"Derek?" Rosie said eventually.
"Yeah?"
"I added a new song to our playlist. For today."
"Yeah? What is it?"
She pulled out her phone and played an acoustic cover of "We Are the Champions."
I groaned. "Really? That's so cheesy."
"It's perfect and you know it." She was grinning. "Besides, you said you'd pretend not to like my song choices but secretly love them. It's kind of our thing."
"It is our thing." I kissed her. "Play it again."
She did, and we sat there listening to the cheesy, perfect song, both of us champions in our own ways.
ROSALIE
The championship celebration party at the soccer house that night was unlike anything I'd experienced. Usually, I felt anxious at parties, out of place, and uncomfortable. But tonight, with Derek's arm around me and no more secrets to hide, I felt like I belonged.
"Rosie!" Nova pulled me away from Derek, Ivy, and Daisy in tow. "We're doing shots. Don't argue."
"I don't drink."
"It's a celebration! One shot won't kill you." Nova was already pouring something that looked suspiciously strong.
"Fine. One." I took the shot glass, grimacing at the smell. "What is this?"
"Don't ask questions. Just drink on three." Nova raised her glass. "To the championship!"
"To Derek scoring the winning goal!" Ivy added.
"To love and friendship!" Daisy chimed in.
"To new beginnings!" I finished.
We downed the shots together. I immediately regretted it, coughing as the liquid burned down my throat.
"That was disgusting," I gasped.
"But you did it!" Nova hugged me. "I'm so proud of how far you've come this year, Rosalie. Seriously."
"What do you mean?"
"Last year, you were this shy girl who barely talked to anyone. And now?" Nova gestured around. "You're here, celebrating with us. Dating Derek openly. Teaching Pilates. You're living your life instead of hiding from it."
Her words hit me harder than the shot. She was right. I had changed. Somewhere between the injury and now, between losing my identity and building a new one, I'd become someone different.
Someone I actually liked.
"Thank you," I said, hugging her back. "For being my friend. For not giving up on me when I was terrible at maintaining friendships."
"You were never terrible. Just traumatized." Nova pulled back, grinning. "Now come on. I heard Maddox challenging Dex to a dance-off, and I need to witness this disaster."
We found Derek and Maddox in the living room, surrounded by a crowd of cheering teammates. Music pulsed through the speakers. Some ridiculous pop song that had everyone hyped.
"I'm telling you," Maddox was saying, "soccer players have rhythm. We're basically dancers."
