You swatted her arm playfully. “No teasing,” you warned.

She chuckled softly. “I’m not teasing. I’m just saying you look great.”

Your eyes widened in surprise. “Says you?”

She raised an eyebrow, her smile teasing. “You haven’t said anything yet.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Okay, fine. I think you look… sexy.” Your cheeks warmed as you admitted it.

Alexia laughed, clapping her hands together before rubbing them in excitement. “Gracias, cariño. Now, are you ready? I’ll show you how to jump without hurting yourself.”

“You’re telling me it’s going to hurt?”

She rolled her eyes, laughing again. “No! I said I’m going to show you how not to get hurt.”

She explained patiently, “Just step off the cliff and keep your legs straight and together. Don’t bend your knees or else, it’s gonna hurt a bit more when you hit the water…” She continued to explain, enacting how your position should be once you do jump. “Did you get that?”

You took a deep breath, feeling the nerves kick in. Never in your life would you have thought you’d end up where you were now: standing on a cliff in Ibiza, having a beautiful Catalan woman teach you how to jump off of it. The most daring thing you ever did in past dates was maybe eat deepfried frog legs in a state fair.

You looked over to Alexia who was walking to the edge, tightening her ponytail as she did. “I’ll go first just to show you how not scary it is.” She said, looking back at you. She smiled at your worried expression, finding it adorable you seemed with your hands grasping each other, eyebrows furrowed.

“Come closer, just to get a feel of it.”

You stepped cautiously as if every next step would cause the cliff to crumble. You took a sharp inhale, feeling the wind blow against your hair and trying hard not to focus on the sound of the ocean beneath you.

“I usually throw my bag or a rock first to break the surface tension,” you turned to Alexia who suddenly chuckled a large rock into the water, followed by the waterproof bag with both of your stuff in it . “Then as soon as I feel confident, I just jump.”

“You just do it?” You swallowed.

Alexia chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, it’s easy.”

“I don’t believe you.”

She raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit challenged. “Just watch me,” she said with a wink but before you could even react, Alexia stepped forward and jumped off.

A strangled gasp escaped your lips. “Oh my god!” You exclaimed as you looked over the cliff. Before you could even realize it, Alexia was already down there, swimming up to the surface.

She flashed you a smile and shouted. “Come! The water is warm!” She swam backwards, allowing you ample space to comfortably jump into. “Just don’t think about it.”

The normal you would have backed out. You would normally think about the potential consequences — injury, drowning, scraping against a rock or whatever. But the reason you came to Spain was not to be the old you. 

It was to be spontaneous, to actually live the only life you have — something that you have not done in the past couple decades you existed. 

It was time to just let go.

And just like that, you stepped off.

The feeling was nothing like you have ever felt before; it was exhilarating, overwhelming, amazing. It only lasted a couple seconds before you felt your body crash against the water.

Then it felt like silence. Just being enveloped by the silence of the ocean. You slowly swam to the surface, quickly being met by Alexia who swam towards you.

“Did you have fun?” She asked as she threaded above the waves with the waterproof bag floating behind her.

You could not contain your laughs. “Oh my god!” You exclaimed. “I wish I could do that again.”

She laughed. “I told you it was fun,” she responded, now mirroring your enthusiasm. “We can go again, if you want!”

“Hell yeah, I wanna go!” 

⋆˙⟡♡ The waterproof bag Alexia brought along turned out to be a little less waterproof than you thought. Water somehow got into the bag and drenched most of your clothes, including your towels.

So, Alexia and you figured that it was best to lounge on the beach for a while and let the sun dry you. 

Alexia laid out her damp towel beside yours on the shore, signalling you to sit down as she ran over to a nearby shop to buy you two some bottled water. You dropped your bag on the spot beside the towel and sat down, immediately massaging your sore calves.

The adrenaline somehow got you to climb up that hill real fast multiple times before jumping off. At the time, you didn’t feel tired or strained due to the adrenaline from all the cliff jumping but now your calves were killing you.

But even if your legs hurt like hell and your arms felt like jelly from all the swimming and threading, you didn’t regret it a single bit.

It felt exhilarating, like nothing you felt before, like you were finally living. You came to Ibiza, wanting to show Matt that you could be fun. But now that you were actually having fun, doing things you never thought you’d do, he didn’t even enter your mind once while you were running up that hill or when you were jumping off or swimming back to the shore. He was pretty much forgotten.

It wasn’t even just because of Alexia. Sure, you loved your date so far and ever since you met her, you’ve practically felt infatuation like never before but the biggest part of being able to forget and move on from Matt so quickly was discovering what you've been missing out on. It felt like you were living life for the first time.

You looked over your shoulder to see Alexia returning back, a large liter of water in hand, bikini-clad body still damp and hair dripping wet, looking a shade darker now that it was wet. You smiled at her.

“They didn’t accept cards and I only had a couple euros on hand,” she said, handing you the large water bottle. “Hope you don’t mind sharing.”

You chuckled, opening the bottled water as she sat beside you on the towel, moving close to you, stretching her legs on to the sand. “Why would I mind?”

“I don’t know, indirect kissing or whatever,” she said with a lilt to her voice. “Maybe you’re the type to care about that.”

You chuckled, feeling more at ease with Alexia after the cliff jumping. You couldn’t help but think that she was beyond clever for planning all that to get you to be more at ease and open to her. Something about jumping and adrenaline, you thought.

“Why would I mind an indirect kiss when I’ve already kissed you?” You retorted before drinking from the bottle.

She chuckled. “I don’t know. You might run off again.”

You nearly choked on the water as you chuckled. You shook your head. “Hey, not everyone can be like Alexia, the expert flirter.” You rolled your eyes. 

“Expert flirter?” She laughed.

You raised your eyebrows and nodded. “Yeah, exactly. It was so intimidating flirting with you for the first time. It was intense.” You opened up. “I’m honestly still a little bit intimidated by you, actually.”

She furrowed her eyebrows. “What? Why?”

You averted your gaze, handing the bottle for her to drink from it next. “I don’t know. You’re older, and apparently, a really famous footballer.” You started, pausing before looking back at her. “Doesn’t help that you’re actually so stunning, especially in that bikini.”

Her lips turned into a smirk. “Hmm, and I’m the expert flirter, huh?”

You chuckled and nodded. 

“I still don’t get it,” she said.

“What?”

“How you sucked so much at flirting when you look like that,” she responded, tone vaguely serious. “Don’t you ever flirt back home?”

You sighed, chewing on your lip, contemplating on whether or not you’d tell her about Matt. “Uh,” you paused, fidgeting with the sand beneath you. “I haven’t actually flirted much. Barely at all before I came here.”

It wasn’t the exact truth but it wasn’t a lie either. 

“I was in a really long term relationship,” you said, opening up just a bit more. “And, well, we broke up.”

“Oh, when?”

You paused. “A year ago.” You didn’t know why you lied but it just came out of your mouth. It felt like it would have been too awkward to correct it but also, it felt wrong that you were lying. 

She nodded. “Not so long ago,” she commented, face turning more serious. “Why’d you break up?”

You paused. “Uh, the feelings weren’t there anymore.” You paused, absentmindedly drawing patterns on the water bottle’s condensation. “Now, that I’m here. I’m starting to question if they were ever there in the first place. Part of me just feels like I settled because I felt comfortable.”

You looked over to Alexia and she had her eyes fixated on you, listening intently. You continued. “It was always stable, calm… stagnant. I don’t think I ever felt strong emotions during the relationship. I thought it was a good thing because that meant we barely ever fought but really, there just wasn’t any passion either.”

“Looking back, I feel like I was just staying because I thought that all relationships just… felt like that.” You sighed. “It felt like mechanically going through milestones together and I guess, eventually, we both just realized we were done living like that.”

“It was mutual?” She asked, eyebrows furrowed with curiosity.

“Yeah.” Another lie. Well, partially. 

Because you figured that even if Matt was the one who initiated the break, you figured that you’d want to be the one to put the last nail on that coffin, completely turning that break into a definite break-up.

The two of you fell silent. Alexia seemed to not know what to say after you had openly talked about your past relationship. You didn’t mind it; there was really nothing more to say. You were just glad that you partially told her about your situation.

You grabbed your phone, thinking about shooting Matt a quick ‘let’s talk’ text but as you tried to open it, you realized that the battery was drained.

Alexia noticed. “Oh no, the sun must have gotten to it.” She said, “My phone battery always drains quicker whenever I leave it out under the sun. I should have warned you.”

You sighed but returned it back to the bag. “No problem, that just means you have to keep me entertained.”

Alexia smirked. “Yeah, want me to entertain you now?” She said moving closer to you, reaching over to tuck hair behind your ear, making you blush. 

Your eyes flickered to her lips involuntarily but you just chuckled, feeling a bit too shy to initiate a kiss “Why don’t you tell me more about yourself?”

She smiled as she leaned back, resting her weight on her propped-up arms. “What do you wanna know?”

“Hmm… you take a lot of girls cliff diving?”

She laughed at your question. “No, no,” she responded, shaking her head. “It’s my first time doing this cliff diving date.”

“Why do I have a hard time believing that?” 

“I’m serious. Even ask Xavier,” she responded. “I haven’t gone on a date in months. I just never have the time.”

You nodded, understandingly. Of course, a footballer like her with her popularity would be busy. But you still couldn't comprehend how someone as stunning as her would be single. “So, when was your last relationship?”

“A year ago too,” she responded. “It was a pretty long relationship too – almost a couple years, I think? She ended things when she realized she was scared of commitment. That… honestly fucked me up for a while. Gave me trust issues.”

You gulped, suddenly feeling the guilt spread through your body. “Yeah? Why?”

She sighed. “Well, she lied to me.” She shrugged, seemingly unaffected by it. “She broke up with me, said she was scared of committing but then a month later, she was dating someone else. Some guy she knew back from college. Just felt like a major backstab.”

She sighed before looking at you again with a weak smile. “They’re engaged now.”

“Oh… I’m sorry,” you responded. “I feel bad for asking.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I’m over it.” She shrugged, before moving over closer to you. “Besides, I’m kinda dating this hot girl right now.”

She bit her lip as she leaned closer. A blush crept across your cheeks, feeling your heart flutter as she did. “Yeah?” It was all you could muster to say. She just had the crazy ability to make you feel too stupid to say anything.

“Great kisser too,” Her eyes were practically fixated on your lips now, zeroed in on them. Even if you already shared that kiss at the club, you still felt incredibly on edge with her being so close. Perhaps it was the lack of alcohol or maybe it was the fact that you were even more attracted to her now.

Alexia’s lips curled into a small smirk. “The only problem is that she's a bit of an overthinker at times.”

You bit your lip, feeling called out.

“I don’t mind though. I can help her with that,” She said in a lower tone as she moved her hand to cup your face as she leaned in, capturing your lips with hers. 

All your muscles unclenched and all your thoughts just fizzled away. Suddenly, all you could focus on was her lips on yours. It started off slow, tentative as if she was testing out the waters before her hand snaked around your waist, deepening the kiss as soon as she felt you reciprocate.

You wrapped your arms around Alexia, pulling her in close as you tangled your fingers into her hair. 

God, I could do this all day.

⋆˙⟡♡ While your clothes had mostly dried, they still weren’t completely comfortable to wear. They’d also taken on a weird, musty scent from not being able to dry properly. And, every step made you wince a little, with the damp fabric clinging to your skin in all the wrong places. It was just not an ideal situation.

“Okay, I can’t do this anymore,” you groaned loudly, tugging at the moist fabric of your clothes which had begun to cling awkwardly to your body. “This feels like wearing a cold rag.”

Alexia, equally uncomfortable, gave you a half-laugh, half-groan. “Remind me to never trust those ‘waterproof’ bags again.” She shook her head disapprovingly. “Let’s head over to those souvenir shops, pretty sure they’d have something decent. Just pick out whatever you want. I’ll pay.”

With that mutual agreement, the two of you wandered through the line of souvenir shops near the boardwalk. Most of the stores were packed with overpriced towels and tacky magnets… exactly what you'd expect from tourist trap shops. But tucked between all the novelty junk were racks of clothes. Mostly polyester shirts with tacky designs or corny phrases, and mostly overpriced… but at least, they were dry. That was all you needed.

You grinned as your eyes landed on a rack filled with bootleg football kits. You pulled out a clearly fake Spanish national team shirt with the logo slightly wonky and the color being a tad brighter than the original. 

“Would you be mad if I got one of these?” you asked, holding it up with a small smirk on your face. 

Alexia averted her attention from the rack of beachy, button-up shirts and looked over, immediately laughing. “Mad? No. But if you seriously want one, I’ve got like, a dozen at home. All legit. All worn in actual matches.” She said with a small shrug. “If I sign it, you might even get a couple hundred euros off of it.”

You chuckled and looked back at the dupe in your hands. “If you sign this, I bet it would fetch me five euros at least.” You joked before returning it back to the rack. As you hung it back, something caught your eye: a white jersey with golden details. 

“Okay, I’ve made my decision,” you announced, feigning innocence. “I really like this one. It’s got that classic, retro charm.”

Alexia barely glanced up at first, focused on looking at a rack of overpriced crocheted tops. “Yeah? Which one?”

You turned slightly as you held the shirt, keeping the logo out of view, but letting her catch just enough of the white fabric. “It’s cute, right? The crown on the logo makes it look regal.”

Her attention snapped fully to you now, eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Wait… show me the front.”

You bit your lip to suppress your smile and slowly lifted the hanger up, revealing the shirt in all its glory. A Real Madrid jersey.

The effect was instant. Alexia shook her head, furrowing her eyebrows as she walked over to you.  “Ay, por favor, not that.”

You tilted your head, feigning confusion. “What? It’s a nice shirt,” you said, looking back at it to pretend like you’re analyzing the details. “I mean, white goes with everything.”

She strode over and plucked it from your hands. “Absolutely not, you can pick anything else. Not this.”

“What?” you said, letting your voice rise with exaggerated hurt. “You said I could choose whatever I wanted!”

“I obviously didn’t think you’d pick that when I said it,” she said, hanging the jersey back on the rack. “I’ll buy you the Spanish knock-off instead. Dios mio, I’ll buy you all these ugly dupes before I buy that one.”

You couldn’t hold it in anymore and you laughed at her reaction. “Yeah, I’m just messing with you.” 

Alexia looked at you and shook her head slowly. “Oh, I can’t believe you,” she said with a tone of slight annoyance and amusement. “You’re just like Xavier, always messing with me.”

She reached over, pinching your cheek. “If you weren’t so cute, I would have been annoyed.” She teased. 

You shrugged and gave her a cheeky grin.

Alexia chuckled before taking your hand in hers. “Come on, I think I saw the perfect dress for you inside anyway.” She said, flashing you a playful smile. “Let’s get away from these ugly kits.” 

You beamed, comfortably settling your fingers into hers. 

⋆˙⟡♡ “This is just ridiculous,” you said as you looked at yourself in the mirror, clad in a white shirt-dress which had the illustration of a cartoon body with comically large boobs, an impossibly tiny waist, and huge hips. It supposedly gave the illusion of you having the body of a sexy cartoon lady.

Alexia exited the dressing room, wearing virtually the same thing except the cartoon body on hers was wearing a yellow bikini while yours was wearing a pink bikini. “It’s so stupid but I love it.”

You laughed at the sight of the two of you in the mirror. “What if a fan spots you and you’re wearing this horrendous shirt?”

She shrugged. “A real fan would embrace me for who I am — huge cartoon tits and all.” She joked, making you laugh. 

“Come on, let’s pay for it so we can get dinner sooner. I’m so hungry from all the swimming.”

⋆˙⟡♡ Originally, Alexia planned for the two of you to check out a more upscale bistro nearer the city center but you two eventually figured that you would rather spend more time together by the beach. 

Besides, you were pretty certain that the restaurant manager would not be pleased if you two showed up dressed in shirt-dresses that had big-breasted cartoon bodies on them.

So, instead, you settled for one of the restobar with an outdoor area by the boardwalk. The place also had a band playing some older songs, mostly in Spanish. Alexia and you sat side-by-side, angled toward the band and the ocean.

She took a slow swig of her beer, pausing before turning to face you. “So,” she began, “if you would give this date a score, what would you give me?”

Confused, you looked over to her. “A score?”

“Yeah, like a grade or a rating. Out of 100.” She grinned.

You chuckled lightly and took a bite of your sandwich as you thought it over. “That’s rough,” you commented, wiping some of the sauce off of the corner of your mouth. “I think… maybe an 89? Or an 87?”

Alexia gave you a crooked smile, lifting her eyebrows. “Not bad, I guess.” She said, nodding. “Why not 100?”

You let out a laugh. “Well, I have to leave some room for improvement, right? You might just end up outdoing yourself next time.”

Suddenly, the Catalan perked up, straightening her posture and eyes suddenly wide and bright. She was like a puppy who just saw a tennis ball. “Next time?” She repeated, practically beaming. “So you do wanna go on more dates with me, huh?”

You chuckled at her reaction. “Well, duh,” you shrugged. “I’ve got a huge crush on you and this has been the best date of my life. Of course, I want more of you.”

Her brow arched, lips curling into a playful smirk. “You want more of me?”

You playfully smacked her on the arm as you rolled your eyes. “Don’t be disgusting.”

Alexia laughed at your playful smack. She flashed you a genuine, warm smile and the way her eyes just sparkled as they gazed into yours… it was insane how much this woman made your heart beat so fast.

“Yeah, uh, I do wanna go out with you more,” you said, your voice quieter now, looking down at your sandwich awkwardly.

Her smile widened and her cheeks grew red. She looked almost flustered which was something you didn’t see much. She always was the more confident, bold one but now she was red in the cheeks and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. 

“Guess I gotta plan on some more dates then,” She said, locking eyes with you again.

⋆˙⟡♡ After you shared another drink, Alexia and you decided it was time to rush back to the dock to make the boat back to the island. The staff had prepared blankets just in case the cold sea wind nipped at your skin but you two opted to share one inside, sitting impossibly close as you draped the smooth blanket on top of you two, feet flirtatiously grazing each other beneath it.

You went back to your room almost with a pep in your step. If life was like a classic cartoon, you felt like you would have floated back to your room on a cloud with hearts in your eyes. You kicked off your shoes, humming the same song from the bar as you padded toward the bathroom.

You blushed as you rinsed off the saltwater and sweat from the day, smiling like a fool as you towel-dried your hair. You couldn’t stop grinning. You replayed everything as you took a bath and brushed your teeth. 

After you finished getting ready for bed, you sank onto the edge of your hotel bed, still feeling warm and giddy, now wrapped up in the hotel robe. You reached over for your phone, which you finally were able to charge after leaving it drained all afternoon, and finally lit up the screen.

Your smile faded almost instantly.

The screen was bombarded with text notifications… from Matt.

The first message startled you — an “I miss you” — and saw another one that started with “I know it’s late but…”

That was enough for you to toss the phone to the far edge of the bed, not wanting to deal with that mess right now. You rubbed your hands down your face and flopped backward, hair still slightly damp against the pillow.

You stared at the ceiling for a moment, exhaling hard. After your wonderful date with this girl who just made you feel things you never ever felt all those years with Matt, you just didn’t want to deal with drama right now. You weren’t going to let Matt ruin this feeling. Not after you’re realizing how much you’ve missed out, and how much you’ve realized about yourself.

“Whatever,” you muttered to yourself. “I’ll deal with it later.”

For now, you just wanna relish in this feeling, pushing all thoughts of Matt to the back of your head for you to sort out later on. 

⋆˙⟡♡ The next few days felt like a dream.

Alexia and you took advantage of the activities that the resort had to offer. After all, Inés did say this was an all-expense paid trip and you both figured you’d rather spend all of that on jetskis and paddle boards instead of wasting it on overpriced margaritas by the pool.

So, you and Alexia did it all. You went paddleboarding. You went snorkeling. You tried one of those inflatable rides wherein you both had to hold on to the flimsy straps on the inflatable as a speedboat skidded through the ocean, swerving in an attempt to get you to fall off. Basically, if the resort offered it, you two were there. 

And well… you kissed a lot too. On the boats. By the beach. In a small cove at the edge of the resort. Every hidden nook, tucked away, you kissed her.

You made sure you were in the more remote, hidden parts, not wanting your brother or anyone else in the family to find out about it.

It wasn’t that you were ashamed or anything. It just felt right to keep this relationship private for now. There was something intoxicating and thrilling about knowing that Alexia belonged only to you. She might have been Barcelona’s star player, your brother’s best friend, or everyone’s idol. But now, she was just yours.

You giggled helplessly when Alexia hovered above you on the sand, her hair falling into her face as she pressed light, teasing kisses along your neck.

“Alexia! Stop, it tickles!” You said, giggling while trying to push her away.

Alexia giggled, planting a few more feathery kisses around your neck and jaw before returning back to rest on her own beach towel beside yours. “Sorry, cariño, you’re just so yummy-looking right now.”

You rolled your eyes at her and put your sunglasses back onto your face, feeling the sun hit your eyes now that Alexia’s shadow wasn’t covering your eyes. “You say that when your stomach literally looks like a chocolate bar,” you teased back, playfully poking her abs.

Alexia chuckled. “This? Please, this is nothing. This is my off-season bod,” she said with a head shake. “You should see me during the season, when I get to work out everyday. That’s when I get really fit.”

You bit your lip, blushing. It was hard enough sitting beside her like this – half sun-drunk, half overwhelmed by how attractive she already was. The idea of her being somehow even more toned left you speechless.

Alexia smirked at your reaction. She paused, propping herself up on one elbow, scanning your face before saying. “I can’t wait to take you back to Barcelona.”

You blinked, caught off guard. “Take me back?”

Her brows furrowed, lips twitching into an embarrassed smile. “Does that sound too possessive? Sorry. My English. I meant that I want you to come to Barcelona.”

The soft stumble made you laugh. You reached out, cupping her cheek. “I’d love to visit you,” you admitted.

She leaned into your hand with a low hum, letting you caress her cheek. “Hmm, you want to?”

You nodded with a smile. “I have a break from law school anyway so I definitely want to spend that time with you.”

Her eyes brightened. “How long is your break?”

“Well, the earliest one I think is Thanksgiving? So, a little less than a week.” You said, trying to recall the academic calendar in your head.

Alexia looked at you with an offended look. “A week? You can’t possibly visit me for just a week?”

You chuckled. “I mean, I could always come back for Christmas. And isn’t a week enough to see Barcelona? It’s not exactly huge.”

“Hmm, let’s see. You’ll need one full day to recover from your flight.” She kissed your cheek gently.

“Two days for the tourist spots.” She kissed your other cheek.

“A day for shopping and food,” she continued, dropping a kiss onto your forehead.

“Another for your brother. He’ll want time with you too.” A kiss beside your ear.

“And then of course, I want you to meet my family and friends.” She moved to the other side, pressing her lips softly to the other side. You were giggling by then, heat spreading through you.

Finally, she met your gaze, biting her lip before her voice dipped lower. “And I’d need one whole day.” She leaned in to capture your lips in a gentle peck. “Just us. You, me… and my bed.”

You made a face, shoving slightly at her shoulder. “You’re so gross, Alexia.”

She feigned innocence, smirking all the while. “What? I only meant cuddles and Spanish movies. You’re the one with the dirty mind.”

You rolled your eyes, though your cheeks burned at how easily she unraveled you.

Alexia flopped back onto her towel, arms folded behind her head. “Maybe I should just visit you before the season starts.”

“There’s not much to do back home,” you admitted with a shrug. “It’s definitely no Barcelona.”

“I don’t care,” she said simply, turning her head to look at you. “I’m not going for the city. I’m going for you.”

You looked at her, analyzing her face. Alexia looked sincere and genuine, saying it so casually as if it wasn’t a big deal. You bit your lip, mostly flattered that she was becoming this interested in you.

But also, scared. 

It was easy being with her when you were here on some remote island in Spain, away from reality. But you had no clue how this relationship would play out in the real world where responsibilities, judgement, and ex-boyfriends existed. 

Alexia must have caught your worried reaction and your hesitation because her tone softened. “I mean, only if you’d want me there.”

You swallowed hard, then laughed at yourself for even doubting. Alexia made you feel things you didn’t even have words for yet, things that made your chest ache in the best way. “Of course,” you smiled. “I’d love to have you over.”

She returned your smile, before leaning in again to capture your lips. 

⋆˙⟡♡ Even if you and Alexia have technically only been dating for a short period, you’ve grown attached and clingy to her, wanting to spend every day and second with her.

But wedding duties came. 

Alexia had to go to your brother’s bachelor party while you had to go to Inés’ bachelorette.

⋆˙⟡♡ The boys chartered a yacht back to the main island to party at one of the big, high-end clubs. The entourage was a mix – players and staff from the club, a couple family members, Xav’s med school friends. Alexia knew most of them well enough to be comfortable being the only girl in the group, yet she couldn’t bring herself to relax. The loud music, the lights, the drinks… it all felt distant. In her mind, all she could focus on was her yearning to go back to the resort to be with you

Still, her quiet detachment went unnoticed. The others were too busy scanning the dance floor, competing over who was getting attention from the pretty girls at the bar.

“She’s definitely looking at me,” Lewandowski boasted, tipping his drink toward a girl across the room. “I’m the famous one here. It’s obvious.”

One of the staffers snorted. “Please. This isn’t the pitch. It’s a club. Looks are what matter.”

“Come on, bro, look at me.” Lewa countered, gesturing at himself.

Xav laughed at the banter ongoing about which of the guys was getting flirty smiles and looks  from the pretty, long-legged blonde at the bar. “You guys are blind,” he commented. “She’s clearly checking Alexia out.”

Everyone looked at Alexia who looked completely off guard, previously just spacing out as she stared at her glass of whiskey. “Me?”

The group chuckled. Xav nodded. “Yeah, go on, try and wave at her. Let’s test it out.”

Alexia frowned but acquiesced anyway, raising her hand in the smallest, most reluctant wave paired with a tight-lipped smile. Unexpectedly, the girl giggled and whispered something to her friend before biting her lip and waving back. The entourage practically hollered at the reaction, realizing that Xav was right.

“What are you waiting for? Go on!” Marc, one of Xav’s med school friends, urged, half-shoving her off her stool.

Alexia chuckled, cheeks warming, but shook her head. “No thanks. I’m seeing someone.”

Xav looked shocked. “Wait, huh? Since when?”

Alexia’s lips curved into a smirk and she shrugged, taking a swig of her drink, letting Xav wait for her answer. The rest of the crew shifted their attention elsewhere, more interested in the booze and the other girls than Alexia’s current relationship status.

“Just recently, seeing how it goes.” She said as she put her glass on the counter. She flashed Xav another lopsided smile, feeling a bit cheeky knowing that she was talking about his sister.

“You never told me,” Xav said with a shocked tone but flashed her a smile. “It’s good though. After… everything with your ex, it’s nice to see you giving someone a real chance again. She must be something special if you’re turning down blondes in a club.”

Alexia gave him a small shrug and a smile, not wanting to let him in on more of the details.

Xav playfully nudged her. “No, I’m serious ‘cause weren’t you just talking about flirting with other girls before the wedding?” 

Alexia responded to his inquiry with a head shake paired with a small eyeroll, forgetting she did mention kissing some girl (which turned out to be his sister) at a club in Ibiza. 

“So, this new girl really must be something, huh?” Xav asked again.

Alexia sighed and felt her cheeks warm.  “Yeah, this girl… she’s really great.” 

Xav seemed happy but tilted his head in confusion. “So, who is she?”

Alexia smirked, shrugging. “Just someone I met recently.”

He looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. “Is she someone I know?”

She just looked at him with a blank expression. His eyes widened as the silence stretched a beat too long. “Please don’t tell me it’s one of my cousins cause if it is, you gotta end it. Those girls are a mess.”

Alexia chuckled and shook her head. “No, no… I can assure you it isn’t them. I met them and I don’t thonk they’re my type. No offense.” She paused, pouring herself another drink from one of the several hard liquor bottles the group ordered. “But I’m sure you wouldn’t approve either way.”

Xav narrowed his eyes but didn’t push further. Deep inside, he thought it must be one of Inés’ Instagram influencer cousins or something. Little did he know, it was someone much closer to home the truth really was.

⋆˙⟡♡Across the island, the girls had gathered for something far tamer. Inés had never been the type for wild nights. She preferred green smoothies to tequila shots, yoga mats to dance floors. She was one of those holistic girlies who was more into health and well-being than anything else. So instead of a typical bachelorette party with male strippers and alcohol, her “last hurrah” was a yoga session followed by sound healing.

It wasn’t bad, exactly. 

The air was soft, laced with the subtle scent of the burning incense, the steady rhythm of waves carrying through the gigantic open window. You stretched and bent alongside the others, breathing through the motions. It was calming, if you let it be. (Daisy and Cam, however, looked as though they were being tortured, exchanging eye-rolls and pained expressions with every new pose. You were certain they’d rather be sneaking onto the boys’ yacht than holding some kind of “hip-opening pose.”)

And while you found some comfort in the stretches, you couldn’t fully commit either. 

Your mind kept slipping away, drifting inevitably back to Alexia. You felt like a silly highschooler with a crush. The instructor kept telling you to clear your mind and to let all thoughts go but even when you thought you finally succeeded, suddenly you’d be seeing an image of Alexia in your head. Or those beautiful hazel eyes. Or the sensation of her lips on yours.

By the time the sound healing began, you had resigned yourself to your distraction. You lay down on your mat, eyes closed as the instructor struck her bowls, sending gentle vibrations through the space. Your body was beginning to loosen and your mind was softening… until a buzz at the edge of your mat snapped you back. It was your phone.

Your eyes perked up and you surreptitiously grabbed it while the instructor was making her rounds with her bowl on the other side of the room.

It was a text from Alexia.

“Hey, meet me at the beach once you’re free?” 

You smiled, glancing at the instructor, biting your lip. Quietly, you got up and silently but swiftly made your way out of the room. Being seated right by the door made your escape easy, almost comically so. By the time the next bowl rang through the room, you were already gone.

⋆˙⟡♡ You ran over to the beach which was dark and windy. The area was completely vacant with everyone either asleep or in one of the stag parties. 

Goosebumps crawled through your skin as the cold wind nipped at your exposed arms.

You immediately saw Alexia who was sitting on one of the beach lounge chairs. You smiled, making your way to her.

She must have heard your footsteps because she immediately turned around, flashing you a grin. “That was quick.”

You chuckled, catching your breath a bit. “Yeah, I ran out of sound healing while the instructor wasn’t looking.” You responded. 

Alexia chuckled before standing up to take your hand with hers, quietly leading you closer to the shore. 

“How did you even get here?” you asked, glancing at her in disbelief. “I thought you all were partying on the main island.”

“I couldn’t take being away from you, so I had to swim back,” Alexia teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

You rolled your eyes, laughing. “Right. I totally believe you swam all the way back in the middle of the night.” You responded sarcastically. 

“Claro. I’m a professional athlete so it was easy.” she shot back proudly, with a playful smile on her face. 

As you shook your head, a cool breeze swept across the shore, raising goosebumps on your arms. 

Alexia’s gaze flickered down, and without a word, she shrugged off her blazer. She held it open, waiting. “Here, let me.” You hesitated, but the warmth of her expression made you give in. You slipped your arms through, and her hands lingered just a second too long on your shoulders as she adjusted the fabric. You smiled, a quiet “thank you” slipping from your lips.

“Better,” she said softly, before reaching for your hand again, glancing at the matching athleisure set you were wearing. “I like your outfit but it kinda reminds me of something Inès would wear to pilates.”

You chuckled, walking closer to her, feeling the sand sink slightly with every step. “She all sent these gift bags to our rooms before we met for her bachelorette and this set was a part of it.” You responded. “Must have cost her a lot of money. I can’t believe my brother bagged a sugar momma.”

Alexia chuckled. “Oh, he’s really lucky.” She paused. “But with you, I think I got luckier than him.” 

You rolled your eyes, bumping into her slightly. “You’re so corny.”

You looked at her as she shrugged and chuckled, before locking eyes with you. “I’m not lying.” She chuckled before moving closer to you, taking your hand with hers. She smiled and something about it was just so intense and intimate that it made your heart clench a bit.

You averted your gaze. “So, uh, why are you here again? I’m pretty sure all the guys are still partying it up tonight.”

“Well, yeah, the guys are glued to the clubs tonight so I doubt they’ll be home before tomorrow.” Alexia answered. “I’m just here cause I asked the boat guy if he could drop me back real quick. Told him I forgot my maintenance meds or something just to convince him.”

You laughed. “I’m surprised Xav let you go so easily. Or that he even believed you.” You said, knowing fully well what your brother is like. 

“Oh, please. Xav got wrecked the second one of the guys poured half a bottle of vodka down his throat. He won’t even notice I’m gone until tomorrow… maybe not even then.” Alexia said.

That made you laugh, the sound carrying across the water. But then your smile softened, a different thought slipping in. “Still, you ditched a whole night of fun to come back here.”

Alexia glanced at you quickly before falling silent for a moment, gaze eventually falling to the ground, watching the sand sink underneath your feet. “I told Xav I was seeing someone, you know.”

You froze mid-step.

Her lips quirked into a small smirk, squeezing your hand a bit to comfort you. “Relax. I didn’t tell him it was you.”

“Okay, good. For a second, I thought you snitched on me.”

“Not yet,” she teased before pausing. “Still, I do wonder what he’d think about us. He seems protective of you.”

“He is, which is why I really want to wait it out. I just know he’d have a lot of questions and concerns.” you admitted quietly. “But then again… he loves you. Even before I knew you, he spoke very highly about his polite, talented, and passionate best friend. He thinks the world of you so I don’t think it would be a problem.”

Alexia smiled at that, though she was quiet for a moment before finally asking. “But how about you?”

You turned your head. “Me?”

“Yeah. What do you think about me?” She looked at you with those beautiful hazel eyes. Her gaze was soft but almost pleading, as if asking you to let her into your thoughts.

The question caught you off guard, and you let out a nervous laugh, letting go of her hand to brush the hair that flew into your face as the wind blew against it. “What do I think…?”

You exhaled, thinking.

“Well,” you began slowly, a smile growing on your face. “I think you’re kinda crazy.”

She chuckled.

You continued. “But then again, I must be crazy too for letting you drag me into cliff-jumping, jet skiing, and all that crazy stuff that I never thought I’d ever do before.”

You hummed. “I think you’re confident and you carry yourself with a lot of self-assurance but also have this soft side,” you looked at her and she just gave you a head tilt to go on. “Well, my first impression of you was certainly…something to remember. But I also liked seeing you blush and get a bit shy with me.”

“I don’t get shy,” she denied but the slight flush on her cheeks gave her away.

You chuckled.

“I think you’re sweet, too.” You said. “You actually listen when I talk, and you remember the little things I say, which… most people don’t.”

“Hmm,” Alexia said. “That’s it?”

“And well… I think you’re beautiful.” Now, it was your turn to blush. “I like your eyes, the way they look almost golden under the sun. I like your laugh and how contagious it is. I like your smile…. I just… I think about that smile as I fall asleep.”

You looked at Alexia shyly, trying to see her reaction. She tilted her head, pretending to think. “Hmm. Sounds suspiciously like you’ve got a crush on me.”

You smirked, nudging her shoulder. “Don’t flatter yourself too much.”

You paused, “And you? What do you think about me?”

There wasn’t even a moment of hesitation.

“I like you,” Alexia said firmly, looking at you. “I really like you.”

The words landed so direct that you blinked at her, taken aback by the candor. “Yeah?”

She nodded, her voice steady. “And I don’t mean that in just a ‘summer fling’ or ‘find you sexy’ kind of way. I mean… sure, it started that way a bit.” She said honestly. “But now, I know for certain that. I like you a lot. I want to know you better. I want this to be more than just for the summer.”

Your heart thudded so hard it drowned out the waves. She was looking at you nervously now, waiting. “What do you think about that?” She asked.

You were speechless. It felt like your brain had no clue how to respond. It might be the lack of actual romantic experience or the intensity of all your emotions but you just blanked. Luckily, your body knew exactly how to respond. 

Before you could even realize it, your arms were wrapped around her neck and you were kissing her. 

You kissed and made out a lot but this time, it was different. It had the same intensity and passion as your first kiss in the club but this time, there was a tenderness and intimacy to it. Alexia deepened the kiss, holding you flush against her body.

By the time you two broke apart, you both were breathless, foreheads pressed against each other. Even if your brain was still going haywire, leaving you completely unable to say anything more, words didn’t seem necessary.

Not much more was said after the kiss. Alexia just asked if she could go back to your hotel room with you and you nodded, grabbing her hand as you two made your way back to your room.

The moment the room door clicked shut behind you, Alexia’s restraint vanished. 

Her hands slid over your body, tugging her blazer off of you with a sharp pull and letting it crumple to the floor. She pressed you against the wall, lips finding their way back to yours while her hand held your waist firmly.

A shaky breath escaped your mouth as you felt her body press against you, lips now travelling from your jaw to the base of your neck, wrapping themselves around the round of your collarbone. Her hands were just as demanding as her lips, tugging at the waistband of your leggings with impatient insistence. She kissed and nipped at your throat even as you wriggled free of the fabric.

Before you had time to steady yourself, with one swift motion, Alexia picked you up, hooking her arms beneath you. You gasped and your legs instinctively wrapped around her waist as she carried you to bed. She lowered you onto the sheets gently, crawling over you again, claiming your lips with a kiss as her hands found their way to the base of your sports bra. She peeled it off of you, struggling slightly as the athletic fabric clung to you, but that barely slowed her down. She was determined to see you bare before her, clad in just the thin fabric of your underwear.

Alexia scanned you with lustful eyes, biting her lip as she took in the sight, pupils blown wide. “Dios mio…” she whispered, voice thick. “I’ve wanted to see you like this since the moment I met you.”

Your cheeks warmed. You reached for her, tugging her down with your arms again, your lips meeting hers desperately. She allowed you to help her tug her vest top over her head, leaving her topless, the warmth of her skin pressed to yours.

Before you could even react, her mouth was back to attacking your neck, kissing you with a roughness that caused you to moan louder. Her lips found their way down to your breasts. She placed a kiss on your right breast before carefully taking it into the warmth of her mouth. 

You gasped as you felt her carefully roll it around her tongue before sucking slightly. Her hand found your other breast, mirroring the action of her mouth, twisting it with her fingertips and pulling slightly. 

You could feel your body move involuntarily, bucking your hips at the sensation, yearning for more of her touch. 

Alexia chuckled against you, the low vibration against your skin making you shiver. She pulled back just enough to murmur against your skin. “Paciencia, mi amor.”

God, I love it when she speaks Spanish.

She pinned your hips gently with her hands, forcing you to stay still as she looked down at you with hungry eyes. Her expression was intense, wild but still calculated, like a predator savoring the moment before the strike.

Alexia kissed you again deeply, tongue sweeping across yours. You felt her hand slide down, finding their way to your inner thigh, pinning it down slightly to keep your legs from clamming shut. You whimpered as she drew careful patterns on your inner thigh with her thumb, teasing touches as she moved up closer to your core.

She hummed against your lips as her hands found its way to your heat, feeling the moist fabric of your underwear clinging delicately to your wet core. You moaned as you felt her fingers gently move up and down, feeling the friction tickle your clit slightly.

“Please, Alexia, please.” Your voice cracked, tone sounding more desperate than you intended. You bit your lip and looked at her with pleading eyes, clutching her arms. “I want you… por favor, cariño.”

The Spanish slipped from your tongue awkwardly, but it made her freeze. Alexia perked up at the use of Spanish, feeling touched but also smug seeing you so riled up and impatient beneath her. “Tranquila, cariño,” she whispered. “Te voy a hacer sentir bien.”

She gave you one more gentle kiss on the lips before planting more kisses down your body, lingering slightly with a tenderness that caused your breath to hitch each time. She was deliberate and slow as if she wanted you to feel every second of her devotion, a sharp contrast from the impatience she was showing a while ago. A part of you felt like she was only slowing down because she liked hearing you whimper impatiently underneath her. It felt like she was teasing you.

Her hands rested on your hips as she moved closer to your core. She smiled before she planted a kiss on the wet fabric of your underwear, causing you to shiver. “Fuck, I don’t know how I can control myself.” She murmured against you, words vibrating softly against you.

“You don’t have to,” you responded quickly. “I can take it. I want you.”

Alexia looked up to you, her eyes dark but also soft. She looked pleased to be allowed access to you like this. There was gratitude in her gaze, as though you’d just entrusted her with something precious. You nodded quickly, bottom lip caught between your teeth.

You never had much experience before this. 

Of course, Matt and you had your fair share of sexual encounters but it left you vaguely unsatisfied every time. After your first time together, you were convinced that sex was something men enjoyed more than women. It became something you never really craved or wanted; you only ever acquiesced to Matt’s request whenever it was his birthday or whenever he begged. And, for the longest time, you thought all your friends were lying about the kind of sex they were having, thinking to yourself, “Surely, it can’t be all that.”

But god, were you wrong.

Alexia had barely touched you and yet, you were finally seeing what you were missing out on. She hooked her fingers gently at the edges of your underwear, pulling them down carefully, before setting it aside on the edge of the bed.

She lowered herself, leaving kisses from your neck to your collarbones to your stomach. 

“Look at me,” she ordered in a low but gentle voice. “Look at me while I show you how much I want you.”

You bit your lip and looked down at her, meeting her eyes. Suddenly, a gasp escaped your mouth as you felt her lips around your throbbing clit, carefully wrapping her lips around it before sucking it gently. You struggled to keep your eyes open as she continued, now drawing firm but slow circles with her tongue.

Alexia could have devoured you. You felt it in the restrained strength of her grip, the hunger in her eyes but she held back, choosing instead to take her time, to actually savour you. She wasn’t just trying to consume you nor to simply satisfy her own prurient desires. Instead, she wanted to give, to worship, to cherish you with every movement. She wanted to make you feel desired in a way that left no doubt in your mind about her feelings for you.

This was another way of her showing you that she wanted you.

Your fingers tangled in her hair, tugging, urging her closer to your core. Your hips shifted restlessly, grinding against her mouth as frustration bled into your desperation. She smiled against you, the curve of her lips sending another shiver straight through you, before she picked up her pace, her tongue working you more intently.

Then her hand slid lower, teasing along your entrance, the soft pads of her two fingers pressing gently until you were trembling again. You gasped, your head tilting back, and when she finally pushed inside, you moaned out, a bit overwhelmed by the sensation.

Alexia thrusted into you slowly, almost measured, all while her tongue continued its careful movement around your clit. Every flick of her mouth, every thrust of her fingers seemed designed not to overwhelm you. She was careful not to go too rough with you, even if she just wanted to absolutely ravish you.

