Chapter 35
ALEJANDRA
One Call Away - Charlie Puth
Staring at the ceiling of her room back in Conil wasn’t doing her any good.
Doctor Gonzalez’s words kept repeating in her mind, and the number of the therapist laid on her nightstand, judging her for not having made a decision yet.
She hadn’t mentioned that to her parents or Carlos.
None of them had to go through therapy, and even though she had never had a wrong opinion about it, always supported Sofia or Ilias every time they went, there was a twisting feeling in her guts that she had failed.
Maybe Doctor Gonzalez was right, maybe it wasn’t just physical.
Maybe she needed real help. And the therapist she’d recommended?
She was based in London. Having a chat with her wasn’t going to be the end of the world.
And yet, she kept jumping between it’s the worst idea ever, and yeah, I can definitely do it.
A normal person would think video calls, remote therapy.
But not her. Her brain had latched onto one thing: Callum lived in London.
What a coincidence, wasn’t it? Was it life finally giving her the push she needed?
Were they fated mates like in her fantasy books?
Destined to be together for the rest of their lives?
It was stupid. Maybe selfish. Maybe it was an excuse. But it also felt like a lifeline.
She lay flat on her bed, thumb hovering over his name.
He had Board Night. She shouldn’t bother him.
And yet, she needed to talk to him. Maybe it was late enough that they had already gone home.
He had mentioned Leif, Asma and two French rugby players she had met at the Olympics—Sebastian and Omar.
She remembered them and she felt the world was extremely tiny sometimes.
She pressed his name and waited.
“Hello? You’re talking to the champion of Board Night.”
His voice was pure cheer, smug and familiar.
Alejandra let out a small laugh. “Yes, I was definitely looking for him.”
His low chuckle vibrated through the phone and down her spine.
Joder. She wanted him. His voice, his touch, his goddamn calm.
Being with him made her feel like she could breathe again.
Which terrified her. No man had ever had this power over her.
What did it mean that her happiness was somehow linked to a person and not the thrill of surfing?
“How was your day? What did the doctor say? Are you sling-free now?”
He fired the questions before she could even have time to explain the reason why she had called.
“I am.” She smiled softly, fond of how worried he sounded. Gosh, this man was too good to be true. Hot and emotionally available, comfortable in his masculinity and femininity. She was fucking screwed. “She said I’m recovering well…”
“But?”
God, how did he always know?
“She thinks my injury is more than just physical. That I might have… trauma,” she admitted, the word catching in her throat. Saying it out loud after having spent the entire day thinking about them scared her. “And if I don’t work through it, I might lose more than just shoulder mobility.”
There was a pause. A deep, understanding silence.
“Makes sense,” he said finally. “Did she give you options?”
“She gave me a therapist’s name.”
“Are you going to contact them?”
“I—I think so…but I don’t want to worry my family. So, I haven’t truly said anything to them yet.” Her voice was almost a whisper, scared that Carlos could eavesdrop.
“It’s just a decision you have to make, Alejandra. Nobody can make it for you.”
She nodded, her eyes now drifting to the crumpled piece of paper.
“She’s in London.”
A pause. “How convenient,” he said with a grin in his voice. “There’s a bed here warmed by a Welsh guy, just waiting for you.”
She bit back a smile. “Yes, very convenient. But…” Here it comes. “I don’t want to crash your life, Callum. I’m not at my best. I’ll need a good recovery center. I don’t want to show up and just take over everything.”
“Alejandra,” he said gently. “You wouldn’t be crashing my life. You already did that, cariad.”
Her heart stuttered at that word. That damn accent. The soft way he said it.
“But I am worried,” she whispered. Almost scared to voice out her inner demons.
“I’m scared I’m using you. That I’m clinging to you just to avoid how I actually feel.
When I’m with you, it’s like everything gets lighter, like I’m not drowning.
But I don’t know if that’s healthy. You make me feel good, and not just the sex. ”
“Which is great,” he cut in, teasing.
“Yeah,” she admitted, smiling despite herself. “Which is great. But I don’t want to be this ego-driven, hyper-focused athlete who bulldozes through people. I don’t want to do that to you.”
“You’re not doing that,” he added, firm. “You’re not crashing into me. You’re not using me. I want you here. I want to help, Alejandra. You’re not alone in this.”
She hesitated. “But—”
“No buts. It’s all in your head,” he said gently, but without coddling. “Tell me the truth, do you feel good when we’re together?”
“Yes,” she said instantly. “I do. A lot.” She paused. “I’ve only ever dated other athletes. It was always about timing, performance, training schedules.”
“And I was one,” he reminded her. “I know exactly what this feels like. When I lost my shot at the Olympics, I was in a dark place too. But I had someone who helped me stay afloat. I’ll never forget what that meant. I’d be honored if I could be that person for you.”
Her breath caught. For a moment, she didn’t say anything.
Then: “So… when can I come?”
“Tomorrow. Now. Whenever you want.” His voice dropped, warm and certain. “My house is your house.. Or—how do you say it in Spanish? Mi casa es tu casa?”
She chuckled. “Butchered the pronunciation, but yeah, close enough. Mi casa es tu casa. I’ll check flights from Seville and text you the details, alright?”
“Perfect.” He paused before hanging up. “This is even better than winning Board Night.”
When the call ended, Alejandra stared at the ceiling again, but now her heart was thudding—light, fast, hopeful. She found herself smiling wildly.
She was going to London. No waves. No ocean.
Just Callum. And somehow that felt okay.
She knew that the therapist being in London was just an excuse, but she needed one to go there and to her family, she would just tell them that she wanted to meet him again, which was the reality.
She felt so confused under many aspects, her future being the major point, and yet, when it came to Callum, she had known since the first time she had seen him in Tarifa that he wasn’t going to be a quick parenthesis in her life.
No, he carved a place in her heart, and the more she got to know him, the more she realized that there was more than the Superman looks.
He was such a sweet guy, and she needed sweet. Sweet and rough, like he was.