The rehab works, slowly. Ricardo can feel his knee returning to some semblance of normal, the pain lessening. But as the physical suffering eases, the emotional compounds. Alicia is definitely trying to attract Cedric's attention, the proof of it all over GIFs and pictures on Twitter that hits Ricardo like a punch to the solar plexus whenever he sees it.

He hates Mondays for more reasons than one now, because he finds himself watching Raw, searching Twitter for further proof of what's going on between them. She looks happy, her eyes glowing in a way that they don't for him, and his heart aches with each beat. He worries further that the only reason she'd not yet selected Cedric over him outright is because of his knee, that as soon as she learns he's getting better, she'll break it off with him... but he refuses to use his injury to hold onto her. There had been enough falsities in his past relationships, and he wants to be honest, forthcoming with Alicia. It's the least that she deserves, after all.

So when she returns home, he smiles half-heartedly at her and stands up, carefully testing his balance before putting all of his weight on his bad leg. She gasps and reaches out for him before stopping, realizing. "You... you're doing better," she breathes out. He nods. Her lips twitch up into a relieved grin before she throws herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. "I'm so happy for you!" she says, Ricardo closing his eyes and squeezing her back, exhaling softly when he doesn't drop her or fall onto her.

"I'm not all the way yet, but I can... I can stand, which is definite progress," he nods, his burden easing when she lets go of him and sits him down. "Alberto... he, uh, found me this rehab specialist. The man's a miracle worker, I think... I think I'll be able to walk normally soon. In the next couple of days, maybe."

She cups his hands, lifts them and kisses his palms with a soft smile. "Just be careful, ok? I don't want you overdoing it."

He exhales. Tries not to focus on how his skin tingles where her lips touch. "I will," he promises.

"Show me these exercises," she urges him. "I'll help you do them."

He wants to argue. Insist that he can- and has been- do them fine on his own, but she looks so certain, so determined, that he gives in. Pulls out the paper with guidelines and lets her read them. Her hair is in a messy bun, she has no makeup on, and there's a crease between her eyes as she makes sense of his instructions. "You're so gorgeous," he tells her, unable to resist.

She stops reading and swallows hard, looking up at him. Her smile is geniune, her blush is becoming.

For perhaps the first time since she told him she liked Cedric Alexander, he thinks maybe he might have a chance with her after all.