Big Baller : A Hero Club Novel

by Katrina Marie

  Bentley stops as well. I can’t tell if it’s out of surprise or familiarity. I try to get a closer look without catching his attention. The woman has long blonde hair, and she turns just enough that the light shines down on her. Holy. Shit. That’s the woman I saw taking photos at the restaurant. And I’m pretty sure it was the woman interviewing him after the game I went to. Why in the hell is she hanging all over Bentley?

  I take a step forward and the movement catches his eye. They widen at the sight of me, but he still hasn’t pushed her off of him. My heart sinks with every second he doesn’t do something. He could take a step toward me and that would be enough. He hasn’t though, and I don’t want to stand around waiting for him to react.

  I turn around and get back in the cab. Tears threaten to roll down my cheeks, but I push them back as much as I can. “Can you take me back to the airport?”

  “We just left there,” he argues.

  “Please,” my voice cracks despite trying to keep myself together.

  He must hear the desperation in my voice because he pulls into traffic and we’re heading back. I pull up the list of flights, looking for one that has seats available and can get me out of here as fast as possible. I don’t even care where it goes, as long as it’s far away from Bentley.

  This is why I didn’t want to get involved with him. I thought I could handle the attention he gets, but if he’s not going to make it clear that he’s taken, and act like it, then I don’t know that I can be with him. It’s Carter all over again. The only difference is, I let my guard down completely this time. The realization breaks me and I let the first of what I’m sure are many tears roll down my cheek.

  Twenty-Seven

  Bentley

  “Jolene,” I yell, too late to do any good. The cab she got in is already speeding off down the road. Shit. Shit. Shit. This is not good. My brain finally gets over the shock, and I pull away from Savannah. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  She snorts. “Don’t tell me you don’t feel the chemistry between us.” She smiles and takes a step toward me.

  I back up. Jordan and Ross were right. This chick is off her rocker. “Excuse me? Where the fuck did you get that idea?”

  Hurt flashes across her face. “Why else did you talk to me after the game in Missouri? Especially when there were a dozen other reporters to go to. You can’t say it has nothing to do with my looks.”

  I’m speechless for a few moments, and that doesn’t happen often. I’ve talked to her once. I’m not sure how she conceived this idea in her head. “Because you were the only one not in my face with a microphone.”

  Her head snaps back as if she was slapped. I can’t believe I’m even having to deal with this. “I assumed you were into me after making it apparent that the woman you were with was a friend. And honestly, I can do so much more for your career than she ever could. You need to be with someone that knows the business.”

  “You’re nuts,” I yell. A few of the people still hanging out after the game turn toward us, waiting to see what drama unfolds. I don’t want to deal with this publicly, but it’s the only way she's going to get it through her head to stay away from me. “It doesn’t matter what I called her. She wasn’t ready to be put in the spotlight and I was respecting that. And I know you had something to do with getting those pictures of me and her and the prior women I’ve been with put into that gossip magazine.” I point my finger toward her without getting any closer. “I should have never given you that interview, and if you come near me, or her, again…I will file a restraining order.”

  “How are you going to do that?” She crosses her arms over her chest, nonchalant. “I’m part of the press. I have a right to be at the games.” Is this lady serious? Being a part of the press doesn’t mean you get to be an asshole. And that’s what she's doing right now.

  “I’m sure your bosses would think otherwise if I go to them with this stunt you pulled.” My voice is low and steady, letting her know it’s more than just a threat. I’ll get all the other players she’s harassed together so they can give their accounts. This woman isn’t here for the right reasons, that much is obvious. She’s only trying to catch herself a gravy train to a life she thinks she deserves. “I want you to stay far away from me, or I’ll make sure those press privileges are revoked.”

  Instead of giving her a chance to reply, I turn toward the parking garage and rush to my car. This delusional woman has just fucked up the best thing that has happened to me. I need to fix it, and there is only one place Jolene would go.

  Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling into a parking spot at the airport. I run inside, and I don’t care if I look like an insane person. Most people would if they were searching for the woman they love. It’s scarcer here at night than it is during the day. That should make it easy to spot Jolene, but I don’t see her anywhere. Surely, she hasn’t already boarded another plane and left. It’s impossible, though. It’s not like International Airlines only has one plane coming and going at a time. Shit.

  I pull my phone out of my pocket and tap her name. Straight to voicemail. Damn it. No ring, nothing. Just her voice telling me to leave a message. My next best option is Lana. Maybe she’ll answer.

  I look for her contact information in my phone and send her a text. I would call her, but it’s late and I don’t know where or what she’s doing. A part of me is hesitant to hear what she has to say. She’s protective of Jolene, and I understand why, but it’d be nice to explain the situation and maybe she could help me.

  While I wait, I search the flights that are going out. There isn’t another one heading to Missouri until tomorrow. Hell, I don’t even know if that’s where she went. For all I know, she could be on a flight to California. I assume she has some perks to being a flight attendant and can ride on pretty much any plane her company owns.

  My phone dings with a notification as I head to the ticket counter and I slide it open hoping it’s a message from Jolene. I’d be happy to hear from Lana at this point. My heart sinks when I realize what it is. It’s my reminder for the next game. The day after tomorrow. There’s no way I can fly out and make it back in time. I must wait and see if I can get a hold of her. If she’ll answer me at all.

