"I'll tell you what she said when I see you in a few days, okay? I think it's better done face to face."
Jordan sighed. "You're right, it's just my emotions talking. And you're sure you're okay? You have a nasty black eye in that photo.."
"I think that's the worst it's going to get, fingers crossed. It's still sore, and I'm going to have a scar but I'm okay, Dory." Lucy nudged her and jerked her chin towards the phone. "Oh, and Lucy wants you to know that you're my bodyguard while she's in Spain."
"I'm smaller than you, mate!" Jordan laughed. "I'll just make you come to all the training sessions so we have a Villa army to protect you."
"I don't think management will be happy with the potential of your players getting bricked by three of Lucy's wives, but I'll take whatever I can get!"
Jordan laughed and Lucy groaned at that, not looking impressed. YFN reached out and stroked her cheek.
"Oh, and you two soft-launched again?!"
"Did we?"
"Hard launch incoming soon!" Lucy said loud enough for Jordan to hear.
YFN raised her eyebrows and Lucy wiggled hers cheekily.
They ended the call with promises to see each other soon and talk about Leah.
YFN turned to Lucy who was doing a crossword. It was night time now, the Arsenal girls had left, and they were alone for another night in the hospital. YFN had suggested that Lucy go home to a more comfy bed, but that idea was met with an absolute no. She'd brought more clothes for them, as well as things to keep them entertained. Like the crossword.
"It's late..." YFN said.
Lucy nodded, finishing her word and then putting the it away. She put her arms behind her head and laid back against the inclined hospital bed, her eyes roaming over her girlfriend unashamedly.
"We need to talk about lawyer costs. I-"
"No."
"Luce, please-"
"Nope."
"This is my issue.. it's unfair."
Lucy shrugged. "Even if it was your issue, which it isn't.. your issues are my issues."
"I have the money, you know."
Lucy raised an eyebrow at YFN's cheeky attempt to start an argument. She was amused by it. "So do I, so much that I don't know what to do with it. And if I can't spend it on the people I love then what's the point?"
YFN's heart skipped at beat at that word, love, and she shared a look with Lucy, but chose to not go down that rabbit hole. Not yet. "Makes me feel like a prostitute."
The most genuine laugh bubbled up in Lucy that she'd ever heard. "Oh, I'd pay much more for your sex."
YFN groaned and rolled her eyes. "I don't like-"
"-things feeling one sided and like you're not contributing?"
She pouted at the knowledge that Lucy had perfectly summed up her thoughts.
Lucy leant forwards and took her by the waist, pulling her onto her. Lucy's hands went under her shirt, massaging her hips and waist. YFN's hands found Lucy's traps and gently traced there, and up the sides of her neck. All of it was so... natural.
"You give me so much already. There's no keeping tabs here. You'd do the exact same for me."
YFN knew there was no winning the conversation, also knowing she'd get her back at some stage. Money didn't mean much to either of them, and even if it did, they were both happy to spend any amount on each other.
YFN's hands had moved up to the sides of Lucy's head, tracing the outlines of her ears before letting her hair down for the night, removing her glasses, and weaving her fingers in her hair, gently massaging. Lucy groaned, her eyes rolling back, lips parting as her head automatically tilted back into her fingers. Lucy enjoyed the feel for a while before she adjusted, one hand going to YFN's lower back, pressing her forward while the other carefully pushed up the front of the shirt she was wearing – Lucy's shirt – just high enough to expose her breasts to the cool air of the room. She brushed her lips over her nipple, then her tongue, and then it was in her mouth, gently sucked, her tongue getting involved. YFN whimpered, her hands gripping in Lucy's hair, holding her there. It was one of her favourite things, and the feel of Lucy's jaw shifting as she sucked was one of the sexiest things to her. Lucy took her time and began kneading her second breast in preparation. She eventually finished with the first, covering it with her shirt so it wasn't cold and moving onto her other nipple, tongue circling around it teasingly before taking it in her mouth. YFN groaned, her insides getting needy and she had to restrain herself from grinding on her girlfriend.
"God, you're such a tease." YFN moaned, a little breathless.
Lucy chuckled with her nipple still in her mouth and sucked a little longer before she let go, pulling her shirt back down and making sure it covered her hips.
"You started it."
She scoffed and unwillingly dismounted her athlete of a girlfriend, crawling under the covers and patiently waiting until Lucy had lowered the bed and was also under the covers, holding her.
