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My parents raised me to put family first, and that’s what I’m trying to do, not only by offering my cousin this amazing opportunity, but also by organizing my priorities between head coach, restaurant owner, and father. I just hope that Alycia and I can work it out.

I go to the living room and collapse on the couch, closing my eyes. I’m tired, but I can’t stop thinking about Alycia and the baby.

I wonder what they’ll look like, what their personality will be like. Will they have her eyes, my hair? Will they be a boy or a girl? Will they love football or cooking? It’s too early to even think about it, but it’s hard not to.

I want to call Alycia and talk until we answer all our questions and solve all our problems, but if there’s one thing I have learned about that family, it’s that you don’t rush a Delvaux who’s off-plan.

The way she’s been behaving the past week tells me she’s not used to it. I can give her the time to figure out what she wants. It’s the least I can do.

CHAPTER 5 – Alycia

Tuesday, July 8

It feels weird to drive to Dawnbreak Athletic’s headquarters again. I haven’t been here since Declan cornered me and put his hands on me. I shudder at the memory, pushing it away. I won’t let him ruin this day.

I haven’t spoken to my family much these last few weeks, just a few calls to my mom and some texts with Lexa. I needed time to sort things out in my head.

But today, I’m ready to put my plan in motion. I’ve made my decision.

I park my car and look up at the building. It’s not as impressive as the Tide’s headquarters, and it never will be, but somebody has finally opened the windows. It doesn’t smell like damp carpet anymore.

I get out of the car and head inside. There’s no receptionist at the door, because money’s still tight, but the interior is clean and inviting.

The bucket that used to sit under the leaking pipe in the hallway is gone. I notice it immediately as I walk past its usual spot on the way to my mother’s office.

I knock on the door, then push it open. My mother looks up from her desk, a small smile on her face.

She isn’t surprised to see me. We’ve had this meeting on the books for a week now. I just haven’t told her my decision yet.

“Alycia,” she says. “Punctual as always. And perfect timing too. We finally get to use our newly renovated conference room. Shall we?”

“Let’s,” I reply, following her out of the office. I’m nervous. This is a big step. But I’m ready.

When we enter the conference room I’m taken aback. Not because of the room—I never even saw it before the renovation—but because of the woman sitting next to Carmen Griffin.

“Patricia Hale,” I say, surprised that a Tide board member would attend this meeting. “What are you doing here?”

The last time I sat across a table from Patricia Hale, she asked me for the name on nine invoices, and I took four seconds to tell her I’d have to look. I counted them.

She stands up, extending her hand. “Alycia. Good to see you.”

I shake her hand. “You too. But I thought you were on the board of the Tide.”

“I was,” she says, then sighs. “Things at the Tide have changed a lot since you left.”

“Starting with the name,” Carmen adds. “Who even came up with the Predators? It’s so cliché.” She rolls her eyes. “Not to mention that ridiculous press conference.”

I smile. It’s good to know I’m not the only one who didn’t like the whole thing. “Yeah, it was… something.”

“The board didn’t exactly agree with the rebranding,” Patricia says. “And once we voiced our disagreement, we were let go.”

“Let go?” I repeat, shocked. “But you’ve been on the board for years.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Patricia says with a shrug. “They replaced us with Apex cronies. People who will do whatever they’re told, without question.”

“That’s horrible,” I say. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she says. “It was a blessing in disguise. I always knew Isabella was the one with real vision. That became even clearer once she left.”