The Secret - Alexia Putellas

49.

Thank you Eliza!!!

The morning stroll through the streets of London on a sunny spring day was fantastic.

It was the morning of the second leg in the UWCL semifinal against Chelsea, and the Barça squad was out for their activation walk.

Passing Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge, everyone was excited to experience the highlights of England's breathtaking capital and clear their heads before a match of such importance.

"Erin! Can you bring a flat white with caramel for me?", Martha asks with a grin on her face, as Erin gets in line behind some of the other players, since a coffee at Starbucks was a must during a stroll through London.

The entire team absolutely loved Starbucks.

Whenever they arrived at the airport in Barcelona, a visit at the well-known coffee shop was the trip's highlight.

"Sure, friend. Something else? A second breakfast?", the blonde teases, glancing down at her watch to check the time as she nervously runs her fingers through her blonde hair.

"Hi Erin. Are you okay? You seem stressed", Jonathan's voice sounds behind her, whereupon Erin looks up, startled, and turns around.

She'd been completely lost in thought.

Just like she'd been all morning and last night. Unlike Alexia, she had barely gotten a wink of sleep.

"Hi... yeah, actually... there's this appointment this morning. It's really important, to be honest. I know we're not allowed to leave the team during match prep, but...", Erin stammers, looking around to find Alexia already standing by the counter with Mapi, picking up her cappuccino.

"Is it important enough for you to leave the team this morning?", Jonathan asks, placing a hand on Erin's shoulder as he critically raises his eyebrows.

"Actually... it really is important. I need to be in England for this, and since we're leaving right after the match tonight, this is the only chance", Erin clarifies, speaking quietly so no one, especially not her wife, would hear.

Jonathan nods in understanding.

It had to be a really important reason, then.

"As an exception. Two hours. Then I expect you back with the team for match preparation. There's a lot to do", he mumbles, sounding rather annoyed, but since the English was none of the players, he decided to make an exception.

"Muchas gracias, Jonathan. Llegaré a tiempo", Erin murmurs with a grateful smile, patting the head coaches shoulder, before sneaking out of the queue and towards the door, without anyone really noticing.

Except Alexia, of course.

Frowning, the captain looks after her wife as she places the lid on her to-go cup, watching Erin hurry out the door and through the crowd gathered outside the café.

"What is she doing?", Alexia wonders as she observes Erin disappearing, one hand shoved in the pocket of her Barça coat, while fumbling out her phone with the other.

That looked urgent.

Did something happen? And why didn't Erin mention anything?

"She's in England, Ale. She probably has her reasons. I bet it's important", the blonde defender explains, wrapping an arm around her friend's shoulders while sipping from her cup.

She could instantly feel how tense Alexia was.

Once outside, Erin presses the phone to her ear and glances around to hail a cab, when she's suddenly pulled back by Martha.