YFN was glad to be leaving the hospital. She was even more glad to be leaving the city, though this had come with a little speed bump as she needed her stitches out in 5 days, and would no longer be in the city. Luckily, she was referred to a doctor in Birmingham who made an appointment for her. Lucy wasn't entirely happy that she wouldn't be there and again tried to tell YFN that she could delay her flight. That wasn't an option for her.
They left the hospital and went straight to Lucy's London home. Lucy wasn't more than a metre away from her at all times, incredibly protective and aware of their surroundings. YFN loved this, and was okay with it because it made her feel safe, and Lucy more relaxed knowing she was safe. They packed and left the apartment early, trying to beat the traffic. They didn't. Normally this would frustrate Lucy but YFN made sure she was well entertained with music, singing, terrible jokes, and being fed all of the snacks she could possibly want. And when all else failed, she even pulled Lucy's hand under her shirt and bra to grab her breast. This worked immediately, of course, the right-back threatening to find an empty parking bay along the way.
They drove straight through Birmingham and kept going on to Manchester. They arrived just after midday and drove straight to Lucy's house to get settled in. YFN kept her clothes in her suitcase though, knowing they'd be leaving for Birmingham in a day or so. While Lucy unpacked and changed her clothes, YFN wandered the house, getting a feel for it. Her house in London had been similar, very simplistic, modern, neutral colours. It was a mix of concrete greys, white and black, offset by the silver of the kitchen appliances and the sun shining through the skylight. The only trophy to be seen was one from when she was young, with a picture of young Lucy, her mum, dad, brother and baby sister as she held the award proudly. She had a few photos around the house, all of family and a few of Narla. YFN thought she looked cute. Outside was small, a little courtyard of lawn and a small patio, just large enough to entertain her family. She remembered having a discussion with Lucy about where she'd live after she retired, and she'd wanted to stay in Manchester, close to her family, though wanted a house big enough to have a football pitch in the back yard. As she stared outside she felt two arms sliding around her as Lucy hugged her from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder.
"Do you like it?"
YFN leant her head against Lucy's and nodded. "I love it. It feels... like being on the inside of your brain. All neat and tidy, but bright and open."
Lucy chuckled. "Yeah, this place has been good to me. Wish I had a bigger back yard though."
YFN smiled because she'd just been thinking that exact same thing. She leant her head back, exposing her neck and Lucy took advantage, her lips caressing and kissing that sensitive skin.
"If you keep doing that, we're going to be tempted to stay in tonight.."
Lucy took those words and teased her harder, nipping at her earlobe and kissing down to her collarbone, her hand creeping up to her breast.
YFN let herself enjoy it until her phone buzzed. She pulled it out and checked. It was an email from the company the girls had been talking about. With her permission, Katie had passed on her email to them at the hospital. Lucy looked over her shoulder and read with her.
"That's positive... they want your resume and examples of the column you used to write?"
YFN nodded. "And it says the resume is only needed for the reference checks. They also say they're excited to meet me because they've heard quote 'wonderful and positive comments and recommendations from several players...'"
The girls must have talked her up to the company. She smiled at that, a little blush arising. Lucy noticed and kissed her cheek, YFN feeling that wide grin of hers. She pocketed her phone and turn in her arms, facing her girlfriend.
"I need something.."
"Please tell it's sex, because I'm all in little one." She leant down to kiss her and was stopped by YFN's fingers on her lips.
"Actually, I need your WIFI password for my laptop?" She grinned. "I need to send this off before we leave for your parents.. but it's nice to know you're still sexually attracted to me with this hideous black eye and bandage."
Lucy pulled her hand away from her lips and kissed that 'hideous black eye'.
"You're stunning." She whispered huskily before giving that cheeky look of hers. "So... no sex?"
"I just can't believe this!" Lucy's mum, Diane, said, cradling YFN's face to better look at her black eye. Lucy's dad, Joaquim, was over Diane's shoulder, adjusting his glasses and looking equally appalled.
"This... will scar?" He asked with a strong accent, gesturing to her bandage. He was Portugese, making Lucy half English-half Portugese.
YFN nodded.
"How big?"
Lucy was there then, pointing to where the line of stitches under the bandage were, roughly 3 inches long and dissecting the end of her eyebrow. They both winced.
"Do you remember it?" Diane asked.
"I remember most of it.. when the brick hit the window, I can't remember anything from there on. I can't remember the impact beyond pain. I can't even remember Luce finding me. There's patches in the car where I was in pain because she was holding my head on the way to the hospital, but only patches. I was a bit dazed."