  Defeated, I walk out of the airport. This was supposed to be an amazing weekend. I had plans. She’d meet Mom and Gabby, and I was going to tell her I loved her. That she’s it for me, but I guess I don’t mean the same to her. She didn’t even give me a chance.

  I get in my car and head toward the only place that could bring me comfort.

  It feels weird letting myself into Mom’s house since I don’t live here anymore. The house is dark, and I know both her and Gabby are in bed. I thought about knocking, but I didn’t want to wake them. It’s after midnight and they’ve both worked all day. I just didn’t know where else to go. My house isn’t an option. Not filled with its bare walls and all the preparations I made to wine and dine Jolene. It’s a reminder of what I’ve always felt. Of what I knew my life would be like. I honestly believed all that would change with Jolene by my side, but she’s not here and I can’t go there.

  There’s an old, worn out blanket folded across the couch and I pull it off before lying down. I don’t bother finding a place to plug my phone in. The odds of her calling me are slim to none. Hell, I’ll be lucky if I ever hear from her again.

  In all of my dating years, I’ve never truly felt the loss of someone you love. The only thing that comes close is when Dad bailed. When he decided we weren’t enough for him anymore. It’s like being punched in the gut and being told you’re not worthy. Maybe I’m not. I never took relationships seriously before. I never let a woman completely turn my life upside down. I’ve never met a woman who’d make me question my own fears and push them down. The moment I do, she does exactly what I’ve always feared. Jordan was right when he told me I needed to calm my ass down when I signed on. That I needed to stay out of the eyes of the press because it’s those past one-night stands that put m
e in this position. Well, that reporter is partially to blame as well. She definitely didn’t help matters. But I should have taken precautions when the magazine showed up. I should have put a stop to it then. But I didn’t take it seriously. My eyes drift close as all the ways I’ve fucked this up play through my mind.

  “Wake up, Stupid.” Those are the words I hear as a hand slaps my face harder than necessary. “I know you hear me. Open your damn eyes.”

  “What the fuck, Gabby?” I push her away before sitting up. “Is that how you greet all your guests?”

  She shrugs and sits cross-legged on the floor beside the couch. “Only when they are uninvited. Why are you even here? Shouldn’t you be home with Jolene?”

  Everything that happened last night flashes through my head. Yeah, that’s where I should be, but it’s not because I’m an idiot. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Well, too damn bad. You don’t get that choice since you snuck in here while we were sleeping and crashed on the couch.” She leans back waiting for me to say something, but that’s not going to happen. “Should I go wake Mom up? I’m sure she’d be interested in why you’re here.”

  “She’s not up yet?” I glance around the living room for some sign of what time it is. “What time is it?”

  “I don’t know. Around six or seven? I had to go to the restroom and was surprised to see you sprawled out on the couch like you used to do when we were kids. I figured I’d give you a little wake up call.”

  “You’re an asshole,” I mutter, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Scooting over, I make space for her on the couch. “Get off the floor.”

  “Only if you tell me what happened and why Jolene isn’t with you.” She’s not going to let up. I forgot how annoying it can be around my big sister.

  “Fine. If it’ll make you shut up.”

  She gets off the floor and settles into the corner of the couch. “Okay, now talk.” She pulls the blanket off of me and pulls it over herself. She’s so annoying. There are many times I wish I was an only child, but then I would have been lonelier than I am now.

  “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

  Jolene

  “Have you talked to him?” Lana stopped by to make sure I’m not wallowing in self-pity. She’s too late, though. I’ve been wallowing for the past two weeks.

  “No,” I mutter and pull my blanket up to my shoulders. “Why should I?”

  “Because you’re obviously still upset over it. You haven’t been to work since that night. I mean, I know you have a ton of vacation time, but this,” she waves her hands around the coffee table. So, what if there are takeout dishes littering it. Most of those are new-ish. “This is ridiculous, Jolene.”

&
nbsp; Why is she being so harsh? My heart was literally thrown into a blender and pureed. This is my process. It’s how I grieve the loss of what I thought I had. “I’ll throw them away later. I don’t feel like getting up right now.”

  “No,” she stomps over to me and yanks the blanket off. “You are going to put them away now.” She takes hold of my arm and pulls me off the couch. “Then you’re going to shower because you smell horrible.”

  “Gee, thanks for the hygiene commentary.” I love Lana dearly, but today she’s working on my nerves. “But you don’t get it. I thought we would be something more. Something that lasted. Except he’s just like every other man…there until someone prettier comes along.”

  She sighs and begins picking up the old boxes. “You don’t know that’s what happened. You didn’t even give him a chance to explain himself.”

  What the hell? Did she just defend him? That’s not how this works. She’s supposed to be the one who damns him with me, not the one who takes up for him and asks me to be reasonable. I’ve gone through this before with Carter. That one didn’t hit me nearly as hard as Bentley. I thought we were so much more. “So, I’m the one in the wrong? He had some chick hanging all over him. He didn’t push her off. Not even when he saw me.” My voice rises at the end and I’m sure my neighbors think I’m losing my mind.

  Lana throws away the stack of Styrofoam she has and whirls on me. “Number one, I never said he did nothing wrong. Not even when you came and stayed with me after you came back. Number two, just answer one of his phone calls. He’s worried about you and you both need to get out of this limbo. Either get the closure you need or write him off.”