Hi Friends and guests i cant respond to.
1. As previously stated this is based on a movie named Love and Basketball written and directed by Gina Prince Blythewood. In the movie the characters follow the same time line and spend 5 years apart with a time skip. The time skip didn't feel right to me so I used it to explore their individual struggles and highlight inequities for women in sports.
2. To say that the Love from this story is missing brings simplicity to the concept that Love has to equal fluff which this story isn't about. The complexity of relationships is often missed as people take on a romanticized view that everything is easy and ends up in a straight and narrow happily ever after. If that's what you are looking for this story isn't for you. Will they get back together? Yes, Is there happily ever after fluff? Yes, When? Just not right now.
3. No Tobias hasn't dated anyone else yet….Tris still hasn't been in a relationship since Zeke. They both have denial about how they feel.
4. Yes, the pay disparities women in the WNBA face are awful. Support the league, watch them on TV, go to games if there is a team in your city.
For those of you who continue to read, thank you and I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
With the All-Star Break approaching the following week, Tobias was happy to get a little break. He decided he would just wait until the end of the season in two months to move his things from Dallas. The Hornets weren't that great either and weren't going to make the playoffs so he could take his time.
Tobias is happy that Will is still with the Hornets. It felt good to be on the same team with him again and that it wouldn't feel like the first day of school again where he was the new kid and didn't know anyone. People in Charlotte were happy to have him back in the area too due to his popularity as a player in high school.
As soon as he was back from the first road trip he was getting settled in his old room. He sighs as he leans against the frame of his window and looks out at The Prior's house and the window to Tris's room. He knew she wasn't there but he couldn't stop his mind from wandering to her. He had looked on Instagram at the pictures from the ESPYs and WNBA draft night. She was still so beautiful, but he didn't want to open his heart to anyone again, especially her. It was too much.
"I'm happy you are home Sweetheart," Evelyn tells Tobias over dinner that evening.
"Me too Ma. I'm glad I'm closer to you" Tobias had felt bad he was in Dallas most of the year when his parents were going through their divorce. He had wanted to be there to support her. She seemed to finally be smiling and in good spirits again. She had taken a portion of her settlement from the divorce and invested in an upscale salon and spa which was doing extremely well.
"I'm going to spend some time with Hector and Fernando this week"
Evelyn smiles, she was happy that Tobias was embracing his role as an older brother.
"I'm glad sweetheart, they need a male role model in their lives" Tobias nods. He and Fernando texted on the regular. He was a good kid, angry at their father which Tobias understood completely. That had been the main thing the two bonded over the past year. Hector was younger and still believed all of Marcus's lies that he was going to show up and be there for him.
"What do you have planned for the All-Star Break sweetheart, are you going to go back to Dallas and move your things?" Evelyn asks, interrupting Tobias's thoughts about his younger brothers.
"I think I'll just wait until the end of the season. Uriah was selected to play in the All-Star game this year, he wants us all the hangout kind of make it like old times, especially since it's in Atlanta"
"That sounds like a wonderful idea" Evelyn smiles, she was so happy Tobias was mending his friendships with his old friends. Maybe he was on the brink of coming back to his old self.
That night when he lies in bed his mind drifts to Tris. He knew she was going to be there, his mind was all over the place about her. He was still having a hard time grappling with how he felt about her. He rolls over onto his side and adjusts his pillow and blows out a frustrated breath. After 3 years he wished he could just let her go.
Caleb smiles as he wakes up and feels the warmth of Marlene's body against his. He remembers that night hanging out at Dauntless Student Center one weekend. The girls had curfew so they were all playing spades and laughing until the girls had to go back to their room. He and Susan had decided to take a break and he was shocked that Marlene was flirting with him while they played cards. Tris was wrapped up in Tobias wasn't paying attention when Marlene playfully keyed her number in his phone and sent herself a text.
He understood why she wanted to keep things quiet. He didn't want to disrupt anything for his sister but it was college, he wanted to have a little reckless fun just like everyone else. That night before they left for the tournament when she asked him if wanted to sneak in her room and not tell his sister he was there he went for it. He liked her, thought she was pretty. Uriah and Zeke had both pushed him to make a move so when she made the first move he went with it.
