“Dad’s giving me the team,” she squeaks.
I drop back onto the couch like the world shoved me. “What?”
“Dad’s giving me the team. He says he can’t sell it because it operates at a loss, but he’s setting up a trust and giving me the team.”
I look at Holt.
He’s gaping at my sister with the door as wide open still as his mouth is now.
Miranda squats and pets Jessica. “Did you hear that, Jessica?I own a rugby team. Or I will. When the paperwork goes through. How nuts is this? It’s completely nuts, isn’t it?Completely nuts.”
“So Holt can have his job back?” I ask.
She straightens and flings herself at him, hugging him hard. “Pleasecome back and play for the Pounders. You’re my favorite. Don’t tell Fletcher. Or do. I’d love to see how he tries to win the title himself.”
She spins away from Holt, who finally shuts the front door, to dance across the living room and plop down next to me, then hug me too. “Ziggy, I amfreaking out,” she whisper-shrieks. “I don’t know anything about owning a rugby team.”
I hug her back. “Do you want this?”
“Yes. I mean, I didn’t know I wanted it, but—but I do. I so don’t deserve this. I haven’t earned it. I don’t know enough about rugby. I don’t know enough aboutbusiness. And that’s what it is. It’s a business. Oh my god. I’m going to destroy it.I’m going to completely and totallywreckthe club. What am I doing?I can’t own a rugby team. I barely know how to change a lightbulb and there are like seventy million of them at the stadium.Oh my god.”
“Breathe.” I know. I know. Not helpful.
But she clearly needs the reminder.
“Dad said he’s fucked up too much and the guys need new leadership, and he thinks it’s me,” she says. “He says I’m ready, but am I? I’m not. I am absolutely not.”
“Breathe,” Holt echoes.
“What isbreathe?” Miranda says. “I don’t know that word.”
He sits on the couch on her other side.
Jessica prances at all of our feet.
“Happen to know a guy who knows more than he should about how to run a rugby team,” Holt says.
Miranda wrinkles her nose. “But then I have to talk to him and his ego.”
Holt looks at her, then he cracks up.
I do too.
But not for long.
Miranda’s still freaking out. “What if they don’t respect me? Whowouldrespect me? I haven’t earned this.”
“You will,” Holt says.
I love his quiet authority. His belief in the people around him. His support.
Howdida man this perfect land in my world?
No idea, but I do know I’ll do everything in my power to deserve him every day.
Just like I know Miranda is up to the challenge of proving she has what it takes to run the Pounders.
“And you’re not alone,” I add. “You have a whole team who already adore you. The office staff too.”