“Feel good?” she asked softly, pausing just long enough to glance up at you. Her lips glistened with your nectar.

You nodded frantically. “Y-yes, Alexia.” You responded with a slightly strained voice. “You can go faster.”

“Hmm?” Her voice vibrated against you, making your core clench. “Faster?

“Yes, please, Alexia.” You begged, breath catching as you tangled your fingers in her hair. “I want more.”

And just like that, something shifted in her. It was as if a switch had been flipped. Her restraint was replaced by hunger. She pressed her mouth harder against you, her tongue moving faster, a tad messier, while her fingers drove deeper, curling until they found that tender spot that made your entire body jolt. The white sheets bunched beneath your fists, bed shifting as Alexia thrusted faster and rougher into you.

“Alexia!” Her name tore from your lips.

She answered with a satisfied, muffled sound, her pace only growing more urgent, eating you out as though she couldn’t get enough of you, as if only you could satisfy her hunger. Every thrust of her fingers pushed you closer to the edge, every flick of her tongue causing the warmth to build up in your stomach, the tension in you growing tighter and tighter until it was almost unbearable.

You couldn’t say any more. Suddenly, you were coming undone. You couldn’t form a coherent thought as the pleasure rippled inside you. You looked down at Alexia who was smiling widely, looking incredibly satisfied with herself. You felt a blush creep across your cheeks, a bit embarrassed by how fast you came.

“Oh my god,” you covered your face. “I - I didn’t know I’d finish that fast.”

Alexia laughed at your meekness, feeling endeared by you. She moved up to you, pressing a kiss on your cheek. “Cariño, it’s fine. It’s more than fine.” She chuckled. “I thought it was cute. You must like me a lot to orgasm that fast, huh?”

You giggled but still felt embarrassed. “I just… I just don’t think anyone has ever made me cum that fast…” you paused, hestitating.  “Actually, I don’t think anyone has made me cum ever.”

Alexia’s eyes widened. “You’re joking with me.”

You shook your head.

Her laugh was warm, disbelieving. She pressed a trail of quick, teasing kisses along your neck. “So that was your first orgasm?”

“Well… not my first.” You shifted, clarifying. “The first one someone else has ever given me.”

She smiled, looking extremely pleased with herself. “Hmm… well, are you ready for your second?”

You chuckled but bit your lip, giving Alexia a look that told her everything she needed to know.

⋆˙⟡♡ “Good morning, guapa.”

You blinked your eyes open, feeling the warm sun fill the room as Alexia opened the curtains. She was dressed in a robe and her hair was tied up into a bun.

You smiled groggily, still sinking into the warmth of the sheets. “Why are you up so early?” you mumbled, your voice heavy with sleep, furrowing your brows as the bed suddenly felt too big and empty without her beside you. “You’re not the type to cuddle after sex?”

Alexia laughed, shaking her head as she turned toward you. “We literally cuddled all night. What are you talking about?” She smiled. “Besides, I wanted to make sure we’d have breakfast, so I ordered room service.”

That woke you a little more. You shifted onto your side, propping your cheek against your hand. “Hmm. What did you order?”

“Well, I noticed you went back for seconds on the french toast at the buffet the other morning,” she said as she headed to you, sitting at the edge of your bed. “So I ordered that. And since I didn’t know what you’d want to drink in the morning, I just ordered a small variation of drinks.”

“You’re actually an angel.” You reached up, cupping her cheek gently with your palm. Her skin was warm against your hand, and she leaned into your touch without hesitation.

She carefully got into bed with you, resting her head on your bare chest as you wrapped an arm around her, tangling your fingers in her hair. You and Alexia certainly had a long night, to say the least. It was intense, intimate but never vulgar or impersonal. It felt almost vulnerable giving yourself to her over and over again, allowing her access to you.

You didn’t regret it one bit. 

The attraction with Alexia might have started a bit shallow. When you kissed her at the bar, you already felt that initial sexual attraction but back then, you wouldn’t have expected thst there would be to be more to it. Part of you was happy that you were a coward then, chickening out from pursuing her any more than just a kiss. If you gave in earlier, you weren’t so sure you’d feel the way you were feeling now.

You placed a kiss on Alexia’s forehead, soft and tender.

“I enjoyed last night,” you whispered. 

She hummed. “I did a great job?” She looked at you with a small smile.

You nodded. “Well duh.”

Alexia hummed back, smiling. “So, how about we have a little more fun before room service arrives.”

You playfully swatted her, making her chuckle.

Before you could add anything more, the room’s doorbell chimed.

“Saved by the bell.” Alexia stood up slowly, brushing her hair down. “You stay in bed. I’ll get it for you.”

You watched her walk to the door, your heart doing a funny little flip. You had just spent the night with the most beautiful person ever. And now, she was about to bring you breakfast in bed. You couldn’t stop smiling, overwhelmed with the thought: wow, how is this my life right now?

You heard the door open.

“Where did you go last– wait, huh? Did I get the wrong room?” The muffled voice from the door said.  “No, wait, I know you! Aren’t you that hot girl from the club?”

You recognized that voice. Your stomach dropped as you sat bolt upright, clutching the duvet to your bare chest as you crawled to the edge of the bed, peeking at the door. Your cousin Cam was standing in the doorway, eyebrows raised and a grin spreading across her face.

Shit. You were in so much trouble.

⋆˙⟡♡ You tightened the robe around yourself, heart hammering as Cam leaned against the wall outside your hotel room, arms folded. Her eyes were narrowed, but she looked more entertained than angry.

“So,” she said finally, tilting her head toward the door. “That’s the girl from the first night, isn’t it? The one who we had to pay you like, what, a million euros to kiss?”

You felt heat rise to your cheeks. “Cam…”

“Don’t even try to deny it.” She raised her brows. “I’d recognize that face anywhere. That was the face you were practically swallowing at that club.”

You winced, contorting your face in disgust. “God, can you not say it like that?”

Cam smirked. “So? Are you going to explain why the girl from the club is now ordering room service in your hotel suite?” She gushed, eyes widened. “I’m kinda impressed, cuz. You literally ran away from her in the club but now, you’ve quite literally been inside her cooch!”

You smacked her for her language. “Oh my god, shut up, Cam!”

She giggled. “How did you even get her here? I’m surprised they let a random girl into the resort.”

You hesitated a bit. “…Because it’s not just some random girl. It’s Alexia.”

Cam blinked. “And that means… what exactly? Should I know who that is?”

You ran a hand through your hair, groaning. “She’s Xav’s best friend.”

That landed like a bomb. Cam’s mouth fell open. “You’re kidding. The same Alexia who he was yapping about before? Like the soccer player?””

You nodded, crossing your arms cautiously.

“No, you’re actually kidding.” She laughed in disbelief, pressing a hand to her forehead. “Of all the people on this island, you managed to hook up with his best friend?”

You winced again. “It’s not like I actively targeted his best friend specifically.” You groaned. “You knew we met at the bar and then we got along hanging out here and I don’t know, okay? It just… happened.”

Cam looked like she just connected the dots. “Is that why you were rushing out of the sound healing last night?” She asked. “I can’t believe you left me and Daisy with that bowl-clanging lady while you were out here doing the nasty with your brother’s best friend.”

“I… I don’t know. She just told me that she bailed on the guy’s bachelor party and that she wanted to see me again and I don’t know.” You sighed. “It was just so unexpected.”

She paused, nodding. “So, it’s not just a hook-up?”

You bit your lip and nodded.

“So, you’ve actually been dating?” She asked.

You nodded again, sighing.

“Damn, I wanna see how Xav would react to this.” Cam asked with a small smile on her face.

“Cam, He cannot know.” You replied promptly. “You absolutely cannot tell anyone, especially not Xav.”

Cam sighed and just looked at you. “He’d freak out if he found out now, at his wedding of all places. That man is a Bridezilla.”

You bit your lip, lowering your voice. “…So you won’t tell?”

She studied you for a moment, then smirked. “Well, duh. I’m not saying a word but I just know this is going to blow up on your face.”

“Cam,” you warned, giving your younger cousin a dirty look, asking her with your eyes to take you seriously.

“What?” She shrugged. “It’s true. I mean, come on. You’re sneaking around with his best friend. At his wedding week, in the same hotel. And, right after he gave you that speech about making amends or whatever with Matt. It’s a mess, girl.”

You groaned, covering your face with both hands. “You’re not helping.”

Cam nudged you with her elbow, grinning. “Hey, on the bright side? At least she’s hot.”

You dropped your hands to glare at her. “That’s your takeaway?”

“Well, that and the fact that Daisy can never know,” Cam added quickly. “Because if she finds out, you’ll have the entire extended family updated by lunch.”

“Exactly. So this stays between us. No one else.” You emphasized. 

“Yeah, yeah, I’m not gonna let anyone know until after the wedding.” She responded with an eye roll. “If anything, you kinda owe me twice now. One, for kinda setting up the conditions that landed you that absolute hottie, and now for keeping this all under wraps.”

You nodded. “I swear, I’ll make it up to you.”

⋆˙⟡♡ “So, luckily, she agreed to keep it a secret until the end of the wedding.” You shared with Alexia as she chuckled, shaking her head as she ate another bite from her own plate of french toast. 

You continued. “I’m just glad it was Cam who caught us and not Daisy… that girl would have blabbed already if it were her.”

Alexia nodded, a small smile on her face. “So, you’re really not gonna tell your brother until after the wedding?”

You gave a quick nod and took a sip of water, trying to sound casual. “Yup. That’s the plan.”

She pouted. “But what if I want to dance with you during the party?” She said with a teasing tone.

You chuckled and rolled your eyes. “We can dance but we gotta keep it lowkey, you know. I can’t have him suspecting anyway.” You said. “Not until all the festivities are over, at least.”

“Hmm.” She tapped her fork against the plate, thinking. “You do know that your brother already filed a leave from the club, right?”

You shook your head, tilting it slightly. “No, why?”

Alexia sighed, brushing the crumbs from her robe with the back of her hand. “Uh, he mentioned that Inés wanted their honeymoon in France since her family owns some kind of château there. Then he said maybe Germany after that for Octoberfest or whatever. Knowing them…” she chuckled, “…it probably won’t stop there. I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up honeymooning for half a year if no one stops them.”

You bit your lip, the thought sitting heavy in your chest. “Uh… then I guess we just tell him after they get back. I just don’t want him all bothered or irritated while he’s still in that post-wedding glow or whatever.”

Alexia hummed in acknowledgment, but her nod was distracted, almost absent. She reached for her coffee, wrapping both hands around the mug as if grounding herself. You watched her carefully, trying to read her expression. 

A part of you wanted to reassure her and comfort her that you weren’t keeping her a secret because she didn’t mean something. If anything, it was the opposite. You didn’t want your brother or other people thinking that you were treating her like some rebound, especially since you literally just ended your last relationship.

“Alexia?” You said carefully. “You good?”

She gave you a tight smile. “Yeah, yeah, of course.” 

⋆˙⟡♡ As the wedding came closer, there were more activities set for everyone: family bonding, drinks by the beach, dinners with the entire wedding crew. It was all fun and nice but it also meant that you and Alexia had less alone time together.

You two could get away with a casual conversation or walking together to grab some drinks. But whenever Alexia’s hands routinely slithered around your waist, you’d have to shoot her a look and carefully move away from her touch, not wanting anyone else to notice.

Today, there was yet another lunch with the entire family and all the other guests, this time in the open restaurant by the beach. Tables were arranged with a mix of both families. By some lucky twist, you and Alexia were seated at the same table.

She leaned in close, her perfume mixing with the ocean air, and slipped a hand onto your lap beneath the tablecloth. You looked around but everyone seemed too busy lining up for the food to notice her moving closer to you. “Hmm, you look really pretty.” She gushed, eyeing your face, gaze lingering too long on your lips.

You blushed, whispering back, “You don’t look so bad yourself.” You let your eyes sweep her over. Her hair was pulled into a neat bun, strands framing her face, and the backless brown dress she was wearing clung in all the right places. She looked absolutely stunning.

She smirked at you, leaning closer. “Yeah? Funny thing: I actually forgot to finish my makeup.”

You furrowed your eyebrows together. “Really? It looks really nice.” You said, looking at her face. “Not that you need any make-up to look good anyway.”

She chuckled, eyes glinting mischievously. “Mm, yeah… except I forgot to put on lipstick.”

You arched an eyebrow, not even noticing that she didn’t have lipstick on. “Oh?”

Her smirk deepened as she leaned even closer, voice low and eyes now fixated on your lips. “Yeah. Mind helping me out with that?”

“There you two are!”

You jumped, nearly knocking over your glass of water. Both your heads snapped up to see your brother walking toward the table, brows knitting as he caught your guilty expressions.

“You two good?” he asked, confusion flickering in his tone.

“Uh, yeah, yeah, Alexia was just asking me if her breath smelled.” You blurted out the first excuse as to why you were so close to each other. You chuckled nervously, cheeks burning. “She’s all good, if you’re wondering.”

He chuckled hesitantly, a bit confused. “Oookay, well, I’m sorry I have been a bit MIA lately. Groom duties, y’know?” He said. “But hey, you two seem like you’ve grown close. That’s great.”

You nodded. “Yeah, Alexia’s been… great.”

There was a pause, then he clapped a hand on the back of Alexia’s chair. “Anyway, I gotta make more rounds. Alexia, am I seeing you later? The guys from the club were saying there’s a local match on the main island. They kinda want to go on the yacht and head over there to watch.”

 Alexia nodded politely. “Maybe. I’ll see how I feel. Got a little seasick on that last trip.”

Xav chuckled and nodded, remembering the bachelor’s party when Alexia went home earlier because she said she got “seasick” on the way there. “Well, fair enough, just text me. And you –” he turned to you, ruffling your hair. “I’ll see you later, bunny.”

When he walked off to head on to the next table to make some small talk with the other tables, you slumped in your chair. “Fuck, that was close.”

Alexia smirked, unbothered. “Hmm. You know, it wouldn’t be so bad if he found out.”

You groaned softly. “You have no idea. Seriously. Don’t even joke about it.”

She tilted her head, clearly holding back something but letting it go for now. She sipped her water before glancing at you with mock seriousness. “For the record though… I really did forget my lipstick. Come with me to the bathroom?”

You nodded, grabbing your clutch and followed Alexia into the ladies’ room. You fished inside your clutch before pulling out a tube of lipstick. “I only have this one.”

“That’s fine.” She nodded, stepping closer. You handed it over to her but she shook her head. “Put it on me.”

You giggled nervously but you agreed anyway. “What are you, twelve?”

“Yeah, I’m twelve which makes you a pervert.” Alexia teased.

“You’re so inappropriate.” You rolled your eyes at her as you uncapped the lipstick and stepped close, steadying her chin with your hand. You carefully applied the lipstick on her but faltered a bit when you felt her arm slip around your waist, tugging you closer. 

You swiped a little too much on her bottom lip. “Wait, hold on, let me blot –”

Before you could grab the tissue, she caught your wrist. “No need.” Then she leaned forward, pressing playful kisses along your neck, smearing the lipstick and making you squeal.

“Alexia!” you laughed, swatting at her shoulders. “Not here, please. It’s gonna stain!”

She hummed against your skin, completely unbothered, her lips dragging further down toward your collarbone.

At first, it was sweet and funny but then, reality hit you. She knew you two had to head back out soon. Lipstick marks all over your face and neck would raise more than just a few questions. The nervousness in your chest twisted into irritation.

“Alexia, stop.” You said with a sterner voice, as you pushed her shoulder a little firmer.

She froze, blinking at you as if testing whether you were serious. When she saw that you were, the playful warmth drained from her face. She pulled back slowly, widening her eyes just slightly, and then gave the smallest shake of her head, like she couldn’t believe you’d ruined the moment. The mood instantly shifted.

You frowned and groaned. “Come on, Alexia, I told you…”

“Told me what?” She said, voice low but still sharp. “That I can only kiss you or hold you when no one’s looking?”

You looked at her, suddenly taken aback by the sudden outburst. 

“Look around, there’s no one here. And I still can’t kiss you?” She sighed. “Why do I have to be some secret anyway?”

Alexia shook her head, looking at the mirror to wipe off a bit of the lipstick that smudged off to the sides of her lips. “I understand not wanting to shock your brother but honestly, I think it’s a bit silly.” She said, candidly. “He’s not going to drop dead because his adult best friend and his adult sister are dating. Sure, he’s stressed right now, but he’s not irrational.”

You leaned against the counter, exhaling hard, running both hands through your hair. The thing was… she wasn’t wrong. She just didn’t understand the whole picture. You had only just broken things off with your ex of nearly a decade. Your family was just learning, still partly convinced it was just a short parting, a momentary falter. They’d think you were just using Alexia as some rebound. You couldn’t help but go back to what your brother said during the first day here about not involving anyone or hurting anyone’s feelings.

It wasn’t just about them, though. It was her. The last thing you wanted was for Alexia to think the same: that she was just the rebound, a distraction from your break-up. Maybe that first kiss had been exactly that but so much has changed since then.

But still, you understood why she’d be upset

“You’re right,” you said quietly, forcing yourself to meet her gaze in the mirror. “I’m sorry, Alexia. I like you. I want this. I really do.” You took a deep breath. “I promise I’ll tell him… during the reception. Okay?”

Her brows rose, skeptical. 

“I swear. We won’t have to hide after that.”

That softened her. She smiled, tugging you by the waist and kissing you gently. Suddenly, a toilet flushed behind you. You both froze.

Slowly, the stall door creaked open.

And out stepped your mother.

⋆˙⟡♡ Alexia excused herself after you signalled for her to go, giving her a look and a subtle tilt of the head that said go, i’ll talk to you later. She hesitated for a moment, wanting to get a word in, but ultimately decided it was best to leave it up to you and your mom. So, politely, she excused herself and stepped out.

Your mom didn’t seem all too bothered. She headed over to the sink, turning on the tap. “That Alexia girl’s real nice, isn’t she?” She said it so casually. “You know I’ve watched her play, when I visited Xav after dad died. She’s a great player.”

You just looked at her incredulously as she reached over the soap dispenser and lathered her hand. “Sorry, by the way,” she added. “I should’ve said something when you two entered but I was taking a dump.”

You chuckled awkwardly. “Look, mom. About what you saw…”

She raised her brows, shaking excess water off her hands before grabbing a towel. “Let me guess,” she said, completely unfazed. “You like Alexia. You two have been seeing each other, started dating a little, and you’re terrified your brother will have a meltdown about it if he finds out that his little sister, who he treats like a child and who just broke up with her boyfriend, is dating his best friend, who also just broke up with her ex.”

Your lips parted in surprise, and you could only nod. “…How’d you know?”

“I’m a mom.” She rolled her eyes lightly, like it should’ve been obvious. Then she gave you a pointed look. “And, well… I like to gossip. You two should be more careful because the staff were also starting to talk about you two galavanting about together. Alexia isn’t exactly incognito. She’s literally a famous athlete so people talk.”

You groaned, covering your face with your hands. “Oh my god.”

You sighed. “Mom, I know it looks like I’m rushing into things or whatever.” You started, wanting to rush before she got into a lecture. “But Alexia… she’s different. She’s amazing and I just… I feel like I’m seeing the world for the first time when I’m with her. Like everything finally makes sense.”

“I know it might seem soon to say that.” You paused. “But, trust me, I actually like her.”

Your mom hummed, fishing into her bag to grab her own lipstick. “You know, dear,” she said. “I never liked Matt all that much anyway. He was a little too boring for you.”

You blinked at her, head jerking up. “Wait, what?”

She gave a half-shrug, flicking her hand dismissively. “Don’t act so surprised.” She said. “Of course, I’ve always found him boring. I only liked him because I thought you liked him… which was why I was so upset when you said you two were on a break. I just thought you were upset.”

You nodded, understandingly. She continued, “Had I known that you were already taking interest in someone else, someone who actually excites you and makes you happy,” she stepped closer with a piece of paper towel, wiping the lipstick marks off your neck. “Then, I wouldn’t have been all too sad about you and Matt parting. If anything, it’s kinda exciting if you do end up dating Alexia. I’d have an excuse to drag you along with me to Barcelona.”

You chuckled, feeling a bit relieved that your mother seemed approving of the relationship. Your mother paused and looked you in the eyes. “But listen,” she said, tone growing more stern. “You need to sort that situation out with Matt first. I know a break is a break, but you gotta make sure there aren’t any loose ends. If Alexia’s who you really want, you need to settle things first before you pursue her. It’s what she deserves.”

You nodded. “I will,” you promised, though your voice wavered. “I’m just worried about Xav.”

“He’ll be fine,” she said, shaking her head. “You know how he is – romantic, traditional, very big on commitment and working things out like your father. But he loves you. He’ll be fine… or at least, he’ll come around. Besides, he can’t dictate what you do with your life. You’re not actually his pet bunny, y’know.”

You chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I was just being nervous about it.”

She smiled knowingly. “He’s not as neurotic now as he was before. Inés softened that man up, trust me. I wouldn’t worry too much.”

You felt relieved and also a bit ridiculous for caring too much about what your brother would think. Sure, he might worry and give you a whole lecture about commitment again but it was such a little thing. Alexia deserved to explore your relationship together publicly instead of keeping it all under wraps.

⋆˙⟡♡ The very next morning, you planned on telling your brother.

You stood outside your brother and future sister-in-law’s private villa, rehearsing what you were going to say to him under your breath. You hadn’t told Alexia about your plan; this was something you needed to do alone. You were the one who had pulled her into this mess, and you owed it to both of you to clear a way forward. But standing there, pacing on the stone path in front of the villa’s entrance, your stomach tied itself in knots.

“Chiqui!” 

You jumped and turned around to see Inés in a linen dress, her dark hair falling loosely around her shoulders. She tilted her head as she looked at you, narrowing her eyes. “What are you doing out here? Did Xavi rope you into helping with some wedding thing again?” She groaned. “I swear, that guy is too anxious about everything.”

You chuckled nervously, shaking your head. “I… uh…” 

She furrowed her eyebrows together, stepping closer to her. “Is everything okay?”

You opened your mouth to say yes, but the word stuck in your throat. “Yeah, I…” You stopped, closed your eyes briefly, then sighed. “No. Actually… I don’t know.”

Inés didn’t press, just slipped her hand gently around your wrist and steered you toward one of the woven hammocks strung between two posts by the villa. She sat down first, then patted the spot beside her.

“Sit. Tell me what’s going on.”

You hesitated, biting your lip. Then, cautiously, you asked, “So… you know Alexia, right?”

Inés blinked, then let out a laugh. “Of course I know Alexia. We hang out with her all the time. And every single time she has dinner at our house, she asks for an extra serving of empanadas to take home.” She shook her head fondly. “Why? Did something happen?”

Your chest tightened. You took a steadying breath. “Well, yeah… about Alexia. I, well, I–” You swallowed. “I like Alexia.”

Inés tilted her head, a little confused. “Yeah, that’s great. Xav has been saying that you two would get along.”

You shook your head and chuckled. “Uh, I mean… I actually like her.”

“Oh!” She exclaimed, finally realizing what you meant. She changed her tone to a more excited tone. “Oh, well, that’s amazing actually.”

You looked up at her.

“Alexia’s great. She’s really nice, passionate, and responsible.” She nodded. “Xav always told me Alexia was also really great to the people she dated. She’s loyal and she loves to take care of people. Funny girl, too. I can totally see that working. Why? Are you thinking of dating her?”

You bit your lip. “I kinda… already am.”

Inés looked shocked again but still kept the chipper tone. “Well, even better.” She said with a shrug. “I mean, it’s a little unexpected, sure. I wouldn’t have put you two together in my head. But unexpected doesn’t mean bad. It doesn’t make it any less great.”

She caught the way your shoulders remained tense, your hands twisting nervously in your lap. Inés reached over, laying her long, slender hand gently over yours in a comforting gesture.

“Hey,” she said softly. “I get it. But you don’t have to worry so much.”

You exhaled, your voice small. “Yeah, but… you know how it looks. I just broke up with Matt. Everyone’s still adjusting to that, and… Xavi was so close to him. He already gave me this whole lecture about commitment and not dragging anyone into a mess. I just—” Your voice cracked. “I’ve always looked up to him. And if he disapproves, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

Inés nodded slowly, her expression understanding. “I get it. Honestly, I’d be a little anxious too.” She squeezed your hand. “But listen, Xavi is like that because he means well. And right now, he’s wound up tighter than usual because he’s been planning this entire wedding basically on his own.” She smiled ruefully. “My fault, really. All I did for planning was buying my dress and booking my hair and makeup. Everything else was Xavier’s doing.”

You shared a laugh. 

“But it’s fine,” Ines continued, more serious now. “I support you. I think you and Alexia could be really good for each other.”

You felt a little bit more relaxed, nodding gratefully. 

But then, Inés hesitated, her smile faltering for a bit. “But, chiqui… I think you should wait to talk to him. At least for now.” She nodded, eyes filled with thought. “I need to speak to him about something first, okay?”

Your stomach dipped. “Why? What’s wrong?”

Before she could answer, the villa door swung open. “Hey, Bunny,” your brother greeted warmly, stepping out. His face lit up when he saw you. “What’s up?”

Out of the corner of your eye, you caught Inés giving the smallest shake of her head as if to say not now.

“Xav, come inside with me,” she said quickly, slipping her hand onto his arm. “I need to talk to you about something. Your sister can wait a few minutes.”

“What is it?” He looked confused.

“We just have to go inside now.” Inés said, tugging his arm.

“Okay, okay, but bunny,” He said, gesturing at someone to follow you. “Look who just dropped by.”

You looked behind him. Xavier stepped aside, showing who was lurking behind the villa door. Your stomach plummeted. 

It was your ex.

Matt gave you a lopsided smile. “Surprise, babe.”

⋆˙⟡♡ “You won’t believe who’s here tonight,” one of the girls said as they huddled in the one spot backstage where you could see the crowd without being seen, peeking through the heavy stage curtains.

You chuckled at the sight of everyone crowding desperately in that one spot. You shook your head, turning your attention back to the mirror, adjusting the white, bluntly cut bob wig that you were wearing, making sure you looked presentable. 

You didn’t understand why everyone seemed so intrigued in who tonight’s guests were. After all those years working at the Somni Lounge, you’ve gotten used to having VIPs and celebrities in your crowd. You were way past the fangirling stage of your career here.

“Madre mia, is that Patri Guijarro?” One of the girls gushed. “Her face is so much prettier in person.”

You paused as soon as you heard the familiar name, turning once more to look at everyone crowding, peeking through. From where you were getting ready, you really couldn’t see much through the small opening of the curtains. 

Someone hummed in agreement. “Those shoulders, uh, meow.”

“Is it just the Barça girls,” someone asked, “or is it the whole Spanish team?”

“Just the Barcelona girls,” someone else responded.

Huh, that’s why they’re all so intrigued, you thought as soon as they confirmed who it was. They weren’t your usual clientele. 

Your co-worker Sol, whose vanity was right beside yours, noticed your reaction change upon learning who it was. “Oh, if Nana finds out that you were in the same establishment as the Barça girls, she would freak out.” She said, bringing up your little sister.

You sighed. “If I’m lucky, she’ll never find out,” you said with a head shake. This part of your life was something you worked so hard to keep from your sister. To her, you were just a barista and waitress.

Sol sighed. “How is Aina by the way?” She asked as she continued to fix her lashes.

You nodded. “Oh, Nana’s good, still obsessed with football. She’s starting to play better but she’s mad at her coach for assigning her a defensive position,” you chuckled, remembering your little sister’s rant. “She wants to be a midfielder like her idol Aitana.”

Sol chuckled before pausing to look at you earnestly through the mirror. “You’re doing a great job at raising her, chiqui.” She smiled. “Even if you’re purposely withholding from her that you’ll be meeting her idols tonight.”

“Well, I don’t think I’d like her to find out that her idols are visiting a strip club,” you scoffed.

Another co-worker Adriana overheard your conversation as she was returning to the make-up area, coming from the crowd at the curtains, and corrected you, tone jestful. “Don’t you mean premium cabaret?”

“Girl, please, you can add ‘premium cabaret entertainer’ to your CV but everyone knows you just mean stripper,” Sol responded jokingly. You all laughed. 

“So, what are those girls doing here anyway?” You asked, genuinely curious. An all-female crowd was rare enough; a crowd of only female celebrities were another thing entirely.

Adriana plopped onto the empty folding chair beside you, looking at herself in the mirror as she readjusted her wig, tucking in any of her stray hair back into her wig cap. “Bachelorette party,” she answered. “I heard that the younger girls from the team organized this to surprise their captain who’s getting married.”

“Oh, Alexia?” Sol asked, raising her eyebrows. “I didn’t know she was getting married. I thought she broke up with her last girlfriend.” 

“No, Irene Paredes, the tall one.” Adriana responded. “It’s a nice change on our part. We get to dance for these hot women instead of the usual old men.”

You chuckled and nodded. “Amen to that.”

Another one of your co-workers pranced on to join you three, moving closer to the mirror to check her teeth for any lipstick marks. “YN, Nana is going to be so jealous of you if she finds out that you’re meeting her favorite team.” She said, looking at you through the mirror. “If only we weren’t working, then we could ask them for an autograph or something.”

You nodded and sighed. As much as you hid your job title from the world, you were at least thankful for your co-workers, who were all sweet girls and who all cared about your little sister. 

“Is Aitana here too? She’s Nana’s favorite.” You asked.

She shook her head in response. “Nah, but Alexia’s there.”

You hummed. “Which one is Alexia again?”

The other girls laughed. “Aina is gonna be so mad if she heard you ask that,” Sol tutted her tongue.

“I work a million hours a week,” you said. “I don’t exactly have the time to memorize all of these footballers she watches.”

Adriana nudged you. “Don’t worry. You’ll notice which one Alexia is,” she wiggled her eyebrows at you. “She’s exactly your type.”

“I highly doubt that,” you responded. “Cause my type wouldn’t go to a strip club.”

Everyone chuckled, shaking their heads at you. 

Just moments later, your stage coordinator started calling everyone over for the opening number of the show. You all got up hastily, calmly getting into formation. You adjusted your tights for one last time before settling into your starting pose, ready for when the curtains would rise. 

When you first started working at Somni Lounge, you almost always had mini panic attacks before the show itself. You were always a performer, having been classically trained when you were younger. You were used to performing for a crowd. But it was just different here.

You weren’t just performing; you were seducing.

With your childhood ballet recitals, everyone was focused on the artistry, the dance and the choreography. Here, while the artistry was still present, it always came second because your crowd was always focused on your body and their own carnal desires.

Your goal wasn’t just to entertain them but to arouse them, to satiate their needs.

It freaked you out a lot when you were just starting. You were barely 20 then, wearing costumes that were practically nothing, performing in front of mostly old, sleazy men. Sure, the clientele here was more high-end and elite than your generic strip club, but having more money didn’t exactly mean your clients were less lustful or creepy. It also didn’t make Somni less of a strip club.

At the end of the day, you were there to make men horny. The thought of it alone used to linger and fester in your mind but at some point, all the anxieties and the self-consciousness fizzled into nothing. After all, at the end of the day, it was just a job.

And god, did you need this job.

⋆˙⟡♡“I cannot believe I let you guys rope me into this,” Irene tutted her tongue as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 

Alexia laughed and shrugged. “I didn’t exactly plan this either. I just pitched in some cash to the bachelorette fund and trusted the kids to plan it.”

Irene exhaled through her nose, eyes drifting around the cabaret. The place gleamed with its deep red velvet seats with gold accents – the type that looked understated instead of gauche and tacky – and dark marble floors. It did seem a bit theatrical in a sense, but not totally kitschy; it still looked elevated. 

Irene sighed. “At least  this one has floors that aren't sticky.”

“True.” Alexia laughed, shaking her head. “But really, had I known this was their plan, I would have taken over.”

“You should have,” Irene sighed. “This is not my scene.”

Alexia chuckled, leaning back into her seat. “Well, let’s just get through this.”

Suddenly, the lights dimmed, conversation dissolving into anticipation as music rolled through the room. The curtain began to lift.

Alexia was never really the type to attend these types of shows. She’d been in a relationship for years, and even before that, places like these never really were her thing. The idea of sitting in a dark room watching strangers strip and dance in pasties just didn’t do anything for her. 

So, when she’d found out the team had arranged this for Irene, she’d resigned herself to just playing along, smiling through it. Besides, it’s been a while since the team blew off some steam together. It would be good for them to have some fun.

⋆˙⟡♡ The first number started minutes after everyone settled into their seats and had their first round of drinks. 

As soon as the opening performance started, Alexia felt herself completely engaged. The dancers emerged one-by-one, wearing identical wigs and matching make-up. Their glossy, latex bodysuits caught the light as they moved through the stage. They moved in a straight line, bodies moving with intent. Alexia thought she was getting the typical pole dance and vulgar strip dance choreography but this wasn’t that… at all. The choreography was controlled and elegant, more artistic than she expected.

Without realizing it, Alexia leaned forward in her seat.

All of the dancers were amazing, moving in perfect sync, but there was one dancer that Alexia couldn’t look away from. There was nothing immediately obvious to set her apart; she had the same latex body suit, same bluntly cut wig, and same bold makeup. 

But her body moved differently, as if she was one with the music. Her body flirted with the rhythm and each step just flowed naturally with the next. Her expressions were so alive and vivid, eyes bright as they swept the room, making sure to give each person a moment that made it feel like she was dancing just for them.

Then, briefly, her eyes landed on Alexia’s.

Her lips curved into a small smile that widened a beat later, teeth flashing briefly under the lights, practically sparkling. Alexia felt her heart skip a beat, breath catching. If someone was paying close attention to Alexia, they would probably notice how her pupils dilated, practically doubling in size, absolutely taken in by the scene unfolding before her

Before she could even process the opening number, it ended, lights dimming once again and dancers scurrying out. She finally exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath since you two locked eyes. She blinked, a bit embarrassed that she got that into it.

She looked around, trying to see if any of her teammates noticed, only to meet Patri’s playful smirk, eyebrows raised and a teasing glint in her eyes. “Let’s just get through this, huh?” She teased, using Alexia’s own words against her. 

Alexia scoffed and rolled her eyes, though she was smiling. “You’re telling me that wasn’t good?”

“Sure,” Patri shrugged. “But I wasn’t as smitten as you were.”

Alexia chuckled, rolling her eyes at Patri, but unable to deny it.

⋆˙⟡♡ Your second performance was a solo.

You stood backstage as the costume settled onto your body — crisp white button-up that was so tight that it could practically pop, short black skirt, and some black-rimmed, prop glasses. You took one breath before stepping into the dark stage, baring yourself for the dance.

This number was the perfect mix of camp and seduction. You were meant to be a business lady in a makeshift office set-up. Projections of stock market graphs flickered behind you, showing stocks in the green as you started, sauntering seductively across the stage, looking through the prop papers on the table. Then, the projections would start the stocks plummeting, supposedly sending you into a panic. 

At your cue, you scattered the paper into the air as you spun around in the swivel chair, putting both your hands on your head as you rolled it around, acting in distress. After that, you got up, kicking the swivel chair to the side before sprawling your body on top of the table, letting the remaining paper on it fall onto the floor as you did.

You’d been doing this routine for a year. Every beat practically lived in your muscles. Normally, you could perform it flawlessly in your sleep.  But tonight, your focus just kept slipping.

You could feel her gaze again, as intense as they were a while ago. During the first number, you thought it was just nerves that made you think she was staring at you like this. That perhaps it was just your imagination amplified by stage lights and the adrenaline that came with your dance.  But even now, with the light dimmer and softer, it was undeniable.

It wasn’t that you weren’t used to people staring at you during shows; that was practically part of the job description. But it felt completely different now because instead of the usual random dude, it was this impossibly beautiful woman with her gorgeously piercing eyes.

You got off the desk swiftly, trying hard not to let her gaze get to you. You walked around to the front of the desk before graciously spinning, presenting your back to the crowd, bending over the desk with practiced fluidity, moving as sensually as you can. The room erupted with cheers and whistles, making you smile a bit, feeling validated that you were doing a good job. You breathed before you got off the table again, spinning around to face the crowd once again.

Your confidence was shaken up a bit once more, seeing those same hazel eyes fixed on you, but you tried to keep your gaze trained on the bride-to-be, Irene. 

Perform for the bride, you repeated to yourself. This is her bachelorette.

You bit your lip seductively as you kept your eyes fixated on the tall blonde. You began unbuttoning your top slowly and deliberately, hips swaying with the music. After the first hip pop to the side, you parted your lips, rounding your mouth, simulating the look of pleasure. Irene grimaced, visibly tensing as she looked away, unable to keep eye contact with you.

And with that, you suddenly let your attention go back to the girl beside her, the one with the intense gaze. She was still staring at you, expression unreadable. You gulped, trying not to let it get to you. It was hard not to overthink when you weren’t sure what to make of the way she looked at you.

Was she judging you? Was she drawn to you? Impressed? Disgusted? You couldn’t tell. You took a deep breath. 

Might as well lean into it, you thought. I’ll give her something to stare at.

You let your hands drag slowly down your torso, palms flat, unhurried, keeping the distress on your face while the stock projections kept tanking behind you. The crowd was already loud. You let them get louder. Your thumbs hooked into the waistband of your skirt and you eased it down your legs, slow enough to be deliberate, stepping out of it and tossing it offstage without looking where it landed.

Now, you were exposed, just wearing your heels and the lingerie that barely covered anything. You stood tall and let them look, feeling your confidence grow, knowing that the crowd was loving what they were seeing.

Your hips started to move again: a slow roll that built as you sank down into a squat, hands trailing up your own thighs on the way back up. The crowd noise swelled and you rode it, turning, bending forward over the table with your weight on your palms.

The music shifted, softening toward its end. It was your signal to get into your final pose.

And so, you climbed onto the desk and lowered yourself across it slowly, arching your back as you continued to trail your hands on your body. You turned your head to the side, and your eyes found hers in the crowd once again.

You held it a beat longer than necessary. You flashed her one last smile before the lights cut and the curtain dropped. The crowd erupted in cheers.

You exhaled, quickly slid off the table, and walked offstage, pleased with your performance.

Sol met you with a grin as you rushed to the changing area, quickly taking off your current lingerie. “I haven’t seen you dance like that in a while,” she commented. “You looked amazing.”

You smiled, hurriedly taking off your lingerie to get into your next costume. Your hands still shook, buzzing from performance adrenaline. “That’s the kind of energy I can only give a crowd of women.” 

“Oh, they loved it,” Adriana said, nodding, as she grabbed her pair of heels set up by the rows of steel racks. “Well, I know for certain that at least one of them did.”

“She was staring so hard at YN that even I felt flustered when I saw it,” Sol commented, helping you clasp the sparkly, pearl-crusted bra for your next performance. 

Your eyes widened as you looked at them. “You noticed too? She was staring, right? The girl beside Irene.”

Adriana snorted, adjusting her own bra. “Don’t act like you don’t know Alexia.”

“Oh,” you said, blinking. “Alexia… Alexia Putellas?”

The girls nodded in unison. You hummed, realizing that that was her. You probably weren’t able to process that it was her while you were performing. But you should have known who she was, especially given that your sister Aina had begged you last Christmas to buy a kit with Alexia’s name on it. 

Maybe I should be paying more attention whenever Nana watches football, you thought to yourself.

“Her gaze was kind of intense… but she really is kind of cute.” You said, admitting to finding her attractive.

Sol chuckled. “Kind of? She’s gorgeous. If I were a lesbian, I’d have ran off the stage and given her a show she could never forget about.” She nodded. “Especially with how she was staring. Ugh, babe, you should’ve jumped her.”

“Please, I’m not even sure she liked my performance,” you shook your head. “She was just… staring. Who knows? She might have been horrified.”

“Please, she didn’t look horrified,” Adriana said. “If anything, she looked like she was trying to memorize your buttcheek.”

You laughed and rolled your eyes, trying not to let it get to you too much. This was just a job and you were just a stripper. A client staring at you like that shouldn’t be anything to blush about and yet…

You shook your thoughts away, trying to focus on getting ready for your next performance.

⋆˙⟡♡ The last number was a full ensemble piece.

You stood in the wings with the rest of the girls, masks secured over the top half of your faces — sleek, black-lacquered ones with gold trim that curled up at the edges like something out of a Venetian parade. They covered your eyes, your nose, the bridge of your cheeks, leaving your mouth completely bare and painted deep red. You were all wearing matching corsets with short, structured skirts and long, silk gloves. 

Compared to your other performances, this was way campier and theatrical. This was one of your favorite numbers because it focused more on the dance aspect rather than the seduction aspect; it was one of the few numbers when you actually had fun.

The dance was a mix of the traditional can-can with a modern twist. With half of your face covered with a mask, you had to animate your expressions even more, which honestly made the dance enjoyable for you. 

As you performed, you tried to focus more on the rhythm of the music and on your moves. You kept your chin up, gaze trained just over the heads of the audience the way you always did when you needed to stay in your body and out of your head

But even from your peripheral vision, you could feel her eyes on you from the same position she was in; you practically memorized her location without meaning to. Even if you weren’t looking at her, you were hyperaware of her movements: the way she laughed at the comedic parts of the choreography, the way she would lean over to Patri beside her, whisper something, making the other girl laugh. 

You were so aware of her that it was deeply inconvenient given that you were currently in the middle of a performance. It was even more odd, given that you were never like this with anyone. For the past few years, in this job, you were always laser-focused on just nailing the moves. 

Focus, you told yourself firmly. You are a professional and she is a client. 

You snapped back into the number, hitting the final sequence with everything you had, pouring the nervous energy directly into the performance. By the time the lights cut and the curtain dropped, your heart was hammering and not entirely from dancing.

⋆˙⟡♡ The applause was still rolling when your co-worker Adriana stepped out in front of the curtain with a cordless mic and her most theatrical smile, chandelier light catching the sequins on her bodysuit. Along with the rest of the girls, you were hurriedly getting out of your costumes. 

You changed into a sleek black bodysuit, simple and fitted compared to the more elaborate costumes from the earlier numbers, paired with a new mask that was simpler and was just enough to hide your identity up close. 

"Ladies," Adriana said with a projected voice, echoing into the backstage area. "On a regular night at Somni, our girls are on that stage and you are in those seats, and that is where the evening ends." She paused, letting the anticipation settle. "But tonight is not a regular night."

The Barcelona girls cheered and whistled.

"Tonight, since we are performing for our nation’s pride," Adriana gestured broadly toward them. "We offer something a little more personal." She smiled. "Tonight, for our bachelorette party…. we have lap dances!”

The team erupted. As soon as you were all made-up, everyone waited by the wings, taking a peek of the crowd. You could catch a glimpse of the bachelorette Irene, shaking her head, with her head in her palm as the other girls practically forced her to be on stage.

