Ricardo paces inside the O'Haire airport, checking his phone, almost paranoid that things will have changed in the last few hours. A storm had kept Alberto's flight from departing earlier, although Ricardo had been able to leave Florida safely. "Of course Alberto had an event that kept him from departing from Florida with me," he sighs, head still swimming with all of Alberto's appearances the last few weeks. He wonders for a moment what would happen should Alberto not be able to make today, leaving him to handle disappointed fans all on his own, but then he hears the announcement that Alberto's flight is arriving and he releases a breath, looking up at the gate.
When Alberto appears a few minutes later, they spot each other immediately, both of their eyes lighting up. Alberto escapes the line of people and grabs his bag, walking over to Ricardo with an easy going grin on his face. "Mi hermano! Have you been waiting long?" he enquires, hugging Ricardo warmly.
"No, El Patron," he shrugs it off, not bothering to explain how long he'd been standing here, anxious and worrying for the older man. "I'm glad you made it. Bad weather, huh?"
"Ah, si, I thought the sky was crashing down around me." His hand is warm on Ricardo's neck as they walk side by side to the exit, Ricardo smiling at him. "But you should've known I wouldn't have left you to handle all of these fans on your own. What kind of best friend would do that, hn?"
"Not mine," the former ring announcer says with a smile. He pops the trunk and watches as Alberto drops his luggage inside before they go to opposite sides of the car and enters, Ricardo tapping his fingers against the steering wheel as he navigates them through Chicago traffic to get to the convention just in time for their session.
Spending the day signing autographs and taking pictures with fans alongside Alberto is great, Ricardo glad to spend the quiet moments talking with his best friend. Their schedules so busy at different times, he barely gets to him anymore which, considering they live together, seems ridiculous in hindsight, but is what it is. Besides that, Florida without Paige seems bland so he's glad to be in Chicago. Once their time is up and everyone has left happy, Alberto slings an arm around Ricardo's shoulders and guides him outside to the car waiting. "Let's go get something to eat, mi hermano," he says, snagging the keys from Ricardo's fingers.
He laughs but doesn't argue, allowing Alberto to take over driving duties. They agree on a local steakhouse, glad to find that it's busy but not noisy so they're able to talk during the brief wait periods for the waitress to take their order, and for said orders- steak and baked potatoes, mixed vegetables and rolls- to arrive. "So how are things going with you and Paige?" Alberto asks, sipping from his water.
Ricardo hesitates and picks at his potato before looking up. "Alright." But he's frowning and Alberto stares at him expectantly until he speaks up again. "She says she wants to talk to me about something to do with Total Divas when she's done filming Santa's Littel Helper... I'm not sure what to think about that. It sounds... omnious." He looks up at his best friend. "What do you think?"
"I think you're smart, mi hermano. No matter what she has to say, I know you'll handle it the best you possibly can." Alberto smiles at him, tearing off a strip of steak with his knife before chewing it slowly, lost in thought for a moment. Weighing his next words carefully. "And I know if this latest development is too much, you won't make yourself suffer through it for too long. Because if Paige really loved you, she wouldn't ask too much of you, Ricardo. Neither Sofia nor I would want such things for you either."
Ricardo swallows hard, staring back at him. "Ri- right, El Patron. Of course." And although he knows, deep down inside, that he should agree, that Alberto is correct in everything he's said, he's pretty sure he'd walk through a burning building for Paige. His admiration for the diva when he'd first met her had grown, become a deep, inate part of his soul and he can't imagine life without her. Each morning is hard enough to face when she's all the way in Canada anyway...
His conversation fresh on his mind, he returns to Florida while Alberto takes a different flight to Mexico. His week is busy, starting off with training at the dojo on Monday and Tuesday, then preparing for Cinco De Mayo celebrations in St. Petersburg. Feeling antsy, he decides to go explore parts of Tampa that he hasn't been to in awhile, feeling bittersweet nostalgia when he drives by the old FCW building. After seeing her tryout in England, he had next met Paige in that very building after she had been signed to developmental. He smiles faintly and releases a breath, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel before driving on. It's a Play Grounds now, so there's little point in remaining.
After a quick meal at Hulk Hogan's beachside restaurant, he drives back to the mansion. The sun's just set when he lets himself back inside and Sofia greets him with a wave, looking up from a book. He smiles at her and settles in next to her on the couch, yawning. "Did you have a nice drive, mi hijo?"
"Si," he says, head resting against the back of the couch. "Lo siento, I didn't mean to be gone for so long. I guess I was hoping it'd clear my mind."
"Did it?" she asks, placing a mark in her book before putting it down.
He sighs and shifts to look at her. "Not really, no." Her warm hand wraps around his and he smiles wanly as she strokes his knuckles. "I'll be ok, though. Just... have to be patient. No point in worrying about something that might not be serious after all. Right?"
"Of course, Ricardo." She smiles at him, a bit of worry remaining in her gaze. "I'm not sure why Paige would tell you she needs to talk to you when she won't be home for a few weeks yet, however. It seems... oddly cruel."
"She was half-asleep," he confesses. "I'm not sure she wanted me to hear her say it, but once it was out, she couldn't exactly take it back, so here we are. Also, there are loose plans for me to go to Vancouver to spend some time with her while she films, I just haven't found the time yet between my weekends being tied up with various indy events, and my weekdays busy with dojo training." He releases a breath, attempting to change the subject, keep Sofia from fretting over his emotional state any further. "I'm so proud of those students, Sofia. It makes me happy to watch them grow as competitors and know I had a hand in helping them."
Her eyes gleam with pride for him. "And I am happy for you, mi hijo. You've done such a great job of dusting yourself off and staying strong after leaving the WWE. I know things haven't been entirely easy for you, but you never lost hope and the determination to see it all through. Your strength is admirable."
"Your and Alberto's support definitely helped make it possible," he says sheepishly. "I'd be nowhere without you guys."
She smiles at him. "I doubt that. You always find a way." They sit quietly together for awhile longer before Sofia stands and collects her book, leaning over to kiss the side of his head. "Unless you need me for anything, I am going to go finish my book before bed..." He shakes his head, smiling up at her, and she nods, stroking his face. "See you in the morning thenn. Buenos noches."
"Buenos noches," he murmurs. Watches her walk down the hallway and shut the door behind her before twisting around on the couch so he can peer out the window, watching the wind blow softly through the trees in the distance. "I miss you, Paige," he murmurs, tracing circles in the soft fabric of the couch cushion, once more pondering what she will want to talk to him about the next time they're face to face.