Chapter 291: Loneliness
Monday, January 30th, Evening
With a detached interest, Ashlyn watched and listened to Izzy tell her story. It was about the night she and Keith got engaged. Izzy was her animated self and enjoyed, or at least looked like, telling her story.
"It was one of the best nights of my life. Keith and I got married in late May and have been together ever since, and now we have two beautiful children. I have few complaints, now," Izzy said.
"Now?" Ivy asked.
Ashlyn leaned forward. "In a long-term relationship, you go through long periods of positive and periods of negatives," Ashlyn said.
"Isn't that any relationship?" Ivy asked.
Ashlyn nodded a bit, "Yeah, I guess, just one question, though," she said.
"Okay, what would it be?" Ivy asked, focusing on Ashlyn.
"You want to get into a relationship with a professional athlete?" Ashlyn asked.
Ivy nodded, "Yeah, I think I am," she said.
"Let me give you some of my experience," Ashlyn said.
Ivy nodded, "Okay," she said, studying Ashlyn.
Before Ashlyn could speak, Mina showed up with their fresh pitcher of beer. She put it down on the table. Mina looked over the table and nodded.
"Well, who got their cat run over?" Mina asked, "Good news though, your taco platter is in the oven."
"Thanks, Mina," Izzy said.
"Is there anything else?" Mina asked.
"No, not now," Izzy said.
Ashlyn topped off her beer as Mina walked away. She looked around the tables, and finally, her eyes settled on Ivy. Studying the younger woman, she sighed.
"After college, I was drafted into the WNBA and ended up playing in Atlanta. For a while, I bounced between Duke and Atlanta. Finally, I was down there for the season living with Angela. James had things to do in Miami, and we were rarely in the same city. I just figured we're both professionals; we can make this work," Ashlyn said.
"You're still together, so you must've," Ivy said.
Ashlyn took a long draught of her beer and put it down. "That's just the beginning," Ashlyn said.
"What's just the beginning?" Ivy asked.
"Me playing in Atlanta and him playing in Miami. There were talks of trading me, I even took a physical, and I failed it because of my knee. I went to several other doctors for my knee, and the answer was all the same. My knee was shot. I ended up on the injured list and traveled with the team. I retired at the end of the season. I decided to leave Brett with my in-laws and see what it would be like to live in Miami," Ashlyn said.
"When did you go to Miami?" Ivy asked.
"It was the fall. Miami was a nice city, and I'd be lying if there weren't good times there. It turned out it wasn't for me. So, I returned to Tree Hill and settled in. I got a job and started working on my master's degree," Ashlyn said and took another drink of her beer.
"Not everyone can fit in everywhere," Ivy said.
"Yeah, that's true. What I wasn't ready for was the time apart. James would be in Miami starting in roughly September until April if the season ended at the end of the regular season or up to July if they made the playoffs and how far they went. That's why there are such gaps between our children's age," Ashlyn said.
"That's rough; maybe it was better when he's in Miami and stayed with him?" Ivy asked.
"On the surface, it would seem that way, but there are road trips and long stretches where you don't see each other then as well," Ashlyn said.
"So, what is this getting at?" Ivy asked.
"The one thing they don't tell you about dating a professional athlete is the loneliness. I thought I could cope better since I did play my season, but I couldn't, or can't. Angela lives out of state; I rarely see Ashton. So, it's just Huck and Chase most of the time for adult contact, but Chase works nights, and we all have kids," Ashlyn said.
"So, what are you getting at?" Ivy asked.
"Just be prepared for loneliness. That's it," Ashlyn said and took another sip from her beer.
"There has to be some way; you and James stay in contact," Ivy said.
"We talk to each other every night, and when he doesn't have a game, he talks to the kids as well. After a game, we only talk, and that's why I watch his games, so I know what happened, how well he played, and what mood he'll be in," Ashlyn said.
"Have you talked about the other issues with working for a sports club?" Ivy asked.
"Such as what?" Ashlyn asked.
"Free agency or trades? You know what it means for your life," Ivy said.
Ashlyn shrugged and picked up her pint glass. She looked at the liquid in the glass and slowly turned the glass in her hand. After a moment, she took a deep draught of her beer and put it down on the table.
"James and I have talked about him changing teams. In my situation, it won't change much since the kids, and I live here throughout the year. The only thing that we talked about is that we wouldn't like is him moving to a west coast team," Ashlyn said.
Ivy nodded, "That's what I'm worried about with Kay is her getting traded," she said.
"If it happens, it happens, Ivy," Ashlyn said, "Where in my situation, it doesn't matter in most cases; yours is completely different. You and Kay aren't married, and well, I don't know what you do for work."
"I'm a security guard at a local hospital," Ivy said.
"Well, if Kay does get traded, it's up to you if you want to uproot yourself to spend time with Kay," Ashlyn said.
"Do families also move when a player gets traded?" Ivy asked.
"From what I understand, it does happen, and it doesn't initially mainly because the kids are in school," Ashlyn said.
"Okay," Ivy said and finished her pint of beer. She put her glass down and poured herself another beer from the pitcher. She looked at Ashlyn. "So, is that what being a WAG is like?"
Ashlyn shook her head and looked at Ivy with anger in her eyes. She felt her infamous temper welling up inside her. "I am not a WAG," she said.
"Sorry, I didn't know what else to call it," Ivy said.
"Well, that's my life, I can't answer for anyone else, but the best thing I can say is I'm functionally for most of the year a single mom," Ashlyn said.
"Oh, I didn't put two and two together," Ivy said.
Trin snickered from her spot at the table, responding to Ashlyn's comment. The three other women turned to look at Trin. Trin looked Ashlyn in the eyes and understood she misjudged Ashlyn's mood.
"What was that all about?" Ashlyn asked.
"Ashlyn, at least your kids have their dad in the picture, one of them regularly," Trin said.
Ashlyn ground her teeth for a second. Her canines' teeth seemed just a bit longer than usual when she did this. Finally, she focused on Trin. "Not my fault your baby daddy is a deadbeat," Ashlyn said.
"He's your brother-in-law," Trin said.
"Only by accident of birth," Ashlyn said.
"Ladies, we all can agree that Brian is a piece of shit; let's not fight and give him more space in our minds," Izzy said.
Ashlyn nodded and sipped her beer. "Fair," she said.
"Yeah," Trin said, turned, and looked at Ivy. "So, want to hear about being alone and a single mind?"
Ashlyn rolled her eyes and bit her tongue, typical Trin. She took another sip of her beer.
"Sure, I guess," Ivy said, a bit skeptical.
Ashlyn shook her head and saw Mina coming over with their family taco platter.