When they started sleeping together again and she panicked thinking she was pregnant, Caleb could think of nothing but her. He was terrified. Marlene hadn't been on birth control because she hadn't been consistently with anyone and they had gotten caught up a few times without a condom. They both breathed a sigh of relief when the nurse said the pregnancy test was negative but he decided then and there he wanted to be with her.
"What time is it?" Marlene grumbles as Caleb chuckles. She was not a morning person like he was. He tried to sleep in on the weekends but his body was used to getting up early.
"7:30" Caleb runs his hand along her back playfully.
"Why are you awake?" she grumbles and slides off of his chest to her side of the bed and grabs a pillow to cuddle with.
Caleb chuckles again and kisses her shoulder before getting up out of the bed. He never thought when Susan said she wanted to see other people that he would have actually moved on and been as happy as he was right now. Initially, he had been devastated and thought hooking up with Marlene was a good distraction. At first, it was just a few nights that semester. Then he and Susan got back together. When they broke up again the second time, Caleb could see how much they were changing and their high school romance had fizzled. He and Marlene fell back into a comfortable friend with benefits situation. It wasn't until Tris called him out that he realized how much he cared for her.
He decides not to mess with her and let her sleep in and reads over the stock market closing from Friday on his iPad at the kitchen table. Marlene had taken a job as a P.E. teacher at an elementary school in Atlanta. She loved working with the little kids even though she hated getting up early during the week. He goes to the kitchen to make a light breakfast when he hears her finally stirring an hour later, he couldn't do much in the kitchen but he had learned to make breakfast pretty well.
"You didn't have to make breakfast babe" Marlene yawns out as she emerges from their bedroom with her pajamas still on.
"Are you going to go straight from work to the hotel to meet Christina on Wednesday?" Caleb asks as he sets her plate on the table for her.
"Yeah, Tris and Lynn will get in around 1, I'm sure they'll want to get some rest before all the festivities start"
"You excited?"
"Yeah I really miss the four of us being together"
"Yeah I know what you mean"
"Is Tobias coming?" Marlene asks not sure if her best friend is aware her ex will be there.
Caleb gives a slight grin and nods his head.
"You are such an ass, you aren't going to tell her, are you? Is that why I haven't seen you two face time this week?" Marlene knew how close Tris and Caleb were, she thought it was cute. Growing up an only child in foster care she envied how close the Prior family was.
"She would know in a minute I was hiding something from her"
"So are you back on Team Tris and Tobias? I thought you were all for her and Zeke?" Marlene stabs a piece of bacon with her fork as she raises her eyebrow at her boyfriend.
"Zeke is my best friend. I've known how much he was in love with my sister since we were in high school the problem always was she and Tobias had this crazy connection. Zeke's a good guy, but that thing Tobias and Tris have, you could see it when we were kids. The problem is they are both stubborn as hell. I think Shauna is good for Zeke, he needed someone to love him fully to really get over Tris "
"Is Tobias still in love with her?" Marlene over the years she had a few heart to hearts with Tris. After she and Zeke broke up it wasn't hard to see that there just wasn't going to be anyone that made Tris happy like Tobias did but they had been in two different places in life for so long now.
"Yeah, I can tell even though he won't say it out loud. I just want them to be happy, put all the bullshit behind them, maybe if they get thrown together and forced to talk to each other it will strip something up"
"You know she's going to be pissed"
"Ehhh, she'll get over it," Caleb says nonchalantly.
He knew his sister, she really would be okay. They spend the next few minutes talking about how happy they were for Lauren and Harrison. Lauren had found out she was expecting a few weeks ago. The conversation pushes Marlene to confess something that's been on her mind since the holidays.
"I've been thinking about us a lot and we started dating," Marlene says between bites. She hadn't known when the right time was to mention this to Caleb but she figured now was as good a time as any.
Caleb turns around and raises an eyebrow as he grabs his plate and sits next to her at the table. The past 8 months of living together had been really great. He had talked to Tris and Lauren over Christmas in Rome about if he was ready to propose.
