Page 81 of Sweet Redemption

“He’s good. But he’s looking to sell the team.” There. That was the first hurdle.

“And what?” I watch the way Dad moves, like this is a game of chess, and he’s protecting his queen. “Is he looking for King Corp. to buy the team?”

“King Corp. doesn’t know soccer,” I point out. “But I do.”

Dad’s head raises slowly, possibly intrigued. Definitely caught off guard. “Are you asking King Corp. to buy the team for you to run?”

“No.” I open the folder and slide it across his desk so he can look at the prospectus I’ve spent every waking minute of the past week putting together. “I’m asking you to take this proposal to King Corp. for me. I’d like to purchase 51 percent of the team and would like King Corp. to purchase 49 percent.”

SERENA

Sometimes there is no right choice.

You make the choice, and you make it right.

—Serena’s Secret Thoughts

“Holy shit,” Olivia gasps. “And what did he say?”

I look at myself in the mirror and rip my dress over my head. “Seriously, what are you supposed to wear on a first date with a man who’s already seen you naked?”

“Focus, Serena. One thing at a time.”

“I am focused, Livvy. I’m focused on whether going braless is sending the wrong message. What do you think?”

“I mean it’s not exactly the same as going commando. But let’s say we put a pin in that and focus on what your dad said,” she snaps, her excitement vibrating through every syllable. “Come on. The team. What did he say about the team?”

“Oh . . . right.” I add the dress to the growing pile at my feet and blow out a frustrated breath. “I miss you living here.”

“Serena Kingston,” she screeches. “I swear to God⁠—”

“Sorry, right.” I sigh as I search through my closet for a dress that might work.

“He said he’d take it to the board. Which basically means he’s going to call your mom and get her take on it, then open way too much wine with all the aunts and uncles, and they can basically vote on my future.”

Got it. I grab a pale-pink sleeveless, flowy minidress from the hanger and smile. Sexy but sweet without looking like I’ve spent forty-five minutes trying to find the perfect dress. And score one for me, it’s one of the few things that make my legs look long. Not an easy thing to do at my height. Perfect.

“And . . .” Liv nudges.

“And then he told me if King Corp. says no, he and Mom will partner with me. I mean he has to check with Mom first⁠—”

“King Corp. would be stupid to say no. The first women’s professional soccer team in the tri-state area . . . That’s a no-brainer. Are you going to build a stadium or share Kings Stadium?”

“I’m not sure yet. Based on the projections, I think it makes more sense to partner with the Kings and rent their stadium while we build a fan base. After a few years, it might make financial sense to build. But right now, I don’t think it really does.”

“Be sure, Serena. Don’t let them push you around. You’re going to hold the majority. These decisions are going to come down to you, not the family. Not King Corp. And I am so fucking excited for you.”

“I’m excited for me too.” For as long as I can remember planning a future, it was always going to be soccer. Playing it. Living it. Breathing it. Go D1. Play for the national team. The Olympics. The pros. And like a handwritten to-do list, I checked each of my goals off with the kind of satisfaction only someone as neurotic as me could enjoy.

Until one shitty slide tackle changed it all.

But this . . . this feels like getting a piece of myself back.

This feels right. Like I could be good at this. Like maybe I could still turn my love of soccer into a dream career.

Soccer but different.

Not bad. Just new.