Plates are cleared. Drinks are finished.
Then someone leans back in their chair, stretching. “Alright, so who’s up for a drink?”
A few heads turn toward me. “We usually hit up a bar nearby after training kicks our asses. It’s tradition.”
I hesitate. I already pushed myself by saying yes to dinner. I already stepped out of my comfort zone. I should go back. Rest. Stay smart.
But something about tonight feels different. I glance at my reflection in the restaurant’s window. The bright colors in myhair catch the light. And instead of feeling self-conscious about it, I feel bold.
I meet my teammates’ expectant stares. I grin. “Alright. One drink.”
The cheers that go up are loud enough to turn heads in the restaurant.
I laugh, shaking my head as they start plotting where we’re going.
When we leave the restaurant, I head back to my hotel first—because if I’m doing this, I’m doing it right. I put on a cute outfit that’s a little out of my normal wardrobe choice—a short flared skirt with a matching crop top. I add more makeup than normal—sharp cat’s-eye liner and a bold red lipstick. I own the version of me I saw in that window reflection.
Because maybe—just maybe—tonight isn’t just about proving myself on the field.
Maybe it’s about letting myself be seen.
And for once?
That doesn’t feel like a bad thing.