Make It or Break It

Chapter Thirty-One: Missing You

Riley sighed as she brushed her fingers through her hair, she swallowed as she looked at the clock knowing it would be hours before she could speak to Fernando.

It had been two weeks since she had seen her boyfriend face to face and it was slowly starting to wear her down.

Spain were due to play France that day in the Quarter-finals and Riley was already preparing to plop herself in front of the television and watch with the children since she was now officially off work for the summer.

Riley was now nine weeks pregnant and the brunette was thrilled that her morning sickness was easily away even if she was sick most mornings.

In the three months that she had started dating Fernando and she knew that her life had changed so much; Riley was really hoping that Spain went all the way in the tournament even if it meant Fernando missing Aiden’s birthday.

Riley knew better than anyone that there was a chance that Vicente wouldn’t call Fernando up again, he wasn’t his best at the club and she knew that he was getting older.

The brunette was sure that he had many years left in his career but she knew that places for the national team were competitive; she knew that she’d always be proud of him no matter what.

“Mama… when will papa be home?” Nora asked as she looked up at Riley, her brown eyes shining as if knowing that the answer wasn’t going to be any time soon.

Riley offered her a small smile as she pressed a kiss to the top of the little girl’s head, she knew it hadn’t been an easy two weeks for the children; they missed Fernando as much as she did.

“Soon…” Riley said softly as she sat down at the table with the children to eat breakfast, she knew that was all she could say since Spain had what it took to reach the finals.

***

Fernando smiled softly as he stared at his laptop screen, the match had been amazing and their win against France had sent them through to the next round meaning they were one step closer to the final.

“Have you both been good for your madre?” Fernando asked as he looked at Aiden and Nora, he felt bad for missing the little boy’s birthday but he was going to make it up to him when he had the chance.

Fernando had gone and sort out the match ball that had been given to Xabi, he knew his friend wouldn’t mind giving it to him especially since he wanted to get the entire team to sign it as a gift for Aiden.

“Of course daddy,” Aiden said as Nora agreed with him, they smiled at Fernando knowing that this was the only time that they saw him anymore, over a computer screen.

Riley sat quietly as she listened to Fernando excitedly talk to the children, she knew that he was missing them and she wished that Vicente would remove the ban that was keeping all of the footballer’s spouses and families from flying out to be with the team.

“When will you be home?” Nora asked as she peered at her father, she wanted him home now and she knew it wasn’t possible since he was working; she pouted a little as she stared at him.

Fernando sighed hating that he couldn’t be with them, he knew that he would have given anything to be home for Aiden’s third birthday but it wasn’t possible with the team still playing in the Euros.

“Soon I promise,” Fernando said knowing that it was the only answer that he could give, Spain could be knocked out by Portugal in their next match or they could make it through to the final which was a still a week away from now.

Aiden nodded his head sadly as he realised that Fernando wasn’t going to be home for his birthday, he sniffled a little making Riley swallow as she moved to comfort him knowing that Fernando would feel guilty.

“I promise Aid… I’ll make it up to you,” the footballer said hating that he had upset the little boy, he cursed Vicente in his mind knowing that his family could have been here with him if it wasn’t for that rule.

The national coach didn’t want any of his players distracted by their families and had placed the ban until the final if the team reached it.

“I even have an extra special gift for you,” Fernando said as he glanced at the match ball, he wasn’t finished collecting signatures yet but he knew that it would be special to Aiden.

The footballer swallowed as he looked back at his son, he knew he would do anything to make this up to him; he smiled softly as he looked at Riley knowing that their phone calls just hadn’t been enough recently for him.

They had agreed that it was only fair that Fernando spent his skype calls speaking with the children before bed, he would speak to Riley later on when they were fast asleep but it wasn’t enough for the footballer anymore.

***

“I miss you,” Riley murmured as she sat down, her brown eyes looking at Fernando surprised that he had asked to skype with her; she knew he was missing them and it could be another week before they saw one another.

Fernando smiled as he looked at her, she looked amazing and he knew it was down to her pregnancy right now; he hated that he couldn’t be there for her.

“I miss you too,” Fernando said wanting to reach out and touch her, even though he knew it was impossible; he couldn’t wait to have her and the children back in his arms.

The footballer knew he would spend the rest of the summer making up for the fact that he wasn’t there now; he had several weeks before the pre-season started and he knew a holiday in Spain would be good for them.

Flori wanted to bond further with Riley especially with the brunette pregnant with her grandchild; she was finding that she liked Riley a little more than she had ever liked Olalla.

“How are you?” Fernando asked as he watched her, he knew she was still in the first trimester of pregnancy and he wasn’t going to admit that it made him nervous to be parted from her.

The footballer smiled knowing that in thirty-one weeks that they would have a beautiful healthy baby; he was sure of it and had a feeling that it was going to be a little boy.

“I’m fine… so is peanut,” Riley said as she rested a hand on her still flat stomach, it wouldn’t stay that way much longer and she could see the excitement in Fernando’s eyes at the mention of their baby.

The brunette had recently taken to calling their unborn child peanut since that was what she thought that it looked like; she knew it made Fernando smile whenever she did it.

“Good… I can’t wait to be back with you, the children and peanut,” Fernando said as he smiled, he wanted to be home and he knew that when the tournament was over; he would get what he wanted and he knew that it wasn’t going to be long now.

The footballer couldn’t help but look over at the small black box that sat on his bedside table out of view, his father had given it too him when he had arrived in Spain and now he just needed a plan to give it to Riley.