Chapter 698: Uncasville
Tuesday, March 14th, Morning
Her morning started at her usual time, with her typical fight to roll out of bed. She wandered into her bathroom and started the shower. Once the water was at the right temperature, she climbed in and woke up under the water. Once done, she stepped out and wrapped herself in a towel. She dried her hair and looked in the mirror.
Karen "Kay" Scott studied herself and finished drying her hair. She carefully did her hair and pulled it back into a bun at the base of her head. The bun was tight and severe. Kay left her bedroom, dressed for her day, putting on her sports underwear, and then pulled on a Connecticut Sun t-shirt and sweatpants.
Kay entered her kitchen and went through her refrigerator for a quick breakfast. Looking out the window, she could see the sun starting to light up the river and reflect off the casino. She finished her breakfast and looked at her smartphone.
Shaking her head, there was no text, calls, DMs, or emails from Ivy. Pushing the phone away, Kay finished her breakfast, then washed her dish. That was when the smartphone; Kay walked over to see her UBER had arrived. Putting her phone in her pocket, she put her shoes on, followed by her coat, and grabbed her backpack.
In the back seat of the UBER, Kay put in her earbuds and listened to her playlist. Once she got to the team training facility, she settled the UBER and went inside. Kay went to the locker room and dropped her stuff. Once everything was set, she went to the trainer's room.
Sitting on the training table, the team trainer moved her arm and looked at her shoulder. Kay could feel the tension in her shoulder; it had gotten better over the last few years. Kay had worked hard to get her near full range of motion back; Kay lost a degree or two of rotation and maybe a degree of elevation. After the trainer was done, they looked at Kay.
"You seemed to have healed well," the trainer said.
Kay nodded, "I do my PT religiously," she said.
"Well, who did your surgery?" the trainer asked.
"Which time?" Kay asked.
"The last time," the trainer said.
"Doctor James Andrews," Kay said.
"Okay, well, we're going to send you to the team doctor anyways," the trainer said.
"Okay," Kay said.
"You're good to rehab," the trainer said.
"Thanks," Kay said and got off the table.
"You're welcome," the trainer said.
Kay grabbed her towel and t-shirt and headed toward the weight room. Kay started to stretch out and started work on her shoulder with an elastic band. She did her PT for her shoulder; then, when she finished, she began her weight routine.
Once finished, Kay cleaned off the weights and headed to the treadmill. Kay started her running routine on the treadmill. She could turn the world off with her earbuds and music on. Kay worked up a good sweat and could tune out the world's stress around being in a new town, no public transportation, and no girlfriend.
No Matter how hard she tried, she couldn't forget waking up in her bed alone. The apartment was too silent, and she could only do much PT on her shoulder. Kay missed Ivy, not only waking up with her but it was how Ivy challenged her and kept her company. Ivy wanted to stay in Chicago to be close to her family. Since they weren't married, they went their separate ways.
After her workout, Kay got off the treadmill; she dried herself off. Kay pulled on her T-shirt and went to the caf. Getting her lunch, she sat down and started to eat. She looked around the almost empty cafeteria and sighed.
Kay saw the redheaded coach walk over to the table and put her tray down. Coach Paula McMichael stood over Kay.
"Kay, what are you doing here?" Paula asked.
"Rehab, PT, and working out, Coach," Kay said.
"Mind if I join you?" Paula asked.
"Go ahead," Kay said.
Paula sat down, "So, how are you settling in?" she asked.
"Okay, I guess it's tough since I don't drive," Kay said.
"You don't drive?" Paula asked.
"Never have," Kay said.
"Okay, so you're wondering why you're here," Paula said.
"Yeah, considering I'm a broken shooting guard, that's never been more than a role player," Kay said.
"You're a great shooter, and I need a sniper," Paula said.
"You chose me," Kay said.
"It's good to be wanted," Paula said.
"So, I'm here," Kay said.
"You are, and I saved your career," Paula said.
"How?" Kay asked.
"Chicago was looking to move away from you," Paula said.
Kay nodded, "I see," she said.
"Have you shot today?" Paula asked.
"No, I was planning to after lunch," Kay said.
"Don't overdo it, you're not Candi, and it's a long season," Paula said.
"I know I'm not Candi; I'm here, aren't I?" Kay asked.
"Some people have different callings," Paula said.
After finishing her lunch, Kay went out to the practice court and set up a rack of basketballs. She loosened up and took off her T-shirt. Kay looked down at her incomplete sleeve tattoo; she noted that she would have to fly to Chicago for the next phase. Maybe she could see Ivy then.
Kay cleared her head and went back to shooting. Once she got her shots in, she returned to the locker room, showered, dressed, and ordered her UBER.
Once she returned home, she sat in her chair and looked out the window—the casino where her new home court loomed in her vision. Kay sighed and started to work on her shoulder with an elastic training band as she sat in her apartment, alone and in silence.