Ricardo's still not used to getting booked consecutively for WWE or NXT. When he receives the actual calendar of dates with matches for him and Kalisto to see how they gel as a tag team in NXT, he's not sure he's breathing properly, or reading it right. Getting up, he takes his phone downstairs and finds Alberto training in the basement ring, punching the bag so ferociously that Ricardo stands there for a few moments, just watching with a small, proud smile until Alberto finally notices him, patting the bag before walking away from it. "I didn't see you there, mi valiente," he says quietly, patting his face with a towel and leaning in to kiss Ricardo once he's somewhat presentable.
"Tell me if I'm reading things, El Patron," Ricardo requests, holding his phone out. He stands there anxiously as Alberto reads through the calendar, frowning. Once Alberto looks up, he swallows. "Well?"
"Well, you're booked," Alberto says, his expression softening into a proud grin. "You're going to tear through the rookies in that tag team division, mi valiente."
Ricardo exhales and grins as well, relieved that he wasn't hallucinating or misunderstanding. "Gracias, I hope so." He leans into Alberto as he hugs him, not even minding how sweaty Alberto is. "We should celebrate."
"Yes, and we should invite Sofia," Alberto agrees, patting his jaw as he pulls away. "But first I must shower. I look awful."
"You could never look awful," Ricardo refutes, smiling as Alberto leans in and kisses him.
"You always know just the right things to say," Alberto tells him, winking before walking upstairs to mention their plans to Sofia and then shower.
Ricardo watches him go before sprawling out in the middle of Alberto's ring, staring up at the ceiling. "Soon," he murmurs. Soon, I will be competing once more... Sighing happily, he gets up and goes upstairs to change and make sure his hair is manageable.
An hour later, he, Alberto and Sofia are settling at a table in Ricardo's favorite sushi place located in downtown Miami, and the housekeeper smiles at them, reaching over to squeeze Ricardo's hand. "Muchas gracias for inviting me... and I'm so proud of you, Ricardo. I can't wait to watch your matches."
He smiles affectionately at her. "The three of us should do things like this more often, Sofia. But gracias, I will make sure you get tickets to all of them."
Sofia beams at him, about to respond when the waitress comes up to take their drink orders. Once the drinks arrive and they order sushi and some beef and fried rice to share between the three of them, Alberto lifts his glass of wine and clicks it with Ricardo's sake and Sofia's pineapple margarita. "To Ricardo," he says softly. "May you find all of the success you've always deserved."
"Si," Sofia agrees, smiling.
"Gracias," Ricardo says, feeling choked up as he looks between the two best people in his life. "I wouldn't have made it this far without you." Sofia makes a soft tsking noise and puts her drink down, hugging him from the left while Alberto stands up and hugs him from the other side, Ricardo calming down slowly as he's sandwiched between their warm support. He smiles and wraps an arm around them both, eyes locked on his plate sheepishly until Alberto tilts his face up and softly kisses him. "Gracias."
"It's our pleasure," Sofia tells him, patting his hand. Once they're sure he's less emotional, they pull away and look up as the waitress joins them a few moments later, placing plates full of sushi, beef and rice in front of them. Ricardo exhales as he looks at it all, the three of them echoing thank you to the woman as she urges them to enjoy and bustles off to handle a different table. "I could get used to this," Sofia says after taking another sip of her drink, Alberto and Ricardo staring at her in silent surprise before she winks at them and they realize she's teasing, the three of them starting to laugh.