"You're such a fangirl, Maria Valentina." Charlotte joked.
We were both in my hotel room. She was lying on the bed and I was sitting next to her, my eyes focused on the TV in front of us.
Leah was playing tonight. Her first game with England since she did her ACL.
Of course, I was wearing a jersey with my girlfriend's name proudly displayed on its back.
The English squad played Austria. Leah was in the starting lineup. It was almost noon in Los Angeles, and I had been up since about 5 in the morning just so I could call Leah before her game.
She had recounted to me how excited she was, and I just listened to her, a huge smile gracing my lips.
I rolled my eyes at Charlotte's teasing remark, but there was a smile playing on my lips as I turned my attention back to the TV. "Shut up, Lotte," I replied with a grin, unable to tear my eyes away from the screen as Leah entered the field with the rest of her teammates.
Charlotte chuckled at my response, her eyes flicking between me and the TV as she settled back against the pillows. "I'm just saying, you've got it bad for that girl," she teased, her tone light and playful as she reached for the bowl of popcorn sitting on the nightstand beside her.
As she talked, the camera focused on Leah, singing the national anthem proudly, her captain armband on her arm. "She's the love of my life..." I muttered, low enough that Charlotte couldn't hear me. I was unable to look away for even just a second. "I'm just so happy she's back on the field," I said, louder this time.
Charlotte nodded in agreement. "She's a fighter, that one. Nothing's gonna keep her down for long."
"She is, isn't she?" I smirked, watching Leah run into position.
As the game kicked off, I couldn't help but feel a surge of nervous energy coursing through me, my heart pounding in anticipation with each pass and tackle. But as I watched Leah move across the field with grace and determination, her presence commanding and assured, all my worries melted away in an instant.
She managed the defense like a true leader, her every move calculated and precise. It was like she had never left. Like the past year just didn't exist.
I found myself holding my breath with every play, my eyes glued to the screen as Leah effortlessly intercepted passes and thwarted Austria's attempts to advance. It was a sight to behold, seeing her back on the field where she belonged, her passion and skill shining through with every movement.
I never understood players who said they liked to defend and tackle more than they liked to score. But watching Leah, I finally got it. There was a certain beauty in the way she commanded the backline, in the way she anticipated her opponent's moves and shut them down with precision timing. It was like watching a goddess working, her skill and determination evident in every tackle and clearance.
Then, on a corner kick, Leah fell on the floor.
And she fell hard.
I immediately blemished, a thousand thoughts running through my mind as the referee whistled a foul.
I got up and walked up to the TV, my face so close to the screen it actually hurt my pupils.
The camera focused on Leah. She winced, holding her right ankle.
My heart sank at the sight of Leah clutching her ankle in pain, a wave of fear and concern washing over me as I watched her grimace on the screen. It felt like my world had come crashing down around me in that moment, my mind racing with a million worst-case scenarios as I struggled to process what was happening.
"Come on baby, get up," I whispered, my voice barely audible as I stared at the TV with a mixture of anguish and desperation. Every fiber of my being screamed for Leah to be okay, for her to shake off the pain and get back on her feet.
Every time the camera stopped filming her and switched to a slow-motion of the foul or to another player on the field, my anxiety was rising, my hands turned into fists with my nails sank into the thin skin of my palms.
And then, finally, Leah began to rise to her feet, a determined look in her eyes as she gingerly tested her injured ankle. Relief flooded through me at the sight of her standing, albeit with a noticeable limp.
I let out a sigh of relief, realizing I had stopped breathing for a minute, running my hands through my hair. "Oh thank god," I sank back onto the bed beside Charlotte, my heart still racing with adrenaline as I watched Leah soldier on despite the pain. Cloe Kelly walked up to her and offered her the ball, asking her to take the penalty. my eyes widened at the sight. "Oh she better take it or I swear to god I'm flying over there just to kick her ass," I said, and Charlotte laughed behind me, her mouth filled with popcorn. I had no idea how she could be eating right now. My stomach was a mess.
Leah took the ball, and I smiled instantly. She walked up to the penalty spot with a determined stride, her eyes focused and her jaw set with steely resolve. She was so fucking sexy.
Leah placed the ball on the penalty spot and stepped back, her hands firmly placed on her hips as she observed the goal in front of her.
