Chapter Text
Hope waited outside the conference room door with the other assistant coaches and team personnel. The others were trying to guess what this meeting could be about. So far the prevailing theory was a last minute trade. With the season beginning in a month, a trade would be unexpected, but not completely unheard of. Camp would start within the week, so if it really was a trade, it would be a shock for the players involved. Hope didn’t care either way, so she leaned up against the wall and disinterestedly played with her phone. No matter which players they brought in, she’d do her job. Plus, the chances of them bringing in a new keeper were less than zero. Kop was Seattle’s lifetime keeper after Hope had retired. She didn’t see that changing, especially with the success rate Kop had in the box.
The door to the conference room opened suddenly and they were invited inside. Hope followed the small crowd into the room and took a seat at the table with the Reign’s other staff members. She internally raised an eyebrow as she surveyed the table. The entire staff, including ownership was there. Laura Harvey, the longtime general manager and coach, stood and addressed the table, “Thank you all for coming, we don’t usually drag everyone down here, but we’re looking to make a big move and we want everyone’s thoughts. Granted, your thoughts may not make a difference whatsoever, but we’re asking anyway.”
Chuckles filled the room. Hope knitted her eyebrows together in concentration and wondered who they wanted to bring in and who was going to be out because of it. Harvey looked around the room as she continued, “As you know, Pinoe’s decided to retire at the end of this season. That is going to leave us with a pretty significant hole in leadership. We have some other veteran players, who can certainly lead this team, but they’re all defenders and we want to shake things up on offense.” She paused and looked at Hope, “We want to bring in Kelley O’Hara.”
Murmurs arose from the table, but all Hope could hear was the buzzing in her ears. They wanted Kelley O’Hara in Seattle. Of course they did. It made perfect sense: veteran leadership, versatility, creative goal scoring, and she’s the ultimate team player. Hope swallowed and looked up at Harvey, who was looking at her expectantly. She had no idea what Harvey had asked her so she diverted the question, “Will Chicago give her up that easily?”
“We’ve been in talks with them all week. They desperately need youth and defenders so we do have something to offer them. They’ve been stingy so far with how well she’s done for them since they picked her up from Sky Blue, but we think they’re going to cave. They need to start rebuilding soon. They’ve got a ton of older players,” Harvey explained.
Hope nodded, still reeling from the announcement. Harvey’s answer sparked some discussion amongst the other coaches and Hope took a second to catch her breath and hopefully slow her pulse, which was beating frantically in spite of her seemingly calm exterior. Hope had always been good at masking her emotions when she needed to. She set her jaw and willed her heart rate to slow.
Three years. It had been three years since she’d seen Kelley. Three years since she’d retired unexpectedly from professional soccer. Three years since she’d let her heart get away from her. And now here she was, being thrown right back into the fray, no better off, by the lump in her throat. Shit, she thought, why does it have to be Kelley?
Hope took a breath and looked up as Harvey addressed her again, “So Hope, you’ve been uncharacteristically quiet. You played with her for a long time. Is she worth it?”
Hope cleared her throat and sat up, “What are we giving up?”
Harvey sighed, as the room turned back to her, “Well, that’s the thing. They want a lot for her.”
Hope arched an eyebrow, “I’m sure they do. She’s a veteran with a gold medal and a world cup. She can literally play anywhere and has the best instincts of anyone I’ve ever seen. Defensively she can track anyone down. Offensively her crosses are fantastic and she scores goals. And she hasn’t lost a step even though she’s thirty. So what are they asking for exactly?”
Harvey nodded at Hope’s assessment, “They want two young field players, preferably defensive and a first round pick for next year. We want a pick in return, even if it’s a later round.”
Hope nodded slowly, as if thinking it over. She swallowed her trepidation and relented, “She’s Kelley O’Hara, of course she’s worth it.”
***
Kelley reached for the buzzing phone on the coffee table. Her heart sank as she saw the name of her agent on the display. They weren’t scheduled for a meeting for a few weeks, so chances are this was big news. Kelley took a deep breath to steel herself before answering. The question was whether the big news would be good or bad.
