The Secret - Alexia Putellas

5.

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I wonder how many stars my friend Eliza will get for creating a huge part of this chapter!
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The next day started with a training session at the gym for all the athletes.

Like every morning, the trainers and therapists were the first ones to enter the training ground, Martha and Erin strolling inside.

"So you're attending the party on Saturday?", Martha asks excitedly, waving towards Jonathan as they run into him in the hallway.

"Of course! Even though I should use the time to set up my apartment, I can't resist", Erin answers as they enter the gym.

It was a huge room, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pristine soccer field below. The selection of equipment and machines was remarkable. Much nicer than at Manchester.

"This gym is phenomenal", Erin says.

She was impressed.

"I know, right. We want to ensure our athletes have the best possible training. Which is why we only sign the best therapists", Jonathan speaks, trailing behind them with a tablet in his hands. He was practically glowing with pride.

"Thanks for the compliment, boss", Martha giggles, knowing that Jonathan was mostly referring to Erin, but the black haired woman couldn't help it.

Choosing to ignore her, the head coach hands them each a stack of papers with their tasks for the day.

"Really? I get the healthy group again?", Martha jokes after reading the names on her paper, noticing Erin was assigned to look after the injured ones.

"I want Erin to get to know our patients more. So she'll take care of the smaller group for now. Would you prefer to make the assignments yourself next time?" Jonathan chuckles, rolling his eyes, knowing his longtime employee wasn't actually complaining.

"No, no, you're the boss. I know Erin will do great. Plus, that's above my pay grade", Martha winks, strolling over towards the lockers to get some training equipment, while Erin continued to review the names she had been given.

Jana Fernandez and Caroline Hansen were two names on the list.

While Jana was still recovering from her knee surgery earlier in the year, Caroline Hansen was the newest member of the group. The winger had just injured her right thigh. Thankfully, the recovery would only take a couple more weeks.

And then there was Alexia Putellas.

Unfortunately.

Erin couldn't help but smile as she remembers their interactions the day before. Though she wished Alexia's name wasn't listed on her paper at all.

She couldn't stop thinking about the way Alexia had gently tucked the strand of hair behind her ear. Such a soft gesture, which caught her completely off guard.

"Erin?", a female voice suddenly calls, ripping the blonde out of her daydream.

"Hm?", the blonde wonders, looking up from her paper to see Martha approaching her, the black haired woman holding out one of the staff tablets.

"What were you thinking about?", the other therapist asks curiously.

"N- Nothing. Just trying to memorize the files", the blonde lies, reaching for the tablet.