The Open Shot (The Hotshots Series Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Warrick

While we're traveling to a different location for our out-of-town game, I can't help but worry about Rory and Yellow at home. I don't want to leave them, especially since Natalia arrived just hours before I was scheduled to go. While I'm away, I'm afraid she might do something wild. I suggested to Yellow that I could inform the team that I was ill, or they could go with me.

However, my girlfriend demanded that I leave and that they would remain at home, promising that everything would be alright. I have complete faith in Yellow to keep them safe and to ensure that she keeps Rory protected from Natalia. I don't trust Natalia. She arrived at my place unexpectedly just a few hours ago, and she is capable of being insane if she so chooses.

Jagger nudged me "You look... shit Maddison, did you fight with Yellow before you came here?"

I glance at him, he is seating beside me all smiles on his phone, unlike two weeks ago this fucker looks like shit.

"What makes you think I fought with her?" I asked back

He shrugs "You look shit right now, and not focusing. I bet you didn't hear what the coach said earlier." he honestly says. He's not wrong. I'm not even aware the coach was speaking a while ago.

I released a deep sigh "My ex, Natalia showed up earlier, hours before I go here." I told him.

Jacob was listening to us, but I was unaware of it. "What did she do?" He reacts, Jacob and Theo are seated in front of us. A year after I joined the team, Jagger Bailey and Jacob Hudson joined as well, and the three of us grew close. The five of them—Luke Collins, Dalton King, and Coach Andersen—know exactly what the heck happened in my past, the whole drama, our other teammates just know the basic one.

"She showed up, after me and Yellow fetched Rory from school she was on my porch waiting" I say.

"What the hell does she want now?" Jagger suddenly looked serious about punching somebody.

My friends' reactions are understandable; they despise Natalia just as much as I do. These two in particular were present when Natalia and I first began dating. They even warn me about her, saying they always see her at the bar where they go after the game. As a rookie, I didn't go out with the squad very often because I wasn't a party animal. And I just don't listen to them. If you ask me, did I love Natalia despite her beauty? I'd say no. She got pregnant and a month after she gave birth to my daughter she then left.

"First, she said she wanted to talk. Then when I told her to leave, she blurted she wanted us back."

"You cannot believe that Maddison you tell me you don't believe that woman" Jacob says. Jagger is nodding agreeing with Jacob.

"I don't anymore, I'm just worried about my girls at home... she might show up again while I am away." I confess.

"Who's going to show up again?" Luke chimes in

"Natalia showed up to his house earlier before we rode the bus." Jagger told him.

"What the fuck Maddison? I thought she's gone forever after she serves you the full custody of Rory. What does she want?"

"I thought so too." I replied

"Apparently Natalia wants him and Rory back" Jacob continued for me.

"I hate her guts more now, tell me Yellow wasn't there that?"

I shake my head "She is there, inside the house behind the door. I just feel uneasy leaving them you know? Especially not knowing Natalia's next move. I know Yellow would do everything to keep Rory safe and not let Natalia go near Rory."

"You want me to ask A.L to stay with them, I'm sure Yellow will be happy with that as well." Luke suggests.

"I mean it will be fine with me but I'll ask Yellow first, I will call her once we arrive at the hotel." I told them and the three of them nodded.

"We got your back if your crazy ex went wild, got it?" Jagger said

I thanked them and we switched the topic to Jagger. Apparently, he found this mystery girl of his at the charity gala they attended. The bad news is that his mystery girl is the sister of our rival team, his rival since college.

When we arrive at the hotel, we will be staying with roommates and I'm sharing a room with Rowan Miles, our rookie. Which is fine with me. This guy is quiet, you won't even notice he is there.

I didn't even bother to unpack. I threw myself to the bed and called Yellow, after one ring she answered.

Her eyes were puffy. I know she was crying before she answered the call. "Hey, baby you, alright?" It got me more worried. I don't know why she is crying. She is on the couch, not on my bed.

She nods slowly "I am, it's just uhmmm..." she's hesitating

"You can tell me baby" I encourage her.

She bites her lower lip "Rory couldn't sleep. I had talked with her during her bedtime instead... She was terrified that her birth mother would take her away from you." she paused and I watched the tears fly down her cheeks.

She keeps telling me about their conversation tonight. I was unaware of everything until now. The only thing I know was Rory is longing for a mother. The countless times she's asked me to marry Yellow so she could have a mom. However, I had no idea about the other things; I had no idea that Alice and Richie were making my kid uncomfortable. I never heard about it from Rory.

"I can't believe I don't know anything about it..." I muttered I'm trying to process everything from why not my kid told me she was terrified earlier, instead of plastering a smile around me why she didn't tell me. And these other things.

"I'm sorry War, my heart is broken for her. She kept this burden from herself at this age. And Sorry I know you have a game tomorrow but please trust me I got this I got Rory I'll take care of her."

I nod absentmindedly "Thank you for telling me baby, I trust that you will. I just can't believe it, still processing it, Heart." I honestly told her.

"Still sorry, I should wait for you to finish your g-" I stopped her

"No, Heart, you did great for telling me tonight, ok? I'm thankful that you did"

She bites her lips again and wipes her tears before she nods "And also War... I don't know if it is, ok? But Rory asks me if she can call me mom... and I told her she can call me whatever she wants... and tonight she started calling me mom... I can tell her first thing in the morning if that's not ok... I just don't want to get her heart broken more today, sorry if I overstepped." she confessed then looked away from the screen.

God, I want to hug her so tight right now just to assure her that it's perfectly fine to me. but I can't we're away from each other. "Heart looked at me" I commanded and she faced the screen again "Baby, it is perfectly fine with me, we already claimed you remember. You don't have to worry about that." I assured her. "I love you Heart, I wish I am right there with the both of you" I added

"I love you too, War. I think I need to get on the bed right now. We'll see you tomorrow night or the next day."

"Good night baby, sweet dreams and please stop crying. I hate when you cry and I'm not there."

She smile but it didn't reach her ears "Good night baby, you'll play tomorrow then we'll talk when you got home, I love you"

I nod then end the call. Rowan is on the other bed. I don't know if he heard everything but she just offered me a polite smile and didn't say anything.