"Let’s welcome our bride-to-be on the stage! Irene Paredes,” Adriana said, welcoming Irene to the stage, her teammates clapping and hollering excitedly.

Irene lifted her head, expression caught somewhere between amusement and genuine distress. She held up her hand and reached for the mic. 

"I adore all the girls, such amazing performers… really," she said, "but my future wife is going to kill me if I get a lap dance, so… maybe, all my co-captains can go in my place, instead?"

The team cheered. Adriana pointed the mic toward Patri, who had both hands already raised in surrender. "I have a girlfriend," Patri said simply, refusing with huge hand gestures, shaking her head, staying planted in her seat.

Adriana pivoted smoothly to Marta who everyone else was pointing to, seated right beside Caroline Graham Hansen. Marta tilted her head consideringly, then looked sideways. "I'll do it if Caro does it too."

All eyes went to Caro, who was already shaking her head with much fervor. "No, no, absolutely not."

Everyone reacted in disappointment until everyone turned to Alexia who looked caught. Soon, all the other girls started chanting. "Capi-ta-na. Capi-ta-na. Capi-ta-na."

You heard it from backstage and felt something in you tense up. You looked at your co-workers. You were all prepared to dance for more of the girls but now, it seemed like only Alexia was up for a lap dance. The other girls giggled, looking at you pointedly which just made you feel more nervous.

Looks like I’m doing this alone, you thought.

You turned your attention back. Alexia was laughing, shaking her head, the particular expression of someone who knew they had already lost and was deciding how to accept it gracefully. She looked at Irene, who gave her a cheerful, unhelpful shrug. She looked at Patri, who gestured as if to say this is completely out of my hands. Alexia looked over to Marta who was at the far end of the room, already shaking her head with Caro mimicking the same action.

Alexia exhaled, realizing that she was the only captain of the team left who didn’t have to worry about a girlfriend or partner getting mad about a lap dance. 

"Fine," she acquiesced, and the crowd lost its mind.

Adriana grinned and lifted the mic again. "Now hold on," she said, drawing it out with practiced showmanship. "For our nation’s capitana, I'm not sending just any of our girls out here." She turned back toward the curtain, expression conspiratorial. "I know someone who really, really wants to give Alexia Putellas a lap dance. Someone who is really going to put on a show for La Reina."

The Barcelona girls wolf-whistled and cheered, excited to see the girl who was so eager to give their captain a lap dance.

“Let’s give it up for… Rubi!” 

You barely even processed Adriana calling you by your stage name when everyone backstage began pushing you further towards the stage. You frowned and glared at them. “Oh my god, calm down. I’m going,” you groaned at the girls who were just giggling at you.

Adriana rushed back on stage, stopping just right in front of you. “You owe me,” she teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

"I fucking hate you,” you said, feeling the nerves build inside you. “I didn’t ask you for this.”

She chuckled. “Keep pretending, sweetheart. We know you want to anyway.” Adriana rolled her eyes. “Enjoy.”

⋆˙⟡♡ Soon, the lights dimmed and the red lights covered the room in a deep crimson. The song that rolled in was unhurried and heavy. It had a steady tempo with a slow burn of a bass. In Somni, the lap dances were often not choreographed so you didn’t know what song to expect but this one felt just right. It was the perfect amount of sultry and intimate.

You took one slow breath backstage, rolling your shoulders, shaking out your hands. You closed your eyes, calming yourself, before stepping from out of the wings, meeting the immediate and generous wave of noise and cheering. Just like that, all your nerves dissipated. You let it settle around you, smirking at everyone. 

You were used to lap dances, even if they weren't a regular thing at Somni. Pilar reserved them for special occasions and private reservations mostly — bachelor parties, birthdays, the nights a VIP booking came with specific requests attached. It wasn't like you were doing this every shift. But when Pilar did assign them, your name came up more often than not.

You had your theories about why Pilar kept picking you. Maybe it was your dance background. Perhaps it showed in the way you controlled your body or maybe it was that you just had more energy and endurance that by the end of the night, you could still deliver another performance while most of the other girls were just too knackered. 

Or maybe it was for humanitarian reasons. She knew the situation with your sister and considering that the girls doing the lap dances got a bonus, she was assigning it to you, knowing you’d be willing to do it for more money. 

Whatever the reason, you were just glad the clients never seemed to notice that you weren't really present for any of it. That the smile was just something you put on or the eye contact was something practiced and mechanical. You figured you must have put on a good enough show for them to not realize that while you were grinding on their laps, you were thinking about what groceries you needed to buy or how you were going to budget your salary for the next week.

But tonight, it was different. You were certain that you weren’t going to be thinking about groceries tonight. Not when she was the one on that chair.

Alexia turned her head to catch a glimpse of you. Her smile faltered, just briefly, like she hadn't quite expected you specifically, walking toward her in the low red light. You gave her a small smile, winking as you walked towards her slowly, legs crossing over each other with your heels clicking against the hard floor.

The smile found its way back to her face as you moved closer. Her eyes moved over you unhurriedly, and the lazy confidence of it made your heart slam against your ribs in a way that you hoped absolutely did not show on your face.

You circled her first, taking your time. This was the part of a lap dance that most people didn't expect; they usually expected you to just start grinding on them. But it was better to build up the anticipation, to keep them waiting. It was a sort of foreplay. 

You let your fingertips trail across her shoulders barely even touching her, just close enough that she'd feel the proximity. You heard a quiet exhale from her that she probably didn't intend to be audible. In contrast, the Barcelona crowd was incredibly audible, shouting and whistling nonstop. 

You tuned them out the way you tuned out everything when you were working. But right now, you were also grateful for the dark red lights because they were able to hide the slight tremble in your hands.

Pull yourself together, you thought to yourself. It was not usual for you to be affected by your clients but then again, this was the first time you were actually attracted to your client. 

You came around to face Alexia, moving down slowly onto her lap just until you were just barely hovering above her, hands bracing on the armrests on either side of her hips, bringing your face level with hers. The space between you was small and up close, she was so much more than she had been from across the room. The red light did something extraordinary to her features, sharpening the line of her jaw, catching in her eyes, and you had a half-second of clarity in which you recognized that this was genuinely one of the most beautiful people you had ever been this close to, which was an observation that was neither helpful given the circumstances. 

You kept your movements fluid and unhurried, working with the rhythm of the music, rolling through each beat. Your body moved over hers without direct contact, watching her lick her lips unconsciously in anticipation. 

Then, deliberately, you reached down and guided her hands off the armrests. You placed them at your waist and covered them with your own. You smiled as you felt her fingers press against your waist. You began to roll your hips, guiding her hands with yours, letting her hands trail up your own sides and back down.

Alexia’s gaze never left yours and the line of her jaw had tightened. Her composed stillness from a moment ago was working a lot harder now and you could see it in the set of her shoulders.

You smirked before abruptly turning, now facing the crowd, giving them a flashy grin. You placed Alexia’s hands back onto your waist, feeling them settle there with a less restrained grip. You placed your hands on the arms of the chair, using them to support you as you lowered yourself slowly onto her lap. You moved against her slowly and deliberately, grinding slowly against her, making sure that you were firm and flush against her as you did.

Her grip on your waist tightened, pulling you closer without you prompting it and the crowd must have noticed because they lost their composure, cheering even louder. Your eyes widened and you nearly yelped as Alexia pulled you towards her, causing your weight to fully be on top of her. Her chest pressed firmly against your back as she leaned in, lips brushing against your ear.

"You really, really wanted to give me a lap dance, huh?" Her voice was low and quiet but definitely teasing. You can tell by the tone of her voice that she definitely seemed too pleased with herself.

The corner of your mouth twitched but you stayed composed. You stood once more, facing her again before leaning in, just an inch away from her ear. “Don’t flatter yourself, superstar.”

You felt rather than heard the low laugh in her chest, the vibration of it pressed against you. You pulled away and stood in one smooth motion, turning to face her again. You decided to take her by surprise, strongly planting your hands on both of her legs, parting it abruptly, garnering you a collective noise from the crowd. And, of course, you didn’t miss the way Alexia’s expression flickered: the way her throat moved as she swallowed.

There it is.

"Keep those there," you said, holding her gaze. "Okay, superstar?"

You didn't wait for an answer. You turned and moved toward the crowd, putting your back to them, hips dropping into a slow rolling gyration that made the room erupt. You gave them a few beats of it before sinking down to the floor with an unhurried ease.

You lowered yourself onto your back, still facing Alexia, propping up on your elbows so your chest angled upward. As you settled into it, you found Alexia's eyes immediately. You gave her a slow smirk. Then you raised your legs — straight and crossed over each other — and began moving your legs into a traditional clockwork move. Alexia’s eyes were fixated on your legs, as if hypnotized by the fluid movements. You smirked, legs sweeping in circles in a controlled rotation, tracing the air above you in a precise and deliberate motion before meeting back at the top. On the next beat, you let your legs fall open into a wide split, holding it just long enough for Alexia’s eyes to widen and for the room to react, before swiftly snapping them back shut, heels connecting with a satisfying clack at the top, the sound punctuating the beat of the song.

The crowd cheered in amusement but you barely paid attention to them. Your attention had already locked into Alexia.

You rolled onto your hands and knees, letting the movement flow into the next count as you seductively crawled back towards her. She was still sitting exactly how you had left her, knees apart, hands gripping the arms of the chair like she had decided it was safer than touching you. The sight sent a sharp little thrill through you. There was nothing more that could boost your confident than a girl coming undone just by looking at you. 

You took your time crossing the space between you, slow enough to make her watch every inch of it. Her eyes flickered all over your body, following the line of your back, the sway of your hips, the way you moved like you knew exactly what she was looking at at any given moment.

When you reached her, you placed your hands on either side of her thighs and lifted your gaze to hers. You leaned your head closer to in between her legs, sticking your tongue out and tracing the air just above her. You moved it in a line, starting low then dragging it in a path upward from in between her legs, past her stomach, and towards chest. You never touched her. You only came close enough for her to feel the warmth of your mouth, leaving it all to her imagination.

This time, there was no teasing smirk or comment from Alexia. She just looked at you with her mouth slightly parted, eyes dark beneath the red light, and hands gripping the arms of the chair. You smirked.

You straightened up, striking one last strong pose as the final beat of the song landed. The crowd cheered loudly and you gave them a small, cheeky bow before walking back towards the curtain, without looking back at Alexia.

You didn’t need to; you could feel her eyes on you the entire way out. 

⋆˙⟡♡ You woke up with a groan, scrubbing the sleep from your eyes as the alarm clock blared mercilessly. It was too loud, too early; it was certainly enough to sour your mood before you were even fully conscious. 

You sat up, sighing deeply as you turned the alarm off, feeling your calves and feet ache from the night before. No matter how many nights you performed in heels, it never made the morning-after muscle pain any less annoying.

You turned your head and found your sister Aina beside you, completely unconscious, sprawled diagonally across more than her fair share of the bed. You must have been so tired last night that you didn’t even notice that she had snuck into your room late into the night.

Even if Aina was already seven, she still looked impossibly young to you. It didn’t help that she was tinier than most girls her age. 

People often thought that Aina was your daughter given the huge age gap between the two of you; they often assumed you must have had her when you were young. At first, it bothered you, the way they filled in your story without asking. But over time, you stopped correcting them. It was easier that way and, honestly, it was less unusual than trying to explain how two sisters could be separated by more than a decade.

When Aina was born, she came as a pleasant surprise to everyone in your life. She was born when you were already a teenager and your parents were almost in their 40s. You had pretty much accepted your life as an only child by then, which was why you were so pumped to hear the news that you were getting a baby sister. 

Even as a baby, Aina was always so sweet and well-behaved. She’d always been an angel but that didn’t mean that raising her was a walk-in-the-park. It was still a lot to handle. 

You were left with the responsibility of being Aina’s sole legal guardian when you were in college, just a teenager and barely an adult. The car accident happened on a random Tuesday night. You could still remember answering the phone to the news that your parents had passed, struck by a drunk driver. The next few days felt like a whirlwind. 

There was no one else to take care of you and your sister.  Your maternal aunt was living in France with her own family. There were no living aunts or uncles on your father’s side. Both sets of grandparents were already gone. 

It had just been the four of you for as long as you could remember, and then it was just the two of you, and you had gone from being a teenager with a half-finished art degree and a vague idea of your future to being the legal guardian of a three-year-old.

Your parents were careful people. They'd left the apartment in both your names, and there was money set aside for Aina's schooling through secondary, which was more than a lot of people had and you knew that. But schooling money didn't cover utilities, groceries, health insurance, the football kit Aina had asked for three birthdays in a row or the school trip deposit that came due at the worst possible time every single year.

So, you had to work and work and work. You started doing a bunch of retail and waitressing gigs. You stacked jobs on top of each other until your prospect of an art career became a distant memory and you had to drop out of college. The only artistic thing you did now were the repetitive coffee flowers you made each morning at your barista job.

Even if you were exhausted and drained, it was doable. You just had to manage your time well and take loads of vitamins just so you wouldn’t have to ever be sick and miss a day of work. Unfortunately, just as you were getting used to the flow of it all, the restaurant where you served as a hostess shut down. It was your biggest source of income so with it gone, you were going to suffer a massive financial loss.

That’s where Somni came in.

An old friend of a friend worked in Somni but had quit after she got engaged. Apparently, she needed someone to replace her — someone pretty, with a dance background. Your friend mentioned it, thinking about how you mentioned that you did ballet and jazz as a kid. She knew you were at your lowest, stretching every check, barely making ends meet, and even considering dipping into Aina’s school fund. She said you might as well give it a shot, quit if you ended up not liking it.

At first, you felt ashamed that stripping had become an option. But it felt worse seeing your sister as the only girl on her football team with worn-down shoes, or the only student carrying an old, ratty backpack. You wanted to give Aina a better life. In the end, that meant you didn’t really have a choice.

Your job as a stripper paid decently, way better than any job you had and the hours were better. It meant you could live semi-comfortable lives and that you could drop all your other jobs you were juggling. Now, you were just working at Somni and at the cafe near your apartment. Although, Aina thought you only worked at the cafe as a barista in the morning and as a waitress at night. It took a lot of effort covering up the truth, especially as she had grown up and started asking more questions.

Thankfully, your best friend helped a lot with it. You met Rocío at your first job at the coffee shop after your parents died. She was in a similar situation. She ran away from home as a teenager, wanting more independence, barely able to afford it. You two had bonded a lot over your experiences so much so that when you heard that she needed a new place to stay, you offered her a place in your apartment in exchange for some help with utility bills and taking care of Aina whenever you worked at Somni. At some point, it started to feel like Rocío had become like your sister too.

You looked over to Aina who was still fast asleep, unaware of you staring wistfully at her, reminiscing about your past. Slowly, you eased yourself out of bed, not wanting to wake Aina, and padded out into the hallway. Rocío was already in the kitchen, still in her pajamas, thick brown hair thrown into a messy bun. She stood at the stove with the posture of someone who had just woken up, placing the moka pot on it.

She turned at the sound of your footsteps and gave you a slow nod.

"Did you come home later than usual last night?" she asked. 

“Yeah, bachelorette party.” You said, heading to the refrigerator to start preparing breakfast. “And you would not believe who was there.”

The statement woke Rocío up a little. Her thick eyebrows lifted. "Bachelorette? Who?"

You opened your mouth but just as you were about to share your story, Aina came shuffling out of your bedroom, hair messy from sleep. "G'morning," she mumbled, in the direction of no one specifically.

"Good morning, Nana," you and Rocío said, almost in unison.

Aina smiled without fully opening her eyes and disappeared into the bathroom. The shower started a moment later. You looked at Rocío and sighed, deciding it was best to discuss details from your work later on, when you were far from Aina’s earshot. "I'll tell you at work.”

⋆˙⟡♡ "No fucking way," Rocío said, staring at you. The cloth she'd been using to wipe down the counter had stopped moving entirely. "Alexia. Alexia Putellas."

"Yes, Alexia Putellas," you confirmed, mimicking the emphasis she put on the last name.

"You’re telling me that you gave Alexia Putellas a lap dance." Rocío set the cloth down. She seemed to need a moment, shaking her head in disbelief. “How are you so calm about this right now?”

You laughed, leaning against the counter. “I’m not calm. I’m just tired.” You said, with a shrug. “But honestly, at that moment, I guess it was just the adrenaline powering me through. I don’t know how I got through that lap dance alone. We all planned to do a group lap dance for the bride and maybe her other teammates but it just turned out to be me and her. It was…”

“Hot.” Rocío said, nodding.

You laughed. “No, I mean… well, yeah but more so crazy,” you said, stumbling on your words. “Like, I don’t think I ever expected that to happen. We were only told that it was going to be a VIP bachelorette so I really had no way of knowing beforehand that it’d be the Barcelona team.”

“Oh, so, was Aitana there too?” Rocío asked. “Nana would kill you if she finds out that you met her idol and you didn’t get her a signature.”

"No, she wasn't." You shook your head. "And even if she had been… when exactly was I supposed to ask for an autograph? In the middle of the lap dance? That would have been very professional."

Rocío laughed. "I'm just saying. Nana loves Alexia too. You could have at least tried to get something." Rocío shrugged, helping you out with the clean-up. “But I swear, I feel like if you had asked her for a signature during the lap dance, I am sure that she’d give it to you. Heck, if you asked for her number, I’m pretty sure she’d give that too.”

You frowned and rolled your eyes. “Be for real,” You said with a deadpan tone. "Besides, even if I'd wanted to, it wouldn't have been appropriate. They were there as clients."

"Yeah, and she was a client who was very clearly into you and checking you out during your dance," Rocío said pointedly, recalling the details of your story. "And I've heard she just went through a breakup recently, so…"

You gave your best friend a flat look. “I’m a stripper, Rocío. Of course, she was checking me out. That doesn’t mean she wants to date me.” You explained. “I’m not sure I wanna date her anyway. I’m not into girls who go to strip clubs.”

“Please, it was for a bachelorette. It’s not like she was there just to perv out randomly. You can surely understand the nuance of that,” Rocío said, wiping the work table even if it was already spotless, clearly too distracted by your story to do anything else. “Plus, she is totally your type.”

“My type? How would you know my type?” You scoffed. “I’ve been single for ages. I don’t even know if I have a type.”

“Tall, gorgeous, hard-working, a good person… is that not your type?" Rocío prodded. “Rich too.”

“Yeah, sure, but I don’t think we can say she’s a good person just because of her public persona. You know how celebrities are,” you corrected. “Also, being rich doesn’t matter that much to me. Most rich people are actual assholes.”

Rocío hummed before turning to you, giving you a cheeky grin. “You didn’t deny that she’s gorgeous though.” 

You paused before chuckling in partial defeat. "That," you said, "I can't deny."

⋆˙⟡♡ Dress rehearsals were your favorite kinds of shift at Somni.

There was no crowd or clients; it was always just you and the girls trying out new costumes, choreographies, looks. Usually, it didn’t require the full energy typically needed for an actual performance night. The best part was you still got paid for it. Sure, there weren’t any tips but you didn’t mind that much. If every shift could be a dress rehearsal, you would have no complaints about this job whatsoever.

You were sitting in your dressing chair, surrounded by the hair and makeup team who were experimenting with a new look for your solo number at the lounge's anniversary event next month. It gave you an excuse to sit still and scroll through your phone while your coffee went lukewarm beside you.

"Who are you stalking?" Sol appeared beside you without warning, peeking between two members of the makeup crew, craning her neck to look at your screen.

Instinctively, you tilted the screen away from her. “Nobody.” You said, looking at her with an innocent look.

"Hmm. Because if I saw correctly, that looked a lot like Alexia Putellas' Instagram account to me." Sol chuckled, dropping into the seat beside you, pulling her long hair into a tight bun so the wig cap would sit flat.

"I was just looking," you said with a small shrug. "I was curious."

“Sure, yeah, curious,” Sol said, tone teasing. She gave you a playful look as she accepted the wig one of the crew handed her and let them settle it into place. "She must have really left an impression on you last night."

The girl doing your eye make-up paused and looked at you. “Wait, you guys met Alexia Putellas?”

You pressed a finger to your lip, as if to gesture that it was a secret. "Her team was here last night. Bachelorette party." You answered in a low voice. 

“Yeah, and my good friend here…” Sol trailed off as if building anticipation. “Gave her a lapdance.”

The hair and make-up team looked amused and shocked and you just rolled your eyes. “Guys, it’s a strip club. Why are you all acting so shocked? What else do you think we do here?”

"Was she as good-looking in person?" the makeup girl asked, resuming her work. "I'm a Madridista but even I can admit that Alexia—"

“She was okay,” you responded curtly with a shrug.

Sol rolled her eyes. 

“What?” You said.

“She was okay? Yeah, says the girl who had a lady boner while giving her a lap dance.” Sol retorted.

You frowned at Sol. “Excuse me, I think I did pretty well,” you retorted, feeling a bit defensive. 

“I’m not saying you sucked,” Sol corrected. “I’m saying you danced a little too well.”

“I was just giving my all that performance,” you defended, crossing your arms. “Is it a crime to be good at my job? That doesn’t mean I like her.”

“Well, Rubi,” your hairstylist said, using your stage name. She met your eyes in the mirror with a look of calm amusement. "You've also been on her Instagram for the last twenty minutes."

You stared at her through the mirror’s reflection with a shocked expression. Sol bursted out laughing.

“God, the betrayal,” you said flatly.

“You can never hide anything from a hair stylist,” Sol joked, garnering a high-five from your hair stylist. 

You sighed, slumping slightly. "Fine. Okay, maybe I have a small crush on her." You held a hand up before Sol could open her mouth. "But it’s just that – a small crush. Don’t make it a thing."

Sol made a face that suggested she was absolutely going to make it a thing, but before she could say anything, your club manager Pilar appeared behind you in the mirror, arms crossed, studying your look with a contorted expression.

You caught her eye in the reflection. “What do you think, boss? Cute?”

Pilar frowned, touching one of your teased and curled pigtails, shaking her head. “You look like the guy from the Saw movies,” she commented before turning to the makeup crew. "I said sexy clown. Apparently you all only heard the clown part."

You bit the inside of your cheek to keep from laughing. You understood where she was coming from; the white base they'd applied was too pale, and the blush that sat on your cheeks in two perfect circles was too off-putting. Your hair looked more deranged clown than anything too. The only part that you liked was the sparkly pink eyeshadow and the thick, animated lashes.

Pilar directed the crew, instructing them to change the white foundation to something only a shade or two lighter than your natural tone. The circles of red blush were replaced with a softer, blended-out pink. The eye look stayed thankfully. The difference was immediate and you looked way better now than you did just moments ago.

“And no more of this messy pigtail look,” Pilar said, already moving away toward Sol’s station. “Just give her a pink wig and put on a ton of body shimmer. Then, get her under stage light and see how it reads when she performs her number.”

You watched in the mirror as the crew hurriedly put your hair into a hairnet and placed a pink wig on your head, making adjustments until it sat exactly right. You tilted your head, studying your own reflection. 

As cliche as it seemed, it always was unsettling to you just how completely different Rubi looked from yourself. It was crazy how much make-up and a wig could completely transform you, putting distance between you as a performer and you as a person. 

But there was some comfort in putting on this costume. It kept you anonymous. It reassured you as if to say that whatever happened here stayed here. Just the way you liked it.

⋆˙⟡♡ You were in the middle of taking off your costume when the energy in the room shifted. 

It started with a few girls drifting from their stations towards the wings followed by a few more. After a while, the low chatter picked up into something more animated.  After returning your costume onto the racks, you pulled your short, black silk robe over your shoulders, the one with your stage name embroidered across the back in red thread. You knotted the belt loosely as you made your way toward the small group that gathered at the edge of the stage area.

"What's going on?" you asked.

Adriana turned to you with a smirk. "Looks like your girlfriend's paying a visit."

"My what?" You stepped past a few of the girls and looked out toward the floor. 

With the house lights fully on, it was easy to see her – tall, cap pulled low perhaps to mask her identity from potential paparazzi, leather jacket on. It was Alexia. 

"What is she doing here?" you said in a low tone, more to yourself than anyone.

"Security said she's picking up some things her teammates left behind," one of the girls answered, hearing your question. "Apparently, someone got a bit drunk and forgot their keys and stuff."

"Or…" Adriana said, elbowing you jestfully, "that's just an excuse to see you again."

You gave her a look. “You’re delusional.”

Before Adriana could respond, Pilar’s voice cut through the room. “Girls,” she announced, clapping her hands together once. "Back to your stations. We have to finish figuring out your looks so we can focus on choreography tomorrow. You're all acting like you've never seen a footballer before."

Everyone reluctantly moved back to their stations. You turned and headed back to your station. Sol was already there beside your station, wig off and halfway through removing her stage make-up with a cotton pad. Adriana stood on your other side, carefully plucking out her false lashes. 

You sat down, opting to take care of the blister that was forming on your heels over removing your wig and make up; the pain had been bothering you since a while ago. You kicked off your stilettos and examined the back of your heels.

"Your feet okay?" Sol asked, glancing at your heel.

"It's fine," you said, applying a hydrocolloid bandage on the blister. “I’m used to it.”

You were midway through applying the bandage on your other ankle when you heard footsteps and low voices approaching from the corridor. It was your head of security's voice and another beneath it, quieter. You kept your eyes on your heel, growing frustrated at the fact that your hydrocolloid bandages weren’t sticking properly.

Out of nowhere, Adriana was suddenly beside you, grabbing your arm and pulling you to your feet before you'd fully processed what was happening.

You looked at her in annoyance, noticing that her eyes were not on you, instead were set straight ahead. You followed her gaze to see Alexia passing directly by your stations, seemingly heading towards the admin room where all lost-and-found items were kept. 

Without a modicum of subtlety whatsoever, you felt one of your friends firmly push you, propelling you forward. Still barefoot, you stumbled directly into Alexia’s path, blister bandage half-stuck to your heel and silk robe gaping slightly.

Alexia stopped. She looked at you, then at Adriana and Sol behind you, whose expressions were the picture of feigned innocence. The corner of her mouth pulled upward into a sly smirk, realizing the situation.

She looked at you carefully, noticing the contrast between you and your co-workers, how you were still fully wigged and made-up while the others were already practically undone. “Do you stay in costume even when there’s no one watching?” She asked with a tone of amusement, taking in the sight of your wig and the costume lingerie underneath your robe.

“Dress rehearsal,” you said, pulling your robe closed, feeling faintly embarrassed. "I just finished my part. We run everything in full costume so it reads properly under the stage lights."

You weren't sure why you were explaining it so thoroughly, as if she didn't know what a dress rehearsal was. Perhaps it was the adrenaline from practically getting propelled in her direction by your friends.

She nodded slowly then her eyes moved over your face slowly. "I recognize you," she said, fully smiling now. "You're the one who gave me a lap dance.”

Your friends didn’t do a good job concealing their giggling behind you. You rolled your eyes. God, you’d think we’re teenage girls and not actual strippers, you thought to yourself.

“Uh, yeah, that was me,” you nodded, giving her a shy smile. “Thank you, by the way, for the tip that you and your team left. It was very generous.”

After the night, the team left a considerable tip. It wasn’t an extravagant or performative amount; it felt like a genuine token of appreciation. It was certainly more than what a typical bachelor party would ever think to leave. Split between all the girls, it hadn't changed anyone's life but it wasn’t exactly pennies. At least, it had made the night feel worthwhile.

“It was well-deserved,” Alexia said simply, eyes dropping briefly to your robe then to your bare feet, noticing the half-applied bandage that was practically hanging off of your ankle. “Maybe we should have left more so you could get better bandages.”

You blushed lightly at the joke, consciously hiding your ankle behind the other one. You laughed, adjusting your wig as you did. You were thankful that you still had the wig and makeup on. The anonymity helped you from feeling completely vulnerable in front of her.

“Hey,” Adriana stepped forward, noticing that you had gone silent. “By the way, Alexia, this one has a little sister who is absolutely obsessed with you. Any chance you'd sign something for her?"

You turned to Adriana, reprimanding her with your eyes before turning back to Alexia. "That's really not… it's fine, it's not necessary—"

"It's not necessary?" Alexia said, with a look of mild amusement. "What's not necessary is me walking past when apparently your sister is a big fan and not doing anything about it." She looked at you. "Do you have something I can sign?"

You looked around your station. Sol and Adriana immediately began rummaging through the general clutter before Adriana pulled the receipt from beneath your coffee morning, slightly soft at the edges from sitting underneath your cup for the better part of the night.

Alexia looked amused as she was handed it.

“It’s all we have,” you explained, nodding.

She laughed, taking it carefully between two fingers. "It's falling apart."

You shrugged meekly. 

"Okay then." She accepted the pen Sol produced from somewhere and looked back at you. "What's your sister's name?"

You hesitated, just briefly. Something in you was instinctively cautious about handing over even something that small about your personal life.

"Nana," Sol said, filling the silence without missing a beat. Deep inside, you seethed a bit, not liking that Sol was giving your sister’s name away to a client. 

Alexia nodded and bent over the counter, writing carefully on the damp receipt. She wrote a short note before signing it. She straightened up and examined it for a moment, holding it by ‘the corner as though uncertain it would survive the transfer. "I hope this gets to her in one piece.”

“She’ll love it,” you said, giving her a small smile, looking at the receipt. “She really will.”

Alexia smiled. “Uh, if you want,” she started. “I could drop off one of my kits, sign it properly. That’d be more durable than a damp receipt.”

You chuckled, carefully placing the paper on your station. “No, that really isn't necessary.” You shook your head.

“No, no, come on, just think of it as a gift of gratitude. You made Irene’s bachelorette truly memorable," she said with a smile before lowering her voice, quieter so that the other girls wouldn’t hear. “Also… I’ve just been looking for an excuse to return.”

"Oh," you said, caught off guard. "Thank you."

"Yeah," she said simply, holding your gaze, eyes flickering to look at your body for a half-second. It was barely noticeable but it was enough to make you feel flustered.

Your head of security appeared behind her. "Miss Putellas, I think we identified all the stuff left behind by your party. Maybe you would want to double-check?"

Alexia nodded, then looked back at you one last time. "I'll see you soon, then."

Before you could respond, Adriana popped up at your shoulder. "She'll see you!"

Alexia laughed before walking off.

What the fuck just happened?

⋆˙⟡♡ The night ended earlier than usual. Even after cleaning up and scrubbing off all the make-up and body glitter in the club’s shower, you still reached your apartment at a more godly hour. 

As you stepped in, you could see Aina’s attention turn from her iPad to the front door. An instant smile plastered across your sister’s face as soon as she saw you. “YN!” She shouted excitedly, running off to give you a welcoming hug. “I missed you so much.”

You pouted and felt your heart warm at the interaction. Between your work at the cafe and your shift at Somni, you usually barely had any free time to spend with your sister. By the time she got home from school, you were already getting ready to go to work at Somni, and by the time you got home, she was usually fast asleep. You tried really hard to make time for important events – important football games, school performances, holidays – but honestly, to you, it never felt enough.

You hugged her warmly, sniffing the familiar scent of her shampoo. “Nana, have you eaten?” You asked.

“Yeah, I warmed up the meal you prepared for us,” Rocío said, smiling at you from the coach. “Shift at the restaurant ended early?”

You nodded. “Yeah,” you responded, keeping your answer short so as to not raise suspicion about your ‘work at the restaurant.’

Aina and you settled at the coach after you had set aside your coat and bag. “Nana, I actually met someone at the restaurant tonight,” you said, giving your sister a smile. “I didn’t have anything else on me at the time but I think you’d still appreciate it.”

Your sister tilted her head. “What? Who did you meet?” She said, not understanding what you were saying without context.

You giggled, pulling the carefully folded paper from your pocket. “I really wish I had a better piece of paper or a shirt or whatever but this was all I had,” you re-explained, handing her the receipt.

Aina took it, not understanding at first but as soon as it registered, her eyes widened and she gasped. “Alexia? You met Alexia?” She exclaimed. “Oh my god, YN, did you take a selfie? Please tell me you took a selfie with her, please.”

Rocío looked over at the paper before looking at you and raising her eyebrow. You ignored her, looking back at Aina. “Well, she was kinda in a rush so I was only able to ask her for her signature,” you excused. 

Aina immediately rushed towards you, wrapping her arms around you once more. “This is so cool, YN,” she gushed. “Thank you so, so much.”

You chuckled, patting her back. “Be careful with it. The paper is kinda flimsy; you wouldn’t wanna rip it.”

Aina pulled away, nodding in agreement. “I’m gonna go to my room and put it in one of my frames,” she said before running off to her room.

You smiled warmly, happy to see your sister excited like that. As soon as Aina was in her room, you turned to Rocío who was already looking at you suspiciously. “Alexia was at the restaurant again tonight, huh?”

You widened your eyes and raised your eyebrows, lips pressed into a thin line, nodding. 

Rocío shook her head and chuckled in disbelief. “Did she get another lap dance?” She asked, voice low. 

You shook your head. “No, she was just returning because her teammates forgot their keys or whatever.” 

Rocío rolled her eyes. “Please, that’s such a flimsy excuse,” she said, voice still hushed, just in case Aina came back any time soon. “I’m willing to bet all of my life savings that she just came back to see you.”

“That’d be, what, 12 euros?” You joked.

Your best friend rolled her eyes. “Shut up. You know I have a point.”

You paused, debating whether or not to mention to your best friend what Alexia had said. Rocío immediately noticed your demeanor, widening her eyes, scooching closer to you on the coach. “What? I know that look,” she prodded.

Carefully, you looked over to Aina’s room, making sure she wasn’t going to suddenly pop out. “Well,” you started, eyes returning to meet Rocío’s expectant gaze. “Where do I even start?”

“Hurry, before Aina returns.” Rocío said, gesturing for you to just spill the news.

You nodded before quietly recounting the details of the night to Rocío, checking constantly to make sure that Aina wasn’t suddenly going to pop out of her room and overhear that one of the women she looked up to was frequenting the strip club her sister performed in. That was certainly too difficult to explain had she overheard. 

“And really quietly, she said that she was also just looking for an excuse to return,” you said, finishing off your story.

“Girl,” Rocío grabbed your hands excitedly and practically began bouncing on the couch. “Oh my god. Oh my god. OH MY GOD!”

You chuckled. “Shh,” you reprimanded her. “I mean, I don’t want to think anything of it but at the time, I definitely was blushing a bit. I mean, it really was flattering… but whatever, it’s nothing. It’s silly.”

Rocío groaned. “Why do you do that, YN?”

“Do what?” You asked with a deadpan expression.

“Always undermine your feelings,” she responded. “You know, you’re allowed to feel giddy about a hot footballer being interested in you. It’s not a crime. You don’t have to act like it’s not a big deal.”

You shook your head. “I mean, it’s nothing. It’s just a client liking what I have to offer which is… a fantasy, a sexual fantasy,” you cleared up. “She isn’t really interested in me. She’s interested in my performance. Probably has something to do with her break-up.”

You paused, recalling the news you read about her recent break-up, before continuing. “You know divorced guys are like a huge demographic of our crowd,” you added. “We’re just something to distract them from their heartbreak. It really is nothing.”

“God, you’re such a bummer.” Rocío looked at you, scrunching up her nose. “You know, next time you see her, try not being so guarded. Try to be warmer.”

You scoffed. “Why? For what reason?”

“Girl, just do it for yourself!” Rocío exclaimed, a bit louder than intended. She paused, lowering her voice again. “I mean, you work endlessly and you barely have any time to date anyway. Why not use this as an opportunity to just bring some excitement in your life? It doesn’t have to mean anything. Just… have fun.”

You sighed, nodding. She had a point. You had been so highstrung for so long and you needed something to take the edge off. You weren’t a smoker and you were way too busy to go out and drink. Maybe getting a thrill from having this small crush on your hot, professional footballer client might be the thing you needed to loosen up a bit.

⋆˙⟡♡ On stage, it was easier for you to put on this persona of Rubi, who could seduce everyone so easily and was just constantly oozing with confidence. 

But off the stage, you weren’t anything like that. You were mostly quiet; you kept to yourself. You spent most of your free time hanging out with Aina – watching her football games, taking her to the museum, watching whatever cartoon she was interested in. And when Aina was busy, you mostly just stayed in the house, cleaned, and slept. You liked it that way.

Or maybe, you just convinced yourself that you did.

Secretly, a part of you did feel a pang of jealousy whenever you saw couples on dates in the cafe or even when you watched romance movies. You hadn’t dated anyone in ages. Aside from the fact that you had no time, you just worried that you wouldn’t meet anyone who was simultaneously okay with you being a stripper and who was a good enough person for you to want to introduce your sister to. Those two things seemed like impossible traits for any person to have.

Even when you initially rolled your eyes at your best friend, you knew she was right. You needed a little excitement in your life. Hell, you deserved just a little treat of it.

And a gorgeous footballer with a face chiseled by god was the best thing a girl could treat herself to.

So, you internalized Rocio’s advice and decided that the next time you crossed paths with Alexia, you told yourself, you would be different.  You would be the girl who just let herself flirt, the one who would enjoy the attention. The one who allowed herself to indulge in a little harmless crush.

The next time you see Alexia, you would be more relaxed and confident, a lot more like the version of yourself that existed under the lights, the one who knew exactly how to hold a room. You wanted to make sure that the next time she saw you, you weren’t barefoot with a bandage hanging onto your foot.

You’d be less YN, and more Rubi.

⋆˙⟡♡ Alexia hadn't exactly given an exact date when she'd said she'd come back, but the vague promise of it gave you something to look forward to in a way you hadn't expected. 

Each night, before a show, you would peer out the curtains, trying to find her.  Even if you hadn’t seen her in your initial scan, you still gave your all, performing with a renewed energy and a little anticipation, just in case she happened to be in the crowd that night. 

Thankfully, it didn't take long. Just a few days after her last visit, Alexia was back. 

You weren’t actually able to spot her until your signature solo number. As you were bending over the table, almost towards the end of your performance, your eyes somehow drifted to the side of.

She was there, baseball cap pulled low, dressed down in just a plain shirt and loose pants, tucked in the corner of the room. This time, there were no teammates around her; it was just her, sitting alone in the middle of your regular crowd, obviously looking like someone who didn't want to be recognized. 

You smiled as her eyes met yours. Her lips curled into a smirk and you swore your heart skipped a beat.

⋆˙⟡♡ After the show, you sat at your station with your wig still on and your stage makeup still intact. You didn’t take off the black latex bodysuit from the closing performance, which probably caught the attention of Sol who was now looking at you quizzically.

“You good?” She asked. “Normally, you’re the first to get out of the costume and into the shower.”

You pressed your lips together, trying to not make it obvious that you had been watching the entrance to the back stage, waiting for Alexia to be accompanied by Miguel.

A few days ago, you'd quietly briefed Miguel — the head of security — letting him know that Alexia might be coming back. You asked him to signal you if she was there and to usher her backstage, if he could. He had looked at you for a long moment with a weirded out look, as if you were delusional, but he had just agreed, not making a joke about your obvious crush on a client even though he really wanted to tease you about it.

“I, uh,” you stumbled upon your words. “Just… wanted to keep it on, for now.” 

Sol widened her eyes, pointing a finger at you. “She’s here, isn’t she?”

Before you could respond, you saw Miguel from the entrance to the backstage, waving over at you before nodding his head once. You tensed a bit. Calm down, You said. Enjoy it. Just have fun. 

Sol giggled and you gave her a wide eyed look and a shake of the head to reprimand her. She smiled but obliged and continued to pretend to be focused on wiping off her make-up. 

Alexia came through the backstage door with her cap still on, a paper bag in one hand, looking around the room once just to be sure. She pulled the hat off as the door closed behind her, ran a hand through her hair once to fix it. After scanning the room once more, her eyes found yours.

Around you, your work friends were doing an extremely poor job of not staring. You tried not to let it get to you, telling yourself for the nth time to just savour this moment. It was rare that a pretty girl was coming backstage to your job. Actually, not just rare. It never happened before.

She crossed the room toward you and held out the paper bag. "As promised."

You smiled at her, tilting your head in curiosity. “What’s this?”

She raised her eyebrow. “Do you get so many gifts from your clients that you’ve forgotten about what I said?”

You rolled your eyes but felt a flush grow on your cheek. Alexia seemed pleased at your reaction. “Just look inside.”

You peered inside and folded carefully in the bag was a signed armband and a Barça kit with her name and number on the back. Across her number was a signature. You’ve been looking forward to simply seeing her again that you had forgotten that she mentioned that she wanted to bring something for your sister.

"Alexia, thank you so much." You said as you looked at it again. "My sister is going to absolutely lose her mind over this."

"Good," Alexia said simply, with a small smile. “There’s, uh, better bandages there too. For your feet.”

You felt touched at the gesture; she didn’t just remember to give a gift to your sister, she also got you something thoughtful as well. You bit your lip, looking back at her. "Gosh, wow, how can I thank you for this?”

She shook her head, the corner of her mouth pulling up. "Seeing you on stage again was enough.” She said with a playful lilt in her voice. “You did great.”

You held her gaze, feeling the warmth in your chest that you were trying very hard to keep off your face. A part of you found the gesture incredibly touching and sweet. You loved your sister a lot, wanted to give her everything she wanted, and this was certainly something that would have brought more than a smile on her face.

If Nana reacted to the soggy receipt like that, you thought. I cannot imagine how she’d react to this.

On the other hand, on the more practical side, letting a client of yours at the strip club know a crucial part of your life felt a bit… too much. Sure, it was just one small fact – that you had a little sister named Nana who loved football – but even that felt like too much to reveal to a client. 

Even if Alexia Putellas was this gorgeous woman who seemed great, and who you definitely wanted to keep coming to watch you, you didn’t really want to give off too much of yourself. You didn’t mind her seeing you naked, bare in front of her. But your personal life… that felt too intimate. You were just glad that she seemed to not remember Aina’s name. 

"Anyway," she said, breaking your train of thought, glancing around the room. "I don't want to intrude further since everyone is clearly getting ready to go homel. So, I should go—"

You widened your eyes, setting aside your apprehensions. I barely meet anyone I’m interested in these days, you thought to yourself. I’m not letting this just slip by.

"No, wait," you said, reaching out and touching her arm. She paused, looking at you with quiet interest. 

You bit your lip and blurted out the first thing you thought of. "Let me give you a tour. The crowd's gone and the floor's being cleaned up. Maybe you just want to see what the place looks like?”

Alexia looked at you for a moment, something pleased moved through her expression. Truthfully, Alexia had no interest in touring a strip club but she found it endearing that you were finding a way to get her to stay longer.

"Yeah," she said, nodding. "If it's no trouble."

"None at all," you said, setting the paper bag carefully on your station. “Come. I’ll show you around.”