"I know this is going to sound so random, but I was thinking about how much of a mess I was thinking I was pregnant, and while we waited and you were holding my hand, and that night I remember thinking how it was just horrible timing.
"Yeah, I remember" Caleb comments wondering where she was going with this.
"I started thinking that night that I wasn't freaked out about you or a baby, it was really about messing up being able to play and I was so happy when you just said, that's it we're together no more just seeing what happens"
"Are you hinting you want to get married?" Caleb wipes his hands on his athletic shorts and cocks his head to the side as he looked across the table at her.
Marlene chuckles and sets down her fork.
"I mean, I guess, you know I don't come from a traditional family like yours, I never thought I was one for all the formality, What I'm saying is I knew at that moment, If I wanted to have a baby, I wanted to have one with you, it just wasn't the right time"
"Mar are you pregnant?" Caleb hops up and kneels next to her on the floor. He'd come to understand when Marlene opened up to him about her family life how much she wanted a family but still didn't necessarily embrace the traditional setup that he had. Growing up in foster care and not being connected to any of her family, Lynn, Tris, Christina, Uriah, Zeke, and him were her family.
"No, I just, I think I really want to be, but I didn't want to get off my birth control without talking to you, this is something we both need to be on the same page about"
Caleb smiles and kisses the palm of her hand that she brought to his face. For some reason knowing he was already wanting to settle down with her, this felt right, who said it had to be in a particular order.
"Let's do it," Caleb says after a moment. This is one of the reasons he loved Marlene. She wasn't afraid to be brave and take chances and it made him want to be brave too.
"I love you" She bites her lip as she smiles.
"I love you too Mar." Caleb kisses her and he feels like everything is right in the world.
"Let's start right now" Caleb announces quickly pulling Marlene up and bending down to throw her over his shoulder. She shrieks with laughter as he carried them back to their bedroom with breakfast forgotten.
Zeke sighs full of delight as he flops back on the pillow with Shauna collapsing next to him. She looks over at him with a grin as they both catch their breath.
"Now that is a great way to get the day started" She grins as she rolls over to lay over his chest. Zeke was the best lover she had ever been with and she felt like they were on more solid ground in their relationship. Their trip to Europe to see Tris in Rome and Lynn in Finland had been great. Shauna was really starting to feel that she didn't want to be without him.
"Are you excited about this weekend?" Shauna asks as she props her head on her hand and runs her free hand across his broad chest.
"Yeah It will be like old times with everyone back together again, it's been a long time and Uri deserves this with how hard he's been playing"
Zeke saw Caleb every day but he missed Uriah with him being in Chicago. He missed Tris too, he felt like they weren't as close as they had been but her being overseas the past 4 months really tapered down their communication unless Zeke had to talk to her about her contract or a potential deal. She had been happy to see him last month when he and Shauna went to Rome for a week to visit but he could tell she was lonely. Lynn was too, he could only imagine how tough it was for both of them.
"What are thinking?" Shauna asked hesitantly seeing the look on Zeke's face.
"Uri told me last night that Tobias is coming"
"Ahhhh," Shauna says understanding now why Zeke had seemed to be deep in thought. She'd heard all about the drama between Tobias and Tris from Marlene. Even though Zeke said he was cool now, she still hadn't met Tobias and she wondered if there was still some tension.
"Are you worried about seeing him"
"No more worried about how Tris will react," Zeke says as he moves to get up so he can shower.
"Oh," Shauna says quietly lowering her eyes and playing with the sheets.
He smiled and leaned over to give her a kiss. He knows how insecure Shauna had been about Tris when they first started dating. He thought she and Shauna were getting along okay, he didn't think they would be the best of friends. Shauna seemed to have formed a tight friendship with Marlene since he and Caleb were so close.
"Stop overthinking, I just don't want there to be any drama. Everyone just wants to have a good time"
Shauna smiles, she had a good time hanging out with Tris in Rome, but there were times like this when she couldn't stop herself when Zeke showed how much he cared for her.
"Do you think there will be drama with the two of them? Are you going to tell her he's coming?"
"Naw, I learned my lesson, I'm staying out of all of that" Zeke says moving to get up again.