“Hey Mike!” she greeted her longtime agent. “I didn’t expect to be hearing from you so soon.”
“Hey Kelley! My favorite soccer player! So I’m calling with some big news. You’ve been causing quite a stir!” her agent said.
Kelley’s stomach dropped. This meant a trade. She’d just gotten used to Chicago and now he was going to tell her she was going to have to start all over again. “Really?” she asked, her voice laced with apprehension.
“Hey no worries, this is going to be huge for you. Are you sitting down?” her agent teased.
“Oh my god Mike, will you just tell me?” Kelley asked, barely able to contain her annoyance.
He chuckled on the other end before answering, “You’re going to Seattle kid. Welcome to the big time!”
Seattle. Holy shit. Kelley swallowed her shock. Seattle. The Seattle Reign. Hope’s team. Hope’s hometown. Hope. Shit.
“Isn’t that great?!” he continued. “Seattle was already a contender and with you, now they’re going to be the best in the league. It’s going to be a huge year for you! Third world cup, defending champs, and now you’re going to Seattle! This is your year Kelley!”
“Uh, yeah. Wow. Yeah, this is such a surprise,” Kelley answered automatically. She was still reeling from the shock. The season started in a month. She had just been gearing up for the Red Stars camp to start and now she’d have to pack and move. And get there before camp started. Shit!
“I bet! Hey I know this was super last minute, but you’re going to have to find a way to get there ASAP. Their camp starts Wednesday. I know that’s only a few days from now, but you know people out there right? Any way you can get yourself out there? Being at camp on time would send a clear message that you’re happy to be there!” her agent advised.
“Um, yeah. God of course. I wouldn’t miss it. And yeah, this is a great opportunity. When are they announcing it?” Kelley asked distractedly.
“In a few hours. They wanted to make sure everyone knew already before they told the world,” he answered.
“Yeah, ok. Well, I have a lot to do now! Thanks Mike,” Kelley replied.
“No problem champ! Let it reign!” he laughed before hanging up.
Jesus. Seattle. The fucking Seattle Reign. Any team in the damn league and it had to be Seattle, Kelley thought, covering her face with her hands and taking a deep breath. Deep down she knew it was an amazing opportunity. Seattle was a contender every year and they must have really wanted her because she knew Chicago had been happy with play. But now she was going to Seattle. Home of the great Hope Solo.
Kelley stared out her apartment window at the Chicago skyline in the distance as she thought about the last time she’d seen Hope. For three years she had tried to get the picture of the retreating figure out of her head to no avail. She thought her last memory of Hope would always be of her walking away after her last game, having just given Kelley one last look of love and heartbreak. Kelley could hear her last words to the goalkeeper echoing in her head, I hope you’re happy.
She hadn’t even said goodbye. And Hope had said nothing in return. She’d only given her that last look before getting into the cab headed for the airport. Kelley felt a twinge of the old anger and guilt that followed her since the day she broke Hope Solo’s heart.
Now she was going to have to see her every day. Granted, Hope was just the goalkeeper coach for the Reign, but still. She’d see her plenty. Shit. They hadn’t talked since that day. Kelley had thought about calling or texting or reaching out, but hadn’t gotten farther than picking up her phone. The truth was she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was still angry that Hope hadn’t fought for her and had just accepted Kelley’s proclamation that they were over. She was still hurt that Hope always chose everything else over her. And every thought of Hope was laced with the guilt that the greatest goalkeeper in US history had decided to suddenly retire after her heart had been broken by some stupid defender who rode the bench. Fuck.
The front door of her apartment opened suddenly and Kelley pulled her gaze away from the window to greet her girlfriend. “Hey babe,” Jen greeted her, setting the groceries down on the counter. She noticed Kelley’s faraway gaze and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Kelley shook her head and met her girlfriend’s concerned eyes, “I’m going to Seattle.”