You guided Alexia away from your dressing area. From the corner of your eye, as you were walking towards the side of the room, Sol and Adriana were watching you with matching expressions of barely restrained delight. You shot them a look as if to tell them to play it cool. 

But that was too much to ask of your work friends, who were already giggling to themselves.

⋆˙⟡♡ You led Alexia through the door on the far side of the dressing area that opened out onto the main floor which now fully lit and being slowly worked over by the cleaning crew. Without the low lighting and the crowd filling every seat, the place looked different. It looked mostly the same but more ordinary; more like a regular performance venue rather than an actual strip club.

"You already know this side," you said, gesturing out toward the floor. 

"I do," Alexia said, nodding while looking around with unhurried curiosity. 

"It looks better now than when I first started here, actually." You walked slowly alongside her toward the bar. "It was a bit darker back then and way tackier. My old manager had a thing for neon.”

Alexia hummed, feigning interest in the interior. “Hmm, then this must be an improvement.”

You nodded, awkwardly. You bit your lip, feeling the awkwardness grow inside you. You hyped yourself up for Alexia’s return. You wanted to have fun, explore this sexier side of you beyond performance. 

But now, you were awkwardly touring her around the place like a museum guide or whatever. 

Just like that, you got an idea.

“Anyway, this shit’s pretty boring, sorry,” you apologized. “But I do know a place here you’d find interesting.”

Alexia raised her eyebrows. “Yeah?”

“Come,” you said, reaching for her hand which she gave without hesitation. “Let’s make this tour more interesting.”

⋆˙⟡♡ The private show rooms were tucked in the corner of Somni, just before the dressing room entrance. It was pretty much defunct now. Your club manager Pilar found that the private show rooms gave Somni a less premium feel, and made it feel more like your typical, grimy strip club. 

There was an issue of safety too; it was no surprise that the privacy made clients more bold. After the third night in a row where a client got too handsy with a dancer, Pilar closed the operations of the private show rooms permanently, deciding that they were more of a liability than an asset. 

These days, these rooms were mostly just used as extra dressing areas and storage for old costumes and props.

Racks and racks of costumes lined the walls now but the room itself hasn't changed much since it was shut down. The dim light revealed the low stage that ran along the far wall and a single chair positioned in front of the stage center unmoved since then. A pole rose from the middle of the stage, floor to ceiling, catching the faint light.

You looked around, struggling to find the other light switches. As you did, Alexia looked around with quiet amusement, taking in the circus-themed private room, looking up at the roof which was painted to look like the ceiling of a circus tent. "This room’s cute. Is this a dressing room?”

Finally, you found the switches which illuminated the small line of bulbed lights on the stage and the scenic red lights of the room, bathing both of you in a soft red hue. 

Alexia chuckled, amused. “That’s one way to answer,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Certainly looks less like a dressing room now.”

You smiled, ushering her further in as you closed the door behind you. “Well, it kinda is a dressing-slash-storage room now,” you answered. “But it used to be more than just that. It used to be a private room for, y’know…”

Alexia smiled at the way you trailed off, nodding. “So, you guys don’t use it anymore?”

"Too much effort and risk," you said. "It became more trouble than it was worth. Pilar figured that when we do lap dances, it should be on stage instead of here. So, now this room is mostly just where costumes and props go to retire." 

Alexia had drifted further inside, hands in her pockets, taking in the space. She moved toward the chair eventually, examining it with the expression of someone who was finding this more interesting than they expected. Then she looked at you over her shoulder. "Who was the most famous person to use this room?"

"I have no idea," you said honestly. "I've only been here a couple times before it closed." You paused. “So, I guess, in a way, you’re the most famous person to use it.”

She chuckled at the comment, shaking her head. She turned to face you fully, something settled and easy in the way she stood there then she pulled the chair back slightly and sat down, looking at you with a smirk. 

“Must have been fun though,” she said. “Seems more… intimate.”

You watched her settle into that chair and felt something shift inside you. It was the same quiet click that happened before every performance, the moment where your usual self stepped back and something more deliberate took its place.  You had built that other version of yourself carefully over the years, piece by piece, and for a long time it had been a wall or an armor as much as anything else; it was a way to move through the work without letting too much of it touch you, to perform desire without feeling too exposed by the performance itself.

But standing here now, with Alexia looking at you like that, it felt more than just a barrier between your Somni alter ego and yourself. It almost felt like permission. It was like you were giving yourself — your actual self — permission to experience the performance for yourself, to exist in this space for yourself and not just to be consumed.

You had spent years performing desire for other people. This felt like the first time you were allowing yourself to fully feel and immerse yourself in it.

You moved away from the doorframe, moving closer to Alexia.

"You know," you said, keeping your voice easy, the way she always seemed to be. “Given that you went out of your way to bring my sister a gift," you crossed the room slowly, heels clicking against the floor. "I feel like I owe you something better than just a backstage tour."

Alexia straightened slightly, noticing that your gaze and demeanor had changed, "You don't owe me anything. The kit was a gift,” she said with a nod. 

"I know," you said, stopping right in front of her and placing a hand under her chin, making her look up at you. "Which makes me want to give you something in return even more."

Alexia’s mouth parted to say something but she stumbled on her words. She gently took your hand away and shook her head. “No, no, it’s not nece—” she said, beginning to stand up.

You interrupted her by pressing a hand on her shoulder, guiding her back down on the chair. "I insist," you said with a smirk.

She went still, eyes tracking you with an expression that was very carefully composed, and you could see the effort of it — the same quality you'd noticed during the lap dance, the deliberate composure of someone choosing how much to show.

You gestured for her to stay put before walking your way to the music player, turning it on, and thanking your lucky stars that whoever used this room last had a great playlist because the first song that played was a sultry, R&B song. Something perfect for an intimate encounter such as this.

⋆˙⟡♡ You settled into the song slowly, letting it find you rather than chasing it. A breath in, a breath out, and then you turned around.

Alexia's eyes were already on you. Of course they were.

You gave her a small smirk as you got to her. You walked seductively behind her the way you had the first time, one hand trailing along the back of her seat, barely grazing her shoulders before you continued past her, unhurried, deliberate. You heard the quiet exhale she let out when you didn't stop, when you kept walking toward the stage instead of her lap.

As soon as you reached the stage, you wrapped your hand around the pole.

It had been a while since you used it. Pilar had quietly retired the pole from the Somni image sometime around the rebrand. You could not remember the last time you poledanced but thankfully, your body remembered. Your hand closed around the cool metal and something in your hips already knew what to do.

You started slow. There was no reason to rush. You let the music set the pace, moving around the pole with an ease and confidence. You moved gracefully, your body a long unhurried line as you leaned back, one leg extended, letting your upper body dip as low as you could before you pulled yourself back in one controlled and fluid movement. 

You still have it, you thought, almost with surprise. You absolutely still have it.

Then you let yourself look at her.

Alexia had shifted forward in the chair. Her feet were apart, elbows on her knees, and she was watching you with an expression that made something low in your stomach pull tight. Her eyes looked darker under the dim light of the room. Right now, what you were seeing was not the distracted, slightly performative yet guarded appreciation she'd had the first time, in the club with her friends around her. 

This was different. She was focused and intent in a way that felt almost uncomfortably sincere, like she wasn't just watching the performance but savouring it, committing every single motion to memory.

If she's going to watch, you thought, give her something to watch.

You hooked your knee around the pole and let yourself spin. You spun slowly  at first before you tightened your grip and brought both your legs up, lifting yourself higher up the pole, thighs closing around the metal as you inverted in one clean motion, the room turning upside down for a moment, letting the momentum from a while ago spin the pole on its own. After a couple of satisfactory spins, you lifted your torso, hands gripping on the pole as you slid back down in a controlled descent, letting go of the pole after your feet found the floor again. You heard Alexia's breath catch from across the room.

When you finally stepped off the stage and crossed toward her, you watched Alexia sit up slightly, straightening her posture, as if she was trying to prepare for what was about to come. She looked up at you, eyes unsure where to look as they flickered across your face and body. You smiled at her, settling onto her lap, and this time there was nothing tentative about it.

You let her feel your weight, your flesh fully. While the first lap dance had been a performance that felt precise and calibrated, this was more than just that. You weren’t just doing this for an audience. Hell, you weren’t even just doing it for Alexia. You were doing this for you, to experience the intimacy you never wanted to admit that you craved all these years.

You moved against her with the music, slower than you needed to be, and you felt her hands come to your hips. Her touch didn’t feel demanding; it just felt present, settling there with a firm, steady pressure, like she was grounding herself as much as keeping you in place. You rolled your hips down into her lap and heard her exhale sharply through her nose.

You kept your hands on her shoulders, legs on either side of her now, with no arms on the chair hindering you from fully grinding against her. Alexia’s breathing was now heavy as she felt the friction against her, the weight and heat of your body against hers.

You moved against her again, deeper this time, and a sound escaped your own throat before you could stop it and you tipped your head back without thinking, not caring about the wig, not caring about much of anything. You were so deeply entrenched in the moment that you had not noticed that the wig fell off, your hair revealing itself in soft curls from the bun it was in.

When you brought your head back down and met her eyes, you couldn’t help but feel satisfied and a bit proud of yourself. Alexia’s pupils were blown wide and she looked completely undone, breathing heavy and unsteady.

You went still for a moment, just sharing that moment, eyes locked with each other. You looked at her properly. The clean line of her jaw, the way the low light caught the angles of her face and made her look even more beautiful. And her mouth — god, her lips, which you had been pointedly not thinking about for longer than you were willing to admit.

Alexia finally made the first move, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of your hair back behind your ear. A small smile flickered on her face, hand still lingering around your face. Before you knew it, she was taking your face, guiding it until your lips were on hers.

The kiss started out with some hesitation. You felt it was mostly on your part. There was just something so disarming about how soft her lips were, how gentle it seemed. You paused, lips still touching, as if you were still deciding whether or not to continue.

But Alexia seemed to have decided for you. Her hand found the back of your neck, pulling you closer as you continued moving against her, lips locking as you grinded your hips slowly. Her lips parted slightly and she dragged her lips across the bottom in a way that made you grip her face a little harder than you meant to, fingers pressing into her jaw. 

The kiss deepened and at some point, Alexia’s hands found its way to your ass, gripping tightly as she pressed your body against hers, guiding your thrusts and gyrations against her. A groan slipping out from her lips to yours as she did.

You had absolutely no idea how long it went on. The song that was playing when you kissed her was not the song that was playing when you finally pulled back, desperate for air.

Her eyes fluttered open, scanning your face as it did. Her thumbs were still moving against your hips in small, absent circles.

She swallowed, eyes now fixed wuth yours again. "What's your name?"

“Rubi," you responded automatically.

She looked at you. Her expression didn't change, but something in it shifted. "No," she said, voice low and soft. "I know your stage name. What's your actual name?"

It took you a moment to process the question. The way Alexia asked it just came off as so simple, and sincere. It was her trying to get to know the person in front of her, beyond just Rubi. 

The softness of it, the ease and lack of pressure in the way she asked it… it was just so disarming. Because you had almost done it. You had almost answered, and the realization of how close you'd revealed your identity, how easy it was for you to be lost in the moment startled you. It was rare that you lost control like that.

You got off her lap, running a nervous hand through your hair, realizing that the wig had fallen off at some point, revealing your actual hair. You picked up the wig off the floor, smoothing down your bodysuit right after with unsteady hands, still breathing heavily from the make-out and now from anxiety.

“Sorry,” you said it almost as a reflex, barely audible before you turned toward the stage and headed to the speakers to cut the music.

Alexia looked confused, standing up and straightening herself up as she did. "Did I say something wrong?" Alexia asked from behind you. Again, the sincerity in her voice cut through, which made you feel worse. 

You wished that she reacted negatively, got angry and frustrated for leaving her hanging. but there she just stood with a worried expression, genuine concern on her face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable,” she said, stepping hesitantly towards you. “It’s just… I just –”

"No," you said, shaking your head, avoiding her gaze now. Not wanting her to see more of your face. "I just — I can't. I'm sorry. We should go back."

She didn't push. She just watched you with that patient, unhurried expression and said, quietly, "Okay."

You were already moving toward the door before she could say another the word, heels clicking against the floor, not running but walking fast enough to get out of there before Alexia could even make a move. You didn't look back as you did.

You had spent years keeping the line clean: Rubi on one side, yourself on the other. And yet, it felt like that line was erased by just one night, one careless decision to indulge in something you knew you shouldn’t have

The worst part of it all was how you knew, deep inside, a part of you wished you had introduced yourself, allowed yourself to enjoy intimacy beyond just that moment. Just to see if there could be more than just this.

But that privilege was not available to someone like you.

⋆˙⟡♡ next part

a/n: yayyyy posted right before the uwcl finals! this chapter is pretty long but i decided it was better to post it in its entirety because it felt like a more well-rounded first part that way.

special shout-out to @moonystoes and @muffinpink02 who helped me out by giving comments on my initial draft of the initial lap dance scene like... months ago hahah! i finally posted it <3 thank u for all the help

also yn's solo number was heavily inspired by crazy horse's "CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS?" performance. you guys can look it up for better visuals

anyway! comment or reblog to get added to the taglist so u can get notified when the next part is up.

I. The First Impression

.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆₊ ♱ THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT ALEXIA PUTELLAS. You had always known this; everyone knew this. But now being merely feet away from her, you could tell that there was something about her that just seemed so different, so unlike anything you have seen before.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆₊ ♱ From a distance, you had watched her, together with the rest of the world. People have always viewed Alexia with a sense of reverence and admiration. She was La Reina – the queen. She was the star of FC Barcelona, a philanthropist whose name graced youth academies and charitable foundations, a woman who carried greatness so naturally that the title just felt naturally hers.

Alexia had always been a great player; she was already deemed as one of the GOATS of football in her late 20s. But in recent years, something changed.

She started improving, playing better than she had been. Suddenly, extraordinary seemed an insufficient descriptor. “Great” started to become an embarrassingly small word to describe her..

.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆₊ ♱ It started when she came back from a minor injury years ago, back when she was 32. The club was vague about it: muscle fatigue and some sort of other illness. They didn’t say what it was exactly, leaving fans guessing.

She returned weeks later and she just seemed… different. It was not even a subtle change; it was striking and immediately noticeable.

During her first game back, a clip of her went viral, running past every single player on the opposite team, dribbling with ease and scoring a goal practically singlehandedly. A pundit aptly put: “We’re watching time reverse and we are seeing the same Alexia we did years ago when she won her first Ballon D’or but even better, faster, stronger.”

That seemed consistent in every game that followed. She was faster than she had been at age twenty. In fact, she was actually faster than the youngest players on her own team, faster than wingers who had been recruited specifically for their pace. And, she dribbled with an unseen grace and precision, as if she could hear the thoughts of the players around her, as though their next move was already known to her before their bodies had even committed to it. Her goals also broke records for the velocity at which they came, making headline after headline.

The most unbelievable part of it all was how calm and serene she seemed. It was almost eerie. She wasn’t just focused in the same way that other athletes were focused; it was more akin to the meditative calm and intensity of a predator hunting its prey.

At this point, commentators ran out of superlatives and began borrowing language from mythology. Suddenly, La Reina was not enough. People started calling her La Diosa. Fans of other teams called her El Monstruo, which was never really meant as an insult but as an awed surrender, like acknowledging that there was no way anyone could face her unscathed. And when she reached 37 and was still seemingly improving, a new title came: La Inmortal.

They said it as a joke, mostly, saying that there was no way someone like her, someone who seeminly improved with age was going to retire. It became the running joke amongst pundits and fans alike – that she would play until she was a hundred years old and even then, she would still be outplaying every single person on the pitch. It seemed like an exaggeration but anyone with eyes would concur that there was no sign of her slowing down any time soon.

Which was why her retirement announcement came so sudden.

Right before her 40th birthday, with her contract at Barcelona expiring and the club prepared to offer her something that had no precedent in women's football and with other clubs circling with offers that exceeded even that, Alexia Putellas announced her retirement.

The discourse erupted within minutes and did not settle for weeks. Pundits filled airtime with the kind of intensity usually reserved for scandal.

Some called it wisdom. They said that she was the rare athlete who leaves before leaving becomes necessary. “Know when you have to go before you’re forced out,” pundits said. Others called it waste, criminal, as if she was robbing them of something personal to them,

Part of you understood why. It wasn’t normal to see someone that great retire for no reason.

But then again, nothing was normal when it came to Alexia.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆₊ ♱ “Are you okay? You look pale,” Your best friend and coworker Lucia said, shaking you away from your thoughts.

“Yeah, just haven’t had a smoke for a while,” you said, sighing. “Can’t be smelling like nicotine when I finally get to see Alexia in the flesh. I’ve always had a small crush on her, ever since the last world cup.”

Lucia nodded. “Yeah, totally get it. She’s fine as hell.” She commented, re-adjusting her blonde hair into a neater ponytail. “I still can’t believe we get to work this catering gig, huh? I think this must be our biggest event. Alvaro must be geeking,” Lucia said, making a comment about your boss at this catering company as she looked around the room you were all getting ready in. “This place is pretty bougie too. It looks like something out of Bridgerton.”

You chuckled. “Well, it’s her birthday and retirement party so I assume she really is going all out.”

“I hope the players from the men’s team are invited too. I’ve got a huge crush on Gavi,” Lucia said, looking at the mirror to adjust her blonde hair, making sure there were no loose strands. “He’s so cute.”

“For your sake, I do hope he does but for me… I just wanna see Alexia,” you sighed. “Even if the only thing I’d be able to say to her is ‘Champagne?’”

Lucia laughed. “I hope Gavi asks me where the toilet is. I’d be so ready to tell him.”

“I can’t believe we’re fangirling over this.” You said, mimicking Lucia in brushing your hair back to make it sleeker and neater. “I feel like this is the only time we’d ever be this excited to do waitressing.”

“Yeah, well, it’s the first time we’re gonna have actual celebrities as our clients,” Lucia retorted. “But don’t get used to it cause next week, it’s back to old people birthdays and gender reveals.”

.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆₊ ♱ The hotel ballroom came to life as soon as the decorations were set up and the guests came pouring in, dressed in formal attire. The event was big enough to have a red carpet and press coverage. It seemed like every big name in Spanish football was here.

You threaded through the gilded room, dressed in the anonymous uniform of the catering staff. You held a tray of champagne, offering to everyone that came past you. You hummed, looking around, waiting for Alexia to arrive. Sure, it was nice serving all these other big names but you really only wanted to see Alexia.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆₊ ♱ As soon as Alexia arrived, the attention drifted to her. As much as you wanted to stand by and admire, you were quickly ushered toward the kitchen. You were pulled away to help prepare for the upcoming dinner, and by the time you surfaced again to the main floor, her retirement speech was already winding down and she was being taken to her table which was on the farther end of the room, away from where you were assigned to serve.

So much for my interaction, you thought to yourself as you sighed, picking up another tray of alcoholic drinks, readying to serve another round before dinner.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆₊ ♱ Even if you didn’t always like this job, considering how much you had to do for an event, barely allowing you time to breathe, it did come with its perks. The wages were decent. The hours were manageable. Unlike in the bars and clubs you used to work in, being nice and friendly wasn’t required. God, how it tired you out having to fake smile at some creep making a pass at you.

Sure, you might have always been on your feet but it was better than all those late-nights at the clubs. Hell, you might have liked it even better than your previous waitressing job cause at least here, you didn’t have to worry about some customer taking out their anger at food you didn’t even prepare.

Here, you were blissfully ignored and there was a strange kind of freedom in invisibility. It was a great change from all your jobs that required social interaction and fake niceties. You moved through rooms like this one, where everyone was too busy chattering and eating to even notice you.

Which was precisely why it was so disorienting whenever you were noticed.

You felt a prickling at the back of your neck, feeling that particular awareness of being watched. You turned around on instinct, scanning the room, looking for someone potentially flagging you down for a drink but there was no one.

But just as you were about to turn your head back, your gaze landed on her.

Alexia was across the room, perhaps fifteen feet away, standing tall, dressed in a sleek black dress. She was mid-conversation with a tall man in a well-fitted suit. She held a glass of red wine loosely in one hand, swirling it slowly, laughing at whatever the guy was saying.

You told yourself to divert your gaze, to not let your eyes linger long enough to make your gaze noticeable, but it was just so difficult for you to look away.

You had seen her earlier in the evening, in brief stolen glances between tasks but there had always been something in the way: a guest stepping into your line of sight, a tray needing balancing, your manager calling you over to serve another table. So, this was the first opportunity you had to really look at her.

She was stunning. You’ve seen her in photos and on the screen but none of it seemed to do her justice. Her skin glowed, almost impossibly so. She looked like she was made of a fine material like porcelain or glass. Her dark hair fell across her shoulder as she turned her head. The way it fell looked choreographed; it just looked too perfect, as if every strand settled exactly where it should. Her jaw was sharp and her cheekbones held shadow beautifully. Her mouth curved into a smile as she waved the man off as he seemingly excused himself from their conversation. Her teeth were incredibly white, not in the way that artificial veneer did; it looked more like fine ivory or marble. She swirled the wine glass again, bringing it to her face to sniff, but never drinking it.

And then, her eyes glanced up, meeting yours.

You were taken aback for a moment, feeling magnetized by her gaze, the way the chandelier lights caught in her eyes. And almost imperceptibly, her lips curled into a small smirk. You quickly blinked, pulling yourself back, embarrassed to be caught staring at her like that.

You turned away immediately, heat rising to your face. You were so distracted by your own shame and embarrassment that you had not realized that someone was moving past you and you walked directly into them.

The collision was immediate and the fact that you were too caught up in your own thoughts did not help. Your initial reflex was to save the tray, afraid of the glass falling and shattering, which proved to be a stupid decision because it meant your hands stayed up and occupied while the rest of you clumsily stumbled. You lurched sideways and went down hard with your hips and forearm taking the weight of your fall.

You winced upon impact, registering the cold spread of alcohol soaking into your clothes, the heat of embarrassment climbing your face. Then, the pain arrived. Your forearm was the only thing that was really able to break your fall, bearing most of your weight as you hit the floor.

When you turned over, you winced again, feeling a sharper pain. There was blood dripping down your arm. You figured that it must have landed on one of the glasses that had shattered. You pressed it instinctively to your side, and became aware, all at once, that people were looking at you.

You looked down, biting the inside of your cheek. Somehow the embarrassment felt worse than the pain.

“Are you okay?” You looked up to see Alexia, crouching directly in front of you.

You blinked. She had been fifteen feet away just a second ago. You were certain of it; you had just been looking at her. There was no reasonable way she was already here… and yet here she was, close enough that you could see the fine detail of her face. There was no sweat or tension in her face, no sign that she must have run over from there to here just now.

Before you could make sense of it, she took your hand and pressed a folded napkin firmly against the cut. You winced at the pressure.

“You took quite a fall there, huh?” She asked, voice low and calm.

The words caught in your throat, unsure of what to say. Alexia looked up, eyes meeting yours. There was a hint of amusement in her expression. “Hit your head too?”

You suddenly realized that you had been staring at her without saying anything, probably too taken aback by her presence and your confusion on how she made it to you that fast.

"Uh, no," you managed. "I'm fine. I'm sorry, Ms. Putellas, I'll just—"

“Alexia, we’ll take care –” The event coordinator hurriedly said, rushing to Alexia’s side, offering to take over but Alexia waved him off.

"I've got it." She said it simply, like it wasn't up for discussion, and turned back to you. "That cut looks like it needs more than a cloth napkin. I have a first aid kit in my room and some tweezers, just in case some shards got caught in there."

You nodded, still a bit stunned.

"We have one in the kitchen," you said quickly. "The catering company always comes prepared, so really, there's no need—"

She shook her head, and when the rest of your colleagues arrived in a small concerned cluster, she looked up at them with a smile, dismissing them. “I was the one who collided with her. I wasn’t looking. So, this is my fault,” she explained, lying about what happened. “It’s my responsibility so I’ll take care of it.”

Everyone acquiesced. Of course they did, it was impossible to say no to her when she smiled at you like that. It was hypnotizing.

You stared at her. You had taken a fall, not a blow to the head so you were also fairly sure that she had not been anywhere near you when you went down. She had been across the room. So why was she telling everyone otherwise?

She helped you to your feet, offering her arm, and you took it without thinking. The moment your hand closed around her forearm, two things registered at once: how cold her skin was, and how solid it was. It felt like holding onto marble.

Everyone clapped as the Catalan helped you up, swooping into the scene like some hero, and was now taking time out of her own celebration to patch some random nobody up. It gave everyone more reason to admire her.

Alexia guided you out of the ballroom and toward the elevator, unhurried, unbothered by the small scene being tidied up behind you by your co-workers.

As soon as you stepped into the elevator with her, the silence was immediate and complete. Just the two of you, the soft mechanical hum of the elevator, and the faint sting of your forearm reminding you that this was, in fact, real.

“Miss Alexia, you really don’t have to –” You started but she immediately raised her hand, silencing you before you could even say anything more.

She turned to look at you again. Now that she was closer, under the bright fluorescence of the elevator, you could see her eyes better: the warm hazel hue, the way the specks in her eyes caught the light like actual gold. “Please, you’re doing me a favor,” she said with a smile. “I was… getting bored of the same conversations about my retirement.”

You nodded, remembering that again just now. You bit your lip before saying, “Happy birthday, by the way.”

She chuckled. “Thank you.”

“You don’t look 40, at all,” you said meekly, mostly as a compliment but also as a fact. Even up close, you could see that there was barely any sign of aging on her face. Sure, she had a few, small smile lines around her eyes but aside from that, there was nothing. She looked the same as she did when she was 30 and a full decade has passed since then.

“That’s what good hydration gets you,” she commented. The elevator dinged. “We’re here. C’mon, let me help you out.”

.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆₊ ♱ Alexia guided you to sit on the edge of the hotel bed, fidgeting nervously, biting your lip. You took a quick glance at her as she walked into the hotel room’s separate washroom and closet area. As she did, you took the opportunity to look around the room.

It was the first time you had the chance to be in a fancy suite like this. The room was amazing and spacious. Everything was incredibly neat. The bed beneath you was pristine, sheets undisturbed. You figured that maybe had just come through, but then your eyes found the corner by the large, floor-to-ceiling windows where a silk blouse draped was over the back of the chair, hotel slippers seemingly hastily taken off on the floor, and a robe was thrown across the armchair in the corner the way people throw things when they're getting ready in a hurry. One of the two white Rimowa suitcases was left open on the floor, stuff clearly having taken out of it. It was an indication that the room was used but not slept in. You figured maybe she had come here to prepare and nothing more, but the amount of clothes Alexia brought suggested otherwise.

“Here we go,” your train of thought was broken through with Alexia walking towards you carrying a first-aid kit. This looked less like those readily assembled kits you could buy from groceries, and more like what a paramedic would have in their ambulance. It was assembled in a white case that was structured vaguely like a toolbox. She set it on the carpeted floor right by your feet before kneeling in front of you, her thick and heavy black dress pooling around you. “Glad I always come prepared.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to…” you said, feeling a bit guilty that this beautiful woman was kneeling before you in what looked like a couture gown, trying to clean up some wound that barely looked serious. “I don’t want you to ruin your dress.”

“This is a bigger priority to me than some dress,” she chuckled, gesturing to your gash. “Besides, when I was a kid, I kinda wanted to be a doctor or a nurse. Quickly disregarded that dream when I realized doctors had to deal with blood and needles. So, this is me partly living out that fantasy while having to deal with my fears.”

You nodded, acquiescing to it. Alexia seemed to actually be knowledgeable with wound care, judging by the ease in which she moved. You glanced again at her first aid kit. It wasn't the standard collection of plasters and paracetamol. It was organised and complete with gauze rolls, sterile dressings, antiseptic solution, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, medical tape. Everything labelled, everything in its place.

It seemed to be stocked specifically for wound care, curated with a knowledge that went beyond casual.

“You deal with wounds a lot?” You said, gesturing your head towards the kit.

Alexia’s mouth curled into a small smile as she looked through the kit, taking the squeeze bottle she seemingly just filled up in the hotel bathroom, using it to clean out your wound. “I’m an athlete so I guess you could say I do.” She said, nodding as she continued to clean your wound gently. “Athletes can be clumsy and get gashes too.”

You nodded. It made sense… partly. But you just figured that this was one of her quirks, living out her childhood fantasy or whatever. You just thought: who were you to judge when you had your own quirks as well.

Alexia inhaled deeply. "The glass cut deeper than I thought," she said quietly as she held her breath, seemingly not releasing it.

“Is it bad?” You asked.

She hummed. “No, but I might have to check if anything’s stuck. A glass shard or whatever.”

You watched her examine the wound with a careful precision, angling your arm a bit as she did. She was really focused, locked in at the task at hand. The room settled into a quiet with just the low mechanical hum of the air conditioning, and the sound of your own breathing filling the room. You became aware, after a moment, that you really couldn't hear her breathing at all, as if she was too focused to even breathe.

Without looking down she reached into the kit and produced a pair of tweezers.

"Can I borrow your lighter?” She asked.

You nodded, reaching into your pocket with your uninjured hand to hand her your lighter. She thanked you curtly before running a flame along the tip of the tweezers, unhurried, then set the lighter down and waited for the metal to cool just enough. When she leaned in, her grip on your forearm was light but completely certain. It was the kind of hold that says ‘don't move’ and so, you didn't.

Swiftly, Alexia extracted a small, barely visible shard of glass that caught the light just a second before she discarded it on a paper napkin. As she extracted it, a drop of blood welled, trailing a thin line down your forearm and wrist.

Alexia didn't reach for the gauze. She paused, seemingly growing still and stiff for a second before inhaling once more then looking up at you, voice coming out entirely measured. “Do you mind?”

You blinked. "What?"

She didn't answer with words. Instead, her eyes stayed locked on yours, and slowly and deliberately she raised your forearm toward her mouth. You felt her breath cool against your skin, sending a shiver from your arm that crawled up to your neck before feeling her tongue press flat against where the trail of blood ended up to where your gash was.

You should have pulled away. You knew this was fucking odd and weird, especially coming from someone who was essentially a stranger and technically your boss, as she did hire you to work for her. And yet… you didn’t pull away.

You couldn’t.

Not in the sense that she was gripping your arm too tight but more of in a sense that you couldn’t help it. You just didn’t feel like pulling away.

In the same sense, you couldn't look away from her eyes. They locked into your eyes as soon as she pressed her tongue onto your wrist, as if daring you to pull away or look away or say anything. At that moment, you realized that something changed. Her eyes… which you had catalogued earlier as a complex hazel-green, had darkened considerably so. The colour had deepened toward something almost black.

Then Alexia blinked before lowering your arm and she smiled, crookedly and reserved, as if trying to see how your reaction was going to be.

"You looked terrified," she said. The lightness was back in her voice, easy and warm, almost teasing. "Like a deer in headlights."

You laughed but it came out flat, almost fake, like you were just laughing for the sake of lightening the mood but your heart beating violently against your chest begged to disagree. And she was right: you were scared. It wasn’t enough to trigger a flight-or-flight response but just… at the borderline of it.

Alexia, unbothered, reached for the antiseptic. She stayed quiet, not addressing what she did, as if nothing odd had happened. Just as she was pressing the final strip of tape down, sealing the dressing, you heard yourself speak.

"Why are you doing this?" You asked, pausing. “I meant… the whole taking care of me. You don’t even know me.”

Out of all the questions in your head, you didn’t know why you had to blurt that one out. But Alexia seemed pleased with the question, pausing in thought before averting her gaze back to you,

"I care about the people who work my events," she said simply. "Like how I care about the staff at the club, the people who work during my shoots, just everyone I work with. If a teammate went down during training, I wouldn't just step over her. Would I? So, why would I feel any differently about someone working with me tonight?" She said it calmly and genuinely. You believed what she was saying. There was no use performing or pretending. It was just the two of you in this room.

And yet… something sat slightly incomplete about it. Like a sentence that had ended one word too early. It felt like she was still withholding something.

She put everything back into the kit, closed it, and after a moment added, almost offhandedly: "Besides, at a fundamental level, everyone is the same so there’s no use treating people differently.” She looked at you, explaining shortly after what she meant after seeing the confused look on your face. “I mean, all people are the same: same biology, same flesh, blood, a heart that keeps going until it doesn't." She smiled to herself. "That doesn't change based on who you are or what you do."

You looked at her. Something about the phrasing snagged at you — same flesh, same blood — though you couldn't have said why. "Don't you think you're different, though?"

She looked up, and there was a flicker of something in her expression, not offence, but genuine amusement. She raised an eyebrow. "Why would you say that?"

"Because you…" You started, and then the words came faster than you could manage them. "You're – I mean, you're Alexia Putellas. You've broken records that you set yourself. You play like… like the game is slower for you than it is for everyone else, like you already know what's going to happen. There's never been anyone like –" You stopped. The heat arrived in your face all at once. You had been rambling. You had been gushing, and the look on Alexia's face confirmed that she had noticed every word of it. You looked down. "Sorry. I just… I've followed your career for a while. I guess I am a fan.”

Alexia blinked, looking for the first time tonight, surprised at what you had said. It was the most expression you had seen on her face. “Really? You watch my games?”

“Of course, I mean… everyone does.” You said, voice smaller and meeker.

She smiled. “I didn’t know that.”

“What?” You furrowed your eyebrows.

She corrected. “I meant, I wouldn’t have guessed that about you… that you watched my games.”

You nodded. “Yeah, well, I mean… just like I said, you’re different, one of a kind. That kind of person… well, just attracts everyone’s attention, I guess.”

Alexia said nothing for a moment, seemingly taking in what you said.

"Football…" she said finally. “It’s just a job. I mean, it’s a job I love and gets a lot of attention…but still, a job. It doesn't make me different from you. Not in any way that matters."

You hummed, turning that over. You didn't entirely believe her. False modesty was common enough in athletes, and perhaps she had simply gotten very good at it. But then she spoke again, and her tone had shifted into something quieter, more careful, like she was deciding to say something she didn't often say.

"You, though." She tilted her head slightly. "You're the one who is truly different."

You blinked. "Me?"

She paused, nodding. “I’m able to read people well – a strong intuition, some would say. And I can usually tell what someone is feeling before they've finished deciding how to show it."

You frowned, failing to understand her point.

She continued. "Your colleague, for instance – the one with the blonde ponytail — she has a crush on Gavi. She's been deliberately filling his glass only halfway all night so he keeps having to flag her down to refill it.”

Your mouth opened slightly.

"The man I was speaking to when you first noticed me," she continued, without breaking rhythm, "was not there to celebrate anything. He had been using those new betting apps and had a thousand euros staked on me playing through next season. He came over under the pretense that his daughter had bought a season pass and had been crying about my retirement." She glanced up briefly. "He was trying to change my mind while pretending to appeal to my sentimentality."

You tried to smile, tried to meet the anecdote with the lightness it seemed to call for, but something cold had moved through you. Your body had registered something before your mind caught up: a low-frequency alarm. This was it: your flight-or-fight reflex slowly but surely creeping up to your consciousness.

But it felt like you couldn’t move. Again, you felt frozen.

"But you… I can't figure out your thoughts." Alexia said, tone light but mixed with a hint of frustration. She looked into your eyes, as if searching for something. “I can’t even guess what you would be thinking about right now.”

You frowned. "What do you mean? My best friend says I'm an open book."

"Maybe she can read your emotions well…” she said, tilting her head slightly. "But that's different. I can see what you let me see, what you feel on the surface. But I can't see how you think, what you want, what you're going to do next."

She paused, exhaling a breath that she had seemingly been holding onto for minutes. "You're the only person I've ever met where I can feel the emotion but not find the thought behind it." She paused again. “The only person I can’t figure out.”

You didn't know what to say to that, so you said nothing.

"Right now, for instance." She rose from the floor in one fluid motion, unfolding to her full height above you with an effortlessness that felt almost deliberate. She stood over you where you sat at the edge of the bed, and then leaned down, bringing her lips level with your ear.

"You're afraid of me." Her voice was low, almost amused, her breath cold against the shell of your ear in a way that raised every hair on the back of your neck.

Then her hand moved, two fingers pressed with precision to the base of your throat. She rested her fingers right on top of a pulse point, your pulse jumping beneath her touch immediately. She pulled back just far enough to look at you directly. This close, you could see every detail of her face with an unwanted clarity: the dark fan of her lashes, the way the low light caught the unusual depth of her eyes, the almost imperceptible curve at the corner of her mouth.

"But I wonder," she murmured, "if fear is all that is."

Her two fingers moved carefully from the base of your throat to the underside of your chin, tilting your face up toward hers. The touch was cold and certain and you let it happen, unable… or even unwilling to resist.

You had stopped breathing evenly. You were aware of it and you were aware that she was aware of it, that she could feel the way your pulse quickened, the way the air between you had changed quality entirely. Her gaze dropped, just briefly, to your mouth.

You saw her lips part. You saw, unmistakably, the slow drag of her tongue across her lower lip, licking it as if she was a predator ready to devour her prey.

You parted your lips to breathe in and just like that, her mouth was on yours.

You gasped, taken aback by the suddenness of it, body going completely still for a second. Unmistakably, that same fight-or-flight instinct you felt a while ago was now spreading throughout yoyr body. You put your hands on Alexia’s shoulders, ready to push her off. But as you felt her kiss you, the taste of her mouth, the smell of her skin, you felt your body practically dissolving into her kiss.

Alexia kissed so differently from how she did everything else. There was none of that calmness she had earlier today; there were no deliberate and slow movements. This felt almost feral, with a fervor that somehow felt like it bypassed lust and went straight into something more unsettling.

You had past lovers who were incredibly intense but never like this.

It actually felt less like just physical intimacy and more like Alexia was claiming you. When she licked your lips before letting her tongue enter into your mouth, it didn’t feel like she was asking permission. It just felt like she was taking… taking in a way that made you want to completely give in,

She gripped your waist and lifted you as though you weighed nothing at all, adjusting you with ease, so that you were on your back against the mattress and she was above you, her dark dress spreading around you both like a tide coming in as she settled between your legs.

She continued to kiss you as her hands moved around your body, gripping your waist. Her hands seemed careful and yet also firm, enough to surely leave a mark, something that would surely be a bit sore in the morning. And yet, you arched into it, moaning into her mouth, feeling her hands tighten further in response.

You felt a slight shift of her weight bearing down more fully against you as her other hand moved to your neck, fingers gripping around it. Your neck settled nicely into the space between her palm and pointer finger, feeling arousal at the firmness of the touch. Using her thumb she forced your head to turn to the side, allowing her face to have more access to your neck.

You gasped, feeling her hand steadily holding your neck and her mouth plant kisses from your lips to your cheeks and down to your jaw and eventually, your neck.

She took her hand off your neck, pressing it flat against the mattress beside your head and the other held onto your hip, keeping you exactly where she wanted you. Her mouth found the curve of your throat and she pressed one open, deliberate kiss there, swiping her neck firmly against the skin just as she did with your arm. In contrast to the intensity of her kiss, her tongue now moved slowly, unhurried, as if she was testing your reaction.

You moaned, shivering slightly at the coldness of her breath, the warmth welling up inside you providing contrast to her freezing mouth. Alexia pressed her tongue once more, even harder against your skin while simultaneously wrapping her lips around the area, creating a slight suction. Your hands moved to wrap themselves around the Catalan, lips parted as you raised your head upwards in pleasure.

“Alexa,” you moaned out loud.

The sound of her voice made Alexia hesitate, feeling a pang of guilt as she grew aware of her hands on you and the uncomfortable turn of your neck. She knew she should have stopped there. She knew this was her sign to stop, to keep hold of her control while she could.

But before she knew it, your hands were finding its way back to her hair, pulling her into a deeper kiss.

You didn’t know what had overcome you at that moment. You weren’t the type to just desparately make out with strangers, especially not famous footballers who were seemingly fucking insane and might have a blood fetish, but it felt like you were in a hypnotic daze. Everything about Alexia was hypnotic – her smell, her touch, the taste of her mouth. It was like nothing you have felt before.

Little did you know, Alexia was feeling the same thing. Ever since her turning, there were very few intimate encounters for the vampire; the proximity and the scents were too intense for her to control herself. It was the quickened pulse, the blood rushing through their veins, the pheromones attacking her nose, the warmth just beneath her fingertips. The two times she tried to hook up with a beautiful stranger were both a bust: the first she had drained before they even got started, and the second she had literally devoured mid-climax.

Both times had been intense for Alexia and yet nothing compared to this. Something about you was just bringing out a different hunger in her. Perhaps it was the taste of your blood from your arm still lingering in her mouth, or the absence of your loud thoughts interrupting the intimacy of the moment, or perhaps it was your saccharine scent. The way you smelled like fruit kissed by the sun, tender-skinned and fragrant, pure and begging to be eaten.

Alexia moaned into your mouth as she took in all sensations of you, practically equally dazed as you were now. Your hands wrapped around her brown hair, pulling her impossibly closer, arching into her as her tongue entered your mouth. Alexia’s tongue rolled against yours and it felt like you were hearing her let out breaths for the first time the entire night. You moaned as she kissed your lips harder, biting slightly at your lips.

Alexia’s fangs were partially out, practically signalling her to take a bite, to sink in. They pressed forward involuntarily, being teased by the graze of your lips, your skin, your pulse. Alexia grunted, lifting her hands and placing one flat against the mattress beside your head and the other on your hip.

Her mouth worked slowly down your throat, unhurried now in sharp contrast to the intensity of before. She placed gentle kisses on your neck, shoulder, down to just above where the two sides of your top met.

Alexia was barely holding on. At this point, her fangs were practically aching, begging her to sink into something. Her closer proximity to your heart did not help at all.

She redirected her energy into your top instead, taking it off with a swift motion. The fabric gave way, a button practically flying off as she did. You gasped and before you could do anything with that breath, her mouth was already on your chest, trailing slow, cold kisses across your skin while her hand found your breast, squeezing it lightly You moaned at the intensity of it, the feeling of her mouth and the tip of her tongue grazing your bare skin, the firmness of her hands against your flesh.

Alexia pulled the bra cup to the side, sucking your nipple into her mouth, and flicking it with her tongue with an unhurried steadiness but below that surface, she was burning. The proximity to your chest, the reverberations of your heartbeat against her lips, the warmth radiating off your skin… it pushed against her now crumbling self-control. Her fangs pressed forward again but she tried so hard to press them back. The effort left her jaw aching.

She lifted her head, looking down on you for a minute, in your state of disheveledness.

She watched you flushed beneath her, chest rising and falling in erratic waves, looking up with your eyes that just looked so innocent and trusting. She almost felt a pang of guilt seeing you all bare and laid out for her. Like a lamb for the slaughter.

“Please,” it escaped your mouth before you even realized it. “Please, Alexia.”

And that was the end of her hesitation.

