Perfection

253 Days After, 129 Days Until

Alexia

"How is she?" Ona asked.

"How'd you hear about court?"

We're in our last Spanish camp of the year and I'm only here to continue my rehab and be reconnected with my teammates.

"María."

"Right," I nodded. "I hated leaving, but she said she'd be okay. But she's been putting up a wall of numbness. Happy on the outside, depressed on the inside. She's too stubborn to admit she wants to talk about it."

"And she's still in Spain?"

"Yeah. She was able to get a residency permit to have more time, but it expires in a few days. I don't know what she's going to do."

"Well, my dear friend," An arm flew around my neck. "I have a thought."

"What would that be, Mapí? Please don't say something stupid. I don't have the time for that. It's been a rough few months."

"Do you want to hear my idea or not?"

"Go for it." I grumbled.

We continued our walk into the gym.

"You can marry her. Elope. Get the papers. She can become a Spanish citizen through your marriage. I know you've only been together a few months, but from you told me about court, Riley does not want to be with her father, and we may have found a solution, Ale."

I turned to María and grabbed her shoulders.

"You are a fucking genius! Why don't you use this brain more often?"

"I will now that Alexia Putellas called me a genius. So?"

"I fly home tonight. I'll talk to her about it tomorrow. I've never loved you more, Mapí!"

"Well, I'm just glad you're smiling. You deserve happiness, Ale. Just get that little girl home."

"I will. There's no way a judge can deny Sam now."

"Make sure she says yes first though." Ona said. "You can't get married unwillingly."

"Well, you can—"

"Don't ruin the moment."

Was I clearly thinking the rest of the day? No, probably not. But if this was a way to help bring Riley home, I'd do it. I wanted her home. I wanted her back with Sam.

I wanted us to all be together again. Sam deserved happiness. She'd been bullied by her family growing up. The guy she thought had been her closest friend and only family, betrayed her. She'd lost her daughter through court.

She deserved some happiness.

~     ~     ~

I heard the television running when I walked into the house for the first time in two weeks. I followed the noise and glow until it stopped me in the living room.