She cackles and pats me on the shoulder. “There’s that confidence. Working with Kai really did work wonders for you. You might even come back to the game better than before.”

Working with Kai is the best decision I’ve made in thirteen years. “That’s the goal, Coach.”

After all my meetings are tied up, I head over to Angie and Justine’s place for a surprise visit.

I expect to have to track them down when I get inside, but they’re waiting for me in the kitchen and Justine hands me a margarita. “How’d you know I was coming?”

Angie rolls her eyes. “How did we know she was coming? Claro que si, she was coming. I wish she would come back and not come see us. Idiota,” she mumbles, more to herself and Justine, then pulls me into a hug.

Justine lets out a small laugh behind the rim of her glass. “I think she meant how did we know she was coming at this exact time, babe.”

Angie looks at me for confirmation, which the rise of my eyebrow provides, and then shrugs with no apology. Dramatic ass.

Justine whispers to me behind Angie’s back that she’s already had a few margaritas so to ignore her. I’m shocked she’s allowing herself to indulge with the U.S. Women’s National Team season in full swing and the National Women’s Soccer League season about to start, and she must realize this because she offers me an explanation without me asking. “This is your going away party!”

I chortle. “Awww, you do love me.”

She strains her thumb and forefinger together. “Un poco. Now drink, bitch.”

Four margaritas later, the three of us are lying on the couch reminiscing on the fun times we’ve had in this city. Justine’s family is scattered all over the US, but her parents live in LA in a house Tyson bought for them. Angie’s family is split between Honduras and Florida. Up until this year, the only other family I had was Patrice in Atlanta. With our demanding work schedules, it’s hard for us to see our families so we relied on each other to fill those gaps. I was fine with being away from them for this past year because I thought I’d be coming back. It feels weird to know that I won’t now. We’ve lived in different cities before, so I know our friendship will stand the test of time but still. It feels like the end of an era, but the beginning of a new one.

“Who am I gonna make rosquillas with now? Her noncooking ass?” Angie whines. Justine throws a pillow at her.

“I know where my skills lie and I stick to that.” By skills she means she makes the drinks while we make the food.

“Mm-hmmmm, you’ve got a skillful mouth too, babe,” Angie hums.