One reviewer asked if this was a slower burner and it definitely is, so stick with it. Really chuffed with how the story has gone down so far, so thanks so much for the positive reviews.

Sorry for short chapter, but trying to keep two stories going at the mo.

Stacey headed back to the States having finalised the house rental and getting Callie's reassurance that she would make an effort to make this work. Callie would be moving into the new house in two weeks, so in the meantime was stuck at the training complex. All of the other players were living off campus so at nights there was really little to do. Callie had been following the physio team's instructions for the past few days, and with little else to do, often found herself in the pool hoping to bump into Arizona, but the blonde had never turned up.

Callie spoke to her family back home regularly and Stacey made sure she called daily. Jess had also been messaging regularly and Callie realised she needed some distraction to take away the frustration she was feeling at not being able to play. Her Covid test had come back clear so after a week of talking on the phone Callie decided to visit Jess at the house she was renting.

Jess opened the door and the two Americans gave each other a long hug. "We ummm probably shouldn't have done that, Covid and all, but I won't tell anyone if you don't!" Jess said with a warm smile.

"Deal" Callie said as she pulled her friend in for another long hug. "It's good to see you Woody!"

"You too Cal" Jess replied softly as she waved the brunette into the large marble floored hallway

"Come in, let me give you a tour" Callie looked up at the chandelier and smiled to herself as she thought back to Arizona's comment about blinged up houses, this was definitely what she meant.

20 minutes later and the two Americans were sat on the huge L shape sofa in the living room watching an episode of Below Deck.

"Anyways,..." Jess asked "how's it been going then over at Spurs" as she pulled a face at the name of the rival team

"Stop it! " Callie laughed "I mean it's OK. The facilities are pretty impressive, but I'm going mad not being able to play"

"And what about your issue with the physio?" Jess asked

"Arizona?" Callie responded

"Ohhh Arizona is it now? The other day it was the control freak dictator!" Jess laughed before adding "Also, Arizona? Seriously? What's that's all about?"

" I know right? Even American's aren't called Arizona let alone Brits. I'm dying to ask her about it, but she's a bit of a closed book. I mean I tried googling her to get more info, but it was all pretty tame." Callie said

"You googled her?" Jess asked surprised that Callie was that interested

"Err yeah, you know after the other night, I just wanted to see what I was up against, if she ummm knew her stuff?" Callie tried to explain

"And does she?" Jess asked

"Seems so, she was at Georgetown for a while"

"Ohhh you know my cousin works there? As goalkeeper coach for the first team" Jess added

"Oh yeah, I'd forgotten that, do you think she'll know her?"

"Dunno, guess it depends on when she was there? Want me to ask?" Jess said pulling out her phone to start messaging

"What now?" Callie responded

"Why not?" Jess replied

Hey Cous. Strange question, but did you ever work with a physio called Arizona Robbins at GTown? J x

"Ohhh ask her if she was married?" Callie said to Jess who was starting to get suspicious as to why Callie was so interested in this woman as she sent another text before putting her phone down.

"Why are you so interested in her?" Jess asked with a touch of jealousy in her voice.

"I'm not." Callie argued back

"Hmmm seems like you are to me." Jess looked over at her friend before adding "I've missed you. These past months...more than I thought I would" Jess admitted

"I missed you too Woody" Callie said keeping her eyes fixed on the huge TV hoping that Jess wasn't about to go down a road Callie wasn't sure she wanted to go down.

Callie felt a hand reach over and tuck a stand of hair behind her ear as Jess slowly moved her hand onto the brunette's shoulder.

"Don't Jess" Callie said as she gave her friend a look.

"Don't what?" Jess replied but didn't move her hand, "don't touch you? Why Callie?" She asked

"You know why?" Callie replied

"What?" Jess responded "in case it makes you feel something?"

Callie looked over at Jess, but didn't respond.

"For fucks sake!" Jess asked frustratedly "when are we going to talk about this Cal?"

"Talk about what?" Callie replied defensively

"Us! I've missed you so much, but you...you act like nothing is going on between us" Jess asked

"That's because nothing is Jess." Callie replied not 100% believing it herself.

"but there could be...that's my point!" Jess said softly "if you'd only allowed it."

Jess had played this scene in her head so many times over the past six months. She had started developing deeper feelings for Callie whilst still in Florida and she had thought Callie felt the same. One night a group of them had gone out for dinner and after a few cocktails, Callie had reached down and taken Jess's hand as they walked home. Unfortunately, someone recognised the star striker of the USA team, and a photo was taken which ended up on the internet along with comments about them being lesbians.

After the picture had been posted Callie freaked out and Jess had noticed her pulling away. When the opportunity came up to play in England Jess had figured some distance would help put things into perspective, for Jess AND Callie.

And now here there were together, in London, where no one really cared about them. They were alone and decided it was time to push Cal for answers.

"Look Cal... I get it, it's scary...I feel the same way...it's all new to me too, but I can't just ignore this anymore...it's driving me mad...I have feelings for you and whilst I can't fully explain those feelings...they exist and I think you have feelings for me too?"

Everything she was saying was true. Callie had experienced feelings for Jess that had caused her to question herself. To question her sexuality. She had on occasions imagined what it would feel like to kiss her friend, but she had tried to brushed it off, and she had hoped that Jess moving to England would help. She never imagined three months later that she would be here now in London. That was not part of the plan, but maybe things didn't go to plan all the time, and that was OK.

Callie hadn't been in a relationship for at least three years, there had been a couple of flings with some guys, but nothing serious. Hanging out with Jess had become so natural and then Callie had met Dr Arizona Robbins who had a powerful affect on her. She was confused.

Callie looked at the brunette, took a deep breath

"You're right. I do have feelings, but I can't understand what it all means Jess...I just know that these feelings, they aren't natural".

"Says who?" Jess said angrily and waited for a reply that never came, but she knew Callie meant her parents, and in turn God.

Jess took Callie's hands in hers and waited until the Latina looked at her directly.

"Cal, it's just us. Here alone, in my huge house" Jess paused and whispered "no one needs to know, it can be our secret" as she leant in and placed her lips on the Latina's.