“Not really, no.” Julia sighed. “I do miss it sometimes, though. Everything seemed easier then. To still have your future in front of you.”

“My babcia is eighty-seven and she’d tell you she still has a future. You’re twenty-six. Trust me, your future is still in front of you.” Kat nudged her shoulder against Julia’s. “Where is this coming from, anyway? I thought things were going well.”

“They are,” Julia agreed.

“Aren’t we celebrating your new job tonight?”

“We are. We did.” Julia groaned and rubbed her sushi-stuffed belly. “I’m excited about this job. Frankly, I can’t believe it’s happening. But I also keep having doubts. Maybe it’s the echo of years of my parents asking me these questions, but I can’t help wondering if my life is headed in the right direction. Did I choose the right career path. Am I going to meet the right person … Your standard, garden-variety esoteric shit.”

“Hm.” Andie reached for the bottle of Sapporo and poured some into her glass. “You know what happens when you take enough right turns?”

“What?”

“You end up back where you started.” Andie handed the beer to Julia.

Julia stared down at the bottle, considering her friend’s words as she traced a finger over the star on the label. “Interesting point.” She refilled her glass and passed what was left in the bottle to Kat. “Do you think that’s my problem?”

“What?” Andie studied Julia. “That you’re going in circles?”

“That I’m back where I started.”

“Why do you say that?” Kat wondered.

“It’s hard to explain.” Julia puckered her brow in thought as she searched for the right words. “It’s like there’s this hole inside me, an empty space that I can’t seem to fill.” She rubbed a hand over her chest. “I can ignore it for a little while, get lost in my work, but I can’t forget about it.” She dropped her hand and sighed. “I can’t stop wondering if I made a mistake. Took the wrong turn.”

“You need to pivot,” Andie surmised.

Julia looked at Andie over the rim of her glass. “Meaning?”

“When I have my players do pivot drills, I make them keep one foot stationary and use the other to shift direction. This way, they can see every option available to them before committing.” She stood, demonstrating by turning in a circle, stockinged foot of her stationary leg spinning slowly on the hardwood floor. “The goal is to stay grounded and maintain your current position while finding the best way forward.” Andie pivoted again. “Sometimes all it takes is a small change in direction to change your perspective.”

“Listen, Andie, if you ever get tired of coaching soccer you might want to consider becoming a life coach. I’m completely serious.” Kat blinked. “Do you happen to have any sage advice for me?”