More than a match | Alexia Putellas

There was no hiding at training.

Not when the sun was already high and blazing, and definitely not when Kika showed up holding an empty water bottle like it was a mic and she was the world's most chaotic sideline reporter.

"Miss Gracie! Miss Gracie! Any comments on last night's sleepover? Did you share blankets and little kisses?"

Gracie didn't even blink, just booted the nearest ball directly at her shin.

Not hard.

Just... enough.

Kika let out a dramatic yelp and collapsed to the grass. "ABUSE! THE ENGLISH IS VIOLENT!"

Across the field, Alexia was mid-stretch, watching the scene unfold with a smirk.

Salma jogged past and pointed between them. "So we're just ignoring the hoodie theft or...?"

"It's my hoodie." Alexia called over. "She stole it."

Gracie didn't flinch. "She offered it."

"Temporarily." Alexia replied, walking backwards now. "You're on thin ice, cariño."

"Perfect." Gracie muttered. "I like ice."

"Flirting during drills?" Jana piped up. "In this economy?"

"Focus, please!" the coach barked, barely containing a laugh as he blew the whistle.

The next half-hour descended into chaos.

Gracie could feel the stares. Every pass to Alexia earned suspicious oohs. Every brush of fingers, every stray smile, it was all fodder. At one point, kika dramatically clutched her chest and declared, "They looked at each other again. I need CPR."

"Shut up and defend." Gracie called.

"I am defending." Kika said. "Our hearts."

Training finally wound down with a small-sided game. Gracie's team lost 3–2, mostly because Ona spent the entire time narrating in a fake romance audiobook voice whenever she and Alexia got too close.

Gracie flopped onto the grass, chest rising and falling.

She didn't even notice the approach until two shadows fell over her.

Mapi and Ingrid stood above her, sipping from water bottles, matching grins in place.

Gracie squinted up. "You two."

Mapi blinked innocently. "Us?"

"I saw the messages. The group chat. You were in there, stirring."

Ingrid tilted her head. "And?"

"You knew. You've known for weeks. And you still joined in."

Mapi didn't even hesitate. "It's called entertainment."

"It's called betrayal."

"It's called fun." Ingrid added, unbothered.

"We're performers at heart." Mapi said, twirling her bottle like a microphone. "You think we'd waste an opportunity like this?"

Gracie sat up, narrowed her eyes. "You could've warned me before the bracelet zoom-in discourse."

Mapi shrugged. "We did. Spiritually."

"I hate you both."

"We love you too." Ingrid patted her head like she was a disgruntled puppy.

Alexia wandered over just in time to witness it, tossing Gracie a fresh water bottle and dropping down beside her with practiced ease.