The referee blew her whistle.
And then, with a swift kick of her foot, Leah sent the ball soaring towards the goal, her shot powerful and precise as it sailed past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
"Yes!" I exclaimed, pumping my fists in the air as the crowd erupted into cheers on TV. Charlotte joined in with a whoop of excitement, clapping her hands enthusiastically. "That's my girl!" I shouted, unable to contain my excitement as Leah celebrated her goal with her teammates.
"And just like that England captain Leah Williamson is back on the pitch, scoring a crucial goal in her comeback game after her injury. what a player she is, ladies and gentlemen." As the commentator's words echoed through the room, I felt a swell of pride wash over me, my heart bursting with admiration for the woman I loved.
"Fuck yeah, what a player she is!" I said, and Charlotte laughed loudly again at my words. She clearly seemed like she was enjoying my reactions more than the game itself.
Charlotte chuckled at my outburst, shaking her head in amusement as she reached over to give me a playful shove. "What did I say? such a fangirl. And so fucking whipped." she teased.
"Win the Euros and we'll talk," I dismissed her words immediately, my eyes not even leaving the screen.
"Alright, fair enough," she replied with a chuckle.
As the match continued, my nerves gradually began to settle, replaced by excitement as England scored two more goals, dominating the field. of course, my smile grew fonder every time Leah was seen on camera, and every time the commentator said her name.
When the referee blew the final whistle, England led 4-0.
I was so sad not to be there. I wish I could hug her and tell her how proud of her I am.
But even though I was thousands of miles away, watching from the comfort of my hotel room in Los Angeles, I knew that my love and support were with her every step of the way. And as I watched Leah embrace her teammates with a smile on her face, I felt a surge of admiration for the incredible woman she was.
As the commercials started appearing on the screen, I turned off the TV with a satisfied sigh.
I grabbed my phone and immediately reposted the game score on my Instagram story, adding a caption saying 'So proud of this one! Captain, leader, legend. Love you, @leahwilliamsonn 🤍'.
I couldn't help but smile as I hit the share button, knowing that even though I couldn't be there in person, I could still show my support for Leah in my own small way.
As I set my phone down, Drayton who was previously lying on the floor, came up to me and let out an exaggerated sigh, lying his head on my thigh. I laughed softly at the sight, gently ruffling the hair on top of his head. "Alright buddy, let's go for a walk."
I got up, putting my phone in my pocket, Drayton immediately getting hyped once I had his leash in my hands. "You coming?" I asked Charlotte while putting the leash on Dray's collar.
Charlotte shook her head, her eyes riveted on her phone. "Nah, I'm good here," she replied, her attention still focused on whatever she was doing.
I nodded understandingly, giving her a small smile before turning to leave the room with Drayton in tow. I made my way down the hallway towards the elevator, excited to get under the California sun again.
I would never get tired of doing this. Walking Dray under a warm sun in the streets of LA. that was the only time I enjoyed being alone on the streets without music. When I was with him.
We walked briskly to the nearest park, Drayton happily leading the way. After thirty minutes or so, we were at the Vista Hermosa park. Which I loved, because it was next to the Vista Hermosa football field.
I let Drayton off his leash. He was trained well enough not to do anything too crazy, and I enjoyed watching him bound around the park, chasing after pigeons and sniffing at every bush and tree in sight.
I sat on a bench and kept an eye on him. As I lost myself in my thoughts, my phone rang. I got it out of my pocket, and my smile widened when I saw it was Leah FaceTiming me.
I immediately answered, and smiled like an idiot when Leah's face popped up on my screen. She looked tired but happy, her hair still wet, most certainly from taking a shower right after the game.
She was back in her hotel room, from what I could tell.
"Hey, baby!" Leah's voice came through the phone, her smile warm and affectionate as she greeted me. "Did you watch the game?"
"Of course, I did," I replied with a grin, unable to contain my excitement at seeing her face. "You were incredible out there, Leah. I'm so proud of you."
Leah's cheeks flushed pink at my words, her smile widening as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Nice tee shirt you got there." She told me. I chuckled at Leah's playful remark, glancing down at my jersey with a grin.