Something shifted in Alexia. You could practically see it manifest in the way her eyes darkened and her mouth curved. It was a smirk but with the way your heart quickened and your anxiety started to surface, it felt more like she snarled at you.

And for a second, Alexia felt a rush of pride. Just the thought of having a prey beneath her, almost completely bare and helpless at her mercy and still begging to be devoured.

Alexia couldn’t help it anymore. She leaned in without saying a word. Her mouth found your jaw, your cheek, the line of your throat, hurried and impatient kisses, working their way roughly down your neck. Her eyes practically rolled to the back of her head as she felt your pulse now, violently thrashing against her tongue. She could practically taste it, taste you. Alexia bared her fangs completely and suddenly, you felt a sharp sensation, like teeth breaking your skin. You moaned loudly, the sound almost restrained in your throat.

And just as you did, the hotel phone rang, startling both of you.

You didn’t even get to see Alexia get up; you just felt her weight on top of you suddenly disappear. You blinked, slightly overstimulated as all your senses suddenly returned. As you slowly sat up from the bed, your eyes darted to the phone. The sound of it cut through the room. And the pain in your neck was sharper.

Alexia huffed before picking up the phone.

"Sí." Her voice was completely level and calm but her body told a different story entirely. She was rigid, every line of her body wound tight with a frustration she was choosing, carefully, not to express. Like she was trying not to explode or show emotion. She continued to talk to the other person on the other line.

She stood with her back to you, fingers white against the receiver, and listened to whoever was on the other end with the controlled stillness of someone exerting considerable effort.

You lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, chest rising and falling unsteadily. Your hand moved on its own, pressing to the curve of your neck where her mouth had been last, where the drag of her teeth had just barely started. The sharp pain you initially felt was slowly dissipating and yet you still couldn’t help but feel for any potential gash or wound.

"—sí. Ahora mismo." Alexia set the phone down, pausing. She nodded to herself.

"You need to go back down." She didn't turn around, seemingly hiding her face. Her voice was still measured but the edges of it were tight, barely contained. "I'll follow shortly."

You sat up slowly, still trying to locate your composure. “What?”

“We need to go back,” Alexia said, voice tighter as if she was trying to contain anger. “Go first. I need to freshen up.”

“Oh but –” your voice came out soft and unsure.

“I said leave.” Her voice was quieter this time but there was a tone that just felt final and commanding.

You got up carefully, still light-headed from kissing, adjusting your skirt and top. You looked around frantically for the missing top button as you ran a flat hand through your messy hair, putting your shoes on as you did

You must have been moving slowly because Alexia shouted, back still turned. “LEAVE.”

Even with your shoes barely on, sides of the shoes uncomfortable tucked into your feet, you hurriedly ran off, frightened by the sudden outburst. The phone conversation seemed perfectly normal. It was short, barely anything was discussed so you were certain that her reason for suddenly telling you to leave had very little to do with the call.

You practically ran out of the door, moving swiftly even as you were in the hallway, frantically pressing the elevator button as you felt your heart beating loudly.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆₊ ♱ Alexia groaned loudly as she heard you shut the door behind you, frustrated at the caller but also at herself.

Her fangs still remained bared, refusing to retract, as though they had been teased by the promise of your taste. It hurt in a way nothing else ever had yet forcing them to pull back felt like its own kind of torture.

She sighed as she shook her head, willing herself to calm down. Part of her was still undeniably frustrated and tense, longing for more of your taste. But on the other hand, she knew she had to be thankful for this divine intervention.

She lost control. She just wanted a chance to talk to you, finally face you after she longed for you for months. As much as she tried to think about how she would love just another taste of you, she knew her control was slipping and there was a massive chance that she could have fully drained you.

Luckily, you were spared, saved even.

She stood up, ran a hand through her hair and headed to the vanity, staring at herself. Noticing her eyes had grown black. She took a deep breath, forced herself to relax and her eyes returned to its usual green hazelish color and her fangs fully retracted. She looked out at the bed, making a mental note of requesting a different room as soon as she heads back down, fully knowing she possibly couldn’t stay in a room that smelled like you.

As she finally fully calmed herself, Alexia let out a bitter laugh at herself and thought: What a horrible first impression.

next part ➜

a/n: just wanted to make it up to you guys for not posting and updating my fics in a while. anyway, if you want me to post the second part, just comment so i can tag u in it if ever. it's almost done but it needs polishing i guess? i'm not sure tho! just lmk! hope u guys like this!

song title inspired by this song btw. i made a vampire!alexia playlist ages ago too if u wanna check it out

You bit your lip as you lingered on the pavement outside your new workplace. The sign was still turned off, the shutters were down, and the street was still quiet. You exhaled, your breath coming out into a thin cloud as you shifted from heel to toe, feeling the cold nip at your cheeks.

Alexia had told you that she’d meet you there, wanting to have a bit of a walk together to the breakfast place she was telling you about. 

She had said she was meeting you at seven-thirty in the morning. You had decided to arrive earlier anyway. It felt like setting a good first impression but now, you were regretting it. Waiting outside during the cold morning was not the brightest idea. You wished you grabbed a thicker coat, fiddling with the fabric of it.

A gust of wind slipped underneath your coat, causing you to shiver. You glanced at your phone again even though you had just checked it seconds ago.

“Hola,” you looked to your right to see the brunette Catalan approaching you.

You could feel your cheeks flush, not just because of the nipping wind, but because of how stunning she looked.She wore a trench coat over a simple black sweater and fitted pants, her hands tucked into her pockets, shoulders relaxed. Her hair was down, framing her face beautifully. She had that effortless, charming smile that you had seen in photos but something about seeing it up close, in real life, just made your breath hitch.

“Bon dia,” you greeted as you smiled. “Alexia, right?”

She nodded. “And YN?”

You nodded back and, on instinct, offered your hand like this was an interview and not a date. The corner of her mouth lifted, finding the gesture cute, but not saying anything about it. You blushed, feeling a bit shy now for shaking hands.

Alexia’s eyes scanned your face. “I didn’t expect you to look better than you already did in your photos,” she said. “Didn’t think it’d be possible.

You blushed, unable to control yourself from getting a bit flustered You prayed she would blame the wind. “I could say the same for you.” It was the only thing you could muster up, a bit too flustered to come up with anything smoother.

“Anyway,” Alexia continued “I’m sorry if I’m late. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s just a few minutes” you nodded, involuntarily looking at your phone clock, confirming she was only late by 2 minutes.

“Well, the place is close. Let’s get walking before your cheeks get any redder from the cold,” she said, teasing tone to her voice, as if to say she noticed you blushing. You bit your lip, feeling even more flustered.

Great, now, I’m getting even redder, you thought.

Alexia led the way, walking you to the restaurant, hands tucked in her pockets. Every so often, her shoulder would brush against yours in a way that might have been accidental but still felt like a way of her trying to get closer to you. 

“So, how’s being a vet like?” She asked.

You sighed. “It’s my dream job. I love working with animals,” you shared. “I mean, there’s a lot of challenges that come with it, sure. But I really couldn’t see myself doing anything else.”

“That’s great,” Alexia replied. “Did you work at another clinic before this?”

You nodded. “Yeah, but it was at my hometown, not here in Barcelona,” you answered. “I just moved here this week actually.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Really? And what brought you here?”

“My sister and her family moved here last year,” you shared. “And I honestly couldn’t take being away from her, especially my nephew, so as soon as I finished my clinical training back in my hometown, I really tried to look for a place that was hiring here.”

“Guau-pa,” Alexia recalled. “Funny name.”

You smiled, nodding in agreement. “Honestly, it really wasn’t my first choice. I actually wanted to work with a bigger animal hospital for better training but the hours and the pay in Guau-pa is better than most animal hospitals.”

“Practical,” Alexia said approvingly. “Also, now I have an excuse to keep seeing you.”

“Yeah?” You asked.

She shrugged like it was obvious. “I mean, I just have to keep getting my dog groomed or get checked for worms.”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “How romantic,” you said, sarcastically. 

Alexia laughed under her breath. “Anything for you,” she teased before pausing to point ahead. “We’re here.”

The cafe sat on a street corner. It was a stunning place. It felt curated but not too stiff. There were pale wood tables, rounded chairs and booths upholstered in muted olive and rust tones. There was also a long bench along the cafe bar where a few people were already sitting. The walls held framed photographs in sleek frames. It looked upscale but not snobby.

Alexia guided you toward a small vacant table beneath a large photograph of a building caught at an angle, glass and shadows cut into something almost abstract.

“The owner is married to a photographer,” Alexia explained. “All the photos here are hers.”

“This place looks great,” you commented.

Once you arrived at your table, Alexia reached for your coat. “May I?”

You blinked, then slipped it off. She hung it neatly on the back of your chair and, before you could react, pulled the chair out for you. While you had your fair share of dates before, no one ever had pulled a chair for you to sit on. It seemed a bit old-fashioned but sweet. You thanked her as you sat.

Alexia sat across from you, shrugging off her own coat and folding it with quick care. Without the trench coat she looked even more put together, sweater hugging her shoulders, hair falling forward as she leaned in.

You looked around the place again, not wanting to stare at Alexia too long, even if you so badly wanted to admire her more. “This place looks great. How did you find it?” You asked.

“I live pretty close by actually,” she shared. “I was on my morning walk when I saw this place right when it was still opening and I gave it a shot. Kept coming back ever since.”

“You must have a great intuition when it comes to picking places to eat,” you joked, making her smile.

She shrugged. “Or just a great sense of smell and the scent of freshly-baked bread had me floating towards this place like those old-timey cartoon characters.”

You chuckled, smiling. 

Alexia slid a menu towards you. “You should get a sandwich or their eggs dish,” she said. “It’s their version of shakshouka. They add roasted red peppers and this smoky cheese. All their bread is baked in-house too so I can assure you it’s amazing.”

The menu seemed to have a curated offering. But even if the options weren’t too many, you still felt a bit overwhelmed. “Hmm,” you hummed. “Why don’t you order for us? Since you have been here for a while.”

Alexia nodded. “Good, I like being trusted.”

Alexia flagged down a waitress, ordering several dishes like some kind of food expert. Something about Alexia being so decisive also seemed so sexy to you. You breathed, telling yourself not to get so into a girl barely fifteen minutes into your date but everything about her was just so attractive.

“For your drink, a coffee?” She asked.

You nodded. “Yes, please.” Your voice came out a bit meeker than intended. Alexia’s gaze lingered, smiling a bit as if finding you endearing before finalizing the order with the waitress.

As soon as the waitress left, she turned to you. “Okay, tell me more about being a vet.”

You hummed but shook your head. “I feel like we’ve talked too much about me, and my job isn’t all that exciting. You’re the one who should be talking more about your job.”

Alexia scrunched up her nose. “Oh, I feel embarrassed.”

“Nothing is embarrassing about it.” You furrowed your eyebrows.

“I guess, I just get a bit awkward talking about it.” Alexia responded with a nod.

“C’mon, indulge me.” You smiled at her. “It’s not everyday that I get to go out on a date with La Reina.”

Alexia shook her head and flushed at the nickname. “Please… not with the La Reina.”

“But seriously, I am a big fan of you as a footballer but I don’t want you thinking it’s the only reason I agreed to a date,” you reassured, suddenly worried she might get the wrong impression. “The last type of person I actually want to date is someone famous. I’m a bit of an introvert and I feel like it’d be hell for me if the person I was dating kept getting recognized in public.”

Alexia chuckled, nodding. “And yet, you swiped right?”

“Well, you are my type, after all.” You shrugged, admitting it honestly, feeling yourself get immediately shy after saying it. It felt clumsy but Alexia seemed to appreciate it.

“Cute,” She said with a crooked smile. “Fine, I’ll talk about football but only a little bit. Don’t let me get carried away.”

“I promise,” you said, delighted.

“Well, just like you with animals, football was something I always loved and it was the only thing I really could see myself doing,” she said, somewhat echoing your own sentiments about your career. “Back when I was younger, though, women’s football was not what it is now. There was less support, less visibility, less everything. But I loved it anyway, maybe even because it felt like something I had to fight for.”

You smiled, nodding, letting her go on since there was a certain look in her eyes you couldn’t place. But you could just tell she was passionate about it.

“I was lucky,” she continued. “I had people who believed in me. And I had this stubbornness. Like, I really wanted to make it work no matter what.”

“That makes sense,” you said, understandingly. “Sounds like you really love your job.”

She smiled. “Same as you do with yours.”

The coffees arrived then, set down in front of you. You thanked the waitress, immediately wrapping your hands around the warm cup. Even if the cafe itself was pretty warm inside, your hands were still nippy from being outside a while ago.

You took a sip, humming in delight at the flavor of the coffee, before setting the cup down.  “So, do you get a lot of dates being a footballer?” 

She laughed. “Way less dates than you think,” she answered, shaking her head. “I’m a pretty busy person and I really prefer just staying in. I actually only downloaded Tinder because my teammates forced me.”

“Wait, same! My best friend has been hounding me to get it for ages.” You shared. “I only gave in because I was restless the other day and had nothing better to do, being up so early, that I just figured why now. I really wanted to just give it a test run then delete the app but…”

You trailed off. Alexia’s lips curled into a crooked smile. “But you matched with me?”

You blushed. “Yeah…” you said. “You were the first person who popped up actually. I think it was because you lived nearby?”

Alexia chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, I actually haven’t been using the app much but I got a notification that there were new people around me.” She said. “I actually got it before I went on a morning run and when I saw you, I just had to sit down for a moment.”

She locked eyes with you, hazel eyes warm. “After we matched, I knew I had to be straightforward and not miss my chance. It’s why it didn’t take me long to ask you out,” she shared. “I wanted to meet you and get to know you. I really couldn’t wait.”

You bit your lip, shrugging. “You’re totally sweet-talking me.”

Alexia shook her head. “No, no, absolutely not.” She disagreed. “I do enjoy a bit of flirty banter but I’m not the type to just sweet-talk a girl. I like being genuine, especially to people I’m dating. I think there’s absolutely no reason to pretend.”

You nodded, feeling a bit of relief in a way. “I thought dating apps were mostly for hookups,” you admitted. “Or people looking for validation. You seem to be proving me wrong”

“Well, you’re not completely wrong. That’s why I barely used it. I went on a few dates. Some were… strange. Others were fine, decent dates, but I could tell we just weren’t compatible; you know, not looking for the same thing or our personalities just clashed.” She responded. “I nearly deleted the app just because I’ve gotten a ton of matches but nothing really worked out past the first date or even the first conversation.”

You hummed, pausing to think. “So, are you saying I lucked out with you?”

Alexia chuckled. “Well, I guess I am,” she said. “We both did.”

Soon, the dishes arrived, aroma making your mouth water and your stomach grumble even though you weren’t that hungry prior to it. Alexia and you continued to chat as you ate through all the meals, savoring each one.

You were right when you said you felt as If you lucked out with matching with Alexia. She was a good listener. She had a great humor and apparently, the same music taste as you did. While you were a bit intimidated when you first saw her — considering she was a famous athlete and she looked like a goddess — you were starting to grow comfortable with each passing second. Something about her presence and the way your conversation flowed seamlessly made is so much easier for you to open up to her and to feel closer already. 

“How could you even go on a morning jog at this weather?” You asked after she had shared with you more about her training and how she kept herself fit even during the winter break.

“Oh, it’s fucking hard,” she admitted after sipping her coffee and settling down in front of her. “Sometimes I just get too lazy to do it but I still force myself because I know I’d regret not keeping at it.”

“So, did you go on a run this morning?” You asked. “Is that why you didn’t arrive earlier?”

She chuckled, shaking her head. “No, I didn’t go on a run today cause I had to get ready to go on a date with this really pretty girl.”

You rolled your eyes, playing it cool, but you were sure the pink tint that spread on your cheeks gave you away anyway.

“I actually left my house earlier but my neighbor left a bunch of trash in front of my building entrance’s stairway and I was worried that people would slip on it so I had to clean it up,” she complained. 

You frowned. “How’d you know it was one of your neighbors?”

“The same thing happened yesterday, trash all over the steps,” she shared, sighing. “I asked one of the other tenants who was in the lobby if they saw who left it and they said someone who lived in the same building.”

“That’s so weird. I guess some people could be so insensitive, huh?” You sympathized. 

“Tell me about it,” she sighed.

You hummed. “I hope my neighbors are decent. I haven’t been in my place for long but I’m starting to worry about my next-door neighbor.”

“Why?” She leaned in a bit, interested.

You sighed. “On my second day after I moved in, I woke up at like four in the morning because my neighbor was making so much noise. It was infuriating.”

She chuckled. “Ooh, I assume your walls were thin.”

“Yeah, exactly, I barely got any sleep the night before because I was so busy unpacking,” you complained. “Only to wake up to the sound of a food processor or something, and it’s been consistently happening every day.”

“We need better neighbors.” Alexia leaned back, nodding.

You nodded. “I guess that's one thing we have in common!"

[Next day]

Alexia woke the next morning feeling more drained than usual. The date had gone well, actually better than she’d expected. Your conversation flowed so easily; it didn’t feel like just a second date. You talked about your childhood, your family, your work. It felt easy for Alexia to talk to you. She could relate a lot to your stories and you two shared the same type of humor. Unfortunately, the date had ended abruptly due to a frantic text from her sister, warning her that their mother was on the way to the hospital. 

Alexia had meant to take you somewhere for dessert afterward, maybe extend the date longer before driving you home. Instead, she had no choice but to leave as soon as you finished dinner, apologizing repeatedly as she rushed out, worrying about her mother.

Only for it to turn out to be just an allergic reaction. Her mom accidentally ate pasta cooked with a nut oil that she was allergic to, resulting in her throat tightening. Her mother was fine, thankfully, but the relief came with a bit of frustration. The night had been cut short over something that could have been avoided with an allergy tablet.

She sighed, willing herself to get up, feeling tired from the whole hospital fiasco and having to drive her mom and sister back to their place which was a good 45 minutes away from her apartment. 

She wanted so badly to stay in bed, text you and flirt with you on text all morning-long but discipline won out, as it always did. There was no real excuse to skip her workout, and she knew it. With a sigh, she threw on her headphones as she got up from bed and began blasting her upbeat morning playlist, heading to to the kitchen, grabbing her frozen bag of berries and her protein powder, prepping to make a pre-morning workout shake.

As the blender whirred, she pulled out her phone and sent you a quick text.

Alexia smiled to herself, feeling like a teenage girl texting with her crush, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Something about you pulled her in effortlessly. She finished the last of her shake, set the glass aside, and laced up her shoes, wrapping a scarf around her neck before bracing herself for the cold.

She replaced her headphones with her workout, bone-conduction earphones, playing her favorite workout playlist. She did a couple of stretches before heading out the door. 

The moment she reached the lobby, her good mood faltered. The same scattered paper plates littered the steps outside the entrance, shoved carelessly along the edges. Madre mía, not again, she thought, rolling her eyes.

She’d had enough of cleaning up after someone else and just putting up with it. Alexia walked over to the small reception corner where the doorman stood. Julio had been there since the day she’d moved in, always attentive — packages neatly set aside and kept safe, the lobby spotless, not letting anyone else into the building except residents and their verified guests. Lately, though, he seemed to be dropping the ball when it came to this issue with the trash all over the entrance.

“Bon dia, Julio,” Alexia greeted with a smile.

“Bon dia, Alexia,” The older man smiled. “Going on a run?”

She nodded. “Yeah, just like every morning.” She paused. “Anyway, Julio, do you know who has been leaving all that trash all over the steps outside the building? I nearly slipped on one of them the other day when I was heading out for my run.”

Julio glanced toward the entrance, recognition lighting his face. “Ah. That would be the new tenant,” he said. “She’s been going out early to feed the neighborhood cats. She’s been using paper plates since she mentioned about waiting for the pet shop to stock on pet bowls.”

Alexia paused.

“I meant to set the plates aside for her to replenish later,” he continued, frowning slightly, “but I think someone else has been throwing them away.”

“Feeding the cats? Who did you say it was?” Alexia asked, eyebrows knit together.

Julio chuckled, a little sheepish. “I can’t remember her name… I guess, my age is getting to me, huh?” He shook his head. “But she’s the new tenant that took over the Martinez’ unit. You haven’t met her?”

“I don’t think so,” Alexia said slowly, blinking, trying to connect the dots. “I might’ve seen her around, though. What does she look like? Just so I know who to talk to… about the trash situation.”

Julio smiled widely. “Oh! I have a photo.” He laughed. “She asked for help naming the cats, and I might’ve gotten a bit carried away. Had to show my grandkids the cats I helped name.” He unlocked his phone. “Here —”

Julio presented the phone and Alexia leaned in, eyes widening almost instantly. The neighbor leaving paper plates all over the steps was you… which meant that the “loud, blender lady” that you were complaining about was her.

“Oh no.”

Alexia was the most disciplined person you knew.

She never missed a day of training. She would wake up, roll out of bed and go on a morning run everyday even when you begged her to stay in bed longer. Her meals were always clean – lots of vegetables and fruits, always meeting her daily protein and fiber goals. She loved football, and she loved keeping her body in peak condition to ensure that she could keep playing at the highest level. Alexia was practically the perfect athlete… except for one small thing.

Alexia had a sweet tooth.

It wasn’t anything dramatic. She didn’t binge or sneak off to bakeries. It was more subtle. Every night, after you spent hours in the kitchen fulfilling dessert orders, she’d wander in under the guise of “curiosity,” pretending to be interested in whatever dessert you were making. She’d hover, fingers accidentally slipping into a bowl of frosting, licking it off as if it happened entirely by accident. At times, she’d “knock over” a cookie or a chocolate truffle and she’d “feel bad” about it, popping in her mouth just so that “it wouldn’t go to waste.” Other times, she wasn’t even so subtle. She would walk past, ask you if you had leftovers and just steal whatever you had, running off before you could even notice.

You usually let her get away with it. Sometimes you’d feel bad, voluntarily hand her a couple of spare cookies, or let her lick your whisk clean, laughing when she tried to act casual about it. 

But after her routine medical check, you had to be a bit stricter.

Everything came back fine – great, even – but her fasting blood sugar was a little higher than expected. Nothing alarming, her doctor had reassured. Her other blood sugar test – the one that tested for the glucose attached to her blood cells or whatever – was normal. But elevated fasting blood sugar was something her doctor wanted to pay attention to, especially since she was an athlete. So, they instructed her to cut back on the sugar, not have her daily sweet treat, and then they’d circle back, do a blood tests again a month later and see how her numbers would respond.

Alexia hated it. She didn’t understand why she had to cut back on the little sugar she had each day. It wasn’t too indulgent or too much; it was just a little sweet treat she looked forward to everyday, before bed.

The fact that this restriction came during Valentine’s season only made it worse. 

Orders were piling up, pink boxes and ribbons taking over the kitchen, the smell of chocolate and vanilla wafting all over your house. Alexia would watch you work, pouting as she watched you with an intensity like she was hoping you’d crack and give her a pity treat. Sometimes she didn’t even try to hide it, just pouted openly, eyes flicking between you and whatever you were mixing.

Now, she was pacing the kitchen again, opening drawers she already knew were empty, pretending she was looking for something else entirely. You caught her just as she lingered a little too long near the counter. 

“Alexia,” you groaned, abandoning the cupcakes you were frosting. “Come on. I know what you’re doing.”

She looked up at you, instantly defensive. “What?”

“You can’t keep lingering in the kitchen while I work. You always manage to sneak away a treat when I’m not looking,” you said, crossing the room. “Your nutritionist is going to kill me if he finds out I’ve been letting you get away with it. You already used up your cheat day yesterday.”

Her shoulders slumped. “It was so small, babe. It was barely anything.”

“You begged me for those macarons,” you laughed, stepping in front of her and pinching her cheek. “I told you yesterday that you’d regret it.”

After dinner last night, she’d spotted that new, trendy bakery with the bite-sized macarons with unique flavors like popcorn or matcha. Alexia looked at you like a starving puppy, pouting and begging you to let her get a small box of it. You knew she was going to regret using her weekly sugar pass so early into the week but you acquiesced, letting her buy herself a small box of it.

Alexia sighed dramatically, leaning back against the counter. 

“C’mon, cariño. It’s just a month,” you added gently. “You just need to wait until your blood sugar behaves.”

Alexia stayed quiet, staring longingly at the cupcakes on the counter. You chuckled at her childlike moping. Alexia was usually so proper and put-together but this whole, temporary sugar ban has got her acting like a kid.

“I can make you protein pancakes tomorrow,” you offered, feeling a bit bad for your girlfriend. “I can use those stevia drops I bought. I got new flavored ones. It’s supposed to taste really sweet.”

Alexia scrunched her nose. “They’re not the same.” She groaned. 

You laughed softly, stepping closer. “Come on. You’ll survive… and next week, for your cheat day, I’ll make you whatever you want, I promise.”

Her expression softened, shoulders loosening as you pulled her into a hug. She melted into you almost instantly, arms wrapping around your waist, forehead pressing into your shoulder like she’d been waiting for it.

You felt her smile against your skin before she tilted her head and brushed a kiss against your cheek. It was nice and soft, warm against your skin. Her mouth moved a bit, planting another kiss right beside it. Then another one right beside it. She hummed against your jaw, liking the way you melted into her arms. She continued to kiss you, moving down your jaw and your neck, mouth opening a bit as she sucked lightly on the space between your neck and jaw.

You moaned. Alexia’s hand held you firmer at your waist as she continued to kiss your neck intensely, lips knowingly pressing into the pressure points of your neck. Your eyes fluttered shut, holding onto her firm arms as you felt her open her mouth wider, biting down a bit on your neck.

You jumped and yelped, eyes opening wide before pulling back. “Hey, are you taking out your sweet-deprived frustration on me?" You teased, rubbing on the spot she bit lightly, scrunching up your nose.

Alexia’s hazel eyes sparkled with a playful glint, a small smirk on her face, as she shrugged. “I mean, it’s the closest thing to eating a cupcake right now.” She teased back, reaching over to hold your hand with hers, pulling you back to her.

You rolled your eyes, taking your hand away from your girlfriend and stepping away before she could trap you again. “I can’t right now, Ale. I have a morning pickup for these cupcakes, and I’m still not done frosting.”

She groaned, dramatic as ever. “So I can’t have a sweet treat,” she said, then paused, pointedly staring at you, “and I can’t have that sweet treat either?”

You laughed, shaking your head, smiling to yourself as you reached for the piping bag again. “Maybe later,” you told her. “Only if you leave me alone and let me focus on my job right now.”

Her face lit up immediately. “Okay,” she said, already backing away. “But I’ll be waiting. Don’t keep me up.”

You shooed her off with a shake of your head and turned back to the counter, getting back to work.

Once the last cupcake was frosted and sealed into its box, the kitchen slowly returned to order. You wiped down surfaces, washed tools, and began putting everything back in its place. You exhaled, feeling exhausted, lower back aching from being on your feet for hours.

You took your heavy jars of sugar and flour, lifting them back onto the shelf so you wouldn’t have to deal with it in the morning. You liked waking up to a clean kitchen. Besides, having to tidy up after also dispatching orders tomorrow morning would have been a nightmare,

As you put your stuff back, your eyes landed on the row of sugar-free, flavored stevia syrups you’d ordered online for Alexia right after her doctor’s appointment. You thought Alexia’s moping and sugar cravings would have been curbed if you made her sugar-free treats but Alexia hated every single one of your healthy sugar alternatives. She’d said they tasted fine… but not the same, complaining about the “medicinal aftertaste.”

“What a waste,” you muttered to yourself, shaking your head.

You picked up the new tiramisu-flavored stevia syrup you bought from one of your suppliers the other day. They said it was better than the ones you had ordered online since it mimicked sugar better. But with Alexia being so stubbornly anti-alternative, you’d never really had the chance to let her try it.

You unscrewed the cap of the bottle and let a drop fall onto your finger. You popped it into your mouth, wincing slightly at the intensity of the sweetness. It was sharp and cloying, coating your tongue with an overbearing sweetness.

“Eugh,” you groaned at the intensity of the taste, looking at the packaging again to make sure you got the right thing. It wasn’t unpleasant exactly but it was just intense; it felt like two tablespoons of sugar in one drop.

“Only Alexia would like something this sweet,” you muttered to yourself.

Instinctively, your finger went back to your lips to lick off the remnants of the drop on your finger. The leftover sweetness was different. It mellowed into a subtle and more natural taste. You hummed, surprised at how much better it tasted now. You nodded, feeling satisfied with the taste, making a mental note of making Alexia a treat using the flavored drops tomorrow. 

You paused, your eyes widening as an idea popped in your head. Your lips curved into a small smirk. Why make Alexia wait for tomorrow? 

After taking a shower, you got ready for bed, slipping into a caramel-colored, silk nightgown with dark brown lace trims at the bottom and at the bust of the dress. The dress was comfortable but also accentuated the curves of your body. You looked into the mirror once more and adjusted your hair until it fell just right.

When you stepped into the bedroom, Alexia was already there, sprawled across the bed in her tank top and shorts, brown hair still a bit damp from her shower. One arm was tucked behind her head, the other lazily scrolling through her phone, watching what seemed like baking videos judging by the sound coming from the phone.

She looked up when you entered and her eyebrow arched up, noticing you were in a lace night dress instead of your typical cotton pajamas. 

“Hmmm,” She sat up slowly, the corner of her mouth curling. “You just showered?”

You nodded, walking closer. “Yeah, didn’t want to get flour and sweat all over the sheets.”

Alexia moved closer to the edge of the bed, snaking her arms around your waist before pulling you close and hugging you, burying her face against you, inhaling deeply. She moved her head to plant a couple kisses on your arms.

She paused and inhaled once more, pressing her nose on your bare skin. 

“Hmm, new body wash?” Alexia murmured in a low voice as she looked up at you, head still pressing against your torso. “Why do you smell so good?”

You shrugged, giving her a clueless look. Alexia’s brows furrowed as she took another whiff of you.

Her grip on your waist tightened, guiding you onto her lap before you could protest. One hand moved and settled firmly at your lower back, the other slid to the nape of your neck, holding you steady. Her fingers felt warm and possessive as she tilted you closer to her. Her face moved towards you, nose slowly tracing along the length of your neck.

You tried not to say anything, smiling to yourself, trying to act cool. “Why are you sniffing me?”

Alexia huffed softly against your skin and shook her head. “I think I’m hallucinating from sugar withdrawal," she chuckled in a low tone, before pressing her nose against your neck again. She inhaled again, slower this time. “Fuck, you smell so good”

What Alexia didn’t know was that after stepping out of your shower, you’d let a few drops of the tiramisu-flavored stevia trail along your collarbone, the curve of your neck, and on your chest. Upon tapping it into your skin, it practically melted into your skin, warmed by your body. It was subtle enough to pass as a new perfume or body cream.

Now, as Alexia’s hand curled around the back of your neck, grip growing more possessive, she exhaled after taking in your scent. You felt your heart beat faster as the warmth of her breath spread across your neck. 

“Fuck,” she muttered under her breath. “You smell exactly like tiramisu. So good."

The way she said it… low and almost disbelieving – it sent a shiver through your body. You looked down at your girlfriend, seeing her pupils dilate. She looked like she was ready to devour you.

You forced yourself to giggle, keeping your expression light even as your pulse quickened. “Maybe it’s from baking all day?”

Alexia hummed unsatisfactorily and before you could react, her mouth pressed to your neck. The first interaction was slow but firm as if she was testing it out. Her lips parted, tongue sweeping deliberately over the sensitive area just below your ear and jaw. You gasped as your fingers gripped her firm shoulders, holding onto her as you felt yourself weaken with her touch.

Alexia moaned at the taste, the low and satisfied sound vibrating against your skin. Encouraged, she pressed more kisses against your neck, sucking harder.

“Alexia–” You moaned sharply as you felt her teeth graze against your collarbone, wrapping her mouth around it, swiping her tongue firmly against the shape of it. 

In one smooth motion, she lifted you and laid you back against the mattress, hovering over you. Her knee slid between your thighs, pressing you open as she leaned down again, lips finding the sweetest spot you’d marked earlier.

Her mouth never seemed to leave your neck and collarbones, nibbling and sucking, surely leaving more than a couple marks already. You wrapped your arms around your girlfriend, back arching as you felt her mouth wrap around the area where you accidentally put more of the drops than you intended. Alexia’s teeth sunk into you so hard that you almost screamed, feeling a mixture of pain and pleasure.

Alexia tried so hard to control herself when she first smelled you. She didn’t want to startle you after a long day of working but she couldn’t help it.

She had been trying to control everything lately. With major games approaching, she had to always keep her composure as the captain, making sure everything went smoothly with the team. Her new diet restrictions also required so much self-restraint. She had to hold herself back from licking the whisk after you mixed the frosting, and from asking you for a bite of whatever thing you baked. 

Now, all that restraint was slipping away. She just wanted to take in all of you.

Each kiss against you grew heavier, more insistent. She nipped at your skin then soothed it with her tongue, tasting, savoring the flavor. She didn’t know if she was hallucinating or if you really were just so sweet. She moaned against you as she hurriedly took the straps of your dress, helping you slip them off your arms before pulling it down, letting it bundle up around your stomach, leaving your chest exposed.

Alexia’s mouth travelled down your body before settling on your right nipple. She inhaled the smell before letting out a satisfied sound that sounded almost feral.

You moaned out loud as Alexia lapped her tongue against your erect bud, feeling it drag against her tongue before being enveloped by the warmth of her mouth, sucking on you fervently. Her hands were now around your waist, pulling at the fabric of your dress.

You lifted your hips, allowing her to slip it down your body. As soon as it was off of you, Alexia threw it to the bottom of the bed, lips never leaving your body once. Now, her hand went back up to your chest, cupping your left breast with her long fingers, squeezing slightly. She shifted to the other breast, also wanting to check if it tasted as sweet as the other one. 

Alexia moaned against you as her tongue made contact with the skin of your breast, tasting the same indulgent sweetness. “I can’t hold back,” she said in between desperate, open-mouth kisses around your chest. 

You moaned. “You don’t have to.”

Alexia didn’t need further prodding. She swiftly moved down your body, mouth trailing down your body. Your girlfriend normally liked some foreplay. She loved teasing you and getting you riled up. But this time, she was growing more and more desperate, barely even letting you catch your breath. Without warning, she took off your lace underwear so fast that you swore you heard it rip a bit but you were too overwhelmed by Alexia’s dominating presence to even care.

As soon as you were bare, Alexia pressed her face against you, hands firm at your hips, gripping you tightly. You didn’t put anything on your intimate area but that didn’t stop Alexia from inhaling you in.

Alexia closed her eyes in satisfaction. This wasn’t the same scent you had on your neck and tits. It was familiar, warmer, deeper. It was the light musk she was familiar with; it was you. A low sound escaped her throat.

The faint scent of your core and your wetness made her grip tighten, fingers digging slightly into your skin as she breathed you in again, slower this time, like she was getting ready to devour. While Alexia loved the smell of sweets, your scent just made her mouth water in a way that no dessert ever could.

You gasped and arched your back as soon as you felt Alexia’s tongue. Alexia pressed her tongue flat and wide against your core, letting your wetness coat her tongue. She closed her eyes, moaning against you as she tasted you. 

Alexia swept her arms under your thighs and hauled you closer, fingers gripping onto the top of your thighs. You could feel her gather your legs with her arms, pulling you closer into her as her mouth began to suck onto your clit, alternating between licking and sucking.

You moaned as the tip of Alexia’s tongue now toyed with your clit, flicking against the small and sensitive part of it. Instinctively, your hands wrapped around her head, pushing her closer against you.

Alexia’s tongue soon travelled up and down your folds, gathering the sweet nectar with it. You whimpered as she continued to tease your opening. Alexia smiled to herself before slowly sticking her tongue into your opening.

“F-fuck, Alexia!” You exclaimed as you felt her long and warm tongue inside you.

Alexia continued to hold onto your thighs as she moved her head up and down, letting herself thrust in and out of you. She pointed and curved her tongue upwards, almost reaching the spongy part inside you.

Your hands tangled into her brown hair, hips moving and grinding against her face. Every ounce of self-consciousness melted away, replaced by a raw, desperate hunger that consumed you. All you could focus on was the feeling of her inside you.

Alexia’s tongue moved back up to your clit, simultaneously sucking in a consistent rhythm as her tongue flicked strategically against it between each suck. You moaned her name out loudly as you felt your muscles grow tighter. Your hand went from her head to the bed, gripping against the sheets, continuously gyrating your hips against Alexia’s mouth.

Soon, you could feel every single muscle in your body clench before your orgasm rippled violently through your body, making you flinch a couple times as you felt it take over your body. You moaned out satisfactorily before feeling your body weaken.

Alexia helped you ride out your orgasm before moving up, crawling so that you would be face-to-face. She kissed you, letting you taste yourself on your lips. You wrapped your arms around Alexia, eyes fluttering shut as you melted into her kiss.

You thought that your girlfriend was slowly winding down when you suddenly felt her hand moving its way back down to your thigh, grazing the skin of your inner thigh lightly before finding its way back to your core. Her fingers touched you lightly, making you shiver as you felt how sensitive you’ve gotten from Alexia eating you out. You felt Alexia smile into your kiss, pleased at the way your body reacted to her lightest touch. 

You whimpered as you felt Alexia’s finger tease your entrance, tracing it with the pads of her fingers. She deepened the kiss, lips and tongue moving hungrily as she continued to rub the length of her fingers against your opening, coating them in your wetness,

Her mouth drifted back to your neck, almost immediately finding the spot where you rubbed the syrup on. You winced as her mouth made contact, realizing that all that sucking Alexia did a while ago must have left the skin feeling a bit tender and bruised. 

You arched into Alexia, holding her tight as you felt two fingers suddenly start to push inside you. Your lips parted, a string of incoherent gasps and moans spilling out as she tested the rhythm of your body, pumping deliberately as if testing to see if you could take more of her. 

As Alexia felt you slowly relax under her touch and subtly grind yourself against her fingers, she bit lightly into your collarbone, teeth sinking into the round of it, fingers thrusting harder and deeper.

Her thrusts had gotten so intense and hard that it was starting to almost hurt, but you liked it. It added an edge to the pleasure you were feeling. Alexia continued to kiss all over your neck and collarbones, not even caring about whether she leaves a mark or not. Your back arched further, hands gripping her like a lifeline, nails pressing into the smooth skin of her exposed arms and shoulders.

She didn’t slow, even pushing deeper inside you as she curled her fingers, pressing against the spongy part inside you that made you moan out loud and roll your eyes back in pleasure. The tighter you held her, the more energy Alexia seemed to gain because she continued to relentlessly and tirelessly thrust her fingers into you, curling every time.

“F-fuck, Alexia,” your voice came out shaky and loud. “I’m so close.”

Alexia smiled into your neck , satisfied with your reactions. She sat up a bit just to freely move her hand easier, thrusting her fingers deeper and straight into you She placed her other hand on your clit, letting her fingers rub circles into it as her other hand continued to thrust inside you.

The combined sensations had you gripping the sheets, squirming under her touch, your body instinctively trying to pull away as pleasure threatened to overwhelm you. Alexia must have noticed, because she leaned in closer, her mouth brushing your ear, voice low and slightly gritted. “Don’t fucking move away from me, or I’ll stop.”

You nodded quickly, trying your best to stay still. You didn’t want Alexia to stop now, not when you were so close. She shifted back into her position, allowing her to continue her original pace and rhythm. 

Your eyes found hers, and you bit your lip, taking in every detail: the way her jaw clenched, sharp and defined, the tension in her arms, flexed and firm as if every muscle was working to fuck you as hard as she could.

Alexia caught your gaze and smirked, slowing just enough to tease you. “Like what you see, guapa?”

You bit your lip and nodded, unable to speak coherently. Her hazel eyes glittered with mischief.

“Good. Keep your eyes on me while I make you cum, okay?” Her voice was calmer now, but still firm, commanding. “Close your eyes or look away, and I’ll stop.”

You wanted to groan and complain about her conditions but you knew Alexia wouldn’t take that so nicely so you just nodded, obeying without argument. Pleased, your girlfriend returned to her original pace, muscles tensing as she fucked you.

You wanted to throw your head back, arch fully, lose yourself into the feeling but you held yourself back, not wanting to break her rules. Your moans grew louder as her fingers pressed even harder against your clit, rubbing faster and matching the rhythm of her other hand’s strokes inside you.

Alexia moaned as she felt you grow even wetter, the sound of her thrusting into your wet pussy sounded almost obscene, and that made her even hornier, wanting so desperately to taste you again.

Soon, the familiar feeling of pressure spread through you, coiling tightly, radiating warmth all over your body. Your body was aching in anticipation. You were gasping, desperately trying to keep your eyes locked with your girlfriend’s.

“Alexia….don’t stop, please.” You begged, grinding your hips a bit to get yourself closer to your orgasm. 

Alexia leaned in a bit closer to you, her angle allowing her hand to thrust her fingers even deeper into you. She continued to thrust, curling her fingers into you as her other hand focused on rubbing circles into your clit.

You felt your legs shake, the pleasure radiating all over you. You bit your lip, seeing your girlfriend watching you intently.

And with that, you felt yourself unravel. You felt your body tensed once, sharply, before melting into the mattress. Your eyes slipped shut as you tried to catch your breath, trying to gain consciousness again as your orgasm left your mind practically blank. 

A soft chuckle pulled you back. You opened your eyes to see Alexia licking her fingers clean, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

“How do you taste so good?” she murmured, shaking her head in disbelief

You let out a lazy laugh. “I may have… used a little sugar-free syrup.”

Her brows lifted. “Everywhere? Like…” She looked pointedly in between your legs.

“God, no.” You shot her a look. “Only on my chest and neck. Duh, I don’t want a yeast infection.”

Alexia laughed melodically, shaking her head. “Well, it didn’t need it anyway,” she said. “It was actually the sweetest part.”

“Guess I can do a completely sugar-free diet,” Alexia continued. “As long as we get to do this every night.'"

You scrunched your face and pushed yourself up on your elbows, finally catching your breath. You swatted her arm lightly. “You’re impossible,” you rolled your eyes. “But hey, at least we found a way to curb your cravings. Fuck a sweet treat!"

Alexia’s smirk deepened. She slid her hand to the back of your neck, pulling you closer until your lips were barely a breath apart. 

“Already did,” she winked before planting a kiss on your lips.

a/n: just a little cutesy patootsie smut fic. sorry if there are mistakes or errors. i didn't proofread.

i havent written smut in a while... for various of reasons. but i just couldn't help it. i couldnt get this scenario out of my head and i just had to write it down. shoutout to my partner for inspiring me to write this bahahaha.

anyway, will go back to regular-posting and i'll be updating the it's a match series soon. (vampire!Alexia also.. kinda in the works! let's see)

⋆˙⟡♡ You knew her before you even met her. 

