“I think we’re broken up.”
“What do you mean you think? That’s something you should definitely know.” Her eyes are raised waiting for me to answer. And she’s right, this is something I should know. But Jolene didn’t exactly give me that chance.
I tell her everything that happened last night after the game. It’s painful saying it out loud, but even more painful that it’s completely my fault. That I did nothing to keep it from happening. “Then she booked it. Before I had a chance to react or say anything. She jumped in a cab and split. Just like dad. No explanations and no goodbyes.” Even more than that…no closure. Not knowing where we stand or what I can do to make things right is like being on a sinking ship with no life raft. I don’t know what to do besides go down with it.
Before I realize what’s happening my sister’s fist hits my shoulder. “You’re an idiot,” she yells. I know she’s just woken up Mom, but she doesn’t care. I’ll have to rehash this when she gets up, anyway.
“What did I do?” Damn, she hits hard. I don’t remember her being this strong when I lived here.
“You should have pushed that crazy lady off you the moment her hands made contact with you. Not wait like a dumbass that doesn’t know what’s going on.”
“I wasn’t expecting it.” I shake my head. “My brain was in shock and it took a minute to put all the pieces together.”
“I swear men are stupid.” Gabby says before getting up.
“Only if they don’t learn from their mistakes,” Mom says from the end of the hallway.
I glance in her direction. “How much of that did you hear?”
“Enough to know that you need to figure out what it is you want.”
She has a point. But damn, I don’t know what I should do. For now, all I can do is wait until I hear from Jolene.
* * *
“This is such bullshit.” I’ve barely been in the game for five minutes and I’m already on the bench. I know I’m not at my best right now, but I’m not doing that bad. There’s no reason to pull me out.
Ross scoots down the chairs until he’s sitting next to me. “Dude, you need to chill out.” He’s not usually one to meddle, but we’ve been hanging out more since that night at the bar. He’s pretty cool to hang out with. This is one of those times he needs to mind his own damn business.
“No, I need to be out on the court.” I cross my arms over my chest like a petulant child. Is it bratty? Maybe, but I don’t care. Not only have I not been able to get ahold of Jolene, but Lana keeps telling me she needs time. What does that even mean? How much time does one person need to decide if they are going to take a simple phone call?
“Look Bentley,” Ross says as we watch our teammates pass the ball down the court and go in for a layup. “Your heart is broken, I get that, but you need to stop bringing that shit out onto the court. That is why you’re sitting here and aren’t out there right now. You’re playing like shit and don’t deny it because you know it’s true.”
If I wasn’t worried he could kick my ass, I’d punch him right now. Not because he deserves it but because he’s right and I don’t want to admit it. Jolene walking out on me is fucking with my head in the worse way possible. “I don’t know what to do. She’s not answering my calls or my texts. How am I supposed to clear shit up with her if she won’t talk to me?” During the game probably isn’t the best time to talk about this, but there’s only so much I can take from Mom and Gabby. A guy’s perspective is what I need. I mean, it’s not likely that I’ll be put back in the game. At least, not until I get my head out of my ass and play like I usually do.
“What about contacting her friend?”
Another point by the Rattlers, and acid burns in my gut that I’m not out there. “She’s a dead end.”
He drums his fingers against his knee and doesn’t take his eyes off the court. “Well, the only option you have is to talk to her in person.”
“How am I supposed to do that if she’s in another state?”
“You fly your broody ass up there and talk to her like a man.” He shakes his head, annoyed. “If you want her bad enough, you go after her. There’s no two ways about it.”
That’s three people who have told me the same thing. I’m almost certain if I asked Jordan for his advice, he’d tell me the same thing. Even though she won’t answer my calls, I do want to be with her. I want that more than anything. Well, maybe besides my basketball career because I’ve busted my ass for it, but it’s only complete if she’s by my side. She makes me a better person.
“You might be onto something.” I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees. Wondering exactly how I will pull this off.
“So, when are you going?” I can see him out of the corner of my eye and he’s sporting a shit-eating grin.
“I have to check her schedule and see when she’s off.” I think her next day off is during a game day, but that might work in my favor. I’ll tell Coach I have family business I need to attend to and it’ll prove to her she’s the most important thing to me. If anything, maybe it’ll help to smooth some things over with her.
“You better make it worth it.”
I watch my team win by two points without my help. And I know deep in my gut that I won’t be able to play my best until I have the answers I need to move forward.
Twenty-Eight