He and Tobias weren't close like they had been but Tobias had kept his word and reached out to Zeke, they were texting back and forth more now. Zeke had really committed to not putting himself in the business about Tobias and Tris and their relationship after they cleared the air with Tobias the year before. He knew they both loved each other still. This was going to be an interesting weekend.
When the weekend finally arrives everyone is abuzz with excitement to let loose and have some fun. Tris and Lynn had flown in for the weekend since their schedules aligned with their teams in Rome and Helsinki to attend. Tris had a bye week from play and her coach was okay knowing that Tris was his best player and it wouldn't throw off her game to miss two practices. Lynn's schedule in Finland was the same so she and Tris both connected in Paris before the final leg of their trip to Atlanta. Both were excited to spend time with their friends even if it was only a few days.
Tris had been surprised when Zeke, had called and said that they wanted her to play in the Celebrity All-Star Game and judge the Slam Dunk Contest. Here being the number one draft pick the year before and winning Rookie of the Year had elevated her status. She had endorsement deals coming in. It had all been overwhelming but she was excited about all the opportunities she had.
Christina, Lynn, and Marlene had all flipped out when she told them about all the extra perks that were being thrown at her for the weekend. Zeke had worked out with the NBA for her to get a suite that was big enough for her and the girls. Even though Marlene and Caleb were living in Atlanta all the girls agreed they wanted more time together and it would be fun to feel like they were all living together again.
Tris and Lynn had touched down that morning, Christina had gotten in the night before and Tris had gone to sleep as soon as she got in hoping to keep the jet lag to a minimum. Marlene had arrived while Tris was sleeping but now everyone was up and ready to hit one of the upscale parties for NBA players in Atlanta.
"Uriah is blowing my phone up asking are we on the way" Christina complains "Will everyone please hurry up"
"Okay, okay, I'm ready" Marlene yells emerging from the bedroom she and Lynn were sharing, smoothing down her hair. Her short black mini skirt and sky-high heels showed off her great legs.
"Whoooo Weeee, too bad I'm already taken" Lynn whistles as she comes out from the kitchen in the suite with shot glasses.
Lynn had been dating a woman named Shakeima since senior year who was a nursing major. Everyone loved Kima, she was fun and loving and a perfect balance to Lynn's sometimes prickly disposition. Lynn was playing for the Seattle Storm this year and Kima had gotten a job at the hospital in Seattle to be close to Lynn.
"You are not getting me in trouble with Kima this weekend" Christina teases as she takes the shot glass from Lynn.
"I will be on my best behavior, it is you three that need a chaperone"
"We do look good don't we" Marlene observes doing a twirl before taking the shot glass Lynn handed her.
"Why didn't Kima come?" Tris questions as she takes one last look at her short pink romper that showed off her legs hips and thighs.
"They are switching EMRs at the hospital and had mandatory training so she couldn't take time off this week. She was looking forward to getting to spend some time with all of us. She spent Christmas with me in Finland so it isn't like I haven't seen her"
Tris could tell Lynn was lonely in Finland much like she was in Rome and she missed her girlfriend. This was the part about playing overseas that sucked.
"We have like zero off time playing overseas but maybe when we play in Seattle or Chicago, Mar and Chris can come for a visit" Tris suggests.
"Yes! I'll make time" Christina co-signs.
"You going to let Uriah get some tonight?" Tris teases Christina after taking her shot. Christina and Uriah weren't fooling anyone. Ever since sophomore year, they had basically been unofficially together.
Christina rolls her eyes but chuckles as she grabs her purse. She hadn't let her friends know how serious she and Uriah were even though she figured they already suspected it.
"If he's lucky" she responds, causing a chorus of laughter from her three friends. No matter how many times Christina and Uriah said they weren't sleeping together anymore they always ended up doing it anyway. Tris had really thought Christina and Uriah would have settled down with each other by now, she was positive neither one of them was interested in anyone else. She and Uriah had confided in each other how stressful the pros were. It wasn't that Uriah didn't love Christina, he was overwhelmed with the pressures of the NBA right now.
Tris had hired a driver for them for the weekend who was waiting with a black SUV for them downstairs.
