2007 Witchita, Kansas

The fall weather paired with the electric energy of a great football game was one of the top loves of his life. A 30-year-old Ted Lasso was bursting with pride as he cheered on the first college team he'd had the pleasure of coaching.

It was a tied game, and the home crowd was booming with enthusiasm, "Let's go, Shockers! Let's go!"

Ted looked behind him to the sea of people. His eyes latched onto his beautiful girlfriend Michelle. She sent him a look that never failed to make his heart sing.

You've got this.

The confidence she had in him made Ted want to be better in every way. He'd hoped she'd allow him to one day be the best husband he could be for her. He gave her an excited fist pump in the air, causing her to giggle and place her hands over her heart. Everyone was as equally nervous as they were excited. This could be their first win of the season.

There's two minutes left in the 4th quarter. The Shockers had possession and they needed a touchdown to win.

"Come on, boys! Don't make me come out there and play for you! You can do this!" The mighty cheer came from a tiny seven-year-old redhead who was jumping next to Ted.

Ted looked down at his niece with amusement. She may be little, but she was fierce. She reminded him of a firework, small on the surface but once you light that sucker you better get out of the way. Lexie loved watching the game. Her excitement for it never dimmed, even if they were losing terribly. Ted even let her join practices sometimes so they could spend time together.

His older brother Andrew was in the stands with his wife Lisa. They sat next to Michelle to keep her company. His whole family loved Michelle, another reason why he couldn't wait to marry her.

A small hand tugged on his athletic pants, "Uncle Ted, what's the play? Does Anderson run the ball or should he pass it to Michaels? Anderson is as fast as lightning when he wants to be but Michaels knows how to dodge defense better than any of 'em."

His little Lexie was as serious as a heart attack as she looked up at her uncle. Ted squatted down to get on her level and raised a brow.

"What do you think we should do, Lexie?"

His niece crinkled her brows and looked down at her light up sketchers her mom and dad got Lexie for her birthday in July. "We run the ball."

Ted gave her a stern nod of agreement and ran out to give the team the play. The whistle blew. The players got into position. Lexie gripped her uncle's hand tight as they awaited.

The air was tense like right before a storm in the summertime. The clock was running down. They had 40 yards to cover and under two minutes to do it. The ball was snapped, and Anderson runs it. He's moving faster than he ever has! The crowd is going crazy. All Ted can hear is the pounding of his heart as he watches fate play out.

Dodging two burly opposing players and keeping another two at his heels, Anderson runs the ball over the end zone.

There's a short moment of silence before boom. Everyone is on their feet and screaming their heads off. Ted scooped Lexie into his arms and ran out to the field to join his team. He couldn't believe he'd just won his first college game. Ted had his family and he had his team. Everything was perfect.

Present Day, England

"Well, this fucking sucks," Alex grumbled as she stuffed the clothes back into her old, and clearly broken, suitcase.

Once she got her bearings, she took a deep breath and headed out of the airport to hopefully find a taxi. While she waited, she quickly typed out a text to her parents.

Landed safely. On my way to see Uncle Ted. Love you.

Her parents insisted Alex visited her uncle in England and truthfully, she was looking forward to it. She just wished she wasn't visiting to get away from her problems.

At the ripe old age of 21, Alex was at a stand still in her life. She did what all of her high school friends did and went to college, only to drop out during her third year when she realized she didn't want to become an accountant. Honestly, how boring would that be? Alex wasn't the kind of person who could sit behind a desk all day. She needed to move and feel like she was living.

Not only was her career path on the fritz, her love life, or lack thereof, was nothing to be desired. She grew up around boys and always considered herself one of them. Then as she got older, her friends started seeing her differently. Alex didn't understand it and that made her unsure of herself in the teen years. She went from being a confident girl who wasn't afraid to get messy or speak her mind to being an insecure, confused girl almost overnight. She still finds it difficult to see herself as a woman even with the curvaceous figure she inherited from her mother.

In her mind, she wasn't sexy and alluring. Her reddish-brown hair hung flat around her face and her eyes were a normal green. She had a few freckles on her nose and pale skin that burned easily in the summer. She wasn't tall with long legs, and she wasn't short and adorable. She was ordinary. She was just Alex, and she was fine with that.

Alex hoped spending a few months with her uncle Ted would bring her out of her funk, or depression, whatever you want to call it. Her uncle Ted always made her feel like she could do anything.

Once Alex's heart rate came back to normal after that nerve-wrecking taxi ride, she entered the glass doors of the Richmond Arena. She knew people drove on the opposite side of the road here, but it was different to experience it in the hands of a driver who seemed to want to get rid of her as quickly as possible. Alex knew small talk wasn't for everyone, but she didn't think her questions were that annoying. Maybe he thought she was just another stupid American.

"Excuse me, ma'am? Do you know where I can find Ted Lasso?"

The woman sitting at the front desk was wearing a fabulous emerald, green dress, making her warm brown eyes pop, paired with an unsure smile.

