Kyra could feel her heart hammering in her chest as she and Charli stood by the emergency exit of the Matildas' team hotel. The cool metal of the door handle pressed against her palm, a lifeline to freedom. Charli, however, wasn't sold on Kyra's reckless plan just yet. She frowned, gripping her phone, shifting nervously on her feet.
"You swear you'll be back by 6 a.m.?" Charli hissed, her eyes wide with panic. "You know Steph will tear my head off if she finds out I let you sneak out. I promised her you wouldn't cause any problems."
Kyra flashed a mischievous grin, unbothered by the risk that hung over them both. "Relax, Charli, everything's going to be fine. You know Alessia always has her alarms set early, I'll be out of there before anyone even notices." She placed a reassuring hand on Charli's shoulder, eyes twinkling. "Besides, we both know I'm a master at sneaking around."
Charli wasn't convinced, biting her lip. "This is a terrible idea. What if Steph finds out? You know she'll murder us both."
Kyra laughed softly. "Steph won't know a thing. I'll be back before sunrise, and no one will be the wiser. I just need a few hours with Less. That's all."
Charli huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. But swear you'll be back here before 6 a.m. Don't make me regret this."
"I swear on my life." Kyra grinned, pushing the door open a crack. "Now, get some sleep. You've done enough babysitting for one night."
With a final wink, Kyra slipped through the emergency exit and into the chilly night air. She moved swiftly and silently, adrenaline buzzing through her veins as she made her way toward the Lionesses' hotel. It was only a five minute walk, but every second felt like a small eternity as she navigated the darkened streets, careful to avoid being seen by any lingering late night staff.
___
Once she arrived, Kyra pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed Ella's number. The phone rang twice before Tooney answered, her voice heavy with sleep.
"Tooney? Can you tell me which room you and Less are in?"
Tooney groaned. "Kyra, seriously? It's 1 a.m."
Kyra bit back a laugh, leaning against a nearby wall. "I just need the room number. Come on, help me out."
There was a pause on the other end, then a sleepy sigh. "Alessia's got a separate room tonight. Room 232. Lucky girl."
Kyra's grin stretched wide across her face. No Tooney to kick out of the room? Even better. "Thanks, Tooney. I owe you one."
"Hold on, wait a minute." Tooney's voice sharpened, realizing what Kyra was planning. "You're not sneaking into her room again, are you? You do know you're not at Arsenal right now. You represent Australia. If someone catches you, especially one of the us, Kyra, you'll be in huge trouble. If Leah finds out, or worse, catches you, you're dead. Do you hear me? Dead."
Kyra chuckled, unfazed. "Don't worry. Leah's definitely asleep at this hour. She'll never know I was even here. Now, what's the room number again?"
Tooney groaned louder this time, but relented. "232. But if you get caught, you cannot pin this on me. I already bought a dress for your wedding, and I'm not planning on attending a funeral instead."
"Relax, Tooney. I've got this under control."
Kyra hung up before Tooney could argue any further. With renewed energy, she darted toward the elevators, her heart thumping as she approached the fourth floor. The hallways were deserted, eerily quiet except for the hum of the air conditioning and her own soft footsteps.
Standing in front of Room 232, Kyra took a deep breath, a sly grin tugging at the corners of her lips. She knocked gently on the door, holding her breath. A few moments later, the door cracked open, revealing a very sleepy Alessia rubbing her eyes. Her bleary expression quickly transformed into wide eyed shock when she registered who was standing there.