Tris speaks to the man at the door when they arrive at the club. Christina squeals with excitement as the onlookers for the line that was stretched down the street look and whisper as they are let into the club.
A hostess escorts them to the VIP section where Uriah smiles as he sees them approach.
"Ladies, Ladies, Finally!" He exclaims pulling Lynn and Marlene into a hug before hugging Tris.
"You holding it down in Italy," Uriah asks.
"You know it"
"Hey, Tris" A deep voice calls from behind her. She immediately goes stiff as she pulls out of Uriah's embrace knowing who was behind her.
"Uriah I am going to kick your ass," she says in a deadly whisper in Uriah's ear.
"What? I didn't do anything" Uriah says in a sugary sweet tone giving Tris an innocent look.
She takes a deep breath and turns around to face Tobias. Damn, he looked good. He had grown a shortly trimmed beard that was so sexy. She could tell he'd bulked up too.
"Hey T.," she says almost so quietly he could barely hear her over the music. They both look at each other unsure if they should hug or not. Tris steps forward but then pulls back when it doesn't look like he is going in for a hug. Then Tobias does the same thing.
"For the love of God will you two hug and get it over with," Uriah says loudly drawing attention from everyone else in the booth.
Tris narrows her eyes at him as she and Tobias share the most awkward hug they have ever had. When she gets close to him, Tris can't help but take in his smell and it goes straight to her core.
"Drinks" Lynn yells and Tris breathes a sigh of relief that her awkward encounter with her ex is now over.
Tris hugs Zeke and Shauna who are also in their section. She meets Zack Levine, who plays with Uriah in Chicago, and his girlfriend and a few other players. They chat it up, some of them telling Tris how much they admire her game and style of play. She doesn't miss it while she talks she can feel Tobias looking at her.
Later on in the evening, everyone is vibing to the music, Christina and Tris are playfully dancing while Marlene, Shauna, and Lynn sip on their drinks. Caleb, Tobias, and Zeke were laughing hysterically at some story Uriah was telling.
"I swear you and Tobias just need to go back to the bathroom and fuck and get rid of all this awkward sexual tension" Christina complains.
"There isn't sexual tension, I will say it's awkward, I literally haven't seen him in person or actually spoken to him since the night he broke up with me" Tris defends.
"Oh please, every time we get up to go dance he looks like he's going to literally devour you" Lynn teases.
"And you are wearing that romper Baby" Marlene adds with a smile as she playfully slaps Tris's hip.
Tris laughs and tosses her head back. Tonight had been fun even with her and Tobias being awkward with each other. It was like old times.
"We have both moved on," Tris adds thinking that if she said it out loud enough she would start to believe it.
"Yeah right," Marlene says with an eye roll. It was clear that both Tris and Tobias still had feelings for each other.
"Whatever, come one let's go dance," Tris says as she shakes her head and gets up leading the way to the dance floor.
Seeing Tobias in person had been a shock. She should have figured he would be here with Uriah even though he didn't get selected as an All-Star, especially since Uriah did and was participating in the skills challenge. Maybe Tobias had moved on but this was a reminder that some part of her still missed him more than she cared to admit.
They stay until the club closes dancing and drinking and having a good time. As predicted Christina goes back to Uriah's hotel with him. Tris, Lynn, and Marlene go to Waffle House and end up in bed by 4 am. Tris tossed and turned thinking about Tobias before she finally fell asleep. They hadn't spoken again after their awkward greeting but Tris caught him watching her all night. At first, he looked away trying to play it off but as the night wore on he didn't look away almost as if he was challenging her. She missed it, the push and pull they had.
Tris let her hand dip down into her sleep shorts. She moved her hand thinking of Tobias making love to her. He was bulkier now but in a good way, she could tell he added more weights to his conditioning. His facial hair made him look even sexier and his voice still had that deep vibration that sent chills up her spine. As she quietly moved her fingers in and out of her womanhood squeezing her breast she remembered what it felt like for Tobias to have his hands on her to feel him moving in and out of her. It had been three years but she still remembered it vividly. After her orgasam, Tris lays back. She and Tobias were done, she had to accept that. There was no reason to open that can of worms again.