Breakthrough

You Thought Wrong

After Blake's game we flew back home to LA on Monday night.
"Did you have a good time?" Blake asked putting his suit case back in the top of his closet.
"I did. Your mom and I had a really nice time together."
"That's what she said. She even said you guys made plans for when they come out here next month."
"Yes, we did. Your mom and dad are going to come over to my place and I'll cook dinner the night they fly in. And then before your game that what is it Thursday night? We're going to go get pedicures and go shopping. She told me that she needed a new dress for some charity event she's going to. So I told her that I'll take her to The Ivy and find her something. And I was talking to your dad and he was talking about going to a Dodgers game and you know my dad's firm has some sort of contract with them and he can get some good seats. So maybe you, my dad, your dad, and your brother could go together?" I said almost out of breath.
"Sounds like you guys made a lot of plans," Blake said chuckling.
"I mean I want them to have a good time you know. Show your mom LA. And do you think the baseball game will be ok?" I asked kind of frazzled.
"Yeah, I think it's a great idea. Sounds like your mouth is going sixty miles a minute right now."
"I know, I'm sorry," I said wrapping my hands around his waist and looking up at him. As Blake was about to lean down and kiss me his phone vibrated in his front pocket.
"Hold that thought?" He said reaching into his pocket to retrieve his phone as I sighed.
"Taylor wants to go out to dinner, do you wanna go?" Blake said typing on his phone.
"Um, yeah sure. I guess now would be a good time to meet. Is his wife gonna be there?" I asked.
"Yeah, I would assume Marieka would be there," Blake said nodding.
"Ok, yeah. I mean do you think it's a good idea," I asked Blake stepping back a bit.
"Yeah, I do. Like you said it's a good time to meet. I've told him plenty about you. And you've met Mom and Dad. Don't stress. Taylor is chill and you and Marieka are so much alike," Blake said stretching his arms.
"Ok, well let's go," I said as Blake's phone vibrated again.
"Alright we're meeting at Milan's at 7:00. Is that alright?"
"Yeah, that's fine. I'm actually going to meet with Julie in a few minutes at Staples to sign my contract."
"What?! That's so exciting. Are you excited?" He asked with wide eyes.
"I am but I'm also nervous. I mean this is a huge step for me you know?"
"You'll do great, ok? Trust me. You're smart and you're going to do just fine. Don't sweat it."
"Don't sweat it. Ok. I won't," I said walking over to the counter to grab my purse and keys and head over to Staples.

