Page 100 of Captain's Claim

"Does he make you happy?"

My mothers words knock the wind out of me.

I blink and sit upright in my bed. "What?"

"Blake," Mom says simply. "Does he make you happy?"

I open my mouth to respond, but I'm completely stunned.

Mom isnotthe type to entertain sentimental nonsense. She’s all strategy, all career focus, all ‘keep your emotions in check’ because that’s how women survive in this industry.

So for her to ask me this… it throws me completely off balance.

I glance up.

Through the cracked bathroom door, steam curls through the air, and I see Blake. He's completely naked, dripping wet in the shower, shameless as ever.

Then, he catches me looking, the phone pressed against my ear.

His mouth tilts into that cocky smirk that used to drive me insane. Ihatedthat look. Then, because he’s ridiculous, he grabs a shampoo bottle and pretends to sing into it like a microphone.

My chest tightens with warmth.

God, I love this man.

I exhale a soft laugh and answer without thinking. "Of course he does."

"He makes me feel… safe. And seen." My voice drops a little, the honesty of the admission surprising even me. "Like I don’t have to prove myself all the time. He just…gets me."

There’s a long pause on the other end of the line.

"Then I’m happy for you, sweetheart."

"You are?"

"Of course," Mom says lightly. "Blake’s a damn good player. But more importantly, he seems like a damn good man. Eversince he's actually started doing media, which by the way,thank you."

I frown, sitting up straighter. "Wait, are you—are you actually endorsing this?You? The woman who told me relationships were distractions? That love and ambition don’t mix?"

Another hum. "I might’ve been a little too rigid about that when you were younger. I'm older now, and things look… different."

I blink again. Who is this woman and what has she done with my mother?

"You always told me to work twice as hard," I say carefully.

"And does your job make you happy?"

My throat tightens. "It used to."

"Then maybe it's time to walk away."

I nearly drop my phone. This can't be my mother speaking – the same woman who fought tooth and nail in the male-dominated sports industry for decades.

"Sophia, listen. I've learned that respect only matters if it's given for the right reasons. Otherwise, it's just a leash." Her voice softens. "Sophia, sweetheart, you're too wonderful to just give in. Don't let them put a leash on you."

"I spent my whole career thinking I had to be twice as ruthless, twice as perfect, twice as untouchable. All because I was a woman. And I made it. But looking back? I sacrificed more than I should have. And I never want you to wake up one day realizing the same thing."

I stare at the wall, completely floored.

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