"She was a bit fuzzy the day after too, a little unsure on her feet. She's much better now." Lucy said, giving her a kiss on the shoulder. Lucy being so loving in front of her family made her heart swell.
They settled down to eat dinner, Lucy's brother Jorge, his wife Charis and their kids arriving just on time. Lucy's younger sister Sophie and her girlfriend also joined, it being YFN's first time meeting them.
The Bronze family made her feel at home immediately, they were all so genuine and... odd almost. Like Lucy. But in the best way. At one point they were all sharing embarrassing stories from Lucy's childhood, her mum bringing out photo albums, much to Lucy's embarrassment. It was brilliant. YFN's stomach was sore from laughing so hard. She also realised that they were all quite intelligent, especially Jorge. He and Lucy liked to challenge each other a lot. At one point YFN was helping Diane with the dishes, and was getting a little worried at how loud they were shouting at each other, the last 2 people standing in a card game. Lucy eventually won and made it known very loudly. Diane had laughed and told her it was quite normal when it came to anything competitive in the family.
They all joined in playing several card games, charades, and even answering quiz questions. Lucy refused to be teamed up with anyone other than YFN and dragged her around the room dancing and singing loudly whenever they won something, which was surprisingly often as YFN was so great at the quizzes that the family seemed impressed.
They played a lot with Lucy's niece and nephew also, Alzira and Freddie.
"You love them a lot, don't you?" YFN stated.
"They keep me grounded more than anything else in my life. They keep me so incredibly humble also.. when we're in the stadiums, they're not even impressed because they think it's so normal. It really helped me during the World Cup in Australia." She paused what she was doing, Alzira in between her legs playing with Lego. "I would have really liked to have known you when I was in Australia.."
YFN blushed under Lucy's gaze, as she helped Freddie with his Lego piece. "I would have really liked to show you my country."
"We still have a lot of time.."
"You'd want to see it?" YFN's eyes flicked excitedly to Lucy's green comforting ones.
"Of course! It's your home. I want to see everything about your home that inspired you. Everything you were born and raised around. Anything you'd be excited to show me. And that includes your nan and brother."
Just when she thought she couldn't love her any more.
"I've been wanting to talk to you about that actually.. I have a group call with my nan and brother tomorrow if you'd like to join? We try to do it every month. They already know about you, of course."
Lucy grinned wide. "Yeah? I'd love that. Oh I can't wait to ask for embarrassing stories they have about you, like the ones my family just roasted me with."
Charis came over then. "Your mum wants some help with the TV? Something about an HDMI cord. I think she's trying to play old videos of you..."
Lucy groaned and got up, Charis replacing her to sit behind Alzira. She smiled at YFN and they spoke a bit about the Bronze's and life as a mum.
"Narla!" Freddie said suddenly, looking at Charis and opening and closing his fists.
"You miss Narla?"
The little kid nodded. "Narla!"
"You want to talk to her?"
"Yeah!"
Charis rolled her eyes at YFN who just grinned at the boy's insistence. "He thinks Narla can answer the phone." She whispered sneakily as she texted someone and then made a phone call, and suddenly Narla was on the end of the phone. Freddie grabbed the phone, grinning as he looked at the Westie on the other end. This was also the first time YFN had seen the dog as she watched from behind Freddie.
"Ohhh she's so cute! I can't wait to meet her!"
At the sound of her voice, the camera moved to a woman she recognised as Lucy's ex, Keira Walsh.
"Oh!" Keira looked surprised. "Hi, YFN. I've heard a lot about you. It's nice to finally meet you!"
YFN wasn't expecting that at all, and she stumbled over her words before she managed to find something to say. "Oh... Keira! Hey. You're... you're back in Spain?"
"Yeah, yeah. Luce is lucky she got to stay in England a bit longer. It's for the best with her knee though and I know the family all missed her too."
YFN nodded politely, her heart beating a little too fast. She was more than aware that Keira was Lucy's best friend, and the most important person in her life besides her mum. She'd wanted to make a good impression when she first met her, and looking at herself in the phone, her reflection looked tired, with a big white bandage and hideous black eye. Not exactly the impression she'd wanted to make. And even worse, her thoughts were running more rampant than that. Keira was with Narla. She was basically on speed dial with the Bronze's. And also.. Keira was in Lucy's apartment?