i feel like she’s got to realize at the end of the day she got two national titles with the school and three great seasons that’s so much she got there that she should take the offer because it’s her future and if she turns it down she may never get another offer
the side plot has begun 🤗 and my cliff hangers have returned
au masterlist
“wow..this is amazing, sweetie. we’re so proud of you,” ellen rushed out after reading the lengthy letter from the head coach. jim reread it more closely after looking at it from over his wife’s shoulder. samy embraced her mom, the excitement not as prominent on her features.
“this is so big for you. wow, i have no words,” the older woman laughed as she looked at the letter again, but she finally caught her daughter’s somewhat solemn expression.
“you don’t seem as excited?” ellen pointed out.
“no, no, i am. i am. i just..i guess i’m still processing it all. they’ve been looking at me since my freshman year and they want me right away..” the girl trailed off a bit. she couldn’t believe a program like theirs had eyes on her since she was 18 and now they wanted her. of all people they wanted her on their team right away.
but at what cost? if samy signed on, she’d lose her last year at mich. what about all the friends she’s made? hannah? the two had plans for a house already next year. her teammates? she couldn’t just abandon those girls she’s spent so much time with? they needed her for her last year.
“are you thinking about not taking the offer?” jim approached the subject and samy flushed, burying her face into her hands.
“i don’t know. my mind’s been all over the place,” the younger girl admitted. she thought driving home to talk to her parents would help lead her in the right direction, but samy still felt incredibly lost.
“what would make you not wanna take it?” ellen wondered, her hand rubbing her daughter’s shoulder.
“everything i’ve built at mich. my senior year of college? hannah? the team? my last collegiate season with the program i basically helped build? there’s a lot,” samy rambled off and her parents exchanged a glance.
“and what would you lose if you didn’t take this offer?”
“maybe my only chance to go pro at a sport i love and have devoted my life to since i was like 12,” the brunette laughed a bit sadly.
“honey, we want you to make the best choice for yourself. this is such an amazing accomplishment right here. there’s people who see your talent and the skill you possess. remember when we were having a similar conversation about if you wanted to stick to hockey or take on soccer full time? back then, there wasn’t a pro league for women’s hockey yet and you knew soccer would bring you a lot more opportunity in the future. this is one of those moments, babe. a full offer right in front of you,” ellen said gently and samy sighed. she eyed the invitation again and everything in her mind was pulling her in two different directions.
“have you told your brothers yet? will?” jim asked and the girl shook her head.
“i haven’t told anyone except you guys.”
“maybe you should call them. they might have some insightful advice or a different perspective we aren’t saying,” her dad offered and samy knew he had a point.
her brothers always had something good to say, but she also knew they would tell her to take the opportunity. she knew will would tell her to because then they’d be closer if she moved out to california.
“yeah, i probably should,” samy nodded and her parents squeezed her shoulders.
“we’re gonna be proud of you no matter what you decide, okay? don’t think you’ll disappoint us if you decide to stay or go,” ellen whispered before sending her upstairs to have some space.
the brunette wandered back into her room, collapsing on her bed to just breathe for a second. she found her phone and trailed to the sibling group chat—a wash of deja vu hitting her back when she was calling her brothers to help her decide what college to go to. it was all so familiar being home in her childhood bedroom with no one but her parents downstairs.
luke joined the call first and then jack’s face appeared a second later in the same frame, “what’s up pop?” jack grinned.
“hi moose, hi rowdy,” samy smiled seeing them. luke readjusted his phone so she could see both of them on the couch together.
quinn connected a second later in his own apartment. he waved, “what’s up crew?”
“hey q-tip,” jack snickered at the nickname making quinn roll his eyes.
“i thought we talked about not calling me that,” the older boy said.
“we did, but i’m still calling you it,” the middle hughes snickered.
“i miss you guys. i wish you were here,” samy smiled sadly.
“uh oh, whenever baby hughes gets sappy, it means something’s wrong. what’s wrong?” jack immediately said and the girl flushed at how well he knew her.
“nothing bad..i just..” she trailed off and eyed the letter now on her desk, “i got an offer to play pro out in california,” she finally got out.
the three boys’ eyes widened in disbelief.
“no fucking way. holy shit, samy! that’s awesome!” luke quickly exclaimed.
“what team?” quinn asked.
“bay fc. apparently head coach montoya has been watching me since my freshman year and he wants me on,” the girl explained briefly which only heightened her brother’s excitement.
“holy shit, pop. that’s amazing. i always knew you had it in you,” jack grinned.
“but he wants me on right away which means i forfeit my last year at mich to move out to san francisco,” samy explained the downside.
“ah, the catch. there’s always a catch,” luke tsked.
“i mean that’s basically what moose and i did. we played at mich for two years before going pro. it sucks it has to be your last year but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” quinn rambled a bit and the girl nodded. she bit at her lip and luke quickly caught onto her expression.
“are you considering not taking it?” he voiced his thought out loud.
“you have to, sam. bay fc is a wicked good team. they’re like top eight right now. if the head coach has been watching you since freshman year that has to mean something,” jack quickly cut in.
“i know, i know, i guess it’s just a lot to process right now. i mean how do i leave a program i helped build and bring two national titles home to? hannah? my teammates? my last year at mich in general. that’s not something i can just easily walk away from. it may be easy for you to say, jack because you never went to college,” the last part was a harsh dig and samy knew that.
“okay, okay, you’re right, pop. walking away from a team like that isn’t easy,” quinn stepped in before an argument escalated.
“sorry, i didn’t mean it like that,” she quickly backtracked. her emotions were definitely getting the better of her right now.
“i get it, it’s not easy. you know everyone would want you to take it though, right? that team, your coach, hannah, they’d all want you to take that in a heartbeat after everything you’ve done for the school and the program,” jack came a little softer.
“does will know?” quinn wondered and the brunette shook her head.
“i haven’t mentioned anything. i drove home after getting the letter to tell mom and dad. you guys are the only people besides them who know right now.”
“well, he’s gonna be ecstatic that you’ll be so close by,” luke grinned and the girl flushed.
“but don’t make a decision just because you’ll be close to your boyfriend,” quinn said and the girl rolled her eyes a bit.
“and when have i ever done that?” she said, but the older boy shrugged.
“just reminding you.”
“what do you think i should do?” samy asked her brothers honestly.
“you know we can’t answer that for you, pop. it’s your choice. your life. your dream,” jack said and the girl nodded.
“but if you were me, what would you do?”
“i’d remember the really great three years i’ve had with my teammates and friends and let that carry me into the next chapter in my life. the legacy you’ve left there isn’t gonna be one anyone forgets, samy,” luke hummed.
the younger girl sighed knowing she had a lot to think about in the next three weeks. it should’ve been such an easy decision for her, but the idea of leaving behind everything she’s ever known in a place that’s built her family wasn’t as easy thinking about.
