Breakthrough

Mopey in Memphis

The next few days passed by and I felt like I was in a daze. All I wanted to do was sleep and watch reruns of the Kardashians. My mom came over to see what was wrong with me and I just told her that Blake and I were done. I didn't care to mention the whole Jordan thing especially since I'll have to still see him when I start working on Tuesday. Of course my mom went on and on about how she knew Blake just wasn't the right one for me and how it just turned out for the better. And while she sat there across from me in a chair I just nodded my head and pretended to listen to her nonsense.

I loved Blake. I still love him. And I can't believe that he wouldn't just hear me out. I know it looked bad but it was like things were seen at the wrong place and the wrong time. After she left I just sat in my room and cried. Again. I always told myself that crying over a boy was stupid. It was. But this was different. He was not just a boy. He was a man who held a piece of my heart.

It was now my first day at work. It was almost 7am and I had to be at the airport by 9:30. I packed my bag last night and left it by the front door. I took a shower and put on yoga pants, a tank top, hoodie, and Nike Free Runs. I grabbed my bags, put them in my car and headed to LAX. The team and staff were all flying together on the same plane unfortunately. I hoped Jordan would not say anything or even look at me funny.

When I got to LAX I parked my car in one of the garages to be left overnight. I had about thirty minutes to spare so I went to one of the Starbucks' that was near our gate. After I ordered my drink I sat at one of the tables in the back waiting.
"Hey, maybe you can buy me that coffee or water now?" I heard someone say behind me. Jordan. Jesus Christ.
"Please leave me alone," I tell him rolling my eyes.
"C'mon Sophie. I'm sorry. There I said it. I'm sorry," he said sitting down as I got up to fetch my coffee. I didn't say anything to him. I grabbed my bags and headed toward the plane.

"Good morning Sophie!" Julie said as I took my seat across from her.
"Morning Julie," I said softly.
"You alright?" She asked leaning in.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I lie to her.
"Ok, we'll get excited! It's your first day and we're going on a road trip! Eight days baby!" She said excitedly.
"Yeah, eighty days. Ahaha, it's like a vacation," I said to her smiling.
"There you go. You're gonna do great and we will be home before you know it," Julie said.

When we landed the team and staff all got checked into our hotel for the night. The boys didn't play until tomorrow night but have practice in the morning. Julie asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner with her and some of the team and staff but I really wasn't up for it and I didn't feel like possibly facing Jordan if I had the choice not to. After I got settled in my room I gave my dad a call.
"Hello?" He said cheery.
"Hey Daddy."
"Hey honey, you made it alright I'm assuming."
"Mhmm, just got checked into my hotel room," I said hanging up my clothes in the closet.
"Good. Are you alright Sophie? Your mother told me about you and Blake," he said as his voice trailed off.
"Yeah. I'll be ok. Maybe mom was right after all."
"Sophie. Don't say that. You know that's not true. People take breaks. It happens," he said trying to reassure me.
"Yeah, I know," I said to him.
"Why don't you get some rest ok. I'm sure you have a busy day tomorrow."
"Yeah, you're right. Goodnight Dad."
"Night Soph. Call me tomorrow."
"I will," I said hanging up the phone. I went over to my suit case and got out pajamas and decided to go ahead and go to bed. Within a few minutes of just laying there and watching the ceiling fan, my phone rang. I looked at the screen and saw that Blake was calling. Blake was calling? I continued to just stare at the phone as it rang. I wanted to pick it up but he made it very clear that he was upset. I can't just give in so easily and so quickly. I just couldn't. I waited until the ringing stopped and I had a notification for a new voicemail flash across the screen to even pick the phone up off the night stand. I put the phone up to my ear and pressed the play button to hear the voicemail.
"Hey. It's me. I know you left today and I just wanted to make sure you got there ok and are in your hotel and stuff. Um, call me back ok?" I listened to the voicemail again just to hear his rich voice through the phone before putting my phone back on the charger and rolling onto my side and trying to go to sleep.

The next morning I woke up a little after nine. I got a shower, put on my uniform and sat outside on the balcony for a while. I sat back and watched the hustle of the city before me before being interrupted by my ringing cell phone. I assumed it was my mom or dad but it was Blake, again. And I let it ring again. And again and again and again until I saw the voicemail notification. I picked up my phone and held it to my ear to be comforted by his familiar voice.
"Sophie. It's me. I called your dad yesterday to make sure you made it to Memphis alright and he said you did. I need to talk to you. I just really need to ok. I think I've made a mistake. I know I've made a mistake. Just call me. Please."

Yeah he made a mistake alright. Lesson to be learned: don't just assume, you asshole. I put my phone down and continued watching the cars go by for a while. I then went inside my room, grabbed my bag, and headed downstairs to meet Julie and the rest of the staff.

"Morning Sophie," Julie said sweetly with a cup of coffee and bagel in her hand.
"Good morning," I said smiling at her.
"You wanna get some breakfast before we head out?" She asked pointing toward the breakfast bar.
"No, I'm ok. I have some granola bars in my bag," I said to her. I couldn't eat. I felt nauseous as it was. Which was strange. This is the third day now that's happened. I've also been Blakeless those three days so that explains it.
"Did you sleep well?" She asked me.
"I did," I lie. "How about you?"
"Very good. Always do," she added.
"That's good...so what's the plan today?" I ask her curiously.
"Well, the guys have practice starting at eleven but some of them need some extra stretch work prior to that. And that's Kobe, Jordan, and Jeremy. So I've worked with Kobe and Jeremy plenty of times so I'll probably handle them and maybe you can take Jordan?" Julie asked as I just cringed hearing his name. That bastard. He's really fucked up the last few days of my life.
"Absolutely. I'll work with Jordan," I said to Julie nearly biting my tongue.
"Perfect! Well let's head over to the arena and get ready for tonight!" Julie said leading me outside to her rental car so we could drive to the arena.

The scuffing of tennis shoes and the dribbling of basketballs nearly drowned out my thoughts. That was until Jordan started talking.
"Hey Soph, you ready?" He said looking down at me.
"It's Sophie," I snapped getting up from the bench. And walking to the other side of the court, Jordan following closely behind me.
"Look. I'm sorry. I didn't know that you were already with someone ok?"
"Ok, and? Lying to me does really help your case either," I barked at him.
"You were just a nice, pretty girl that I decided to go after ok?"
"Ok, well this girl is unavailable," I snapped at him.
"I think the correct word is 'was'," he said smirking.
"Shut up ok?"
"Hey, you're the one who said it. Besides what's Griffin's girl doing working for the Lakers?"
"It's none of your god damn business. Now, can you please let me do my job and leave my personal life out of this?" I barked at him. Finally he gave out and just let me help him stretch.

After going back to the hotel after practice I took a nap so I'd be refreshed for my first game with the team tonight. As I was putting on my shoes I saw that I had a missed call from someone who I was not expecting a phone call from, Gail.