"How was it?" Ricardo asks, holding Alicia close. She hums, burying her face in his chest, and clinging to him. He runs his fingers through her hair and waits, aware of how difficult these kinds of situations can be.
"I miss it," she admits, voice muffled against his shirt. "I really do. " She pulls back and sighs, a soft, miserable little noise as he kisses her nose. "But if... if this is the end, I had a pretty good run, huh?"
"Yes, you did," he says softly, tilting her face up to kiss her properly. "You'll be fine. You have your fashion and everything else, you'll land on your feet."
She smiles, nuzzles in closer to him. "Thank you." She sighs, closing her eyes and listening as the dogs run back and forth, excited now that she's back home after the last few days being gone. "I know it's early and I just got home, but... I really need to get some sleep. I'm really wiped out."
"Of course," he says, guiding her to bed and helping her to get comfortable in one of his shirts, tucking her in under sheets and a blanket, tucking some pillows around her since he knows she likes to hug them in her sleep. "I love you," he whispers to her and she smiles.
"I love you too," she breathes, already half-asleep.
He stands in the doorway and watches for a few moments as she closes her eyes and drifts off. Exhaling softly, he leaves and sinks back onto the couch, staring down at his hands. He thinks she's getting better, but something like this, the potential true loss of her job, and everything else going on day by day, could easily send her spiraling again. Pulling his phone out, he accesses the internet and thinks about what to look for, resources or advice, anything to possibly find a way to truly help her. Not feel as useless all of the time when she's clearly in need. He closes his eyes and shakes his head, hoping that he can find something somewhere to have a better idea.
-x
"Maryse wants to get together," Alicia says, her teeth flashing as she smiles at Ricardo. "Is that alright? I said she could come over, but I wanted to check with you first."
They had fallen back into some facsimile of their old routine once things quiet down after Wrestlemania. He squints down at the papers spread before him on the kitchen table before looking back up at her. "Of course it's fine. Is Heath with her?"
"Yeah," she says softly, leaning against Ricardo. "And Monroe. I'm not sure what she wants to talk about, but I can guess." So can Ricardo; with Mike losing to Shane, things hang precariously now, since Shane had promised to tell Miz's secret if he'd lost. "Wanna divide and conquer, for lack of a better term?" she wonders.
"Yeah, I think so," he says. "Take Maryse outside, bring the puppies. Heath and I'll stay in here and I'll see if I can get him to talk." Heath's usually a bright, talkative dude, but even he has his breaking point, and Ricardo's not sure how far he'll get, but he knows he has to try.
"Thanks, babe," Alicia says, leaning over and kissing him. He leans in, realizing he tastes no alcohol on her breath, a heady kind of relief overwhelming him as he grips her hips and eases her into his lap. They ease into longer, deeper, more intimate kisses, careful not to take it too far, but just enjoying each other's presence, Alicia's hands rubbing lazily over his chest while he fans his hands out over her back, holding her close, sharing soft sighs and muted moans between each warm, passionate kiss. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," he breathes against her, closing his eyes and kissing her again, fingers easing up to her neck to hold her in place as he tastes her. They part reluctantly when the doorbell rings and Alicia smiles ruefully at him. "Later," he promises. "Later... in bed... lights off... just us and some soft music..." She whimpers hungrily, and he leans in, stealing one more kiss before they have to move to greet their friends.
Heath looks shaky when Ricardo answers the door, Alicia hovering behind him. Maryse doesn't look quite as bad, but she always looks put together, no matter the situation, and Ricardo barely pays her mind as Alicia guides her through the house to the outdoors. Heath numbly follows Ricardo inside and sits at the table, cradling his face in his hands. Aware of how Heath responds when pushed, Ricardo sits and waits, vaguely aware of the women murmuring lowly outside. Finally he looks up and their eyes lock. Tears pool in Heath's dark, dark eyes. "I think I'm gonna lose everything, Ricardo," he shares and Ricardo's heart aches for him.
Standing up, he walks over and wraps his arms smoothly around Heath. "Nah, man. It's gonna be ok. Somehow, someway. I promise ya. It always does."
Heath cries into his shoulder, digging his fingers into Ricardo's back. "I hope you're right," he sniffs. They stand like this for awhile, Heath crying while Ricardo rubs and pats at his back, murmuring soothingly- in American, in Spanish, in all of the other languages he speaks, trying his hardest to comfort the devastated man in his arms.