me & tomfoolery

Rehab | Kyrie Irving Short Story

for the last week my homegirl been talking about how much she love him and how he's making a comeback on her "faves" roster.

Lauren scratched her scalp with the cap of her pen before looking to the sky for an idea she couldn't find. Her thoughts screaming to just take a break but she wouldn't allow it. There was a knock on her office door and that caused her to internally groan.

"Please enter if you must." Closing the leather notepad she straightened up as her assistant, a bright eyed and fluffy haired barely legal college student entered.

"Laureeeeennnnnn! How you doing today?" She sung as she took a seat at the nearest chair. "I would be better if you told me what you wanted Marlene."

"Well good, right to the point! So remember when I told you this old guy kept calling? And I thought he was talking about that new Cuban food spot down the street?"

"Which we still haven't been," Lauren pointed, "but yes, continue"

"So he wasn't talking about food, his name was Cuban."

Lauren's eye twitched hearing a common mistake that Marlene would make with context clues. Most times it didn't cost her anything but a follow up. She just hoped this wasn't like that.

"Like that girl Cuban Link that dated 50 or his name is a Cuban name?"

Marlene thought briefly before responding, "No, like Mark Cuban."

Lauren could snatch Marlene up from the seat across from her. "Fuck do you mean Mark Cuban called me?"

Lauren owned a private and very successful physical therapy business in the Dallas area and would encounter high profile clientele but in this moment, anything to do with Mark Cuban would be the highest honor.

"Let's take a step back. What did he say?"

Kyrie blew out a breath, he had been laying in the hospital in bed waiting for an update on his operation time. His father would be flying in and his Step mother was already at the end of the hall with his doctors.

"This is some bullshit."

A knock at the door brought him back to reality.

"Hey man, they got you warm and cozy in here?" A face he didn't mind seeing walked through the door.

"Mi hermano."

Luka Doncic had a smile everyone loved and a spirit that would turn things around in the darkest days. Today would be one of them.

"What are you doing here?" Kyrie asked sitting up straight. "Came to visit you before I head back to California."

The Lakers had been on a road trip and they just finished a games in Dallas, Austin and Houston. He took a detour to see Kyrie before he needed to head back.

"That's love brother."

"Always. Now what are they saying about your knee?" Luka looked over his shoulder before leaning closer.

Kyrie's ACL was torn and that meant he was out for the season. He just didn't want it to mean his career was over. He produced high at his age and because of that, his minutes were higher. Had knew he had more in the tank and prayed that it would be granted that he could have another season.

"I'm out for the season but I'm worried about if I can come back at all."

"Well since the staff here hasn't been the best, have you been looking for specialists?" The response with a hint of shade was understood. The Mavericks organization had been going through a distinct unsettled change of direction and the injuries were piling up.

"Mom's been looking, Pops been calling around. Nico not doing shit but Mark has called and left a bunch of messages."

"Respond to Mark. That's all I'm going to say on that. I'll check in with you sooner rather than later. And I'll say bye to mom if she's still in the hallway."

"Peace be with you."

"Peace be with you my brother." They embrace for a little longer than expected. Once Luka retreats, Kyrie is immediately greeted with Shetellia, his agent and Stepmother, Mark and his primary doctor.

"How you feeling Kai?" Mark asked posting himself against the nearest wall. He shrugged, not really feeling like explaining anymore than that. "Well I got some news for you."

"Yeah? Like what?"

"Mark found a physical therapist available to help you in the way you need. Their record, impeccable." Shetellia adds. Kyrie side eyed them, asking them to continue. Cause he's heard that before, many times before.

"Hear me out, this is somebody that's hard as hell to get with how busy they are and all the stories are a success."

"Lauren, nice to meet you." Mark extended his hand. Lauren shook it firmly, not wanting him to know how nervous the meeting had her feeling.

"Nice meeting you too as well."

They were currently at the Mavericks Training Center preparing for a press conference to address the state of Kyrie's surgery later on today.

"I wanted you to sit in on our press conference before we head over to the hospital. I thank you for getting back to me and coming in."

"It's no problem at all." She looked around at the player promotions and accomplishments along the walls. She could tell the facility just did upgrades.

Lauren spoke with Mark in detail about the expectations and the access she had to their facilities and other resources they could provide. It seemed like a picture perfect set up. What she could say was, she was not a fan of their General Manager and she understood why the fans of the organization wasn't either.

Nico was horrible.

He stopped at the hospital for a few moments and then ran off as if he was too busy to see the surgery through. She made note of that for her personal review. She always made note of how working with different companies affected her work and the person she needed to work with.

"Would you like to meet Kai?" Lauren simply nodded before following Mark down a long hallway to Kyrie's private wing.

The heels of her boots clicking against the tile floor as they walked. Lauren was in her head about this task and she hated when she got that way. Great at what she did, there was no reason to feel self conscious.

"Hey Kai," Mark's voice cut through the tension in the room. Doctors, family, specialists all surrounded the wounded shooting guard.

"Sup man?" His voice low and leveled but there was a hint of sadness there. Entering closely behind Mark, Lauren felt safe away from the conversation at hand.

"I brought in someone I think is going to change your life. I want you to meet Lauren Davis, Physical Therapist."

In that moment, Kyrie, his family and Mark's attention all turned to Lauren. She immediately straightened up to shake his hand.

"Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, nice to meet you too." Kyrie shook her hand, holding it a second longer than anticipated.

"It's time." His surgeon announced, causing everyone to spring into action.

Lauren's hand felt as if Kyrie's imprint would be there forever as he let go. She slowing rubbed over the spot as he was wheeled back down that long hallway to the next step of his life.