Based On A True Story - Jordan Baker Mini-Series

London Lights

Jordan's POV - Present Day

"Olivia, I need to get ready soon. I'm new to the city and I wanna check it out with some of the guys. Could you please wrap it up?" I fought a sigh as I look at my watch. We've been FaceTiming for almost 30 minutes. Of course, when I say 'we', I mean her. She's done all of the talking and I've barely said a word.

"I really wish I didn't have to tell you this over the phone, but considering you just moved to Chicago, and I don't know when I'll see you again to tell you the good news in person. So..." she paused. I could hear her take a huge breath, almost as if she was bracing herself. I didn't have a bad feeling, especially since she said it was 'good news', but the suspense was killing me.

"While I'm still alive, Liv!"

"I'm pregnant!" She cheered. She turned the camera to show me Asher doing a little happy dance as he yelled out 'Woohoo!. She chuckled as she turned the phone back to herself. "You'll have a nephew in 5 months!"

"I'm so happy for you both," tears welled up in my eyes. "I can't wait to meet the little guy."

"We'll have someone to teach football!" Asher said with the biggest smile ever. "Can you believe it?!"

I chuckled. "Well, you guys have been married for almost 5 years. It's about time you started a family."

"You know how crazy the NFL life can be," Asher said. "There's no such thing as the perfect timing, especially when our careers are so unpredictable."

"You're telling me," I sighed as I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror at the hotel I was temporarily staying until I found a new place to live. "I was not expecting to be traded to the Chicago Bears. I'm definitely not looking forward to winter around here," I mumbled the last part.

Asher chuckled as Olivia spoke, "listen. I'll definitely fly out to a couple of your games before me and this little nugget can't fly anymore."

"And I'll see you on the field in two weeks. May the best man win," Asher teased.

"That'll be me," I said with confidence.

"Boys," Olivia rolled her eyes, "you're both great. You're both in the NFL. You both already won."

"I definitely feel like a winner right now," Asher said happily as he wrapped his arms around my twin sister.

"Good night and I love you both," I said before I hung up the phone. I walked out of the bathroom and got dressed to go out to the bar with some of my new teammates. I couldn't help but think about how far Asher and Olivia have come since high school. They have been through so much and it only brought them closer.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and stared straight at some weird painting hanging next to the closet. I'm almost 26 years old. I've been called the best quarterback since my rookie year with the LA Raiders nearly 6 years ago. Now, I've been traded to the Chicago Bears and with a new salary that tripled my previous salary. I'm on top of the world. Yet, I have never felt so alone and empty in my life before. It's like there was a missing piece to the puzzle.

My phone chimed, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked down at my phone and read a text message from one of the guys. They were on their way to the bar. I grabbed my hotel key and made my way towards the door. I waited until the door closed and double checked it was locked.

"Jordan?" I froze as I immediately recognized a voice I hadn't heard since college sophomore year. I closed my eyes, hoping my mind wasn't playing any tricks on me.

"It's really you," she said.

I turned around to see Y/N. Her long beautiful hair was now cut to her shoulders and in layers. She added some highlights too. She had a black top and dark skinny jeans with a pair of black pumps. Her makeup was light and natural. Although her hair was a bit different, she still as beautiful as I last saw her.

"Y/N, what are you doing here?"

"Well, my apartment building was having a serious bug problem. They had to do the whole poison gas thing to get rid of them. So, I'll be here for a week until my apartment building is good to go. What about you?"

"I'm here until I find a new place to live."

"That's right. You got traded." I nodded my head, too afraid to say anything. Although we hadn't seen or talked to each other since the break up, it was clear she still followed my career. As if she could read my mind, she took a couple of steps towards me and spoke, "just because we don't talk anymore, it doesn't mean I don't keep up with you or watch your games."

I wanted to look away from her, but it was too hard.

"How long have you been in town?" She asked, ignoring my inability to not talk all of a sudden.

I cleared my throat. "Tonight is actually my first night."

"You need to see the city." She grabbed my hand. Her soft, warm, and gentle touch sparked something inside my body. As she led the way to the elevator,  she turned around, walking backwards to face me with a small on her face, "and you sure as hell ain't gonna see it by yourself."

***

"I'm so proud of you," she smiled before she took the last sip of her Jack and coke. "I've seen you over the years and you're breaking all sorts of NFL records! Man, I can't imagine how proud and happy Coach Baker is that his own son is breaking all his records."

I gave her a small, half smile, which completely made her smile disappear. She placed her hand on top of my forearm and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Jordan, you are a fantastic quarterback. I wish you still didn't doubt yourself at how talented you are."

I looked at her in awe and surprised she still knows me like the back of my hand all these years. It's like no time has passed between us and somehow we're picking up right where we left off. Underneath the single light bulb, shadows cast her features. She looked absolutely stunning and suddenly everything around us faded. I couldn't hear the jukebox. There was no one else but us two.

"Come on," she bumped my shoulders with hers. "Let's get out of here," she shot back one of the tequila shots in front of her. She sucked on a lemon as she pushed the other shot in front of me. I quickly took the shot and made a face as the warm liquor burned the back of my throat. She lifted a lemon in front of my lips. I leaned in and took it in between my teeth. She giggled as she grabbed my hand and led the way out.

The fresh Chicago air hit our warm skin. Y/N giggled as she danced along the dead and quiet sidewalk. She twirled a couple of times before she started spinning in circles like a carrousel in the middle of the street. I couldn't help but chuckle. She stopped and offered her hand. I took it and she started to play with my fingers. I looked down as I realized her touch still sent shivers down my spine. I looked up at her and she had a huge smile on her face. I always thought her smile shined brighter than all the stars combined.

Underneath these Chicago street lights, she made me feel like home and she was making it hard to leave. It was getting closer to midnight and we were running out of time. I wish it would be like old times where it was only her and I.

"I want to take you somewhere else. Do you have time?" She asked hopeful.

My eyes instantly locked with her beautiful eyes. "For you? I have all the time in the world."