"Ted Lasso? As in the new head coach?" She asked, as if people didn't come in here much looking for the weirdly optimistic man.

Back home Ted Lasso was a household name. Witchita wasn't small by any means, but everyone in the community loved him. Folks always wanted to talk to him about football and other things. Mostly people wanted to talk about the other things when it came to Uncle Ted. He had a way of making everyone he talked to feel important.

Alex gave her a reassuring smile, one that was easily learned growing up in the Midwest. "That's the one! He's expecting my visit, but I showed up a bit early. Alexandra Lasso is my full name. He's my uncle. Do you need to see my ID?" She began digging through her old carry on.

"It's here somewhere. Things got all messed up during my flight." She said sheepishly. "Would you like my passport instead maybe...? Oh! Here's a receipt from Target with my name- "

The older woman held up her hand to stop the word vomit. "That won't be necessary. I'll just call over to the coaching office to confirm your visit."

Alex let out a breath and smiled her thanks to the patient woman. She tossed her things back into the bag, she'd have time to organize once she got to her uncle's place. Despite her long flight she slept like a baby, thank God for ZzzQuil. This was the first time Alex had traveled anywhere outside of the United States. Actually, this was the first time she'd left the Midwest and so far, she was enjoying the lack of cornfields.

The lady hung up the phone and turned to look at Alex. "He says he's having an important meeting with the Diamond Dogs." She cleared her throat and straightened her skirt, "Whatever that means. But he'll be on his way over shortly to retrieve you." She gestured at the waiting area of to the side. "Please have a seat."

Alex readjusted the bag on her shoulder, "Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate it."

She wheeled her three bags of luggage over to the waiting area and began looking at the magazines sat on the table. After flipping through a boring home improvement magazine, she picked up one that had an AFC Richmond player on the front page. The player had an arrogant look on his face and was flexing his arms as he balanced a soccer ball on his left foot.

He looks like a real piece of work, she thought as she put the magazine back down.

"Your visitor is here right over there, Mr. Lasso."

Uncle Ted came running around the corner and embraced his niece. "Little Lexie! It's great to see you. I'm missed you so much, kiddo!"

Alex felt tears well in her eyes as she squeezed her uncle back. "It's been a while since I've heard you call me that. I missed it."

Ted petted back her auburn hair and looked at the receptionist. "Maggie May, how many times do I have to tell you Mr. Lasso was my father. Please, just call me Ted."

Maggie quirked her eyebrow at Ted. "I'll stop calling you Mr. Lasso when you stop calling me Maggie May. Just Maggie if you please."

Ted huffed in disbelief, "Who doesn't love Rod Stewart?"

Maggie shook her head and turn her attention back to the computer in front of her, the small smile on her thin lips gave away her amusement. Alex thanked her for her help and turned to give Coach Beard a hug. "I should have known his partner in crime would go with him."

"It's good to see you, kid." Beard said kindly. "You'll have to tell me all about how things are back in Kansas."

Ted cleared his throat and shifted his eyes from Coach Beard to Alex's luggage until the other man took the hint. "After I help with your bags, of course." He took her bags and began heading in the direction they came in. "Don't forget Ted, we have practice in 10 minutes."

Ted nodded, "Just set those bags in our office, coach. We'll be right behind you."

As they walked through the facility Alex wondered how her uncle ended up here. Sure, she'd thought about this when her family got the news about him going to England to coach, but it was different when she was here herself. Uncle Ted was always full of surprises, and he knew how to take everything life threw at him with ease – a gift she admired and envied.

"I know it's not very exciting without an actual game happening. And don't be intimidated by the Brits natural cold appearances, everyone here is a total sweetheart." Uncle Ted chirped as they walked past endless doors of offices. "Hey, Stevens!" He waved to a man walking towards them, clearing distracted by his phone. He replied with a civil grunt before carrying on. Uncle Ted just shrugged and kept moving, as he always did.

"I never really thought about the work that goes into keeping a sports arena." Alex admitted.

"The pitch is where you'll find most of the excitement. I can't wait to show you how hard the team's been working."

Alex felt pride bubble in her chest, "You're a great coach. I still run into your old players sometimes. They always ask about you."

Uncle Ted looked down at his shoes for a moment and gave an almost sad smile, "That's good to hear." Alex figured he was a little homesick but didn't want to say anything.

"So, how was the flight? I know when I flew here, I couldn't sleep a wink."

"It was great actually, I slept fine."

Ted looked at his niece with a knowing look in his eye. "Your father said you needed to get away from Kansas for a while. He didn't say exactly what was going on, but I hope you know you can talk to me about anything."

"I'm fine." She swallowed. "Life has just been getting to me lately, you know. I just… needed a distraction from everything."

Ted nodded thoughtfully. "Trust me, I understand that better than you think. It's what brought me here. And I'll try to make this trip as eventful as possible for you. I know this is a place you've always wanted to visit."

Alex knew from her parents gossip that Uncle Ted's marriage wasn't going as great as it used to. She wouldn't say anything unless he wanted to talk about it. Instead she smiled, "Have you gone to Abbey Road yet."

