Chapter Nineteen

A'ja Wilson-Love

"I'm going to beat the shit out of her bro," I groaned out in irritation as I sat on Jackie's couch. She chuckled before sitting next to me.

"Maybe something's wrong with her phone A. That's not like Jordyn to go ghost for a week," Jackie said.

"I would agree if her ass wasn't posting on Instagram," I rebutted, causing her to wince.

"Oh yeah, ain't no excuse. Let me see. I'm finna try to call," she said, pulling out her second phone. She typed in her number and it rang a few times before it picked up.

"Hello?" I heard another female's voice making me screw my face up.

"Hi, can you put Jordyn on the phone please?" Jackie said as I felt my temperature start to rise fast.

"Jackie?" The person questioned, making Jackie screw up her face.

"Who is this?"

"DiDi Girl! Jordy just ran in the store to grab our Starbucks. You want em to have her call you back?" She asked as I shook my head to Jackie.

"No that's okay, yall chilling I'll catch her later," she hung up and I shook my head as tears immediately streamed down my face. Jackie's normal nonchalant face dropped as she immediately wrapped her arms around me.

"Oh A," she said as I cried my heart out. Normally I would have held it together until I was alone, but the pregnancy hormones mixed with the extra hormones from the fertility shots were whooping my behind. What the hell did I do for her to ignore me for a whole fucking week.

"I'm going to break up with her," I said as I sighed and grabbed my phone.

"Woah, over the phone A?" Jackie said as I shook my head while opening my Delta app.

"No, I'm about to take my ass to Dallas, enjoy a game or two and be done with her. I refuse to be ignored by my fucking Wife for a week with no reason," I said, leaving out the pregnant part. Because if she can not give me a valid reason there will be no more pregnancy. No need to let anyone's hope up.

Jackie nodded before resting her head on her hand.

"You wanna go get food?" She said randomly, making me laugh. She smiled and I nodded, letting her know I needed that distraction.

"Yeah. I'm feeling burgers what you think?" I said as she looked at me weird.

"You want...a burger?" I nodded as she chuckled.

"Okay. I thought you hated burgers,"

"Girl no. Wrong friend," I teased as she busted out laughing.

"So which one of yall don't like burgers?" She asked confused.

"That's Angel," I said as she nodded.

"Oh. Shit you know yall damn near the same person in Real life," and I laughed cause it was true. She was truly my mini me.

Jackie and I walked into this burger spot near her place—one of those local joints that looked like it hadn't changed since the 90s. Checkered floors, vintage Coca-Cola signs, the whole nine. I appreciated how normal everything felt right now. How simple.

"What are you getting?" Jackie asked, scanning the menu.

"Bacon cheeseburger. Extra pickles," I said, rubbing my stomach unconsciously. The pregnancy thing was still so new. So fragile.

Jackie raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you like pickles?"

I laughed. "Girl, I don't know. My body's doing all kinds of weird stuff right now."

We ordered, found a booth by the window. The sunlight felt warm. Comforting. A total contrast to the emotional hurricane brewing inside me.

"So," Jackie said, unwrapping her burger, "You really flying to Dallas?"

I nodded. Took a bite. The pickles were amazing. "Yep. I'm done with her ghosting me. Something ain't right."

"You want me to come?" Jackie offered, her protective big sister energy radiating.

"Nah. This is something I gotta handle myself." I pulled out my phone, checked my Delta app again. Flight was on time. Boarding in a few hours.

My hand unconsciously went to my stomach again. I wasn't showing yet, but something felt different. Delicate. Like I was carrying the most precious secret.

And Jordyn didn't even know.

"I'm gonna confront her," I said, more to myself than to Jackie. "Whatever's going on, I need answers."

The burger sat heavy in my stomach, but not as heavy as the thoughts racing through my mind. Jackie watched me carefully, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and support.

"You want me to drop you at the airport?" she asked, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

"Nah, I called an Uber," I responded, scrolling through my phone. The lack of messages from Jordyn was deafening. A week of silence. A week of her posting Instagram stories, living her life, while completely shutting me out.

