After Dawson left, the apartment fell into a tense silence.
The trio looked over at the table where their plates remained unfinished.
Following their motto of not wasting food, they returned to eating, though there was little appetite left.
The weight of what had just happened hung over the table like an invisible cloud.
Sofia was deep in thought, her fork idly pushing food around her plate.
Leo had spent years overlooked, dismissed as nothing special, and now—out of nowhere—someone believed in him?
She had spent so long preparing him for a future where football wasn’t an option, ensuring he had something to fall back on.
And now, with one conversation, everything had changed. Across from her, Leo stared at his plate, his mind racing.
He wasn’t a standout in the academy. He had never been the best, never been someone coaches praised or paid attention to.
If anything, he was used to being shouted at, ignored, and written off.
But suddenly, something inside him had changed—his vision, his understanding of the game.
It wasn’t enough to make him great, not yet, but for the first time, someone had noticed him. And that was great in itself.
Mia, however, was thinking about something else entirely.
She tapped her fork against her plate before finally breaking the silence. "So... when you go pro, what’s the first thing you’re buying me?"
Mia shrugged. "Well, you’re obviously going to take the offer, right? And when you do, that means money.
I was thinking maybe a new phone? Or a shopping spree? Actually, no—a puppy. Yeah, I want a puppy."
Leo scoffed, shaking his head. "I haven’t even said yes yet and I don’t even know what terms I’m going to get."
Sofia sighed, rubbing her temples. "And even if he does, his first paycheck isn’t going toward your ridiculous wishlist."
Mia gasped dramatically. "Excuse me? I’ve been his number-one supporter! That has to count for something."
Leo smirked. "Fine. I’ll buy you a candy bar."
Mia narrowed her eyes. "You better make it a big one."
Sofia let out a tired sigh, but a small smile played on her lips. "Can we at least finish dinner before you start spending money he doesn’t have?"
Mia grinned. "Fine. But when Leo makes it big, don’t come crying to me when I’m the one getting all the gifts."
Leo rolled his eyes, but as the conversation moved on, a new decision loomed over him.
He wasn’t really against the move since nothing really went on for him at Man Utd but could he really handle the step up to Professional and First team football Eben if it was in League one.
Could he really be like the player Dawson spoke of?
Well, all Leo knew was that he was going to give it his all in everything.
After dinner, Leo grabbed a towel and stepped into the bathroom, twisting the shower knob until steaming water poured from the faucet.
He pulled off his shirt and tossed it into the laundry basket, stepping under the hot stream.
His muscles relaxed, but his mind was sharper than ever.
The water pounded against his back as he let out a slow breath.
The decision had been forming ever since Dawson sat across from him in the living room.
He had listened, processed every word, and now, standing alone in the shower, the conclusion settled inside him like a weight dropping into place.
There was no reason to hesitate.
He turned off the water, letting the silence of the bathroom take over as he grabbed his towel.
His reflection in the fogged-up mirror was barely visible, blurred at the edges.
He wiped a hand across the glass, revealing his own face staring back at him.
Could he really do this?
He pushed the doubt aside. He had already made his choice.
After drying off, he pulled on a clean shirt and shorts, his damp hair sticking to his forehead as he walked into his bedroom.
His small space wasn’t much, but it was his.
The old desk in the corner still had his schoolbooks stacked neatly, a reminder of the path he thought he’d be stuck on forever.
The single window was cracked open slightly, letting in the cool night air. His bed creaked as he sat down, running a hand over his face.
Mia’s words from dinner replayed in his mind—her excitement, her belief in him, even if it was driven by dreams of new phones and puppies.
But beyond her jokes, she truly thought he could do it. And Sofia... she was worried, but she hadn’t shut Dawson down.
She had listened. That meant something.
Leo lay back against his pillow, staring at the ceiling.
This was it. He was going to Wigan.