Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses violence and sexual content. 

As protagonists Asher Donovan and Scarlett DuBois pursue their individual dreams and their romance, they must navigate the tensions between their personal desires and the expectations of their families and colleagues. Football has been central to Asher’s identity since he was a child. He loves the game, but his father’s pressures have complicated his ability to pursue his dreams on his own terms. The further he’s gotten in his career, “the more [he’s] felt like [he isn’t] doing it for [himself]” (245). Instead, he’s playing for his father, which has slowly eroded his love for the sport. Playing with Holchester, therefore, made him feel like he was “trapped in this bubble where [he] couldn’t breathe” (245). Throughout the novel, Asher tries to balance his longing to succeed at football with his need for independence from his father. Simultaneously, he attempts to pursue a relationship with Scarlett without compromising his relationship with his new team. The novel uses these conflicts to show how individuals struggle to navigate familial and professional expectations while claiming personal autonomy.

Like Asher, Scarlett struggles to balance her personal desires against the expectations of others.