After a long week pulling double duty because Santana Garrett is overseas, leaving Ricardo to handle training all of the students on his own, he's relieved to spend a few days relaxing. Sitting on the beach, trying to get back into yoga, finding his center again. He's cleaning some of the sand off of his pants when his phone rings, surprising him. Turning the water off, he grabs it and smiles, finding Alicia's name waiting for him. "Hola."
"Hola," she chirps cheerfully. "So I've been talking to Mike tonight," she says, sounds of Raw carrying on behind her just audible over the phone.
"Oh yeah? What's going on?" he asks, shaking some water drops off of his hands.
"He's having a party at his house this coming week, and he wants us to know we're invited. What do you think, Ricardo? Santana does owe you one," she wheedles. "I'd like to spend some time with our friends. Wouldn't you?"
It does sound nice. He exhales. "Let me talk to Santana, alright? If she says yes, we can look into flights and everything."
"Mike says he will cover it, he just really wants to be able to catch up with you," she says. "Alright? Please, Ricardo. I think it'll be good for us."
She's right, of course she is, Ricardo realizes as soon as they arrive that Wednesday, finding the house already bustling with Heath, Maryse, John and Taya laughing on the back porch, Sara napping and Mike and AJ playing perfect host and hostess. The grill is still warm, potato salad and hamburgers waiting for them as soon as they sit down. He relaxes quickly, smiling at the people who he hasn't seen in too long, Heath reaching out to clap his shoulder. "Long time no see, man!"
"No kidding," Ricardo grins at him, sipping from the iced tea Mike had placed before him. "How're all your kids?"
He rolls his eyes, then laughs. "Still as ridiculous as ever, man," he drawls, draping a hand loosely around Maryse's shoulders before leaning in to whisper to her, something that makes her giggle quietly.
Alicia reaches for Ricardo's hand then, a soft smile on her face as she looks around at their friends. "Thank you," she mouths to him. He smiles at her, glad that he'd come as well. It's been long overdo.
After an afternoon of wandering the beach, exploring familiar spots- like where AJ and Mike were married, and where Morrison regularly surfs- the group finds themselves sacked out in different parts of Mike's house. Taya and John are snuggled close in the grass in the backyard, Mike and AJ are taking advantage of the extra hands on deck by taking a nap, Heath and Maryse are doting over Sara Louisa in the living room, and Alicia and Ricardo are settled in the bedroom, listening to each other breathe as they marvel at the silence, the peace. "It's kind of perfect, isn't it?" he asks quietly, smiling when Alicia nods against him, her hair tickling his cheek.
"Not just kind of," she breathes after a moment. "I'd say pretty much perfect." He rubs her back gently and she exhales, closing her eyes. "I love you, Ricardo."
He lets the warmth of the words wash over him. They'd both been through so much, her with Alex, him with Paige. But it feels right to hold her like this, think about the future- distant, maybe, but still a future. A life together, their little apartment growing into a house someday, maybe kids, maybe marriage. Maybe a lot of things.
It's a nice thought. He kisses her shoulder, tilting his face to meet her lips in a slow, lingering kiss that leaves her exhaling shakily as she snuggles closer to him, not wanting this moment to ever fade away. "I love you too, Alicia," he murmurs with an awed smile. "So much."
"I love you more," she singsongs, laughing when he grips her hands and lifts them to his lips to kiss.
"I love you most," he says against her skin, tickling her.
She laughs, unable to think of anything to outdo him when his lips are warm against her flesh and his hands are teasing her, so finally she rolls over and straddles him, eyes dark and intense as she pulls her hands free and kisses him, lips and teeth speaking for her in a way that leaves him a melted mess against the guest room's mattress, his toes curling into the bedding.
"Ok, you win," he gasps out.
She beams down at him, pressing a warm kiss against his collar bone. "I always do, Ricardo," she hums before sinking down into him, his breath punching out of him sharply. "You're learning." She brushes her nose against his and grins. "Foxy always gets what Foxy wants." Her kiss is smoky and promises all things dark and a little dangerous and leaves him wanting more, more, more.
