Unrivaled - Alessia Russo

Izzi: Is it bad I miss London?

Alessia: A little bit... How was the flight?

I couldn't help but laugh as I typed my reply.

Izzi: Long. I miss you.

Her response came almost immediately.

Alessia: I miss you too.

I quickly promised to call her later before saying goodbye and heading into the buzzing airport. The hum of voices and the occasional thrum of rolling luggage filled the air. I pulled my hood up, trying to avoid too much attention, but it wasn't long before someone recognized me.

"¡Izzi! ¿Una foto, por favor?"

I paused, flashing a quick smile. "Claro."

I stopped to take a few pictures, signing a shirt here and there. The fans were sweet—genuine excitement lighting up their faces—and I felt the familiar warmth that always came with moments like these. No matter how tiring the travel or the attention could be, seeing their joy reminded me why I loved this game so much.

By the time I stepped outside, the Barcelona air hit me like a familiar embrace. I spotted her instantly. Alexia stood by her car, arms crossed, with that trademark smirk of hers that always meant trouble.

"Well, well, look who's back," she teased as I approached.

I dropped my bag and wrapped her in a tight hug. "I missed you," I admitted, my grin probably giving me away more than I realized.

She pulled back, studying my face. "You look... different. Happy."

I shrugged, though I couldn't stop grinning. "Maybe I am."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, before motioning to the car. "Come on, superstar. Let's get you home."

The drive started quietly, the city passing by in a blur of familiar streets. Alexia glanced at me, and I knew she wouldn't hold back for long.

"So, London?" she started, her tone deliberately casual.

I laughed. "It was good."

"Good?" she pressed. "That's all I'm getting?"

"Okay, fine." I leaned my head back against the seat, staring out the window. "It was... amazing. Better than I expected. She just... she gets me, Ale. Like, really gets me."

Alexia glanced at me briefly before turning her attention back to the road. "I told you to stop overthinking and go. You needed to see her."

"I know," I admitted.

I told her about the time Alessia and I spent together—how easy it was to talk to her, how comfortable it felt. I left out the more private details but didn't hold back on how incredible she made me feel.

"She's just... real," I said after a while. "No pretenses, no games. And when I'm with her, it's like everything else fades away."

Alexia smiled softly, her hands steady on the wheel. "I'm glad you went. You needed to see her, to figure out what this all meant."

I glanced out the window, the city lights reflecting against the glass. "Yeah. And now I know."

Her tone turned teasing. "Does this mean I get to be maid of honor someday?"

I groaned. "Alexia!"

"What? I'm just saying," she said, her grin widening.

"I want to do this right," I admitted. "She's important, Ale. I don't want to mess this up by moving too fast."

Alexia smirked, her tone light. "You, nervous? That's new."

"Shut up," I muttered, though I couldn't stop smiling. "You know what I mean."

She shook her head, laughing softly. "You're ridiculous. But seriously, I'm glad you went. It sounds like she's good for you."

"She is," I said quietly. "She's different. And I want to make it official... at some point. But I just... I want to be sure I do this right."

Alexia didn't say anything for a moment, just reached over and gave my arm a reassuring squeeze.

The teasing picked up again, the two of us slipping back into our familiar rhythm. By the time we got to my apartment, we were arguing over who worked harder at training and whether or not Alexia could still beat me in a sprint. (She couldn't, but she was too stubborn to admit it.)

Inside, Alexia flopped onto the couch with a dramatic sigh.

"You hungry?" I called from the kitchen.

"Always."

I decided on pasta—quick, easy, and hard to mess up. As I rummaged through the pantry, Alexia wandered in, already munching on some bread I'd left out.

"You know," she said around a mouthful of bread, "if you burn the sauce, I'm never letting you live it down."

"I won't burn it," I shot back, rolling my eyes.

"Hmm, we'll see." She smirked, leaning against the counter.

As I stirred the sauce, she kept teasing, and at one point, I accidentally knocked a spoon onto the floor. "See? You're already struggling," she said, laughing.

"Why do I put up with you?" I grumbled, though I couldn't help smiling.

Conversation flowed easily as we ate, moving from training to Alessia.

"You've got it bad," Alexia teased, pointing her fork at me.

"Maybe," I admitted, a small smile tugging at my lips.

"Not maybe. Definitely," she said, grinning. "So when are you making it official?"

I sighed, leaning back against the counter. "Soon. I told you... when the time feels right. I don't want to mess this up."

Alexia's teasing faded, replaced by something softer. "You won't. Trust me."

After dinner, as she stood to leave, Alexia gave me one of her knowing smiles. "You're glowing, Izzi. Don't let it fade."

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Thanks for the pep talk, Ale."

"Anytime." She paused at the door, turning back. "You know, I get it. Wanting to get it right. It's scary to let someone in like that, to let them see all of you."

Her words caught me off guard, and I stared at her. Alexia didn't talk about her personal life often, but I could tell she understood exactly how I felt.

"I don't know what I'm doing," I admitted quietly. "I just know that she's—she's different."

Alexia's expression softened. "And that's exactly why you won't mess it up. Trust me, Izzi. When it's real, you'll figure it out. Step by step."

She squeezed my arm before leaving, her words lingering long after the door clicked shut.

The stillness of the apartment settled around me. London had been full of Alessia—her laugh, her warmth, the way she could turn an ordinary moment into something extraordinary.

I grabbed my phone, opening our thread of messages.

Izzi: Still miss you. Just thought you should know.

Her reply came quickly, as always.

Alessia: I miss you more.

I smiled, the glow returning as I set my phone down. This wasn't just something I wanted—it was something I needed. And I'd do whatever it took to make sure it worked.

For now, though, I let myself breathe. This wasn't a sprint. It was step by step, just like Alexia had said.

And I was ready to take the next one.