As I walked into the lobby I saw the receptionist who was on the phone point my toward Julie's office. She had a neat little stack of papers on the corner of her desk with a pen on top of it.
"Hello," I said knocking softly on the door that was cracked open.
"Sophie, hey come on in," she said waving her hand at me.
"How are you?" I asked politely as I took a seat in front of her.
"I'm good. I'm good. How about you? How was Oklahoma?"
"It was great. Nice to be back though," I said smiling.
"Good. You ready to sign all this stuff?" She said picking up the small stack of papers.
"Yes ma'am."
"Alright so these you are going to just read the few statements and then sign and initial at the bottom and then under here is a detailed outline of your contract that had all of your insurance info, benefits, salary, time off, and all that good stuff." She said pointing to the papers.
"Ok," I said as she continued to go over my contract.
"Now, you will be traveling with the team on a lot, if not all of the away games. You will be given a hotel room for yourself as well as a rental car. It will be me and you for a while and then sometimes it'll just be you and other times it'll just be me. We will sort of switch off from time to time. But at the home games we will both be required to be here."
"Ok, and what about taking time off?" I asked before signing.
"Yes, that's on the next page," she said turning to page four after I signed. "Ok, so here is some basic stuff about short term disability, death in the family, and then maternity leave. Maternity leave is 6-8 weeks. But you can also use part of your two week vacation to extend that. And then after the playoffs and we finish up some other stuff your offseason will officially start late June," she said.
"And then we will start up again when?" I asked pulling out my agenda.
"We will start the week after media day which happens late September and so that'll be the first week of October," she said nodding.
"Ok, that sounds great. Lotta stuff going on," I said taking a deep breath.
"It is. But I think you can handle it," she said winking.
"I hope so," I said initialing the last page of the contract with an elaborate S.E.J.
"Ok, since we're done with the boring stuff you wanna come meet some of the players?" Julie asked excitedly.
"Sure! Are they practicing?"
"No, coach called them in for a meeting and they should be about finished," she said getting up out of her seat and going out to her office and straight down the hall as I followed. We then came to a door that Julie knocked on before she opened it.
"Hello," she said peering around the corner as I stayed out in the hallway.
"Hey Julie what's up?" I heard a man's voice say.
"I want you and the team to meet our newest addition to our staff. Is now a good time or...?"
"Yeah, now is good!" The man said as Julie waved me in. As I entered the room I had a table full of people that included Kobe Bryant staring at me. There were two younger guys sitting in the corner whispering about something as they continued to look at me.
"Guys, I want you to meet the new physical therapist, Ms. Jackson!" Julie said excitedly as the real clapped.
"Welcome Ms. Jackson, I'm Bryon Scott. I'm the head coach," the man said smiling holding his hand out.
"Very nice to meet you, please call me Sophie," I said shaking his hand.
"Sophie, ok," he said nodding his head.
"Alright, so Sophie will be starting in a couple weeks and will be doing rehabbing, pre game, and all the other things so please make her feel welcomed," Julie said giving everyone a pointed look. I then went with Julie to talk to some of the players. I even got a warm welcome from Kobe. Just as I was leaving one of the guys who were whispering in the corner comes up to me.
"Hey, I just wanted to say welcome," he said with a warm welcome. I have to say he was pretty cute. Light skinned black guy with very near hair. He seemed nice.
"Thank you. I'm Sophie," I said nodding my head awkwardly. Dammit. He already knows your damn name. Julie that Sophie!
"I'm Jordan. Clarkson," he said reaching out his hand.
"Nice to meet you Jordan," I said shyly. Damn he was really cute. His smile was impeccable. If basketball doesn't work out for him he could probably do Colgate commercials.
"You too," he said letting go of my hand and walking toward some of his teammates as Julie came up behind me.
"Well, what do you think?!" She said.
"I'm really excited. This is all so great Julie, thank you. You have no idea how much this...just thank you," I said to her.
"You're very welcome Sophie. Now, let me walk you out," she said walking toward the door and out into the lobby.
"So you'll start on the 16th which is in about three weeks. If you want to come in next week I'll have your uniforms and stuff all ready to go too," she said.
"Ok, yeah just give me a call!"
"Sounds great. Well, I have some work to attend to so I need to scoot but, we're really excited for you to join the team. Tell Blake he'll be alright," she said winking.
"Thank you, and will do," I said to her as she walked toward her office and I walked toward my car. As unlocked my car and opened the door I heard my name being called. I turned around to see Jordan Clarkson running out of the building towns up to my car.
"Is everything ok? Do you have a sprained ankle already?" I asked jokingly.
"Hahah, no but it's early. I just wanted to invite you to our little team get together we're having next Saturday. It's the team and then a bunch of the staff. We're thinking of going to Blue Ribbon sushi." He said to me.
"Oh, ok. Are you sure I should come? I don't really know anyone," I said nervously.
"Of course, you're a part of the team! And you know me," he said winking which made me laugh a little.
"Ok, I guess," I said leaning on my car.
"Here let me get your number and I'll text you the details," he said pulling out his phone and giving it to me. I put my name and number in without even thinking twice.
"Ok, there you go. I have to get going but it was nice meeting you Jordan. I guess I'll see you next Saturday?" I said stepping away from the car door.
"Yes, Saturday," he said opening the door for me as I climbed up into my seat and put my sunglasses on.
"Thanks again Jordan," I said starting up my car as he shut the door.
"Just being a good teammate," he said winking at me.
"Ahahaha, you're cute," I said laughing as I drove away.