She was the Alexia Putellas — star football player, Barça's captain, absolute living legend. She was the girl who never failed to give her all for her club, for her country, for the people who supported her. Alexia was the kind of person that people didn't just admire; they worshipped her. And you couldn't blame them. She just seemed like the perfect person to look up to.

To you, she just seemed so untouchable, like she didn't belong in the same realm. And yet, here she was, exchanging sloppy kisses with you in the ladies' room of a concert venue.

It all started with a party. Your sister Marina had been working for weeks on a branded mini concert-slash-launch event for one of the huge companies she managed. She was in full PR mode — stressed, running on caffeine, and constantly multitasking — but still managed to beg you to come.

You nearly didn't go. You were only staying with her in Barcelona because your parents had no idea you’d secretly taken the semester off. The depressive episode you’d spiraled into had been bad enough; explaining it to them would’ve been impossible. Knowing them, they wouldn't approve of it, and the last thing you needed was a lecture on how you were "wasting time."

Thankfully, your older sister Marina came to the rescue and decided she'd do you a solid by helping you out of that rut. She just told you to get on the next flight, packed you into her spare bedroom, and let you be. Coming to this event felt like the smallest thing you could do in return.

"Oh my god, chiqui! That's perfect!" she lit up when you agreed. "I've been saying that maybe this is what you need, you know. Make some new friends, have some fun."

"You know, I have a couple friends who are your age who I just know you'd get along with," she said, nodding. "I'll introduce them to you at the concert!"

⋆˙⟡♡ You were already a little overwhelmed by the time you arrived. 

Her job entailed that she was always brushing elbows with famous influencers, athletes, and celebrities. Basically, not your typical crowd.

You weren’t exactly shy or socially awkward, but after isolating yourself for months, walking into a crowd of beautiful, extroverted people felt like being thrown into ice cold water.

She dragged you around for over an hour, introducing you to everyone from DJs to Tiktokers to reality TV show contestants to famous footballers. You shook hands, smiled, and nodded along, trying really hard to seem as high energy and extroverted as Marina, even if you knew you couldn’t ever come close to that level.

Eventually, she got called away to deal with an issue regarding the artist lineup, allowing you to quietly slip away from the crowd and onto the makeshift bar at the VIP area. 

You exhaled deeply after you ordered a drink, feeling like you could finally breathe. You thought and hoped Marina was right about this concert, that maybe it could help you get out there and live life freely again. But, you could barely enjoy yourself when you still felt so numb inside. It was hard to get to know people and to connect with them when you didn’t even feel connected to yourself.

You drank the last swig of your drink, hoping that liquid courage could get you back on your feet, trying to find a way to get yourself to feel something.

"Hello." 

You looked up and froze. Alexia Putellas.

She was dressed in low-rise jeans, a hoodie, hair framing her face effortlessly. You had met her earlier — well, barely. When you were introduced to the team, she hadn’t said much, keeping her introduction short and polite. You assumed she was just uninterested.

Now she was standing next to you, warm eyes focused, a faint smile on her lips. “Are you doing alright?” She asked, tilting her head as she gave you a knowing look.

"Oh uhm, yeah. I'm good." You nodded, nervously dragging your finger around the rim of the glass you ordered, feeling a bit intimidated by her presence.

She smiled at you warmly. "Just saw your sister drag you around to meet literally everyone. Must be tiring." 

You smiled and tucked a hair behind your ear. "For me, yeah, but maybe for people like you and Marina… it must be easy."

She chuckled warmly, settling on the seat beside yours. "Not really, I just put up with it cause it's part of the job."

Her eyes wandered to the empty glass in your hand. "Mind if I buy you a drink?"

⋆˙⟡♡ It turned out Alexia was quieter than you expected.

Not shy, exactly. Just… measured. She was intentional with her words. Like someone who listened more than she spoke, someone who didn’t feel the need to fill silences just for the sake of it.

She had a beer in her hand, though she barely touched it. Every so often she took a small sip, but mostly she just held it between her fingers, letting the condensation slide down her skin.

She laughed — not out of politeness or habit — but only when something genuinely amused her. She was patient, never cut you off when you were speaking. She liked to ask questions, a lot of them, like she really wanted to learn about you. There was something about her that was just so genuine, so different from most of the people you met today.

And somehow, that made her even more intimidating. It had been a while since you allowed yourself to be quite vulnerable to someone you just met.

But after a few more drinks, the tension and awkwardness slowly dissipated. You both loosened up, started sharing more personal things that people generally did not tell others on their first interaction.

Eventually, the conversation slipped into something deeper.

She brought up her injury: how it happened, the seemingly never-ending rehab, the pain which was not just physical but also mental, the helplessness of watching her teammates train and play while she sat on the sidelines.

“It’s weird,” she said, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns in the condensation on her beer bottle. “I can walk. I can do most things. But I’m still not cleared. Still not... me.”

She didn’t say it dramatically. She just said it like it exhausted her.

“It just feels like there’s no point to walking if I can’t play,” she admitted. “I know how that sounds, like I’m being overly dramatic or whatever. But without football, I feel like I’m living half a life.”

You nodded because you understood her somehow. It felt like you were living half a life too.

Soon, you warmed up and you told her about your own depression: the semester you bailed on, the lack of motivation to do anything, not feeling any emotion at all and how even when you wanted to get better, some part of you kept asking if it was even worth the effort. 

You didn’t expect to say it. But it came out anyway. And to your surprise, she didn’t flinch or offer some empty reassurance. She just listened like she completely got it.

It startled you, how quickly the two of you shifted from strangers with overlapping circles to something more intimate. Maybe the alcohol helped, sure, but it wasn’t just that. There was a strange kind of comfort in opening up to someone who didn’t need you to explain yourself. You didn’t feel pitied or judged. Just met… right where you were.

And, it felt easy to be vulnerable with her.

Maybe it was because you both felt like your lives were on pause, like you were just stuck in a rut. It felt like you were finally existing in the same plane as someone else.

The more you shared and the more you drank, the more you drifted closer. First, it was a couple arm touches. Then, it was her hand on your thigh, you batting your eyelashes as you stared at her lips, tucking in her loose hair behind her ear.

You weren’t sure who leaned in first. Maybe it was her. Maybe it was you. All you knew was that one second you were sitting close, knees barely touching, and the next, she was kissing you.

And god, the way she kissed.

There was nothing tentative about it. She pressed onto you like she needed it, like she’d been holding it in for too long. It all felt like a blur after that: stumbling upon each other as you made your way to the restroom, her pressing you against the door, her hands gripping her waist as she thirstily kissed you like your lips were sweet nectar and she was starving.

It was messy, a little clumsy and desperate, almost.

You barely had time to think. You just kissed her back, matching her intensity, your arms wrapped around her neck. There was nothing romantic about it — not in the traditional sense. It wasn’t soft or delicate. It felt like two people trying to forget themselves for a second, trying to feel something.

And it was the most you’ve felt in ages. You weren’t sure what it was: maybe lust, infatuation, thirst. Though, you were sure it meant nothing but an emotional release at first.

You thought it would end there, but it didn’t.

⋆˙⟡♡ “hello stranger.”

The text came from an unknown number but you were pretty sure who it was. You bit your lip, typing up a response, not wanting to get ahead of yourself and assume who it was. 

⋆˙⟡♡ It all fell together so naturally.

It started with that one lunch together at a small, tucked-away restaurant. You hadn’t thought much of it at the time: lunch between newly found friends. But then it happened again. And again. 

⋆˙⟡♡ If you weren’t physically together, you were constantly texting – sending  each other memes or Instagram reels, sending photos  of your meal or cute dogs or street art. She quickly became a huge part of your life.

And yet even if you were spending a lot of time together, the kiss became something unspoken, something neither of you brought up. Yet, it felt like it hovered around you at all times. It lived in the small silences, the pauses that stretched too long after a joke, the way her eyes lingered on your mouth when you spoke, the times that her hand brushed yours and didn’t immediately pull away, the times she would lean in to hug you.

You could feel it pulsing under the surface, like a second heartbeat. Every time you looked at her, it was just there, always present but never acknowledged.

⋆˙⟡♡ “So, another bed rot and movie night tomorrow?” You asked, still tucked under the duvet Alexia got from her room, snuggled on her couch after hours of watching Barbie movies. (You still don’t know how you got her to agree to a Barbie movie marathon.)

Alexia walked back to the couch, carrying two mugs of tea, handing one to you before settling beside you on her couch. “As much as I love being an unproductive bum with you,” she started, a playful lilt to her voice. “I have physical therapy tomorrow, work on this fucking leg and shit.”

You pouted as you wrapped your arms around the warm mug. “That kinda sucks… but also not.” You said as you blew on the tea to cool it off. “Just means you’re gonna get well soon, yeah?”

Alexia sighed deeply. “I guess, it just can be a bit annoying and boring,” she paused to take a sip of her tea, seemingly thinking for a moment. She turned to look at you. “Maybe you’d want to come along?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you know, moral support.” She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant even if she really wanted you to go. “I know it’s no all-day Barbie movie marathon but it’d be nice if you come. We can grab some more snacks on the way home too.”

A part of you wanted to say no, thinking it may be a little too intimate, seeing her that vulnerable. But something in her voice made you agree. “Okay, I’ll go.”

She smiled warmly at you. 

⋆˙⟡♡ You sat on the sidelines, sipping lukewarm vending machine coffee. You pretended to scroll on your phone, trying to give her space. You thought maybe if you looked busy, Alexia wouldn’t feel so hyper-aware of you watching her. But of course, you couldn’t help but keep sneaking glances anyway.

She was strapped into some kind of chair machine now, half-listening to whatever the therapist was explaining. Her face was calm, unreadable to anyone else, but you knew her well enough to catch it: the tension around her mouth, the quiet nervousness in the way she flexed her fingers before starting. It was subtle, almost imperceptible but you caught it.

At first, the exercise looked a bit easy for her with her face calm, leg pushing the padded bar forward in a smooth arc but it caught, just for a second. Her quad trembled, followed by a tight inhale. Her jaw clenched as she heard the machine beep.

She didn't say anything else; she just groaned and shook her head. It wasn’t that she was in pain; she was frustrated that her body doesn’t quite do what it used to do. 

You’ve seen it before: on long walks when she suddenly needed to sit down, pressing her palm into her leg like she was trying to will the pain away, eyes closed and eyebrows furrowed in silent frustration. 

She inhaled deeply before completing the rep and trying again. 

Soon, she finished her set, leaning back on the chair, breathing harder than she wanted to. You looked at her, expecting her to meet your gaze and flash you that signature smile. But, she just sat there for a moment, staring ahead, visibly exhausted.

Then, without a word, she dragged herself over to your bench and dropped down next to you with a dramatic sigh. “I fucking hate everything,” she muttered, swiping sweat from her forehead.

“You look like a warrior,” you said, offering her a small smile.

She tilted her head toward you, eyes glinting. “That’s code for ‘you look like hell,’ right?”

“No,” you rolled your eyes. “That’s code for: you still look hot, even if you’re drenched in sweat.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Don’t flirt with me just because you feel bad for me,” she said, taking a long sip from her water bottle.

“I’m not,” you replied, a little too fast for your liking, feeling instant regret.

She paused, her gaze narrowing slightly. “So you don’t feel bad for me? Even with my fucked-up leg?”

You chuckled, eyes flicking down to the floor. “That’s not what I meant,” you muttered, suddenly aware of your proximity to her.

Alexia hummed, head still tilted. “So... you’re just flirting with me.”

You avoided her gaze and stayed silent, unsure of what to say. Even if you two have lowkey been flirting for the past weeks, none of you talked about it or confirmed it. You just kinda let it happen as if you two were just friends teasing each other.

Finally, you lifted your head and met her gaze. Your heart beat faster as soon as you looked into her beautiful eyes that looked breathtaking even under the unflattering fluorescent lights of the room, sweaty and exhausted after her therapy session. She was just so unbelievably beautiful, stunning… unreachable. 

There it is, you thought to yourself. The ghost of the kiss is haunting us again.

You parted your lips to say something but before you could, Alexia’s therapist was walking back into the room, carrying some papers. 

“Alexia, here’s your updated list of home exercises to do,” she entered the room, oblivious to the tension. She handed the sheet of paper to Alexia. “Make sure you text me updates too.”

Alexia cleared her throat, blinking as she examined the papers. “Oh okay, this looks a bit more than before.”

Her therapist nodded. “Yeah, but you’ll manage. Just let me know if you find anything too hard.”

She looked at Alexia with a smile then shot you a look. “And hey, you can do the exercises with your girlfriend… cute little bonding experience, yeah?”

You froze, unconsciously mumbling. “Oh, uh –”

“Yeah, I’ll update you.” Alexia cut you off, responding to her therapist nonchalantly as if she wasn’t at all startled by what was said. 

She stood from the bench, said a few more thanks to the therapist before bidding goodbye, casually taking your hand in hers as you walked out of the building.

What the fuck just happened.

⋆˙⟡♡ “HELLO? You sleeping with your eyes open?”

You snapped out of your absentminded daze. You were halfway through helping Marina prep for another event when she called your attention, eyes narrowing at you across the dinner table where you two were organizing RSVP letters and VIP lists.

“I’ve been talking to you for the past five minutes and you haven’t responded,” Marina commented, looking at you curiously. “Are you good?”

You nodded. “Yeah, of course. I was just spacing out.”

Marina nodded but still looked at you suspiciously. “Hmm… okay. Just make sure you don’t make a mistake or else, I’d be in big trouble.” She sounded unconvinced but she didn’t say anything more, turning her attention back to her printed list.

Your phone pinged. It was Alexia.

Alexia: still helping marina out? Alexia: wanna get dinner?

You bit your lip. After the incident at the physical therapist, something between you and Alexia shifted. The tension already existed prior to that but now, instead of just silently hovering around the two of you, it now feel like there was a massive red circle around the tension, just begging to be acknowledged. You two tried to proceed normally, driving in her car and having dinner together but no matter how hard either of you tried to act normally, it just felt… off.

You stared at your phone, watching the vertical line on the message box disappear and reappear as you thought of a response. As much as you wanted to be with Alexia, you just felt like it was gonna be another awkward, tension-filled dinner and you weren’t really sure if you were up for that. 

“Okay, something is definitely up with you.” Marina called out who was silently observing you. “Are you okay? Is this about that girl you’re seeing?”

You froze, eyes widening. “Girl? What?”

Your sister rolled your eyes. “I might be busy but I’m not stupid.” She said shaking her head. “I can see you smile at your phone all the time and I’ve noticed you going out more, sleeping over a lot with your friend — who you haven’t named to me, by the way. All symptoms of someone in a new relationship.”

“No! N-no, it’s not like that.” You stammered defensively, shaking your head as you felt your cheeks warm up. “She’s just my friend…”

She narrowed her eyes at you. “Who’s making you blush and smile a lot at your phone?”

You shrugged. “I’m allowed to smile at my friend’s texts.”

Marina chuckled. “I’m not saying you aren’t allowed. It’s just… something’s different with you.” She paused. “It’s nice to see you smile like that again.”

You felt your cheeks grow redder. As much as you wanted to deny Alexia’s effect on you, you just knew there was no way you could convince your sister otherwise. You were clearly smitten.

“Hmm… thought so.” Your sister said, snapping as if she had just solved a case. “Is she one of your friends from your university?”

You shook your head. “No… it’s actually someone you know.”

Now, it was Marina’s turn to be shocked. “Someone I know?” She furrowed her eyebrows together. “Who could I possibly know?”

You bit your lip, feeling hesitant. “I shouldn’t say. It’s really nothing so I don’t wanna get ahead of myself.”

“It’s certainly not nothing.” She said with a tone of disbelief. “Nothing doesn’t give you that glow.”

“A glow,” you repeated dryly.

“Yeah. A ‘you’re not completely depressed and mopey anymore’ glow,” she said with a teasing tone and an eye roll, then softened her voice. “It’s a good thing, by the way. I like seeing you like this.”

You didn’t say anything, just looked down at the counter and bit the inside of your cheek to hide the smile tugging at the corner of your mouth.

And the truth was… she was right. You were happier; you felt like life was lighter. Not exactly fixed or completely okay, not even close to being healed but... moving again. For the first time in a long while, you were feeling again. Sure, there were days when you felt numb and lost but with Alexia, it was easier to ignore it.

“Hmm, yeah… maybe.” You mumbled under your breath as you absentmindedly fiddled with the pen in your hand.

Marina chuckled. “I still have no clue who it is, by the way.”

You laughed. “It’s… Alexia.”

Her eyes widened. “Alexia? Like Barça Alexia?”

You nodded. “But I swear, it really isn’t anything right now.” You said, becoming a bit defensive again. “I think I got a small crush on her but I doubt she sees me the same way.”

Marina just stared at you in disbelief. “I know Alexia. I mean, we’re not close… but from what I know, she isn’t the type to just hang out with someone for nothing.”

“I don’t know… I think we mostly just hang out like friends and I feel like I just look into things too much at times.” You had no clue why you were being so defensive and in denial about it. Perhaps, you were a bit scared of getting your hopes up. “I swear, I don’t think we’d be anything more than friends.”

⋆˙⟡♡ You could not have been more wrong at that moment.

Slowly, things between you and Alexia started shifting from friends to something more. It wasn’t some big conversation or dramatic declaration. There was no official “what are we?” moment. The change just... happened.

You first noticed it when you were sleeping over. 

Normally, the two of you slept with a careful distance, both on the far end of the bed, pillow in between as some kind of subtle boundary, backs turned against each other. Then, one night, Alexia removed the pillow between the two of you right before she switched off the lights. She laid facing you. Your bodies didn’t touch but they almost did.

Then, it was the lingering touches: unspoken footsies during movie nights, her fingers absentmindedly tracing random shapes on to the base of your neck whenever her arm slung around you on the couch. She liked holding your hand whenever you were walking through crowds, threading your fingers together as if you’d always done it. 

The hugs became more regular; she found an excuse to hug you at any given moment. It could be her saying thank you for cooking her breakfast, hugging you from behind, resting her chin on your shoulder. She’d hold you close too whenever her apartment was too cold, claiming to love your body heat, jokingly calling you her personal heater.

And then, there were times when she’d suddenly be upset about her injury or missing out on another game and all she would ask of you was to cuddle up to her. You never questioned it and you didn’t really want to question it; you grew fond of being in such close proximity with her.

The language and conversations shifted too, almost imperceptibly. She called you by your name less. Now, it was amor or cariño, spoken with a certain fondness. She started talking about the future in ways she hadn’t before: like how she’d love for you to wear her old kits to games when she was finally back on the pitch, mentioning random trips she wanted to take with you, discussing how often she would like to visit you once you go back to school, and casually saying things like “my mom would love you so much.” 

She hated being apart, often whining about it in almost childish way. “Just sleep here,” she’d say whenever you talked about going back home after an entire day with her.

So, you did. Enough times that eventually, you started leaving things at her place without meaning to: a toothbrush beside hers in the bathroom, your university hoodie draped over the back of her chair, a paperback you never finished still dog-eared on her nightstand. You never talked about it. She never asked you to take them home.

Even after all that, there still wasn’t any conversation about your relationship. Whenever you felt the urge to ask her to discuss it, you’d chicken out, think to yourself that a label wasn’t that important. If anything, asking about your relationship might even hinder whatever was developing between you. So, it remained unspoken. Something that was undeniably there but also uncertain.

⋆˙⟡♡ But things became more certain at the party with her teammates.

She didn’t want to go initially; she didn’t want to celebrate her team’s wins while she was still struggling with recovery. But you managed to convince her. She was helping you a lot with your depression, helping you step out of your shell, so you wanted to help her too.

“You need a little fun too.” You told her.

Alexia groaned. “I have fun with just the two of us.” 

You chuckled. “It can’t just be the two of us all the time. It’d be nice for you to reconnect with your teammates. I’m sure they certainly can relate more to your struggles than me.”

Eventually, she agreed but only if you went with her and so, you did.

⋆˙⟡♡ After a couple of drinks and some gentle coaxing, you finally convinced Alexia to go catch up with her friends on her own. As much as you loved being around her, you knew it was healthy for both of you to have some space at times. It helped you grow, and honestly, if you were always at her side, you'd never learn how to come out of your shell. You didn’t just want to feel better; you actually wanted to be better. Trying to socialize more was one way to start.

You spotted Jana, who you'd met a few times before at Alexia’s place, usually when she stopped by with takeout and ended up staying for dinner. She’d always been easy to talk to, and you figured it’d be less intimidating to approach the group with her by your side than to wander up to strangers alone.

“Hey, Jana!” you called, weaving your way through the crowd.

She turned toward you, her smile widening the moment she recognized your face. “Hola, chiqui!” she greeted warmly, pulling you into a quick hug and kissing both your cheeks. “I didn’t know you were coming! I was just about to ask Alexia if you two wanted to do brunch sometime.”

You smiled. “We should definitely plan something soon.”

Jana turned back to the group and introduced you with ease. “Hey guys, this is Y/N. Marina’s sister.”

“Oh, Marina? I haven’t seen her since that one photoshoot…” A pretty girl with brown hair said, eyes scanning you. “But I swear, I feel like I’ve met you before. I can’t tell when though.”

You nodded. “Ona, right?” You asked. “We met at that concert thing.”

She bit her lip and nodded. “Oh yeah, I remember now.” 

Aitana stuck her hand out to shake yours. “I don’t think we met though. I’m Aitana.”

You shook your hand, cheeks blushing a bit, feeling starstruck. “Of course, I know you. I’m a huge fan.”

She laughed. “Ah, I’m flattered.” She flashed you a smile. “Did you come with Marina?”

You shook your head. “No, Alexia invited me.”

They nodded before proceeding to ask you more personal questions to get to know you, eagerly listening and nodding. It was a little surprising how welcoming they all were. But there was something different about the way Ona kept looking at you. Not unfriendly… just intense, and it made your skin tingle in a way you didn’t quite know what to do with.

“You like your drink?” Ona asked, voice low, eyes flicking down to your empty glass.

You nodded, suddenly aware of how close she’d gotten. “Yeah, it’s good, but the alcohol’s kind of strong.”

Ona nodded thoughtfully. “If you like something a bit smoother, I know the perfect one,” she said, already motioning toward the bar. “Want to grab another?”

You paused and realized that Aitana and Jana were now preoccupied looking at something on Jana’s phone. For some reason, your gaze went to Alexia who was across the room, chatting with Patri and Pina. She seemed at ease.

“Uh… sure,” you agreed, biting your lip.

The brunette smiled, flashing you those dimples. She ran a hand through her hair before tucking both hands in her jean pockets as you two walked together to the bar. “So, you’re still in uni, right?”

You nodded. “Yeah but I’m on a gap semester now.” You paused. “Which is kinda turning more into a gap year actually. Had to take some time off.”

Ona nodded. “Makes sense. School can be brutal.” She glanced over as the bartender approached. “Your friends must miss you.”

“They get it,” you said with a little shrug. “They’ve been supportive.”

Ona glanced sideways at you, then asked, “Your boyfriend too?”

You caught the implication. As she ordered the drinks, the two of you leaned against the bar, shoulders almost brushing.

“Uh, no, I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Ona nodded, glancing over to you again. “Hmmm... girlfriend?”

Again, your eyes darted to Alexia at the far end of the bar. She was still busy telling her other teammates about some story with animated gestures.

“Uh…” You didn’t know what to say. Saying you were taken would have been presumptuous of you but saying you were single didn’t feel right either “It’s kind of… complicated.”

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Really? How?”

You sighed, pausing, eyes flicking down to your hands. “I like some girl and I’ve hung out a lot with her but she hasn’t really made a move.” You said, keeping it short without giving away too much. “I haven’t either but it’s just because I’m afraid she’d reject me or something.”

Ona tilted her head, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Reject you? She’d have to be out of her mind. You’re gorgeous.”

She said it so easily, like it was obvious. The compliment landed fast, and you felt the warmth rush up your neck, painting your cheeks. It wasn’t something you were used to hearing. At least, not so directly.

Ona wasn’t like Alexia. When you first met Alexia, she was quiet, watchful, more intense with her gaze than her words. Ona, on the other hand, was bold, flirty and unapologetically forward. It was... disarming.

“Oh, uhm, I’m not —“ You stammered.

A teasing smirk curved her lips as she caught how flustered you were. Just then, the bartender slid two tall glasses toward you across the bar. Ona picked up one and held it out, angling the straw toward your lips.

“Here, try this,” she said, her voice low and coaxing.

You hesitated only for a second before leaning in, your lips brushing the straw as you took a sip. Ona’s gaze didn’t move from your mouth, and that alone was enough to make your face heat again.

“Mmm,” you murmured. “That’s really good. I can barely taste the alcohol.”

“Right? It sneaks up on you.” Ona took a sip of her own before grabbing the second drink, this one a bright, almost neon blue. “This one looks insane but tastes even better.”

She stepped in a little closer this time, holding the glass out just like before. Her arm brushed yours, and you could feel the warmth radiating off her skin. You leaned in for another sip.

“Okay, no, this one’s even better,” you said, eyebrows raised in surprise. “I’m definitely ordering this next time.”

She laughed under her breath. “Yeah? Then that one’s yours.”

You smiled, taking the drink from her hand. “Thanks.”

Ona returned your smile, pausing to take a long sip of her drink, eyes never leaving yours. “So… this girl,” she said carefully, drawing the words out casually. “You really like her?”

You bit your lip, carefully tracing the rim with your fingertip as you tried to come up with a response. “I mean… I don’t know. It’s probably just a crush.” You laughed under your breath, trying to make it sound light, unimportant. “Not a big deal.”

One tilted her head, looking a bit skeptical and amused. “You don’t sound so sure.”

You shrugged, nervously chuckling, trying to force some ease into your voice. “We’re just close and spend a lot of time. I think the forced proximity is just making me feel giddy or whatever. Nothing serious.”

But that wasn’t the full truth. In fact, it wasn’t even close.

Alexia and you practically spent the last few months living like a couple. And, you were more than certain that your attraction was more than just a crush. It felt more serious than that.

And, anyone else looking from the outside would probably already think you were already dating. Sometimes, even you forgot that you weren’t. But then again, no one has said anything about dating, feelings or even that kiss.

“Yeah, no, nothing.” You repeated yourself.

Ona hummed.

“If it’s nothing,” Ona said slowly, setting down her drink. “Then… you wouldn’t care if someone else made a move, right?”

Your eyes snapped up to hers. Before you could say anything, she leaned in, reaching up to gently brush a loose strand of hair behind your ear. Her fingers were soft, her touch lingering just a second too long. She was so close you could smell the faint sweetness of her perfume, feel the heat radiating from her skin.

“You really are gorgeous, y’know?” She repeated, voice lower and quieter, almost inaudible due to the loud music at the bar.

Your breath caught in your throat. You didn’t know what to do. Ona was undeniably stunning and attractive. Her forwardness made you feel a bit tense, making your heart beat faster.

But… it didn’t feel right.

⋆˙⟡♡ Unbeknownst to you, Alexia’s eyes found their way to the bar. It wasn’t intentional; she just felt her eyes wandering to that area. But her eyes narrowed and locked in on the two of you as soon as she saw Ona moving closer to you, eyes obviously fixated on your lips.

The older woman clenched her jaw as soon as she saw it. You two weren’t dating and she didn’t owe you anything but something about seeing another girl flirt with you.

“Alexia?” Patri said, interrupting Alexia’s train of thought. The younger girl followed Alexia’s line of sight, landing on you and Ona. “Who’s that with Ona?”

Alexia shook her head. “Uh… that’s the friend I came with.”

Patri nodded, looking over to you. “She’s cute.” She commented.

Alexia released a short, dry chuckle as she raised her eyebrows, unsure of how to respond. Patri was too busy looking over at you to even notice Alexia’s stunned and vaguely annoyed expression. 

“Too bad, looks like Ona got to her first.” Patri said before turning to Alexia. “Anyway, we’re going to join everyone else. Cata brought a bunch of drinking game cards so you could join us.”

“Uh, I’m too old for that,” Alexia shook her head and chuckled, trying not to seem too affected by seeing Ona flirt with you. “I’ll just go check on my friend, see if she’s doing well.”

Patri nodded. “I’ll come with you since Ona might want to join anyway.”

⋆˙⟡♡ You immediately caught Alexia’s figure at the corner of your eye, turning your head towards her. She had a blank, unreadable look on her face as she walked towards you.

Ona noticed your attention shift and followed your line of sighed, smiling at her teammates. She gave each of them a hug. “Alexia, you look good,” Ona said as they pulled apart. “No crutches anymore?”

Alexia had a tight smile on her face — something polite but a bit forced. “Yeah, yeah, I’m getting better but it’s still gonna take a while.” She said with a sigh. She let out a small sigh before turning her gaze toward you. “I see you two have finally met.”

You nodded, somehow feeling a bit guilty even if you had not done anything wrong. 

“I’m Patri, by the way.” Patri introduced herself eagerly. You smiled and took her hand, shaking it as you introduced yourself. 

“Can’t believe Ona’s hogging you all to herself over here,” Patri said, looking at Ona with a teasing expression on her face.

Ona just smiled and elbowed Patri playfully. “We were just talking.”

Alexia knew you two weren’t dating and that she had no right to be jealous but it came almost involuntarily. She was suddenly clenching her jaw and every muscle on her body felt tight. 

Patri broke the tension, blissfully unaware. “Anyway, Cata brought some cards and we’re starting a game. You two want to join?”

Ona looked at you, waiting for your response before nodding. “Yeah, why not?” She turned to you with a grin. “It’d feel just like uni again, yeah?”

You hesitated. Your gaze flicked to Alexia, who was deliberately looking away now, focusing on some imaginary spot in the distance. “Oh, uh... is Alexia joining?”

Alexia raised her eyebrows, caught off guard. “Me?” she echoed, a hint of confusion in her voice. “No. I’m too old for that.”

Patri and Ona groaned in protest.

“No, you’re not.” Ona rolled her eyes. “C’mon. It’ll be fun.”

“Yeah, even Aitana is joining.” Patri added, pleading for their captain to join.

Alexia chuckled before locking eyes with you. She raised an eyebrow at you and you just gave her a shrug and head tilt as if to say ‘why not?’. She sighed, instantly understanding you. “Yeah, okay.”

“Yes!” Patri cheered. “I’ll just grab shot glasses and drinks for us but you guys head over there.”

I hope I don’t regret this. 

⋆˙⟡♡ Ona was right; it really did feel like a uni party, being sat in a circle with a bunch of people, playing some sort of drinking game. 

Cata explained the game: each person would draw a card from the center. Each card had a dare or a question, and if you refused, you had to take a shot. No exceptions.

And as soon as the game started, there was not a single dull moment. 

Cata had to text an ex that she missed them. Kika gave Aitana a minute-long lap dance, while Aitana shrieked and covered her eyes. Even Ewa’s girlfriend, who was initially pretty timid, was roped into twerking as she sang the alphabet. Most people did shots, refusing to do the more outrageous dares.

Eventually, it was Ona’s turn. 

Cheers erupted as she reached for a card. She read it silently, and her mouth twitched into a grin. But she didn’t say a word. She just gave everyone a smile.

The group booed and heckled her for taking long to read it out loud, until Patri leaned over her shoulder, laughing as she read it for herself. She immediately clapped her hands on Ona’s shoulders like she was prepping her for a fight. “Oh, you gotta do this.”

Ona raised a hand to hush the group. Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “Alright, alright. The card says ‘Kiss the person you think is the hottest.’”

The moment stretched.

Suddenly, you felt her gaze on you. She raised her eyebrows and tilted her head in your direction, and the room immediately burst into cheers and catcalls.

You couldn’t see Alexia’s expression but at this point, you were a bit too scared to look. You shrugged. “Yeah?” You said, feigning ignorance, even though your heart was practically thudding against your chest.

Ona gave you a crooked smile and leaned in slowly. One hand cupped your cheek, gentle but assured, and then her lips were on yours. It was gentle, unimposing. It was just a peck that lasted maybe a beat or two. Then…it was over.

The room booed for the brevity of it, but Ona just shrugged, unapologetic. You found yourself smiling nervously, unsure of how to react. Out of the corner of your eye, you glanced at Alexia. She had a faint smile on her face, cool and unbothered.

She didn't seem to mind that, you thought.

You sighed and turned your attention back to the game. Now, it was your turn. You reached for a card and flipped it over. “Put five ice cubes in your bra,” you read aloud, squinting at the text then immediately shaking your head. “Yeah, no. Just give me the shot.”

Everyone laughed with some people coaxing you into doing it instead. But you refused, shaking your head as you poured yourself a shot to down. You winced as you downed the harsh alcohol, feeling it burn down your throat.

Finally, it was Alexia’s turn. Compared to everyone else who was loud and rowdy, Alexia seemed impossibly unbothered and calm, almost detached. She didn’t even seem bothered when Ona kissed you.

You sighed. So, maybe she doesn’t actually like me, you thought. 

She reached toward the pile. But instead of grabbing from the untouched stack in the center, her fingers drifted to the used cards.

“Wrong pile!” Kika called out.

Alexia didn’t stop. Your pulse spiked.

She brushed past the card you had just placed down, deliberately, like she knew what she was looking for. Then, she picked the one directly underneath it. 

“Alexia, wrong pile.” Kika called out again, clueless to how deliberate Alexia’s actions were.

Cata raised an eyebrow, finally catching on. “Oh, this is gonna be messy.” she commented, shaking her head with a laugh. No one else seemed to catch on, protesting and telling Alexia to get from the fresh pile but Alexia barely acknowledged them, sporting a slightly smug look on her face.

“The card says, ‘Kiss the person you think is the hottest.’” Her voice was light, almost bored. She gave the group a lopsided smile, still refusing to look at you.

Everyone was laughing — half-confused, half-hyping her up.

You froze.

You didn’t have time to react before Alexia turned to you, swift and sure, and grabbed your face with both hands. And then she kissed you.

The crowd gasped and hollered immediately, voices rising in disbelief. It seemed like you all were taken aback by the sudden boldness. It was something so uncharacteristic of Alexia, a side of her that her teammates never saw. 

It didn’t take long for your shock to dissipate, feeling yourself melt into Alexia’s kiss, almost instinctively, as if your body had been waiting for it for so long.

You could feel the same intensity from the night of your first kiss: messy, drunk, desperate and intense. Though, this time, the intention felt clearer. It wasn’t just an energy or emotional release like the first time; it felt possessive and almost revelational. She wasn’t just giving into it. She was claiming it.

Before the kiss got too heated, Alexia pulled away. Her hazel eyes lingered on yours for a moment, leaving you both breathless and speechless. Then she flashed you a small, lazy smirk.

She turned back to the group. “Okay, Salma’s turn,” she said, like nothing had happened. 

You blinked, still incredibly shocked, feeling a bit of whiplash from it. The rest of the group wasn’t much better. They stared, slack-jawed or laughing rambunctiously, unable to move on. You slowly turned toward Ona, unsure of what to say, looking at her apologetically. For what? You weren’t even sure yourself.

She just raised her hands in surrender and shrugged. “I should’ve known,” she said, chuckling as she shook her head

God, what just happened?

⋆˙⟡♡ There were no more doubts after that second kiss.

After the second round of the card game, you and Alexia were barely paying attention. At some point, your legs brushed, your hands touched, and your eyes met. That was enough. You made an excuse to leave, and the two of you slipped away, rushing back to her apartment like you had been holding your breath for months.

It wasn’t perfect, not even close. The desperation took over your bodies. You kissed with too much urgency, teeth bumping with each other, struggling to take clothes off of each other. Alexia’s body was still recovering too; she had to pause several times just to figure out a position that didn’t put too much strain on her leg. There was also some difficulty on your side, taking longer than usual to finish due to your psych meds’ side effects.

But you laughed through the awkwardness and you took your time. Eventually, you were able to work it and it felt good. It felt right.

After it all, you finally discussed your relationship. You laughed at how long it took to get there, how obvious your infatuation with each other must’ve been to everyone else who saw you together. Then you talked about more serious matters like the fears and anxieties you had about being in a relationship.

You were both hesitant and doubtful. After all, you were both still trying to feel whole again and you weren’t sure if being in a relationship would have been good for either of you. You were still clawing your way out of depression and she was still struggling with her ACL injury and not being able to play football. 

But you decided to still try and maybe, that was why it worked. There was no pressure on each other to be perfect. There was only patience, the kind that could only come from someone who was struggling as well. 

You supported each other in ways that mattered. You joined Alexia for her physical therapy, even if it just meant sitting nearby as she stretched or biked in silence. You did her home exercises with her and made sure to cheer her on through all the struggles. Eventually, she started coming to watch Barcelona games live again. Slowly, the bitterness faded. She no longer felt jealous or resentful of not being able to play; she started seeing it again as her home that she could come back to after she heals.

Her happiness showed. She was lighter. She smiled more. You usually used to just hang out together, bed rotting or isolating yourselves from the world; when she went out, you had to be with her all the time as if you were an emotional support pet. But now, she was inviting more friends over, joining teammates for lunches without begging you to join her. 

You didn’t go back to university just yet, deciding you still needed time. But you enrolled in a few online electives to keep your mind active. You were sleeping better, no longer waking up every morning with an empty pit in your chest. It certainly helped too that you woke up next to someone who kissed you before you even opened your eyes.

There were still days when you still felt low and there were days that Alexia would still have to take a break from walking, sitting down with an empty look on her face. But you got through it together. 

Your lives weren’t some fairytale; it wasn’t perfect. But it was real and it was yours.

Even just a few months into dating, things were starting to feel steady. She told you she wanted you to meet her mother and her sister. She kissed your temple and said, “I’m lucky to have you,” when she thought you were asleep. You talked about what would happen when you returned to school and when she started playing again: how to stay connected, how often you’d go back to Barcelona to watch her play, how to make LDR work.

⋆˙⟡♡ You were in Alexia’s kitchen, slicing up some cherry tomatoes for dinner, when Alexia returned home from a physical therapy session. She dropped her duffel bag by the door before hurriedly walking over to you in the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around you, hugging you from behind and kissing you on the cheek. You chuckled, turning around while you were still enveloped in her arms.

“Ale, you’re so sweaty,” you have her a mocked annoyed face before planting a kiss on her lips.

“Hmm, you love it though.” She said, planting more kisses on your face and neck, causing you to giggle. After you pulled away, you noticed just how different she looked — almost radiant. 

“Hmm, you look so happy, cariño.” You said, brushing a damp strand of hair from her forehead. “Really happy.”

She nodded. “Yeah. I just got cleared,” she said softly, her smile stretching into something impossibly bright.

Your eyes widened. “Oh my god, oh my god, are you serious?” 

She nodded in response. You cheered as you wrapped your arms around her neck to hug her tighter. Alexia was so happy that she lifted you up and spun you around in a right circle.

You laughed. “Ale, you literally just got cleared.” You yelped, half-chiding and half-swooning, playfully tapping her to put you down. She laughed and put you down, leaning down one more time to kiss you. 

As you pulled away again, you could see that her eyes were a bit moist. She was tearing up but it wasn’t out of frustration or anger; these were happy tears.

You pouted, wiping the tears away from her cheeks. “I’m so happy for you.” You gushed. “Does this mean you’d play this season?”

Alexia chuckled. “Yes, the results came in the right time.”

“My god, Alexia, that’s just amazing.” You smiled. “I cannot wait to be a cute WAG who watches all your games, wearing your kits and cheering for you like a crazy woman.”

Her lips tugged into a small smirk. “Hmm… but how about we celebrate first? With some physical activity?” She said with a playful lilt in her voice.

“You’re so naughty.” You narrowed your eyes. “You just got medically cleared and your first thought is sex?”

“Well, we never got to try that thing where I lift you up thing while using the str—”

You lightly smacked her arm, blushing. 

“So… is that a no?” She pouted.

You rolled your eyes, sighing dramatically. “Okay, maybe dinner can wait.”

Alexia didn’t wait, lifting you up and carrying you into her bedroom.

⋆˙⟡♡ The following weeks after Alexia’s clearance became the best parts of your relationship. It felt like you were finally seeing the silver lining, like things were slowly looking up for both of you. You were both feeling incredibly good about your lives, contrast to when it all started, back when you were both lost and frustrated.

You were working on your enrollment for the next year, and looking for a new apartment or dorm. She was finally training regularly, working to get back to her form for the next season.

Even now that you were both busy, you found time for each other. She still made you breakfast every morning, even if she had early training, waking you up with kisses and the smell of pancakes or eggs. Dinner together was a must whether it be you cooking dinner for the two of you or Alexia taking you out for a nice meal out. On weekends, you hung out either with Marina or her friends. And on some days she had no training, you still liked to cuddle in bed long past noon, tangled in sheets, fingers lazily drawing shapes on each other’s skin while you whispered about nothing.

And she spoke so sweetly, so kindly.

“You’re my everything.”

"You’ve helped me more than you know."

"I didn’t realize how lonely I was until I met you.”

“Life is better with you.”

⋆˙⟡♡ But eventually, the cracks started to show.

It started out small. You had plans to watch a movie together in the cinemas. But just an hour before showtime, Alexia sent you a text, saying something about a meeting with one of her sponsors. She seemed apologetic. So, you let it pass, asked Marina out to join you instead, and just tried to understand. You still had fun hanging out with your sister but it just didn’t feel the same, especially since you and Alexia planned to watch this movie for so long.

Then another night, she bailed on dinner. 

You had cooked her favorite meal, bought a bottle of wine, and picked up a chocolate cake from the small bakery she liked near her place. Alexia told you she’d be home by seven but an hour later, there was still no sign of her. No call, no text. You tried reaching her but her phone was busy. She came home around midnight, flushed and smiling slightly. You asked her about it and all she said was that she had some dinner and drinks with her teammates. You waited for her to notice the plate you left set up for her, the wine, or that you were wearing some make-up even if you were just home. But she didn’t, never mentioned any of it. She completely forgot about dinner.

After that, you started to notice the little things.

She stopped making breakfast, rushing out in the morning instead for morning training. She also stopped sending you little voice notes about her lunch or about her training. During the rare times you’d go out together, she held your hand less, hands glued to her phone texting or emailing.

You told yourself it was just because she was busy. She was training again, doing press, seeing friends regularly. She was healing. And…wasn’t that what you wanted for her?

But the quiet panic grew. You just knew something was off. 

You tried asking her once, gently and subtly. “Are we okay?”

She didn’t even seem phased. She just kissed your forehead. “Of course,” she responded like you were asking some silly question.

⋆˙⟡♡ You weren’t proud of it but one night, when Alexia was sleeping, you snooped through her phone.

