WOSO Imagines

Old Friends, New Enemies pt. 2 (Kelley O'Hara)

A few months later, we have our last camp before the holiday break. In my off time, I've been working on a project with Megan Rapinoe. It's kept me busy, and distracted, and I am overdue for a vacation.

"I still think you should come back to Barca with me, help Keira settle in," Lucy says on the last day of camp as we sit down for a team sendoff meal.

"And be a third wheel all week? No thank you. Maybe in a few months."

"You wouldn't be third wheeling," she smirks.

I shoot her a look. "What do you mean?"

"Let's just say, I know someone who's looking for a little fun."

"Luce, most of your teammates are way too young for me, and my Spanish is no bueno. Thanks, but I'm not really looking for anything right now."

"Not even if it's Alexia Putellas?" She raises a suggestive eyebrow.

I choke on my drink, my eyes going wide. "What the fuck?"

"I showed her your picture, talked you up a bit. She's dying to meet you."

I take a long sip of my water. "As tempting as that is, and it's plenty tempting, I already made plans."

"Oh?"

I nod. "I'm going to visit some friends back home. Sam and I leave tomorrow."

"Sam..."

"Kerr."

"I didn't know you were friends."

I shrug. "She was at Sky Blue for a few years while I was. We stayed in touch when I left and she lived with me for like a week when she joined Chelsea."

"Isn't she dating Rachel's ex?" Lucy asks, glancing down the table at her Lioness teammate.

"Yeah, Kristie. Her sister, Sam Mewis, is a good friend of mine. She played for Western New York when I was with Blue." What I don't say, because I was trying harder than ever to forget parts of my past, was that Sam was the one I called first when Kelley left. "The four of us rented a place in Miami for the week."

"So you won't third wheel me and Kei, but you'll third wheel Sam and Kristie?" She holds a hand to her chest, feigning offense. "I see how it is."

I throw my napkin at her. "We've had this planned for the entire year, and I third wheel you and Kei during every camp. You two deserve some time alone."

She sighs dramatically. "Fine, go to America. Alexia's going to be very disappointed."

"Tell her I'm sorry. Really, really sorry."

I leave my work phone in my apartment when Sam picks me up the next morning, wanting relax without checking my emails. The people who could actually need me urgently have my phone number, so I'm not worried about missing anything.

"Morning, Sammy K," I greet, climbing into her passenger seat, my suitcase tucked securely in the trunk.

"Morning, silly Jilly. How've you been?" Her aussie accent makes me smile.

"Pretty keen. Excited for the time off. How about you? I've been following the season and may I say, Chelsea's on fire."

"Can't complain. Also very excited about a break, especially because I get to see Kris."

"How's that going?"

"What can I say, I'm in love."

We chat on the drive about all things football. I fill her in on the campaign I'm building with Rapinoe and she eagerly volunteers to be involved in any way she can be. I also give her the rundown on everything that happened at the USA friendly back in October, having not had a chance to properly catch up since the WSL season was in full-swing.