Ricardo loves Texas. It's warm, there's a lot of wrestling down here, it's close to Mexico so he feels more at home here than he does anywhere else but California. He'd lived here for quite awhile, not that long ago, so he still remembers it fondly, knowing what streets to take to get a lot of different places in Austin. So while he waits for Egypt to shake out one way or another, he makes the best of things where he's at. His weekends of full of bookings, of training sessions, of sometimes just exploring.

Almost every night, he calls Alicia, and they discuss their days- his with wrestling, hers with various adventures around the house with Sofia and Andre. They talk until their phone batteries die, or they start falling asleep sitting up. Either way, it makes him smile every time just to hear her voice, soft and slurred a little with tiredness.

"I miss you," he tells her. "I wish you were here."

"I do too," she says wistfully. "Texas was incredible."

It was, the official beginning of their relationship, when things were still new and they were getting to know each other. He smiles at the memories, grazing his fingers down the bedding.

"Do you think," she says slowly, then hesitates.

"Go on," he urges her and she swallows audibly.

"Do you think the Egypt thing will happen?" she whispers. "I mean, I would've loved to gone, but you haven't said anything, and..."

He sighs softly. "Honestly, I don't know either. I'm supposed to wait for a call with more information but it's been awhile and I've heard nothing. They might surprise me with some last minute call and expect me to drop everything and come at a moment's notice, but for now... it may be off."

"Is it weird if I'm ok with that?" Alicia ventures. "Don't get me wrong, I'm always down for an adventure with you, but Andre is still so young, and the pandemic is still really... really bad out there." She sighs.

His voice is soft and warm when he replies. "Of course I understand, Alicia. I'd never want you to do something you're uncomfortable with, especially something as huge as this. If they do call, which is unlikely at this stage, I can easily go alone. It's fine."

Alicia exhales shakily. "I love you, Ricardo."

"I love you too," he says in response, leaning over to drop the phone away from him once they exchange farewells, and he hangs up.

As much fun as Egypt would've been, he can't blame Alicia for wanting to stay where she's at, because... honestly... he's feeling the exact same way about Texas right now.