"Thank you. It says Williamson on the back. No idea who that is." I replied with a wink, leaning back against the bench as I watched Drayton romp around the park.
"Very funny, Val," Leah replied with a playful eye roll, a smile on her lips.
"I know," I replied with a grin. "How's your ankle?"
"Huh? Oh, no, it's good. Don't even feel it." Leah's reassurance eased the knot of worry that had been twisting in my stomach.
"That's a relief. I... kinda freaked out when I saw you down, to be honest." I confessed, and Leah offered me a sad pout.
"Aww, baby. Don't worry about me. I'm fine, really. Just a little knock, nothing I can't handle," Leah replied, her tone reassuring as she reached up to adjust the camera angle on her phone. "Besides, it was worth it for that goal, right?"
I chuckled at Leah's nonchalant attitude, feeling a wave of affection wash over me at her words. "Definitely worth it," I agreed with a grin. "You looked amazing out there. Like you've never been away."
Leah's cheeks flushed pink at my compliment, her smile softening with genuine gratitude. "Thanks, baby. That means a lot."
I nodded at her words, and as I did, Drayton came back to me with a considerably big stick in his mouth. "Look who's with me," I said, crouching down next to Drayton so he'd be in the camera's field of view.
Leah's eyes lit up at the sight of Drayton, a fond smile spreading across her face as she leaned closer to the screen to get a better look. "Oh my god, is that Drayton? He's so cute!"
I nodded with a grin, holding the phone closer to Drayton so Leah could see him better. "Yep. We're just hanging around at the park." I told Leah, gently scratching the dog's ears.
"Wait, wait, I'm gonna get Beth. She's gonna freak out." Leah said, and I couldn't even answer that she was already leaving her room with her phone in her hand, barely even filming herself anymore.
I saw her walk into a big hallway, and then knock on another bedroom door. I watched with a smile as Leah disappeared from view, her voice faint but excited as she called out for our teammate.
After a few moments, Leah reappeared on the screen, her face beaming with excitement as she held up her phone to show Beth, who was grinning just as widely. "Hey, Beth! Good to see you!" I said, waving at the screen. "Nice goal tonight."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Just- show me the child." She ordered me, and I giggled, rolling my eyes, before lowering my phone again so Dray was back into view.
As Drayton came back into view, his tail wagging excitedly, Beth's eyes widened in delight at the sight of him. "Oh my god, he's adorable!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine enthusiasm as she leaned closer to the screen to get a better look. "He looks so polite and handsome... you better bring him to England so he can meet Myle." She ordered again.
"Bethany Mead. You're more excited about my dog than about me. I should be so mad at you right now." I replied, and Beth scoffed away my words, rolling her eyes.
We chatted for a few more minutes, exchanging stories and catching up on each other's day, before Beth said goodbye and Leah 'walked me back' into her room.
We chatted for a few more minutes, and I confessed to her how much I missed her.
"I miss you too, babygirl. But hey. Only a few days until we're back together, remember?" Leah reassured me.
"Yeah, you're right," I replied with a soft smile, "I just wish I could kiss you right now."
Leah's smile softened at my words, her eyes filled with warmth and affection as she reached up to touch the screen. "I wish I could kiss you too," she murmured softly, her voice filled with longing. "But soon, baby. I promise."
"I love you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper as I stared at Leah's face on the screen.
"I love you too," Leah replied, her voice soft. "More than anything in this world."
I giggled softly at her words. "More than football?" I asked, and she chuckled.
"Don't push it, Maria Valentina."
Leah's playful response brought a smile to my lips, the sound of her laughter echoing through the phone. "Alright, alright," I conceded with a chuckle, knowing better than to challenge her love for the beautiful game.
"Have a good day, yeah? The best day you can. So you can tell me all that you did afterward." She said, and I nodded.
"I will. The best day I can." I assured her. "Sleep well, mi amor." I then said, and she blew me a kiss, before we ended the call.
I stayed in the park a little while longer, soaking in the warmth of the California sun and enjoying the simple pleasure of being surrounded by nature. Drayton romped around happily beside me, his playful antics bringing a smile to my face as I watched him chase after the sticks I threw him and roll around in the grass.
I couldn't wait to do the same thing next week, but in London, with Leah holding my hand and laughing with me.