It wasn’t your best moment and you hated yourself for it but you just were desperate for an explanation. Surely, there must have been someone else…

But there was no one, nothing. No secret conversations or suspicious messages or new girls she was following. It was all work, plans, emails from her management or her brand. Her calendar was absolutely packed. Even in her messages with friends, nothing was off. 

The guilt of distrusting Alexia made you feel awful so you tried to be more understanding and patient. She was just getting back into her old life. Relearning how to be Alexia Putellas again.

And that made sense. Right?

⋆˙⟡♡ One movie night, she actually made it.

You’d picked the film ahead of time — some kind of romcom movie you saw on Netflix that you were sure you’d both enjoyed. You cooked some pasta and heated some store-brought bread. You even lit a candle just to set the mood. It felt silly preparing that much for a movie night but after so many missed dates and cancelled dinners, you just missed having these kinds of nights with her.

You just wanted to feel like a happy couple again.

Alexia arrived half an hour late, her hair still damp from a post-training shower. She was in a Barça hoodie and leggings, no makeup, eyes a little heavy and shoulders low with exhaustion.

“Sorry, amor” she said with a tired rasp to her voice as you opened the door. She leaned in and kissed your cheek. “I tried to get out earlier, but we had this long meeting after drills.”

“It’s okay,” you said, even though it wasn’t exactly. You weren’t gonna say anything or start an argument. The last thing you wanted was to waste this night.

She smiled, dropped her bag on the floor, and collapsed onto the couch like her limbs were giving up. You handed her the bowl of pasta you prepared, a bit nervous to see if she was going to like it. She took two bites and then just... settled. She didn’t say anything about the food. She didn’t even thank you for preparing. She just kinda slouched on the couch, eyes tired and empty.

You sighed, settling onto the space beside her with your own bowl of pasta, grabbing the remote and pressing play anyway. “I thought we’d watch something lighthearted.”

You looked over to her and she just gave you a tight smile and a nod as she poked around in her pasta with a fork. You felt your heart drop a bit but you just turned your attention back to the screen.

Alexia wasn’t the type to be loud during movies but when you two were just at home, she liked to chat about it, comment at times. This time, she was just quiet,

Fifteen minutes in, you glanced over to her, trying to see her reaction, and saw her eyes fluttering shut. Her breathing had slowed. She was falling asleep.

You paused the movie and said softly, “Ale…”

“Hm?” She blinked herself halfway awake, eyes glassy and a bit red in the corners.

“You can rest, you know. You’re exhausted.” You said flatly,  taking the bowl of pasta that was still in her hands, placing it on the table in front of you.

She straightened slightly, rubbed her temple. “No, no, I’m not.” She insisted, voice a bit raspy. “The guy is falling in love with his best friend’s girlfriend and she likes him too. See? I’m paying attention.”

You paused, wanting to say something but you just let it pass. You just nodded and pressed play again. Alexia noticed you tense up so she patted the space on the couch between you two. “Hey, come here, I missed you.”

You nodded and moved closer, letting her wrap her arm around you. Soon, you forgot about her dozing off, getting engrossed in the movie.

“Alexia, this girl kinda looks like you.” You said as you looked at her but when you turned, you saw Alexia with eyes shut.

You groaned and moved away. Alexia finally blinked her eyes open.

“You can rest, you know. You’re exhausted.” You said with a tight tone, standing up to take your bowls and putting it on the kitchen counter.

She straightened slightly, rubbed her temple. “No, no, I’m fine. I want to do this.” She pleaded, sitting up on the couch. "Let's keep watching."

“You’re falling asleep.” You paused, staring at her stoically from behind the counter. 

She smiled tiredly. “It’s just during the quiet parts.”

You paused, biting your lip as you breathed. You looked back up at her. “You don’t have to pretend. I can tell you’re not here.” You said, voice a bit quiet and pained.

There was a pause.

Alexia sighed, getting up to walk to the kitchen. Her voice stayed calm. “It’s not that I don’t want to be here,” she started, pouring herself a glass of water. “I do. But football’s… it’s everything right now. I haven’t played in over a year. This is the first time in months I feel like myself again.”

You nodded slowly, watching her drink her water, placing it in the sink. You tried to just understand, to not say anything more but your chest just felt tight as you held back.

“I just need to give it everything,” she continued, walking back to you, sitting down at the spot beside you. “At least for now. You understand that, right?”

You hesitated, then gave her a small smile. “Yeah. No, I get it. I’m sorry. Of course. I understand.”

But you didn’t. At least, not completely.

You told yourself you did. You repeated it in your head on the way home that night. You practiced empathy like a ritual, repeating mantras: She’s working. She’s healing. She’s not doing this to hurt you.

Still, it got worse.

⋆˙⟡♡ Before when she’d miss dinners or dates, she would at least send a message in advance. It might have been a curt, lazy message but at least she let you know.

This time, there was no message, no call, nothing.

You agreed on a homecooked dinner at her place but she never came at your agreed time. Two hours pass, still no response. Then four hours passed, then six, then you just fell asleep on the couch.

The next morning, Alexia had left just before you woke up. You let it pass but while scrolling aimlessly through Instagram, you saw Ona’s story from last night. She had posted a boomerang of the team at some trendy tapas bar, clinking glasses. Alexia was in the middle, smiling from ear-to-ear. A smile that you hadn’t seen at home before.

You stared at the screen for a long moment before closing the app and turning off your phone.

⋆˙⟡♡ You kept telling yourself those were just isolated moments. That it was a phase, and that things would smooth out once the stress died down or the schedule shifted. But they didn’t.

Just a few days after missing out on dinner, she cancelled again.

“I’m sorry, cariño,” she said gently, planting a kiss on your forehead as she grabbed her house keys from the kitchen counter. “I just gotta cancel tonight. It’s the first time that the More Than 11 kids are watching me train. I don’t wanna go home immediately after that. I want to stay and treat them to dinner too.”

You just nodded, quiet. Who am I to deprive a bunch of kids from meeting their football hero, you thought to yourself, convincing yourself that it was all good for you, that it was sweet for her to do and that you were happy she was involved in something bigger than herself.

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” She said to which you just responded with a tight smile and a curt nod. Even if you loved how generous she was with her time, how much heart she gave to the world, it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt to be set aside like that.

And it didn’t end there. 

You had a plan to go to Sitges that weekend; it had been on your calendar for weeks. It was one of her few days off. You had picked out restaurants, booked an AirBnb, made a playlist for the drive, chosen outfits to wear. But just days before, she had to cancel again.

Her cousins from somewhere up north were visiting. “It’s rare that we’re all together,” she explained to you. “They really wanted to tour Barcelona together.”

“But… Alexia, we already booked that AirBnb. You already paid for it, remember?” You said, furrowing your eyebrows together. You wanted to be patient, understanding. It was her family after all. But when you were constantly being set aside, you could not help but feel a little bit bitter about her prioritizing her cousins over you.

She sighed. “I know, I’m sorry,” she said, moving closer to you in your bed to wrap her arm around you. “I swear, I really wanted to go but it’s so rare that I get to see my extended family.”

You stayed silent, starting to get pestered by her arms around you which you’ve always loved. It felt more like pressure than comfort. 

Alexia looked at the hardened look on your face and sighed. “You know what, forget it, it’s fine. I’ll come to Sitges and just tell my cousins I can’t come.”

You hated the tone of her voice — so stiff and forced. It felt like you were coercing her to spend time with you when just months ago, she was the one constantly begging you to spend time with her. 

You shook your head, trying not to get too emotional over it. “No, it’s whatever. I don’t really care about Sitges anymore.” You muttered under your breath before shrugging off her arm and rolling over to face the opposite side.

“Come on, don’t be like that.” Alexia groaned.

“No, it’s nothing. I mean, you paid for the Airbnb. You’re the one losing money.” You said with a flat tone. “I really don’t give a fuck anymore.”

Alexia sighed. “Why don’t you just take Marina? I’ll give you my card and just charge whatever meal you two have or whatever amount you need for gas. It’s on me.”

You didn’t answer. You didn’t want her credit card. You didn’t want a fancy dinner or a paid-for trip. You just wanted her time, her presence. Not something that felt like guilt dressed up as generosity.

⋆˙⟡♡ “Are you okay?”

You turned to Marina who was driving the car and gave her a tight-lipped smile and nodded. “Yeah, sorry, I wasn’t able to catch any sleep last night so I’m pretty tired.”

Thankfully, your sister bought it.

“It’s really nice of Alexia to treat us to a weekend off,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips. “I don’t even think she knew it was my birthday.”

You didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth, that you only planned the trip with your sister after Alexia cancelled on you last minute. It was too shameful. So, in a panic, you had scrambled for an excuse and told her the trip was Alexia’s gift.

“So,” Marina said, breaking the silence once more. “You and Alexia seem to be doing good.”

“Yeah,” you replied, the word coming out a bit too flat.

Marina heard it instantly: the subtle doubt in your voice. She lowered her sunglasses a bit, squinting at you before focusing back onto the road. “Is everything good?”

You hesitated then exhaled slowly. “I guess… I mean, I don’t know.”

“What do you mean?” She glanced at you briefly before looking back at the road. “Are you two stuck in that bed-rot phase again? You know, like that time where you both just stayed inside all weekend watching Disney movies?”

“No, not like that.” You shook your head.

“So, what is it?” Your sister frowned, confused. “Is she cheating on you? I swear, that athlete stereotype —“

“No, no, it’s not anything like that.” You paused, taking a deep breath. “I’m not proud of this but I even went through her phone… but nothing.”

Marina raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything, waiting for you to continue. 

You stared down at your lap. “I just feel… forgotten. Like, now that she’s cleared to play again and that she's no longer upset about missing out on football, I don’t matter as much. We used to be each other’s lifeline, and now I feel like I’m… no one.”

Marina stayed silent, letting you talk. “It’s like I’m getting cheated on, but not with another person,” you continued. “It’s football. It’s her friends. It’s her sponsorships or brand deals. It’s everything else that comes before me now. Does that make sense?”

“Hmmm,” Marina hummed, keeping her eyes on the road. “Yeah. That seems… rough.”

You laughed dryly. “That’s all you have to say?”

Marina chuckled back, eyes still fixed on the road. When you reached a stoplight, she turned her head toward you. “As your sister, I’m one hundred percent on your side, of course.” She nodded. “It sucks to feel set aside after being there for her when she needed you the most. It’s shitty of her, honestly.”

Marina sighed. “But… I can see Alexia’s side too. This was who she always was. Alexia and I were never close but I know that her schedule has always been this packed and busy. She’s a workaholic and she’s also been someone who breathes and lives football.”

You stayed silent, allowing her to continue. 

“While I do think it’s shitty of her not to treat you with consistency and care,” Marina began, her tone measured and careful. “I also think… this is what you two have been working toward. You and Alexia — even if you were just bed-rotting together for a month — helped each other get back on your feet. You both needed that time together. And now…” she glanced over at you briefly before returning her eyes to the road. “This is her natural progression. She’s going back to football, back to living like she used to, back to the life she had before all of this.”

“So, maybe…” She gave you a sympathetic look. “You should think about doing the same.”

She let the words sit before asking, “And you are well, right? I mean, for the most part?”

You gave a small shrug. “Mostly. I’ve improved.” 

Marina nodded slowly. “Then that’s something. But you can’t just settle for… this. You can’t stay stuck in this limbo where you’re just waiting to see if she’s going to go back to being as affectionate as she was before. You need to do something to not fall back into that depressive state again.” Marina said. “You have to take the next step for yourself. Progress isn’t meant to feel comfortable all the time. Healing means you don’t settle… you keep moving.”

You let out a dry laugh. “God, I hate when you’re right.”

She smirked faintly. “Yeah, I know. But seriously.. think about it. You’ve been pouring so much energy into your recovery. Alexia is following through with hers and you should too.”

Her words hit a little too close. You didn’t want to admit it, but somewhere along the way, you settled with your situation with Alexia. You’ve gotten comfortable, forgetting to prioritize your own life. School was starting soon and your biggest worry was still Alexia rather than working on your school papers for re-enrolling.

Marina’s voice softened. “I’m not saying give up on her. I’m saying you need to figure out how to live your own life while still keeping each other in it. That’s a choice she has to make too.”

You gave a faint nod. “Yeah… I get it.”

“Good,” she said, exhaling as if relieved you weren’t going to argue. “So talk to her. Tell her what you need. Tell her you don’t want to get left behind while she’s moving forward. It’s the least she can do.”

You stared out the window at the blur of the coastline, wishing it didn’t all make so much sense.

⋆˙⟡♡ When you got back from the trip with Marina, Alexia's apartment was warm with the smell of garlic and tomatoes. The faint sound of music played from the kitchen, something soft and acoustic coming from the speaker. You slipped off your shoes, walking further into the apartment and found Alexia at the stove, hair tied in a bun and cooking up a meal. She turned her head and smiled when she saw you.

“Perfect timing,” she said, wiping her hands on a dish towel before coming over to kiss your cheek. “Sit down. Everything’s almost ready.”

It felt strange, that simple gesture. For the first time in weeks, she wasn’t running out the door or glued to her phone. You smiled, tried to appreciate it, but felt a bit off about it. 

You slid into your seat at the table while she brought over a huge plate of creamy pasta and another plate of a tossed salad. 

“It looks amazing,” you said, genuinely.

“I thought you’d be tired from driving,” she replied, pouring you both a glass of wine. “So I wanted you to just relax.”

You nodded, trying to not overthink anything and just appreciate the gesture.  The first few minutes were easy. You told her about the trip, about how Marina had nearly gotten the car stuck on a narrow street, about the little bakery you found that sold really good tarts. It was light-hearted and easy but during the silence in between, it felt almost uncomfortable. It was unusual because even back when you were still “just friends,” the silence was never stilted like this.

When you two fell silent again, Alexia reached for her glass, taking a quick swig of the wine before speaking.

“I’ve been meaning to say something,” she began, her voice quieted. “I’m sorry for how I’ve been lately. I’ve been… all over the place, busy and distracted. I know I haven’t been there for you like I should.”

You took a sip of your own wine and nodded slowly. “Yeah. You have been busy.”

She winced a little at your tone but didn’t comment on it. “It’s just… football is everything right now. After so long being out, I can’t take a second of it for granted. Everything else…” She paused, as if choosing her words carefully, but then let them slip anyway. “Everything else just feels like fog to me right now. I just feel like I can’t let distractions get in the way of my career right now.”

You could feel your jaw clench and your muscles tense. “Distractions?”

Alexia’s eyes flicked up to meet yours, a faint crease forming between her brows. “That’s not what I—”

“No, go on,” you said, setting your glass of wine down. Your chest felt tight. “Everything else is just fog? Just distractions? What does that make me, Alexia?”

Her expression shifted to something defensive. “You know that’s not what I mean. I’m talking about the noise, the other commitments —”

“Noise?” You laughed dryly, shaking your head. “Right. So our relationship, our plans, our life together, me… all just noise to you.”

“That’s not fair,” she shot back. “You’re not listening to what I’m saying.”

“No, I am listening to what you’re saying. You just don’t like how it sounds when I repeat it to you.”

Her jaw clenched, patience wearing out. “I can’t win with you lately. Whatever I do… it’s not enough for you. I’m trying to balance everything, and I’m trying to catch up with football after all that time missing out. Can’t I just try to live my life right now?”

“And where do I fit into that life?” you raised your voice, your voice cracking as it caught in your throat. “Because right now, it feels like I’m no longer important to you. It’s like, now that you’ve figured your shit out, you don’t need me. Fuck, maybe you don’t even want me anymore.”

“That’s not true.”

“Then prove it!” The words came out more desperate than you expected. “Prove to me that I mean something to you. Because from what I’m seeing, you expect me to be okay with being forgotten.”

Her face softened for a second, but then frustration returned. “Are you seriously going to act like this just because I’m well again? Would you prefer that I be miserable like you?”

You felt that one like a slap. The tears you had been holding back finally broke free, and you turned your face away, wiping tears off quickly. “God, I hate this.”

Alexia finally realized what she had just said, color draining from her face at the realization. Alexia’s chair scraped against the floor as she moved to your side. “Hey, no,” she murmured, quickly moving to crouch beside you. Her hand touched your knee gently. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it like that.”

You shook your head, unable to look at her. Her voice was small now, almost breaking. “I’m sorry, cariño. I hate that I’m making you feel like this. You’ve been the one constant for me, and I don’t ever want you to think you’re replaceable.”

She rested her forehead against your arm. “I’m so sorry. I want you to know you mean a lot to me and I’m… an idiot for forgetting that.”

You could feel your chest rise and fall rapidly as you sobbed against your hand, not wanting to look at Alexia. 

“Please, I’ll make it up to you.” Alexia begged. “I’ll show you how I can be a good girlfriend again.”

It was hard to sit there, broken-hearted and sobbing as she begged for a second chance. In your mind, you’ve already given her many chances and you were starting to get tired and drained.

You couldn't help but remember what your sister had said to you, about healing and progressing, and somewhere in the back of your head, you just knew that all these chances you were giving Alexia wasn’t doing you any favors.

And yet… you nodded.

You agreed to forgive her despite what she said, give her a second chance at showing you that you mattered. Because after all, you would rather get hurt again than lose her completely.

⋆˙⟡♡ The next two weeks went by well. 

Alexia started making an effort again. She started cooking breakfast, taking you out on dates, buying you flowers or your favorite pastries, getting home early for dinner with you. She still had a lot of work obligations but now it didn’t feel like she was forgetting you.

Soon, your relationship started going back to normal. Your trust for her was slowly rebuilding itself and she was learning how to be a better girlfriend.

“So, what are you wearing this Friday?” You asked as you two put away the dishes after dinner.

Alexia furrowed her eyebrows. “What’s with this Friday?”

You froze. “Alexia… It’s Marina’s birthday party.”

Alexia’s eyes widened and she nodded. “Oh yeah, yeah, totally. I’ll just wear a button-up and pants.” She said, responding to your initial query. 

You narrowed your eyes. “Don’t tell me you forgot.” You groaned. “Alexia, you promised you’d go.”

Alexia gave you an incredulous look. “No, I remember. I just thought it was going to be next Friday.” She said with a nod. You didn’t buy it but you didn’t instigate any further, just wanting to trust her.

“Okay, just make sure you come early because Marina can get really judgemental with tardy people,” you warned.

“Please, I’ll be there even before the organizers.”

⋆˙⟡♡ Then it was your sister’s birthday.

Considering that it was her 30th birthday, your sister had pulled out all the stops: rented a rooftop space, catered food, open bar, live DJ, the whole thing. Everyone was there: old classmates, influencers, teammates, even her notoriously flaky ex. 

Everyone except Alexia.

You checked the clock, noting down that 20 minutes had passed since the start of the party. You sent your girlfriend another text just to check on her and your text just stayed on unseen. 

Early into the event, you tried to be patient, told yourself to wait. As the night passed, you kept making excuses to yourself: maybe something came up, maybe it was traffic, or a last-minute meeting. 

Then, it was making excuses on her behalf to others.

“Where’s your girlfriend? Isn’t she the punctual one?” Your sister asked, laughing lightly.

You lied and said, “She’s on her way.”

You couldn’t enjoy the dinner party. All you could think about was how your girlfriend had completely flaked on you on your sister’s birthday, where you planned to introduce her to your cousins.

You were particularly annoyed by the fact that she didn’t even bother to call or text. Eventually, the annoyance turned into worry. It was weird that Alexia was to be this late and not text. You were just about to text Alexia’s sister when you got a notification that Alexia posted an Instagram story.

It was a story repost…. from a teammate’s birthday dinner. Alexia was there, front and center of the group shot, smiling with a drink in hand, arm slung around another player.

Alexia had reposted a story she was tagged in. It was a group photo of a teammate’s birthday dinner. Alexia was there, drink in hand, arm slung around another player.

Your stomach dropped.

You clicked out of the app, turned your phone face-down, and forced yourself not to cry at your sister’s party. You took a deep breath, tried to hold in the panic attack that was bubbling in your chest and stomach.

But you couldn’t hold it in. You felt yourself stumbling back into the building, rushing to the nearest toilet, and vomiting into the sink. Most bystanders would have just mistaken it as drunk vomiting but you knew it was your body’s way of telling it had enough of forcing yourself to swallow all the hurt and all the emotions.

You had enough. At that moment, you knew things just had to change.

⋆˙⟡♡ Alexia messaged you the next morning. “Sorry, I missed your sister’s birthday. I lost track of time last night. Will make it up to you.”

That was it. Sure, it was technically an apology but it felt so carelessly written. You’ve written better and more sincere apologies to salon reservations you missed.

This was your girlfriend, someone who was supposed to prioritize you, and they couldn’t even muster up a full “I’m sorry.”

You stared at the message, your chest growing more and more hollow as you stared at it. You didn’t know what to do. You cycled between staring at it, typing a reply and deleting it, and throwing your phone at the far end of the bed only to pick it back up and stare at the text again.

After what felt like hours, you just stood up, decided to head to her place which you knew was empty since she was at training, and you started packing the few things you still had at her place.

There was not a single coherent thought in your head as you did it. Part of you wanted it, part of you felt it was stupid. But really, it felt like the only appropriate reaction to you at the time.

⋆˙⟡♡ You didn’t respond to Alexia’s text – not that day, not the next, not the one after that. You completely left Barcelona three days after your sister’s birthday, not telling anyone except your sister. 

When you told Marina you were going back to college, she was hesitant, which you understood. She had no clue about what transpired.

So, you explained to her the situation – how you were dealing with this mess just when you were finally starting to get better, how you didn’t want to put up with any more drama that you knew was going to undo your months and months of recovery, and how Barcelona would just keep reminding you that you were just Alexia’s band-aid, used and disposed once no longer of need.

And thankfully, Marina understood. She drove you to the bus station, helped you with your luggage, gave you a tight hug before you left, knowing that leaving Barcelona was the best thing you could do for yourself.

⋆˙⟡♡ The school semester was starting soon.

You rushed through enrollment, having arrived in your college town just a week before enrollment for the next semester closed officially. You didn’t want to waste any more time; you’d already stretched your time off longer than intended just to be with Alexia in Barcelona. 

A year gone. A whole chapter of your life placed on pause for someone who couldn't even send a decent excuse.

It was time to get your life back on track. 

It was not easy. You had to find a new apartment to lease since your original dorm room was given up to someone else. You had to do a lot of catch-up, trying to get your study habits back to what it was before the depression and before the whole Alexia thing. Plus, your parents eventually found out about the semester-off, which led to them paying closer attention to you than before, making sure you weren’t going to run off again.

There were times you would feel a bit down, times when you felt like you were missing her, but really you were too busy coping with the academic load and all your other real-life issues to even allow yourself a moment of sadness.

⋆˙⟡♡ Alexia tried to reach out at the start. Mostly through a bunch of late-night texts.

“Hey. Can we talk?”

“I’m sorry about the other night.”

“I’ve just been overwhelmed.”

“Are you going to keep ignoring me?”

“Please reply.”

“I miss you everyday.”

Each time you’d get a notification from her, you would read it, take a deep breath, and shut your phone off. It wasn’t always out of anger or cruelty. You simply did not have the energy or emotional capacity to hold space for her anymore. Your life felt fragile, like something you were carefully carrying with both hands, and one wrong movement might shatter it.

Maybe things would have been different if she had shown up. If she had followed you, stood in front of you, looked you in the eyes and admitted she had failed you. If she had said, plainly and without excuses, that she had dropped the ball in your relationship.

But she didn’t.

She called a handful of times, never enough to feel desperate, never enough to feel brave. The rest were messages typed late at night, sent when she was alone, when she needed comfort. It felt lazy. Like you were still serving the same purpose you always had, someone to soothe her loneliness instead of someone she truly loved. That realization hurt more than the silence.

Eventually, time did what it always does. You stopped checking her Instagram. You stopped watching her interviews. You stopped reading the articles about her comeback. You didn’t want to know who she was becoming without you.

Moving on came quietly.

Moving on came quietly. One day, you opened your Notes app and deleted the drafts you had never sent: the long paragraphs where you confessed you still loved her or that you regretted leaving her behind; the painful, angrier ones where you demanded to know why you had been so easy to let go of. The cruelest drafts were the simplest ones, the ones that asked if you had ever meant anything at all, or if you were just a distraction she used to survive her loneliness.

Deleting them felt like exhaling after holding your breath for too long. It wasn’t forgiveness or closure; it was simply making space for yourself again.

It wasn’t easy or linear either.

Some days, you had to lock your phone in your drawer just so you wouldn’t be tempted to call her. On several occasions, especially the idle moments, you still found yourself spacing out, imagining what you would do had she shown up at your door, apologized properly and begged for you to take her back.

But she didn’t. She never did. So you learned to stop feeding those fantasies. You trained yourself to pull your thoughts back when they drifted too far into the past, even when it hurt.

⋆˙⟡♡ It had been months since school started and you left Barcelona. 

The hardest parts eased with time: the academic pressure, the constant ache of missing her, the quiet hope that she might come running back. And things… felt like they were getting better now.

These days, your life had more structure: wake up at seven, drink a glass of water, take your meds — no more forgetting. You started seeing a psychiatrist weekly, someone calm and blunt and kind. Someone who knew how to teach you how to manage your emotions. 

You picked up pilates — not because it was trendy, but because moving your body gently felt like a way to speak when your throat still closed up around certain words… and at times, it just felt like you needed to constantly do something strenuous to take your mind off of what happened. 

You let people in... cautiously, slowly, tentatively. You were never the incredibly social type but you tried this time, actually made an effort. You would introduce yourself to the people who sat beside you during lectures, asked them to join you for lunch. At first, it was partly to keep yourself from texting or thinking about Alexia during those empty breaks, but over time, it became something more genuine. You also started hanging out with a bunch of girls from your pilates class, trying out different studios or even checking out new coffee shops or healthy restaurants together.

It was small and inconsistent and quiet. But it was happening.

You knew you were getting better the night you went to bed and realized you hadn’t thought about Alexia once that day.

Soon after, you started sleeping again. Actually sleeping, not the shitty, eyes-closed-mind-awake situation you had gotten used to. The first full night you got through without waking up in a panic, you woke up confused. Then you cried, feeling a bit of relief in a full-nights worth of rest. 

You believed it was almost over.

⋆˙⟡♡ You were coming home from your pilates class, a mat rolled up under one arm, tote bag slipping off your shoulder. You smiled as you breathed in the air, feeling peaceful as you did, looking up to the trees that were beginning to develop an orange tint. 

It was one of those days – the days where nothing much happened and yet you felt incredibly contented. It was those days where everything seemed just right.

Suddenly, you felt your phone buzzing, pulling you out of the calm, almost meditative state you were in. You pulled it out of your tote’s front pocket without thinking.

Alexia.

There was no preview, no message. Just her name and her photo displayed on your screen. Your breath stilled, heart beating faster as you looked at it. You didn’t move, watching the call go into voicemail.

Once it did, you took a deep breath, blinked your eyes and walked back home. Your head felt so empty and so loud at the same time. Why was she calling? Why now when I’ve finally moved on? When I had finally learned how to exist without her?

You shook your head, rushing to walk back to your place, just wanting to lock your phone back into that drawer you used to lock it in whenever you had that urge to text or call her. You hadn’t needed that drawer for months… but now, you needed it more than ever.

Your phone buzzed again as you were just a few hundred meters away from your place. This time, it was a message.

Alexia: “I’m outside.”

You stopped walking. For a second, the world blurred around you. You blinked, re-read the message three times. No. There was no way.

You turned the corner of your block and your stomach dropped.

She was there.

You slowed your steps, instinctively keeping close to the neighboring building, as if that might make you invisible. She was staring at her phone, leaning against the gate like some cliché movie scene, hands shoved in her coat pockets. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, and she was dressed in all black — a sleek, simple silhouette. She looked exactly like you remembered.

Except her eyes. They looked a bit… tired.

You swallowed as you approached, each step heavier than the last. When you finally stopped in front of her, she looked up at you. She appeared startled, not expecting to see you. She blinked a few times.

As you took a proper look at her, it hit you just how long it had been since you’d seen her this close.

Locking eyes with her felt like you were taking multiple steps back – those hazel eyes, those lips, the freckles on her face that you had kissed several times before. Your heart felt like it was beating so hard against your chest that it could have broken ribs.

Your lips parted but there were no words that came out.

Alexia bit her lips, looking down for a moment as if she was thinking about what to say, before looking back up again, fixing her gaze to yours again. Her mouth curled into a small, lopsided smile as she let out a breath.

“Hello.”

a/n: not my best work. it was in my scrapped fics folder for like 8 months or so but i figured... why not post? thank u to everyone who encouraged me to post it. again, not my strongest work but i think some of u might still appreciate it. working on other smaus and fics soon.

⋆˙⟡♡ “Surprise,” Matt said.

His hair was slightly longer and he even looked tanner. He dressed better, swapping out the typical polo shirts and khakis for a beachy linen shorts and a matching button-up with a tank top underneath. He looked the best he has looked in ages and yet… nothing about him tugged at your heart anymore.

Xavi patted Matt on the back. “He was in Ibiza and messaged me that he still wanted to attend the wedding.” Your brother said brightly. “So I figured, why not? Might help fix the situation between you two sooner, right?”

You froze, throat tightening and fists clenching a bit. Your eyes flicked to Inés who was already giving you a warning look. Quick on her feet, she slipped her arm through your brother’s and tugged him. “Cariño, we need to talk about something. Please, maybe your sister and Matt can catch up later.” She said, trying to do something about it.

“No, let’s let them be. They should catch up.” Xavier said.

Inés pouted. “But… uh, we need to discuss where to seat Matt and I’d really appreciate his input.”

Xavier looked at her confused. “Uh, I think that’s best if we do it alone, yeah?” He turned back to you then to Matt. “I’ll leave you two at it?”

Inés gave you an apologetic look as Xav took her back into the villa, leaving you and Matt. Before Matt could even get a word in, you grabbed his wrists, firmer than you meant to, pulling off the path toward a small cluster of bamboo a few meters away. Close enough to be seen by Xavier, just in case he peeked, but far enough to be unheard.

The second you let go of him, you said, voice sharp but hushed. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Matt’s eyes widened and he looked taken aback. Even when you two had arguments, he never heard your voice sound this pointed. He also somewhat expected you to seem delighted to see him.

 “Well, you didn’t cancel my ticket.” He tried saying in a jestful tone, trying to lighten up the mood.

You stared at him blankly, eyebrows furrowed.

“I mean, we booked this trip together already,” he shrugged as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.  “And I know you RSVP’d for me. So I figured… why not come?”

You stared at him, feeling your frustration grow. “Because we’re broken up, Matt.” You reminded him. “In fact, you ended things first.”

He raised a hand. “Hoo, calm down, first of all, I asked for a break, not a break-up.” He said, looking a bit irritated. “And I tried to call you and text you but you didn’t answer. If you just read my messages, you would have known that I was coming.”

You groaned, unable to stop yourself from angrily stomping your foot. “You didn’t even think that me ignoring you was a clue. That this,” you poked at his chest then at yourself. “This is over.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, but I thought you just needed space. So I gave you space. Now I’m here, and I think it’s time we talk.”

You folded your arms tightly across your chest, bracing yourself. “There’s nothing to talk about. I’m done.”

He frowned. “That’s unfair.” He said. “I only ever wanted a break. I didn’t agree to this.”

“Well, you didn’t give me a choice when you told me we were going on a break. So, I think it’s just fair that I don’t give you a choice either.” You said, seething at the way he was responding to you.

He shook his head stubbornly. “No. I said we need to go on a break, just a small reset. And it worked. It gave me time to figure myself out, to think about what I really want.”

Your stomach twisted. You already knew where this was heading.

“And what I want,” he said, voice dropping lower, “is us. Back together, and for real this time. I’m ready now, ready for all of it. I even –”

He reached into his pocket. You physically stepped back, panic tightening your chest, already knowing what it was going to be as soon as you saw him take it out slightly. “No, absolutely not. Don’t even bring it out.” 

Matt looked up, startled, finally able to fish out the engagement ring box from his pocket. “No?”

“Why does it always have to be on your terms?” your voice cracked, sharper than you meant it to. “You leave me, you ‘find yourself,’ and you expect me to just sit there, take it, and wait for you once you’re ready? You don’t even care if I’ve changed. If I’ve – ” you stopped, struggling for words, anger and hurt tangling together. “If I’ve outgrown this. And, I have… I’ve outgrown you.”

His face fell, confusion and disbelief written all over it. “Outgrown? What are you even saying? But you love me?”

“I can’t even believe the words that are coming out of your mouth right now,” you stared at him, annoyed. “I don’t want this.”

⋆˙⟡♡ Alexia wiped the sweat off of her forehead with the shirt she had taken off. She had just finished an intensive workout, the first actual workout she had in a while. While she did enjoy being with you all the time, she didn’t want to let herself go so she had to get herself to the gym.

She took a swig from her water bottle, stepping out of the resort gym feeling satisfied and excited to see you, hoping you’d notice her muscles looking extra tight today. As she made her way back to her room, she heard the sound of muffled arguing.

She walked a little faster toward the sound, looking over to the small, round open area surrounded by bamboo trees. A girl and a guy seemed to be arguing. The girl had her back turned away from her but from the sight of it, it looked like the girl was irritated with the guy. 

“I don’t want this.” 

She paused, instantly recognizing your voice. She stepped closer cautiously. You spun to walk off but Matt had grabbed your wrist, pulling you back to him. “You can’t just give up completely and walk away.”

Alexia was alerted and immediately rushed into the scene, not liking the sight of this random guy grabbing you. “Hey!” She called sharply, striding faster without hesitation.

She didn’t think; her adrenaline took over as she quickly grabbed you from him, sliding in between the two of you, arm a subtle barrier as she shielded you with her body. 

She furrowed her eyebrows and gave the guy a dirty look. He was taller than she was but judging by his build, she knew she could take him in a fight just in case things got out of hand. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

Matt stepped back, thrown off. “Huh? What are you doing?”

Alexia ignored the question, peeking behind her to look at you. “Are you okay?”

Your throat tightened and you nodded. “Alexia, it’s fine. I can handle it.”

Her jaw tensed. “I saw him. He just grabbed you.”

“It’s not—” You shook your head quickly. “I know him. Just… go, okay?”

But Alexia didn’t move. Her gaze flicked to Matt then back to you.

Matt, oblivious to the tension, suddenly lit up in recognition. “Oh, wait, I should’ve introduced myself.” He stuck his hand out toward her. “I’m Matt. You’re Alexia, right? You’re Xav’s best  friend? The soccer player?”

Alexia hesitated, confused. She didn’t take his hand. “Yeah? Matt, what are you doing manhandling her like that?”

He chuckled and shook her head. “Oh, I get how that might be confusing. Sorry, I should have introduced myself better.” He said, sighing then looking at you. “I’m Y/N’s boyfriend.”

The silence was deafening. You saw it happening in real time: Alexia dropped her protective hand and her entire expression changed. She went still, eyes confused and filled with thought, jaw tight and lips pressed into a flat line. 

“Oh,” she said finally, her voice flat.

Now that Alexia resigned from protecting you, Matt stepped beside you. “Yeah, what you were seeing was just a little fight, and I thought I’d surprise her…” He explained and babbled on but you barely heard anything he was saying. All you could see was the pained look in Alexia’s eyes. 

“Good to know,” Alexia responded, cutting Matt short before stepping back. “Sorry I interrupted this… moment with your boyfriend.”

She said the word like a curse. You watched her hurry off, stride heavy. “Alexia–” you started, desperate, but Matt’s hand closed firmly around your arm before you could follow. 

“What are you doing? I’m still talking to you.” Matt said, confused by the scene that just unfolded.

You turned around, tears now pouring uncontrollably out of your eyes. Matt was shocked by the sudden outburst of emotions from you. You violently pulled your hand from his grip. “Just fuck off, Matt.” You spat it out before running after Alexia.

Alexia was far ahead, briskly walking away from you. When you ran up to her, she wouldn’t even look at you, her gaze fixed ahead, almost blank.

“Alexia, please,” you pleaded. “Just hear me out. I swear I can explain.”

Alexia’s jaw clenched but she didn’t say anything.

“I don’t like Matt anymore. He’s nothing to me.” You said, voice kind of raw and desperate. “I swear, Alexia.”

Finally, Alexia stopped in her tracks, looking down at her shoes before breathing deeply. 

She paused before looking at you. “I thought it was weird that you were so scared that your brother might freak out but now… I guess I know why you were so scared.”

“No, Alexia, it’s not like that. Matt and I are over, I promise.” You pleaded.

She looked at you with a pained expression, face tight with hurt. “So this… this is why you wanted this hidden?” She asked, voice controlled, sharp but not cruel. “You didn’t want to tell Xavi or your cousins or anyone else because you had a boyfriend.”

“We were on a break when I met you. It was practically over..” You tried to defend yourself.

“How could I possibly believe that?” Her mouth quirked up but she didn’t look amused. She just looked like she was in disbelief of what you were saying, shaking her head. “Here I was thinking it was worth the wait, that you were just worried about startling your brother…. but no, it was all because you already had someone. You were just scared of getting caught cheating.”

“Alexia, please, please believe me–”

“You really fooled me.” She smiled but her face was tight, voice strained.

“Bunny?” You turned to see your brother running after you and Alexia, Matt trailing just behind him. “What’s going on?”

Alexia shook her head, looking down before looking straight at Matt. “I don’t know, Xavi. Maybe it’s just that your sister forgot to tell me that she was in a relationship while she was dating me and leading me on.”

Xavi looked stunned, blinking, eyes flickering to you then to Alexia. He looked like he was at a loss of words, unable to process fast enough to form a coherent reaction.

“But don’t worry, Xav. It’s over between us.” She said, nodding. “Your sister made sure of that.”

With that, Alexia walked away and you stood there, unsure of whether to chase after her or to defend yourself to your brother. At that point, all you could do was let your tears fall, feeling yourself fall apart.

⋆˙⟡♡ “I’m sorry that you had to see that.” You told Inés after you had finally calmed down, letting her soothingly hold your hand.

After the whole blow-up with Matt and Alexia, Inés stepped in to comfort you, taking you into their bedroom at their villa. Xavi stayed outside, looking a bit lost, probably unsure of whether or not to run after his best friend or to sit and talk to Matt.

You sighed, looking Inés in the eyes. “I really didn’t want to give you or Xavi anything to worry about so close to your wedding. I hope I didn’t ruin anything for you two.”

“Chiqui, you’re acting like you wrecked our wedding.” She said, tucking a hair behind your ear. “Xav and I are still getting married. The wedding is still going to be stunning. The flowers are still going to be arranged in the way Xav and I wanted. Nothing has changed. So, don’t worry. It’s all good.”

“What I am worried about,” she looked you in the eyes. “...is you.”

You nodded, sighing, unsure of what to even say.

“I wish I could have prevented the whole thing with Matt. I just didn’t expect for you to be right outside our villa when Matt arrived and it all just happened so fast.” She said, shaking her head. 

“No, no, it’s really all on me.” You responded.

“And I guess this could have all been prevented had I just been more upfront and honest to everyone sooner,” you added. “Especially to Alexia.”

Inés just nodded, unsure of how to comfort you. She just held your hand as you both sat on the bed quietly.

Moments later, there was a knock on the door and in came your brother, looking a bit distressed. The couple exchanged knowing looks before Inés nodded and gave you one last, tight hug then leaving you two in the room.

He stepped towards you, standing awkwardly closer to the bed but never approaching it.

“So… I asked Matt to leave,” he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “He’s on the boat now back to the mainland and he… he isn’t going to attend the wedding anymore.”

You gave a curt nod, staying silent, waiting for him to break the silence. Xavi sighed.

 “Look, Y/N,” he started. “I know I can be a bit intense and neurotic… I guess I just am not the chillest guy there is.” He grimaced. “I’m painfully aware.”

You didn’t comment, just nodding silently in agreement.

“But I don’t want you to think,” he continued, voice low, “that I would ever be against anything that makes you happy.”

He finally sat beside you, elbows on his knees. It was rare seeing him look so unsure of himself.

“Look, the only reason why I was worried about your break with Matt was because…” He paused, struggling to piece together his thoughts. He sighed.

“I just… well, after dad died, I knew I should’ve just stayed at home. I should have been there for you and for mom.” He said, nodding to himself. “But I had a life in Barcelona. I had my work, my friends, Inés. I couldn’t leave all of that behind.”

“You didn’t have to.” You responded, furrowing your eyebrows together. “I can take care of myself, you know.”

He nodded. “I know. Logically, I knew that. But that doesn't mean that I didn’t feel guilty leaving you and mom behind again immediately after dad died.” He said. “One of the things that made me feel less guilty then was knowing you had Matt to take care of you.”

You looked down at your feet, awkwardly twiddling with your thumbs.

“Matt had become a good friend of mine; he was my best friend at one point. We practically were like brothers, practically growing up together. I knew him well. I knew his entire family. So, I knew he was going to take care of you.” Xavi explained before exhaling. “And you have to be fair to him because he has stuck with you all through those years. Just like I knew he would.”

You shook your head. “Xav, you have got to stop treating me like a child.” You said, voice sounding exasperated. “I don’t need anyone to protect me or take care of me. Not you, and certainly not Matt.”

You took a deep breath. “And I’m not saying Matt is a bad person or that he didn’t stick by me through all those years,” you paused. “But he got tired of our relationship too and I eventually realized I never really loved him, at least not romantically.”

“We were just comfortable, but not in love,” you continued. “I can’t stay with him just because he treats me decently. I want to be in a relationship that is more than just companionship. I want something like what you and Inés have, and what our parents had. And I was never getting that with Matt.”

“I know, I know.” He nodded, eyes filled with guilt. “And I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making you doubt yourself, even indirectly.”

You stayed quiet, crossing your arms.

“If I had known that you were unhappy with Matt,” he continued. “I wouldn’t have given you that whole speech about commitment after I found out that you two were on a break.”

“You know that’s a lie.” You said in a firm but quiet voice. “Xav, I know you. Even if you knew I wanted to end things, you would have still tried to talk to me about trying again. It’s why it was so hard for me to deal with my feelings for Alexia.”

He nodded. “Well, yes… but you should know that it’s just because I want the best for you. No brother would want his sister to be alone in life.”

“Yeah but you should know too that being alone is something I can handle anyway.” You responded, feeling a bit defensive. “I’m old enough to take care of myself and to handle life. And I’m certainly old enough to know what I want in life. 

“You mean my best friend.” He responded quickly with a flat tone. “Alexia.”

You paused, looking at him momentarily before looking away again. “No, not really but also… in a way, I guess, yes… I don’t know. It’s complicated.”

“So…” he started. “What happened there?”

You hesitated, taking a deep breath before saying in a small voice: “I met her, we dated and it was just… different,” you answered, sparing him the details. “I know it might be too early to say but…I seriously think I have feelings for her. Like I want something more than just a summer fling.”

