The Wait Is Over

The End Of The Road

After returning to their team hotel following the Breakers' reunion, Ryan reminded the players of tomorrow's schedule, with the team leaving for Toyota Park at 9:30am. He also asked Morgan and Steph if they would help him, John, and Yael with the student group that would be shadowing them for the morning. Morgan mentioned her interview with Kate at 10:30 and the two of them thought that it would be a perfect opportunity for the group's Mass Comm major to see the dynamic involved with on-camera interviewing.

After Jessie got to her room, she turned on the television to bide time while awaiting word from Shelina that she and Christen had landed at O'Hare. Around 11:30, the text from her "person of interest" came to her phone.

SheShe4: We're here. Need to text JJ about our arrival. See you tomorrow at Toyota. Sleep well, princess. XO

Jessie smiled and replied back: "Glad you're here. Sleep well yourself, girlfriend. XO"

Upon reading Jessie's response, Shelina patted her heart and then moved on to texting Julie Johnston.

SheShe4: We're here. Give us about an hour to get our bags, get to the hotel, and settle in before you drop your note to CP. Got your back. Win her tomorrow. <3

A few minutes later, Julie's reply showed up on Shelina's phone.

JulieJ: Thanks again, She. I owe you BIG. Wish Jessie good luck from me, but I'm still rooting for the Red Stars tomorrow. <3

Shelina and Christen got their bags and took an airport shuttle to their hotel nearby. Once checked in and up in their room, the two talked about tomorrow's happenings.

Shelina: Any plans before the game?

Christen: I don't know. Really don't want to be stuck out here in the sticks with nothing to do before heading over to the stadium, but I don't want to accidentally run into people downtown who will undoubtedly ask me about you-know-who.

Shelina: Any of your Red Stars alums around that you might be able to meet up with in the morning?

Christen: Karina, but she's going to be tied-up with interviews and production meetings before the game. When is Sam getting in?

Shelina: I think she's trying to get in early afternoon so she doesn't distract Casey too much ahead of the game.

Christen heard her phone buzz and reached for it to see who was on the other end.

JulieJ: Decision Day tomorrow. 9am, Goddess and the Baker on Wabash.

Christen read the message and, while composing a reply, filled Shelina in.

Christen: Well, at least Julie is good when it comes to remembering deadlines. She wants to meet tomorrow and, I presume, tell me she's not leaving Zach, that it's just too hard to give him up no matter how she feels about me. I suppose I ought to get THAT over and then I can enjoy the rest of this trip, including the freedom of being for-real single at Sunday's wedding.

CP23: Sounds good. See you then.

Done with that, the 2022 NWSL MVP went to take out her contacts, wash her face, and change into sleeping attire before crawling into bed. Before turning out the light, she asked Shelina about her plans for tomorrow night after the game.

Shelina: If the Breakers win, Jessie and I will probably be out with the rest of the team celebrating or something. If the Red Stars win, then my guess is that the two of us, along with Chappie, Steph, and Yael, will find some quiet place to eat and call it a short night because of the wedding on Sunday.