Uncle Ted was about to answer when a tiny, busy woman turned the corner and nearly bumped into them.

"Howdy, Keeley! How are you today?" Uncle Ted said with a friendly smile on his face.

The woman was dressed in a pretty, red work dress and shoes that hurt Alex's feet just thinking about it. She gave him a playful smile before addressing Alex. "Who's this lovely lady, Ted?"

"This is Lexie, she's my niece. Didn't I mention she was coming?" Keeley stood speechless looking at Alex.

"Sorry I… I just… when you said you had a family member coming to visit, I expected someone with intense facial hair not an incredibly fucking fit girl!"

Alex looked down at her curvaceous figure, which was hidden under a comfortable hoodie and jeans. "Thanks, I try to work out weekly."

Uncle Ted cut in, "I believe that's a slang word for 'pretty' on this side of the pond."

Keeley nodded in confirmation. "You're a stunner! How long are you staying? I'd love to show you around once you've settled properly."

"That would be great." Alex grinned. She liked Keeley and felt a sense of warmth from her presence. "I don't know anyone out here besides my uncle and Coach Beard.

Keeley pursed her lips, "Hmm, and I doubt either of them have discovered great places to shop." She hesitantly looked at Ted. "No offense, Ted."

He gave her his usual smile. "None taken, Keeley. I'd be grateful if you showed my niece companionship."

Keeley was about to say more when she was distracted by her phone. "Oh, no. Roy just sent loads of angry emojis." Her brows crinkled further. "Shit, now he's calling me. This can't be good."

She looked at Ted and Alex apologetically, "I have to take this. I'll be back tomorrow, and we can talk again, babe."

"I'd love that." The truth was Alex needed friends right now. Back home she was so focused on herself that she lost touch with her college friends and lately it was just… her. She was lonely.

They kept walking until the faint sound of male voices could be heard. "Wanna meet the team?" Uncle Ted asked excitedly.

He peeped his head around the locker room entrance, "All you fellas decent?" When the murmurs of 'yes coach' sounded through the locker room uncle Ted looked back at Alex expectedly.

Alex's eyes widened as she stuttered, "I um, I don't think I should right now. I mean I just got off the plane- "

"Oh, you look beautiful." Uncle Ted reassured her. "Come on, they're a fine group of boys. You'll love them."

She let out a breath and ran her hands through her auburn hair to give it some life. Uncle Ted was waiting patiently by the door as she fixed herself. After making sure her breath was acceptable, she followed him in. Alex usually wasn't the type to be intimidated but who wouldn't want to look their best when meeting a group of athletes?

Uncle Ted cleared his throat, "Listen up, gentlemen! I have someone very important I'd like you to meet." The room became silent, and all eyes went to Alex, who stood slightly behind her uncle. She gave them all a small wave and friendly smile.

"This is my niece, Lexie. She will be visiting me for a while. I expect you all to be respectful." Uncle Ted nodded at Alex to speak.

"Hi, I'm Alex! That's short for Alexandra. You can call me that if you want. Or Lexie, like my uncle Ted. Alex, Alexandra, or Lexie. Any of those is fine…" She trailed off as she noticed the amused looks she was receiving from the players. "Now I'm starting to ramble like an idiot, so I'll just stop talking now."

Heat rushed to her cheeks as the low rumble of laughter vibrated through the room. Her green eyes swept across the room until they landed on a pair of confident eyes. He sat in the corner of the room, examining her from the bench. Alex felt her skin prickle as he stared at her. The look in his eye was intrigue mixed with boredom. Holy shit, it's the magazine douchebag.

"My name is Sam." Alex averted her attention to the person who spoke. He had a smooth, dark complexion and warm brown eyes. His smile was contagious. "Your uncle is a great man, any family of his is welcome here."

There was a murmur of agreement from everyone and that took most of the pressure away from Alex's chest. "Lexie here always helped from the sidelines back home in Kansas. She'll be watching yall practice with me today." Uncle Ted addressed his players. "Coach Beard is already waiting for us out there. Let's get going!"

Alex stood back as they all started to follow Ted out of the locker room and out to the pitch. As she was walking, she felt someone striding up beside her.

"I'm Jamie Tartt, but I'm sure you already knew that, yeah?"

She resisted the strong urge to roll her eyes.

"It's nice to meet you. I've heard you're a great player." Alex didn't know anything about him, but she wanted to be nice. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, the saying her mom always said flashed in her mind.

His arrogant grin and shoulder shrug told her he'd heard that many times before. "You'll get to see for yourself in a minute, babe. I hope you'll be watching."

The others had already gotten outside as they neared the doors. Jamie opened the door and gestured for her to walk before him, not giving her much room. She felt goosebumps as their arms brushed and his eyes tracked her. She patted herself on the back for making eye contact as she said, "That depends on how well you play."

Jamie's lips hitched up and the intrigue from earlier reached his eyes again. "I'll give everything I've got, love."

It was then Alex knew Jamie Tartt was going to be trouble.