Xavi blinked, stunned.

“And Xav. it’s not just about me liking her,” you continued before he could react. “It’s deeper than that; it’s what she made me feel. When I was with her, it was like… living for the first time. I felt things I never felt before. I realized that there were things that existed for me outside of what everyone expected of me, even outside of what I expected for myself. And she was the one who made me realize all that.”

Xavi sat there quietly, absorbing everything, nodding silently. You could see it must have come as a shock to him especially since he never really knew you even liked women. Especially not a woman who was his best friend. 

But as he thought about it, it made sense. You and Alexia did seem to make sense. You were alike in things that mattered but also different enough to keep things interesting. He could certainly see you fitting well into Alexia’s life, and how someone like Alexia could be good for you.

He sighed, nodding to himself.

After a pause, he chuckled, nudging you slightly with his shoulder. It seemed like a simple gesture but it calmed you down. You two chuckled.

“If I had known athletic and Catalan was your type, I would have set you two up sooner.” He joked and you just playfully swatted him. “I would’ve forced you to come visit me had I known.”

You sighed, feeling a sense of relief suddenly, feeling the air between you lighten up. “Yeah?”

He nodded. “I never liked Alexia’s ex anyway,” he said. “You two would make a better couple than they did.”

You smiled, feeling warmer. 

“I guess I really have to make it up to you, huh,” he said. “I feel like this could have all been prevented if I didn’t have such a reputation for being… intense.”

You shook your head. “Don’t worry about it. Your wedding is in a couple days. Just focus on that.” You swallowed hard. “Besides, I can’t pin all blame on you or expect you to fix the mess I caused. I gotta handle it myself.”

Xavi nodded once, serious. “Okay. But after the wedding, I'll still find a way to make it up to you.” He put a firm hand on your shoulder, patting you. “I promise.”

⋆˙⟡♡ The days leading up to the wedding passed without any real complications. There were no major issues or drama. Everything seemed to just fall into place.

After your talk with Xavi, he seemed to loosen up, not panicking over the smallest inconveniences, focusing more on just enjoying his time with Inés before their wedding. It just felt like everything moved forward exactly the way it was supposed to.

Except for your situation with Alexia.

She avoided you with a precision that was almost impressive. Not obvious enough to call out, and not cruel enough to justify confrontation.

When you ended up in the same room, she was civil. She offered small half-smiles when she had to. She nodded when someone addressed the both of you. 

But she never lingered around you, always leaving as soon as she no longer needed to be in the same room as you. And when you talked in a group, her eyes would slide past you as if your voice were just another sound in the background.

On the rare occasions when your eyes met, there was just… nothing there. There was no anger, no accusation… just distance. The kind that made you feel as though you had imagined everything, as though you were just another stranger passing briefly through her life.

But then again, even if she wasn’t avoiding you, you wouldn’t have known what to say to her anyway. All you had done was look at her longingly, thinking about every single scenario that could possibly play out. Your cousins tried helping you out but none of their advice seemed sound or doable.

And time moved faster than you wanted it to. Before you could even decide on how you would approach her or how you would fix things, it was already the morning of the wedding.

You were getting ready with other bridesmaids. Your dress was a soft pastel blue that hugged your figure well. Your hair was styled in a way you never quite managed to do on your own, and your makeup was done carefully, professionally, better than you could ever do your own make-up.

And yet, the empty look behind your eyes was undeniable. Anyone who looked at you for more than a few seconds could probably tell that you were sleepless and upset with just the way your eyes looked. There was no amount of eyeshadow or false lashes that could disguise it or cover it up.

The pre-ceremony rehearsal was held on the beach; it was a quick run-through to make sure everyone knew where to stand and when to move.

You squinted against the sunlight as you walked toward the setup, the sand warm beneath your feet. White chairs were arranged in neat rows facing the water, soft fabric tied to back of each chair. You hummed, admiring the artistic choices your brother had discussed over the first family lunch here in the resort. You could recall Xavier talking about how he talked Inés out of a floral arch, wanting lower floral displays instead. In his words: “An arch would distract you from the ocean and the sun; I want it to complement it, not take away from it.” He got teased a bit by the uncles for obsessing over floral arrangements but now you could see that it worked well. 

Everything seemed precise without looking too mechanical, which you were sure was Inés’ touch. She knew how to balance your brother’s obsession with having everything be pristine and perfect. She added the whimsical touches – the unconventional floral choices mixed into the arrangements, the handwritten letters that the staff were placing on everyone’s seat for them to open later, the mismatched pastel colored dresses for the bridesmaids, the fact that each bridesmaid was to hold different bouquets that matched their dresses and vibes. 

The two of them complemented each other so well and it was evident even in how the wedding looked.

Your eyes scanned the area again, admiring each detail. Your gaze stopped when you realized that Alexia was also already there.

Her dress matched the groomsmen’s sand-colored suits, the color glowing against her skin in the afternoon light. Her hair was in a delicate bun with some loose strands to frame her face, softly curled at the ends. She looked rested, even almost luminous. Like she was completely unaffected by what happened.

For a brief moment, your eyes met. Your breath caught, your lips parting instinctively as if you were about to say something. Your heart jumped hard enough that you felt it in your throat.

Alexia looked away immediately.

It was not sharp or dramatic. There was no visible reaction at all. Just a quiet withdrawal that made you feel like someone she did not know well enough to acknowledge.

She did not look at you again for the rest of the rehearsal.

When the first run-through ended, you found yourself standing alone near the water, pretending to watch the waves. The other bridesmaids were chatting behind you, their laughter light and unburdened. You wished you could join but your mind was filled with noise.

Your mother approached you quietly and rested a hand on your arm.

“How are you holding up?” she asked gently. “She’s still giving you the cold shoulder?”

You gave her a tired smile and nodded. She sighed softly and pulled you into a hug, warm and familiar.  “It’ll be alright,” she said. “Okay?”

You shook your head a little, not pulling away but not exactly convinced either.

“I’m not so sure about that,” you said quietly.

Your mom smoothed your hair and kissed the side of your head the way she used to when you were younger. “Just get through today. Smile and be happy for your brother,” she said, nodding. “The rest… well, it’ll sort itself out eventually.”

You nodded, even though you did not fully believe it. Your gaze drifted back toward Alexia in the distance, where she was facing away from you, talking to someone else.

“Yeah.” You sighed. “I hope so.”

⋆˙⟡♡ The wedding ceremony was beautiful. So beautiful that you were practically reduced to tears.

Inés and your brother stood barefoot at the altar, the ocean behind them calm and impossibly blue, the sky already beginning to soften into sunset. Their vows were earnest in a way that felt unguarded, carefully written but clearly meant. It wasn’t performative or too scripted. It was just honest. There were moments where Inés’ voice wavered, moments where your brother laughed quietly through his words like he could not believe he was allowed to be this happy. You don’t even think you’ve seen this side of your brother before. It felt so real and raw.

You were practically crying at the end of the weddings, carried by your emotions. Everyone in your row shared that feeling too, sniffling as the vows ended.

After the wedding ended, everyone stood, throwing handfuls of flower petals into the air as they walked back down the aisle together, the sunset behind them illuminating the scene.

You glanced to your right without really thinking about it.

Alexia was clapping, smiling warmly as she watched them walk past. The expression on her face was open, genuine; she had a bit of a red nose, obviously emotional after the beautiful vows as well. It made something in your chest ache sharply. For a fleeting moment, you imagined her looking at you like that instead, across an aisle, that quiet fondness reserved for you. 

But she didn’t look your way.

She watched the couple walk down the aisle then looked to her friends who were cheering and hounding the newlyweds to kiss again. Then to sunset. It seemed like she looked everywhere but your direction.

You exhaled slowly and tried to focus on the moment — on your brother, Inés, and the fact that this day was not about you. You were happy for them, truly, but the happiness did not come without its weight. You could not help wondering if you would ever have something that steady, something that felt that right.

Matt had never been that. There had been comfort, familiarity, history… but clearly, passion had been missing, and you had both known it, even if neither of you had said it out loud for a long time.

With Alexia, it had been different. There had been intensity, curiosity, something alive between you. And now it felt like you had ruined your chance to ever find out what it might have grown into.

You forced yourself back into the present as guests began moving toward the carts lined up along the path. The open-sided vehicles that vaguely resembled large golf carts were parked in neat rows, ready to take everyone to the reception area on the other side of the island.

You climbed into one with your mother, your aunt, Cam, and Daisy.

As the cart lurched forward, Daisy leaned out slightly, staring out the vehicle. “God, this island is insane,” she gushed. “Am I evil if I say that I never would have expected that Xavier is the one in this family who got to marry into a billionaire situation? He’s literally the most boring one among the cousins.”

“Daisy,” her mother warned, not even looking at her. “With an attitude like that, you are going to stay single forever.”

Cam laughed, nudging Daisy with her elbow. Daisy shot her a glare but did not deny it.

Your aunt sighed, shaking her head fondly. “You two don’t give your cousin enough credit. Winning over Inés’ family is not exactly easy. Those kinds of families are very… selective. Xavier must have impressed them in ways that had nothing to do with money.”

Your mother smiled softly. “That, and Inés loves him fiercely,” she said. Her voice wavered just a little. “Did you hear her vows? The way she talked about him, about their love….”

She blinked a few times, clearly still emotional over the most beautiful vows all of you have ever heard.

“Well, they’re both lucky,” your aunt said quietly. “Not everyone finds something like that.”

Your mother nodded, turning to look at you for a moment. “I just wish your father could have seen it.”

You leaned forward and squeezed her shoulder gently. She reached up and patted your hand without turning around.

Your aunt cleared her throat, sensing the shift, and brightened her tone. “Alright,” she said, turning to you. “Enough sentiment. You, dear, should mingle later. Inés has plenty of interesting friends. Since you and Matt are officially done, maybe we aim for two-for-two in this family. See if you can bag yourself a billionaire too.”

Cam’s eyes widened as she looked at you, clearly trying not to laugh.

You stared back at her, equally wide-eyed.

Your mother huffed softly. “Ignore her. I don’t care who you end up with,” she said, glancing back at you. “I just want you to find someone who knows how to love you properly. And how to forgive. That matters more than people think.”

You swallowed, understanding the weight of that statement even though she had said it casually.

“Yeah, forgiveness is important,” your aunt added, a lilt to her voice. “It didn’t save my marriage but it did save my blood pressure.”

You chuckled, taking a deep breath, watching the reception venue come into view as you approached it.

⋆˙⟡♡ The reception was better than you expected, the kind of evening that felt carefully thought through without feeling stiff. Instead of a traditional plated menu, each course came from a recipe that meant something to someone; it was either something either Xavi or Inés liked to make or a family recipe. It made the dinner feel personal, like you were being let in on a shared history rather than just being served food.

As an appetizer, Inés’ special empanadas were passed around in baskets still warm from the kitchen and probably one of the best things you’ve eaten this trip. After, there was a soup served, which was apparently Inés’ mother’s recipe. It was light and comforting, served in small bowls with bread on the side for dipping. The main course surprisingly was made following your mother’s recipe, a meal she had cooked for holidays and birthdays for as long as you could remember. It was plated nicer and more professionally but it still looked and tasted like home.

Between courses, people drifted around. There were live painters set up near the edge of the space, quietly working on paintings of the couple from the wedding. A vintage photo booth sat near the bar, guests lining up for their turn. It all felt so personal to the couple but also made everyone feel included. 

Alexia sat at the table just beside yours, surrounded by your brother’s friends from work. You tried not to look at her. But of course, you failed repeatedly.

She seemed relaxed, laughing easily, leaning into conversations the way she always did when she felt comfortable. A few times, you caught yourself watching her longer than you should have, following the way her smile softened when she laughed, the way she tilted her head when she listened. Cam noticed before you did and pinched your arm under the table.

You hissed softly and shot her a look. She raised her eyebrows in warning and reached for her drink, shaking her head in disapproval.

After dinner, the lights dimmed slightly and the music softened as people settled in for the speeches. Inés’ parents went first. Her father spoke in Spanish, her mother in a mix of both Spanish and French, each taking their time. You did not understand every single word, but you didn’t need to. You could feel the emotion even if you couldn’t understand the entire speech. They looked incredibly happy and proud of Inés, and welcoming of your brother.

After her parents, it was your mother’s turn.

She took a breath before she began, steadying herself. “Xavier,” she said, shaking her head fondly. “From the time he was a child, he was always so serious, always focused and always trying to get everything right.” A few people laughed knowingly. “No one was surprised when he became a doctor.”

She glanced at Inés and smiled. “Then along came Inés, who somehow managed to show him that life is not only about getting things right, not always getting stuck on getting every single detail right.”

“She showed him that in life, sometimes you have to take a step back.” She smiled warmly at the couple, before briefly looking at the folded piece of paper she was holding. “Because life is like a painting. You can’t always fixate on the details, focusing only on each brush stroke and shape. You have to take a step back to admire the full picture, to see the beauty of it all. And Inés, she taught him how to step back, to breathe and admire life without trying to get everything to be perfect or precise.”

Her voice wavered then. She cleared her throat, blinking quickly. “I wish his father were here to see Xavier right now.” She looked down to pause. Your chest tightened at the mention of your father.

“He would have loved this,” she continued quietly. “He would have loved seeing Xavier relaxed, laughing, choosing happiness without guilt. He worried about Xavier sometimes, about how hard he was on himself. And if he were here, he would be so proud to see Xavi look so carefree and happy.”

She smiled sadly. “If he were here, he would have written this speech days in advance, practiced it, and rewritten it at least twice. He was a perfectionist too, just like Xavi.” A soft laugh rippled through the room. “And somehow, it would have been exactly right. He would probably move everyone to tears but also make them laugh.”

Her eyes returned to Inés. “And I know he would have loved Inés deeply.” She nodded.  “He would have told her how grateful we are, and how lucky we are that she chose our family.”

Your mother lifted her glass, her hand steady despite the emotion in her voice. “I don’t know exactly how he would have ended his speech. But I imagine he would have smiled, raised his glass, and said, ‘Welcome to the family.’”

She raised it higher. “So on behalf of my husband, with all the love he would have had for you both, I ask everyone to raise their glass and toast to Xavier and Inés.”

As you raised your glass, somehow, you could feel someone’s gaze on you. You turned subconsciously to see Alexia, actually looking at you for the first time in days. This time, her gaze wasn’t cold or empty. It felt warm, like she was… seeing you again. She looked a bit worried, seeing you tear up like that. 

Overwhelmed, you looked away, dabbing at your eyes with the edge of your napkin. Daisy noticed immediately, leaning over to pull you into a brief hug, rubbing your back in slow, steady circles. 

“Hey,” she murmured, holding you tight. 

You nodded, whispered a thank you, and kept your eyes on your lap. You did not trust yourself to look toward Alexia again. You were a bit too emotional to look at her and deal with all of that right now.

After the parents’ speeches, it was time for the entourage. Inés’ maid of honor went first, animated and warm, slipping easily between jokes and memories in a mix of English and Spanish that had the room laughing and feeling lighter.

Then after her speech, it was Alexia’s turn.

She stood from her table, smoothing her dress briefly before making her way to the front. You felt your stomach drop as she took the microphone.

You have heard her voice the past few days but it was just in passing conversations, laughter from across the room — basically, words never meant to address you. Just something for you to overhear.

But this time, it felt different. For the first time in days, you felt like you were part of the audience she was speaking to, even if she did not look at you.

Alexia smiled at the crowd, visibly nervous. Someone from her table called out, “La Reina,” and a few people echoed it, laughing. She shook her head immediately, lifting her hands in protest.

“Ya, ya, vale, vale,” she said, laughing. “Por favor.”

She paused, taking a deep breath. She started. “I, uh, am not very good at speeches,” she said honestly. “Normally, for my speeches, I would ask help from my best friend… but today, my speech is for my best friend’s wedding. So, how could I ask him?”

Everyone chuckled. 

“I met Xavi when he came over from the men’s medical team,” she continued. “When we met, I was not in a great mood. Actually, I was unbearable.” She paused, glancing at him. “You can say it.”

Xavi laughed, nodding.

“I was in recovery from my ACL tear,” Alexia shared. “Everyone kept trying to comfort me. It was the other doctors, the staff, my teammates. They were telling me I’d be okay, that things would work out and that it wasn’t anything too bad. None of it helped because I felt like I was getting tricked or that they were just saying the things they thought I wanted to hear.”

She looked back at Xavi. “Then Xavi came in and did what he always does. He talked to me the only way he can.”

She smiled at him. “He was very calm, very direct and scientific. He explained the injury, the recovery, the work it would take. He told me plainly that it was serious, and that we were going to treat it as such. He didn’t promise anything. He told me there were risks. But he also told me that with time, and effort, there was roughly a seventy-five percent chance I’d play again at the same level,” she shared. 

Alexia nodded. “That was the first time I genuinely felt comforted because Xavi was being realistic and honest, and well,” she smiled at him as she said. “He turned out to be right.”

She glanced down at her notes. “I’m not a science nerd like Xavier,” she said, “but I did learn a thing or two about probabilities from him.”

Xavi playfully raised an eyebrow at her. 

Alexia laughed. “Like, when I first met Inés, I was about 83 percent sure she was too pretty for you.” Laughter broke out immediately, Inés waving her hand and laughing as she protested. Xavi just gave a proud look and shrugged. 

“And after the first dinner at her place,” Alexia continued, smiling, “I was 94 percent sure her cooking was better than yours.”

Now, it was Xavi’s turn to shake his head as the room laughed. He looked more offended now. You chuckled, knowing how defensive Xavi could get about his cooking.

“And even though, as your best friend, I never admitted this whenever you asked me for my advice or my opinion,” Alexia added, her tone lighter, “Inés was right roughly sixty-eight percent of the time you two argued.”

Everyone chuckled. She laughed, a little nervously, glancing back down. You smiled, not expecting a funny speech from Alexia. 

Alexia paused before continuing. “I also remember you telling me that in life, there is almost no such thing as a hundred percent certainty in nature.” She tilted her head. “Something about probabilities and margins of error.”

She paused. “But I don’t necessarily think that’s true,” she said. “Because there are quite a few things I’m one hundred percent sure of.”

She looked down on her notes, a small smile on her face. “Like I was a hundred percent certain that you never looked at someone like you looked at Inés.” She looked over to the couple, smiling at them. “I’ve seen you date girls before but there was just something different about your eyes after you met her.”

She paused as the couple smiled at each other, eyes sparkling as they looked at each other lovingly. 

“I’m also a hundred percent sure that Inés has made you a better person,” Alexia added. “Inés, you might not know this but the week after your first month as a couple, Xavier went to my house and looked absolutely distressed about your relationship.”

Alexia smiled, almost fondly, at your brother. “Not because he doubted what he felt for you or because he wasn’t happy. Rather, it was because he was afraid of failing you.” Alexia said with a softness to her tone. “He asked me to be honest, to tell him where he fell short, what he needed to unlearn, what he still had to work on. He said that if he wanted you to have the best life, the best love, then he had to become the best version of himself – the version of himself that is worthy of your love and for your hand in marriage.”

The room grew quiet; everyone was moved by the story Alexia shared. She looked back down at her notes, giving everyone a moment to breathe, letting it hang in the air for a beat longer.

“Mind you,” she added, exhaling with a small laugh, “this was one month into dating. And he was already talking about marriage.”

Everyone now laughed.  Xavier ducked his head, cheeks flushed, but he didn’t deny it. 

You swallowed, a bit surprised. It was not that your brother was incapable of love – you knew he was very much a lover – but rather, you were quite surprised by the depth of it, the seriousness with which he held it. 

You looked at Xavi and Ines, watching them look at each other with such warmth and care. And you realized then just how consumed by your own relationship drama you were the entire trip that you had completely neglected to really look at them. Not just as the couple being celebrated tonight but as two people who had clearly chosen each other long before any speeches or flowers or vows. Nothing about their gestures was performative. (Besides, your brother had never known how to perform.) What you were witnessing wasn’t romance for an audience; It was just genuine and mutual admiration.

After what happened with Matt, you had convinced yourself that you had to prove to him and to everyone else that you could be spontaneous and unpredictable, as if that was some sort of way to measure your worthiness to be loved and committed to. 

And, it wasn’t wrong of you to try new things, to seek new experiences and to widen your perspective. It wasn’t even wrong to try and be more adventurous. It was just wrong that you were trying to change out of fear of being left.

Xavier did not try to become better just because he was afraid that Inés would leave him or choose not to commit to him. He changed because he already loved her, and loving her made him want to be a better man.

The thought lingered just long enough to settle before Alexia’s voice cut gently through it.

“And looking at you two now,” she said, turning fully toward the couple, “I can say with a hundred percent certainty that what you two have is rare.”

“It’s the kind of love that’s quiet but certain, deep without being loud. It’s the kind that doesn’t need proving because it shows up naturally: in the way you look at each other, in the ease between you, in the tenderness.” Her expression warmed. “And if I ever get to have a love even half as sure as yours, I’d consider myself incredibly lucky.”

And briefly but unmistakably, Alexia’s gaze flickered toward you. 

She blinked and looked away just as quickly, lifting her glass with an easy smile. “Alright,” she said, tone lightening. “Let’s raise a glass to the couple who I’m a hundred percent sure would like me to stop talking now so they can go back to staring at each other with heart eyes.”

Laughter rippled through the room as glasses were raised.

“To Xavi and Inés!”

Cheers followed, crystal clinking against crystal. You smiled at your brother and sister-in-law as they gestured their thanks. 

You exhaled and then, without meaning to, your eyes drifted back to Alexia, whose eyes were already on you, looking away once you met her gaze.

⋆˙⟡♡ The night carried on the way weddings always went. There were a few more toasts, each blurrier than the last, and then the music took over. As soon as an ABBA song came on, the dance floor was full with both families jumping and dancing with some drunken enthusiasm. Cam and Daisy were roped into dancing a couple songs ago too but now they seemed more fascinated with the tequila fountain on the drink table. 

You grabbed a glass of wine and pretty much stayed where you were.

From your seat, you could see Alexia standing with a small cluster of Xavi’s coworkers, one hand wrapped around a drink she didn’t seem to be touching much. She laughed at something one of them said, head tilting back just slightly, and the sound carried even over the music. It shouldn’t have meant anything, but it did, and you hated how easily your attention kept drifting back to her no matter how hard you tried to focus elsewhere.

You swirled the wine in your glass, watching it climb the sides before sliding back down, over and over again. You wondered how much longer you could sit there pretending you were simply tired, pretending you weren’t replaying her speech in your head, pretending you weren’t yearning to be there with her right now. 

Suddenly. you felt hands settle on your back, firm and familiar, and you nearly jumped out of your seat.

“Jesus, Xav,” you said as you turned around, seeing your brother, looking a bit less put-together than when the wedding started. “You scared the hell out of me.”

He grinned unapologetically. “Sorry, bunny. Forgot how jumpy you get.”

He was clearly tipsy, his movements a little looser than usual, his balance just slightly off as he dragged a chair over and sat in front of you, knees angled toward yours. He leaned back, exhaled deeply, and shook his head in disbelief.

“So,” he said, smiling. “I’m a married man now.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? That’s what this whole thing was for?” You gestured vaguely toward the dance floor. “Wouldn’t have guessed.”

He laughed and reached out to pinch your cheek, not nearly as gently as he probably intended. “You’re so annoying,” he said fondly. “You’re lucky I still see you as my cutie bunny sister.”

You chuckled, rolling your eyes.

He smiled and suddenly, his expression softened, eyes warm and glassy and not just because he probably drank more alcohol than he should’ve. “You know, I’m probably the second happiest man in the world right now,” he hummed.

You frowned, tilting your head. “Second? That’s it? Why not first?”

“Well,” he said thoughtfully, “first place obviously goes to my buddy Santi.” He pointed at his friend who was now being lifted in the air by some other guys while he was pouring an unknown bottle of alcohol into his mouth. “I think he edged me out by just a bit though.”

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face before looking back at you. “And…I’d be the happiest man alive if I could stop thinking about the fact that my baby sister is sitting here, pretending she’s fine, while clearly being hopelessly heartbroken over my best friend.”

You groaned softly and leaned back in your chair. “Xav,” you said, tired but affectionate. “I’m okay. I really am. Just go back and have some fun. You should be the one being lifted up in the air like that, not Santi.”

He gave you a look that said he didn’t buy it for a second.

“I’m sorry,” you added after a moment. “I promise I’m not trying to be a downer on your wedding day. I swear, I’ll try to seem less gloomy. Want me to join you and your buddy Santi?”

He waved it off. “You don’t have to do that.” He chuckled.

You hesitated, then sighed. “Still. How do I make it up to you?”

His smile returned, slow and slightly mischievous. “Actually, I do need help with something.”

You straightened a little. “With what?”

He stood and held out a hand, nodding his head towards the exit. “I’ll show you.”

⋆˙⟡♡ You and your brother slipped out of the reception quietly, music getting muffled as you walked further away from the place. The venue sat high on the island, and the path sloped gently downward toward a smaller lounge area tucked closer to the cliffside. Hammocks swayed lazily between wooden posts, and low lounge chairs were arranged to face the open sea. It was close enough that walking there felt effortless even in heels, yet far enough that the music muffled.

You shivered a bit as the cool night air nipped against your skin, air carrying the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. You breathed in, feeling a bit relaxed now that you were far from the noise.

“Is your favor secretly just a clever way of getting me to breathe in some fresh air?” You asked, smiling at your brother.

“Well…” He trailed off, urging you to look closer at the lounge area as you moved towards it.

You looked back to the area as you drew closer, noticing two figures sitting on one of the low lounge chairs. Inés turned first, her face breaking into a smile the moment she saw you. There was something knowing in her expression, gentle but unmistakable, and it made your throat tighten as you swallowed.

“I did tell you I’d find a way to make it up to you, didn’t I?” Xavier gave you a crooked smile.

You looked back to the lounge area, taking a deep breath. Alexia didn’t have to turn for you to know who it was but when she did, your heart still raced inside your chest. 

Alexia looked absolutely beautiful. The moonlight and the string of warm fairy lights that were wrapped around the wooden posts and nearby trees illuminated her features, making her look ethereal. You did not even realize that she left the dance floor a while ago while you were chatting with your brother. The sight of her standing there, quiet and still against the open horizon, made it painfully clear that this was not an accident. Xavi and Inés had clearly orchestrated this.

Her face tensed when she saw you. Just slightly, but enough that you noticed. You looked down instinctively, unsure how to read it or how to feel.

Xavi slowed a few steps away from them and stopped. He turned to you with a grin, a bit tight and forced, obviously feeling the tension. “Alright,” he said lightly, clapping his hands together. “Now, just do me a favor and tell me what you two talk about later, yeah?”

Before you could respond, he pulled you into a brief hug, squeezing you tight. Then he extended his arm toward Inés, who stepped forward without hesitation. She smiled at you warmly, eyes soft, as she took his hand, before the two of them turned back toward the reception.

You watched them go until they were out of sight, then dropped your gaze to the ground, unsure of what to say or do.

You took a slow breath before lifting your head again. Alexia was looking out toward the sea now, her posture rigid, her arms crossed over her chest. You stepped closer but still kept a careful distance between the two of you.

“I never got to tell you,” you said quietly. “But you look really beautiful today.”

She let out a small breath through her nose, a hint of a forced smile touching her lips, but she didn’t turn to you. Her gaze stayed fixed on the dark water ahead.

You fidgeted with the fabric of your dress, smoothing it between your fingers before taking another breath. “Alexia, I really—”

“Y/N,” she cut in, her voice low but firm. “I’m only talking to you right now as a favor to your brother and Inés. You know that, right?”

You nodded, even though she wasn’t looking. “Yeah,” you said softly. “I know.”

An awkward silence settled, filled only by the sound of the wind, the waves crashing in the distance, and the muffled music. You took a deep breath.

“I’m still glad you’re here,” you added after a moment. “Even if you don’t want to be.”

She didn’t respond, but she didn’t walk away either.

You took in a deep breath, bracing yourself for whatever could happen. 

“Look, Alexia… I’m sorry I lied to you,” you said, forcing yourself not to rush the words. “It was wrong to tell you my last relationship ended a year ago when it hadn’t. And, it was wrong to hide you and our relationship from my brother. And I’m sorry for making you think I was ashamed of you.”

You breathed deeply. “ I’m so sorry that I let my fear and my anxiety make decisions for me when I should’ve been honest and grown up about it.” Your voice wavered and you felt yourself shiver as a gust of biting cold wind passed by the two of you but you kept going.

“I’m sorry about a lot of things and I wish I could make it all better,” your voice broke at the end. You cleared your throat, pulling yourself together for just a few more minutes. 

“But one thing I won’t apologize for… is being with you. I won’t apologize for this summer..” You paused, trying to watch her reaction, trying to find an opening of some sort.

“Alexia, I’m not sorry about the time we spent together, or the times we nearly got sunburnt for staying too long out at the beach, or the kisses we exchanged,” you continued, voice getting a bit louder. “I don’t want to apologize for something I genuinely cherished.”

You breathed, sniffling as you tried to stop your tears from falling “And if someone asked me if I’d do it all over again, I would.”

You looked down, feeling your lower mouth quiver as your emotions started getting the best of you. “I would do it all over again,” you repeated.

“I would still take that bet from my cousins and I would still choose to kiss you that night at the club,” you exclaimed, voice shaky and raw, but you tried to keep it steady. “I would still go on that date with you, jump off those cliffs even if I was fucking scared, and I would still choose to spend all summer with you, exactly as it was, because it meant something to me.”

At this point you could feel tears sting your eyes as you let all of it out, feeling absolutely vulnerable as you let your heart out.

You paused, then added more quietly, “Yes, I was dishonest about my situation, about why I didn’t want my brother to know. I was an asshole for that and I won’t downplay it,” you said with a nod. “But I can tell you that not once was I dishonest about how I felt about you.”

Alexia finally turned to face you now.

Her expression had softened, the tightness easing from her features, though her arms remained crossed, a bit protective still. “How am I supposed to trust you after all that?” she asked, voice low but firm. “How can I be sure what you’re saying now is real?”

You blinked, breathing in as you swallowed. 

“T-There’s no such thing as a hundred percent certainty,” you said, repeating her words from her speech, pausing again to keep your composure. “You mentioned that in your speech. Something about what Xav said about how there’s absolutely nothing that is a hundred percentin nature.”

You breathed, trying to gather your thoughts. “And what I’m trying to say is.. I don’t need you to trust me a hundred percent,” you added. “I just need you to give me enough room to prove myself. I just need one percent. Just one percent and I will do everything I can to work my way up.”

You stared at Alexia, tears running down your face, feeling absolutely vulnerable. You did mess up, possibly ruined your chance with her, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t hurt you too. It didn’t make it any easier to stand there, saying everything you should have said earlier, while Alexia listened in silence, unreadable and distant.

“Please,” you begged, voice shaking. “Say something.”

Alexia looked at you for a moment before quickly averting her gaze again, eyes wandering down to the ground as she awkwardly fidgeted by kicking against the grass beneath her. She took a deep breath before looking up at you again, still not saying anything. 

You took that as permission, stepping closer and reaching for her hand. You held it firmly, like you were afraid it might slip away. “Please,” you said, your voice barely holding together.

Your breath came shallow.

Without fully thinking it through, you closed your eyes, lifting your skirt up with your free hand before you slowly got onto your knees to plead with her. You were just driven by nothing but the need to show her how serious you were, how much this mattered to you.

Alexia was startled, eyes widening. “Hey – no,” she said, her voice urgent as she reached for you, hands gripping your forearm and pulling you back up. 

“Don’t do that.” She shook her head, softer now. “You don’t… you don’t have to do that.”

You straightened slowly, heart pounding, embarrassment and emotion crashing together. You were still holding her hand, fingers tight, grounding yourself in the warmth of her touch as you met her eyes again.

Alexia took a deep breath, looking up to the sky as if trying to stop her own tears from falling before lowering her gaze to meet your eyes. You bit your lip, finally being able to stare into her beautiful hazel eyes again, silently wishing this wouldn’t be the last time.

“If I give you another chance,” she started. “If I give you that one percent… will you promise that you would be honest with me? No more lies. Just the truth.”

You nodded. “Yes,” you answered without hesitation.

She took a deep breath. “And the thing with your boyfriend…”

“It’s over,” you responded immediately as she trailed off.

Alexia studied your face, as if looking for cracks. “Over as in finished,” she pressed, “or over as in paused?”

“Finished,” you said. You swallowed, forcing yourself not to soften it. “We were already on a break before I even went here. But, I honestly thought that maybe there was a chance for us to get back together, to mend things with him… but then I met you and I just forgot about him. But suddenly he was here and…”

You inhaled deeply. “Basically, it’s done. There is absolutely no more space in my heart – in my life – for him.”

She looked away briefly, jaw tightening, then back at you. “And you’re not saying this just because you’re standing here with me?”

“No,” you replied quietly. “I’m saying it because it’s true… because I promised to be honest with you.”

Alexia exhaled, long and shaky, as if letting go of something she’d been holding in for days. Then finally, she reached for your hand.

She didn’t just take it this time. She enclosed it between both of hers, warm and grounding, her thumbs brushing lightly over your knuckles. “Can I be honest too?” She said, voice quieter, closer.

You nodded.

Alexia stepped closer to you, closing the distance between the two of you, causing your breath to hitch and your heart to beat faster inside your chest. “I.. I missed you.” She admitted, a small smile flickering on her lips. “And I’ve been dying to tell you all day that you look like the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.”

You smiled and chuckled nervously, taking your hand to wipe the tears off of your cheeks, sniffling as you did. “So, does this… does this mean –”

Alexia exhaled, breathing deeply as she wiped your cheeks with the pads of her thumbs, before nodding. “Yes,” she said. “I’m giving you that one percent.”

She pulled you closer, hands cupping your face. She hesitated for a moment, eyes searching yours for one last time before leaning in, capturing your lips with hers. You exhaled as you finally felt her lips against yours, feeling relief wash over you as you did, grabbing onto her arms tightly.

Alexia took that as a sign to deepen the kiss, lip locking as she wrapped a hand around your waist and the other behind your head, keeping you close. You kissed her passionately, never wanting this moment to end.

But soon, in between all the kisses and the tears, you two had to come back for air, pulling away just to breathe. But Alexia still kept you close, hands wrapped around your waist, pressing her forehead against yours. 

You breathed deeply, smiling as you looked at her face, feeling deep in your heart that you were willing to do everything to keep seeing that face and to eventually call her yours.

⋆˙⟡♡   “I don’t want to see your face again unless it’s telling me I have a grandchild,” your mom told your brother as she hugged him tightly.

Xavi laughed into her shoulder. “Thanks, mom,” he said with a sarcastic tone.

Inés overheard as she walked back down the dock, still in the middle of directing staff about their luggage. She shook her head, smiling to herself. The two of them were leaving earlier than all the guests, just a day after their wedding, too impatient to wait another day before starting their honeymoon. 

Inés came straight to you and wrapped her arms around you. “I’ll miss you a lot, chiqui,” she said, squeezing tightly.

When she pulled back, she looked at you with that knowing smile of hers. “So,” she said lightly, “am I going to start seeing you around Barcelona more often?”

You laughed, glancing down before looking back up, biting your lip as you nodded. Inés’ face lit up immediately.

“But don’t get ahead of yourself,” you added quickly. “We’re not… there yet. I still have to work for it. Y’know… gotta prove myself.”

Inés chuckled and reached up to pinch your cheek. “Please. Alexia is not that hard to get through,” she said. “Plus, she really likes you. You’ll be fine.”

You smiled, the reassurance settling well in your chest.

Xavi stepped forward next, opening his arms wide. You leaned into him without thinking, pressing your cheek against his chest, wrapping your arms around him tightly just like you did when you two were kids.

“I’ll miss you too, Bunny,” he said understandingly, patting the back of your head.

You pulled away and sighed. “I never actually thanked you, you know,” you said. “For what you did.”

He shrugged, smiling like it was nothing. “Maybe I did it for selfish reasons,” he said. “Because now… you have a reason to visit me more in Barcelona.”

You laughed softly. “You won’t even be there for the next few months.”

“There’s a chance that I’ll be back a couple months after the season starts,” he said, smirking. “Which I’m guessing you know the exact date of now.”

You rolled your eyes but chuckled, pleased that your brother was being so nonchalant about you being into his best friend.

He squeezed your shoulder. “Take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will,” you said, nodding.

They boarded the boat moments later, waving as it pulled away from the dock. You stood beside your mom, watching the boat drive away.

She sighed, smiling fondly. “Look at them,” she said. “Especially my handsome boy.” Then she glanced at you, eyes soft. “I make gorgeous children, don’t I?”

You laughed, shaking your head at your mother.

“So,” she continued, “when does your semester start?”

“A couple of weeks,” you responded. “Enrollment’s coming up soon but… I got a few things I gotta figure out before I go.”

She nodded thoughtfully, then tilted her head slightly. “Well,” she said, gesturing with her head. “Is that what you gotta figure out?”

You followed her gaze.

Alexia stood near the beachside restaurant, the light of the setting sun catching her face, her hair lifting slightly in the breeze. She wasn’t doing anything in particular, just waiting, hands tucked into her pockets, eyes scanning the dock until they found you.

You smiled. “Well… yeah, that’s exactly what I have to figure out.”

Your mom smiled and patted you lightly on the arm. “Go,” your mom said gently. “Figure that out.”

You chuckled before you excused yourself, walking towards Alexia, feeling your hands grow clammy as you walked towards her.

“Hey,” you said when you reached her.

“Hey,” she replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

You hesitated, then exhaled. “So… summer’s ending soon, huh?” you said, unsure of how to start this conversation. “Everyone from the club heading back already?”

She bit her lip and nodded, eyes a bit distracted. “Yeah. Everyone’s leaving in the morning,” Alexia answered. “Season’s starting soon so gotta get back into shape after drinking all summer.”

You hummed softly and nodded, pressing your lips together into a tight line. There was so much sitting just beneath the surface. Last night replayed itself in your mind: the wedding, the way you had finally kissed after you practically begged for a chance, then it was the interruption: Daisy, tequila-drunk and laughing too hard, lifted by Xavi’s friends until she was so sick that she barfed all over a chair. 

You had to carry Daisy off, saying apologies over your shoulder as to why you had to run off, while Alexia was also pulled into some sort of congo line by your intoxicated brother, drunkenly demanding her for “bestie time.”

Needless to say, the romantic moment had to go on pause.

You didn’t have alone time to speak to Alexia since. You had to make sure Daisy woke up living and well, not choking over her own vomit. Then, there was the farewell lunch with your brother and your side of the family, before sending them off to the docks with your mother.

With everything going on and with Alexia leaving tomorrow, it felt like all you had left was this moment.

 “You’re leaving in a couple of days, right?” Alexia asked, glancing at you.

You shook your head. “Next week. Inés offered for my mom and me to stay a few extra days. Her parents are staying too.”

She smiled faintly. “That family really is generous.” She chuckled. “Pays to be rich.”

“Yeah,” you said. “They’ve been incredibly gracious.”

Silence settled between you. Not uncomfortable exactly, but heavy… almost loaded. You could feel yourself hovering at the edge of something important, unsure of how to start without saying the wrong thing.

“So,” you said. “Do you have plans before you leave? Aside from packing?”

You tried to sound casual, but your heart was already racing. You wanted to ask her out properly, to tell her you were serious about her. You wanted to tell her that you were willing to make some sacrifices and that you had already spoken to one of your mentor professors in law school about taking a semester off if that was what it took. 

Basically, you wanted to tell her that you were not scared of rearranging your life if it meant working towards gaining back her trust and showing her you meant everything you said.

“Maybe we could have dinner later?” you added, softer.

Alexia tilted her head, amused. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were asking me out.”

You chuckled at her tone. “I am.”

She smiled then hesitated. “The team’s having one last dinner together tonight. Kind of a last hurrah before the season starts.”

The disappointment flickered across your face before you could stop it. You nodded anyway. “Yeah. Of course, that makes sense.”

You were already bracing yourself to say everything now, just let it all out there. 

“But…” she added, “I’m free tomorrow.”

You looked up. “Tomorrow?”

She smirked slightly. “I was supposed to leave in the morning with the club, but Xavi… extended my stay.”

Your eyebrows shot up. “He did?”

“Yeah,” she said, rolling her eyes fondly. “Said he needed a favor. Which feels just fair of me to do considering all I got them was a food processor and they gave me this entire trip.”

You laughed softly. “What kind of favor?”

Alexia stepped a little closer. “Apparently there’s a restaurant here in this resort that he never got to try,” she said. “He wanted me to test it out, give feedback so that Inés could rework the menu.”

You smiled slowly. “That favor sounds suspiciously specific…. and made-up.”

“Oh, it gets better,” she said. “He also suggested I invite his sister. He said something about her having a rough summer and having her heart broken.”

You laughed, shaking your head at her teasing. “Did he tell you what she’s like?”

She leaned in slightly, eyes warm. “He said she’s smart, kind… and that she got the better genes in the family.” She chuckled. “And apparently she looks like a bunny, which I’m still not sure about… like, is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

You rolled your eyes but smiled anyway. “Give that bunny girl a chance.” You said. “She might surprise you… cause she’s a bunny. Like, a bunny in a magician’s hat.”

Alexia’s gaze softened at your terrible analogy. “Apparently, she also tells terrible jokes.”

“Hey,” you said defensively. 

She chuckled. “Well, even if she does seem corny and looks like a bunny…” she said, reaching up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear, her fingers lingering as her hazel eyes gazed into yours. “I think there’s a pretty good chance I’d fall for her.”

You swallowed, biting your lip as you could feel her inch closer. “I’d say there’s at least a one percent chance,” you responded, referencing your conversation from last night.

She smiled knowingly, immediately catching on to it. “Funny. I think those chances just went up.”

She cupped your face gently and leaned in, kissing you slowly, deliberately. Her lips were warm and firm but not imposing, just passionate as they kissed yours. You melted into the kiss, hands finding her arms, grounding yourself in the moment. When she pulled back, her lips curled into a small smile, eyes scanning your face as if to admire it.

“Now, it’s at two percent,” she murmured.

You smiled, hand finding the back of her head, ready to pull her in for another kiss. “Let’s make it three.”

a/n: tumblr deleted all changes i made so i had to rework it. hence, why it took so long hhh anyway, i hope u guys like it. please lmk ur thoughts, like, and reblog! ur feedback always motivated me. it’s why i keep posting!

thank u to everyone else who has supported my works in the past. i appreciate it. especially to the ppl who left such kind words in the last part.

thinking abt a follow-up smau but no promises on that. i hope u all stay tuned for my other future works as well 🤍