Something wasn't right.

The Uber arrived precisely on time. Jackie helped me load my overnight bag, pulling me into a tight hug before I could get in.

"Call me the moment you know something," she whispered. "And I mean the moment."

I nodded, fighting back unexpected tears. Damn these hormones.

The ride to the airport was a blur of highways and my own racing thoughts. My hand rested on my stomach—a protective gesture I was just starting to realize I did unconsciously now. The pregnancy test was still tucked in my bag. The one I hadn't told Jordyn about yet. The one that was supposed to be our moment of joy.

Now? It felt like a weapon. A potential piece of evidence in whatever was about to unfold.

The airport was its usual chaotic self. People rushing. Luggage rolling. Announcements echoing through the terminal. I checked in, went through security, found my gate. Each step felt like a countdown.

I was going to get answers.

My phone buzzed. A text from Angel, my teammate.

Angel: You good? You seem off today.

Me: I'm fine. Just traveling.

Angel: To?

Me: Dallas.

I didn't elaborate. Didn't want to explain. Couldn't explain.

The flight was relatively empty. I stretched out, grateful for the extra space. My mind drifted to the last conversation Jordyn and I had before she left for this tournament. How different everything felt then.

We'd talked about the baby. About our future. About how Athletes Unlimited would be her last big tournament before we started our family. She'd been so excited. So present.

And now? Radio silence.

The flight attendant brought me water. I noticed her eyeing my stomach—not obviously, but that knowing look women sometimes give. I wasn't showing yet, but something was different. Something was changing.

Landing in Dallas felt like entering enemy territory. The airport was massive, modern. People moved with purpose. Basketball players. Athletes. Professionals.

I called an Uber to the hotel where Jordyn's team was staying. My heart raced with each mile.

What was I going to say? What was I going to do?

The hotel was one of those sleek, modern places. Glass. Chrome. Everything looking perfect on the surface. Just like how our relationship had looked from the outside.

"I'm here to see Jordyn Love," I told the front desk. The young woman typed something, looked up.

"Of course, Mrs. Love," she said, recognizing my name and ID. "Room 1204."

The elevator ride felt eternal. My heart raced. My hands—which I'd noticed were shaking slightly—gripped my overnight bag tighter.

Room 1204 was at the end of a long, quiet hallway. I used the keycard, stepping inside.

The room was immaculate. Too immaculate. Nothing like our messy, lived-in home. Something caught my eye immediately—an unfamiliar Apple Watch sitting on the dresser. Rose gold. Definitely not Jordyn's usual style.

I picked it up. Turned it over. A tiny scratch on the back. Something about it felt... off.

But Jordyn wasn't here. The room was empty.

I checked my phone. Game times. Athletes Unlimited had a double-header today. Perfect.

The arena was massive. I deliberately chose a seat far from the court. High enough to see everything, but not close enough to be noticed. To be recognized.

When Jordyn walked out, my breath caught.

She looked... different. Free. Lighter. Like something had shifted inside her.

Her interactions with her teammates—especially with one player in particular—felt different. Te'a Cooper. Something about the way they moved. The way they looked at each other.

My heart was breaking in real-time.

During warm-ups, I watched. Studied. The stolen glances. The way Te'a's hand would "accidentally" brush Jordyn's back. The way Jordyn would smile. A smile I hadn't seen in months.

The games were intense. Athletes Unlimited always brought top-tier talent. But I wasn't watching the game. I was watching her.

My wife.

Who felt like a stranger.

When the games ended, Jordyn looked... happy. Truly happy. Something she hadn't looked like in weeks. Maybe months.

I slipped out before the crowds. Headed back to the hotel. Waited.

The room felt different now. Charged. Like something was brewing.

I walked into the bathroom to revive myself and as I went to wash my hands a small smile found its way to my face. Whenever we're away from each other for games or business, Jordy kept a framed photo from our first date on her bathroom counter

"Please just be acting moody," I begged the universe.

I heard the keycard. Voices. Plural.

"...can't believe we won," Jordyn's voice.

Another voice. Te'a. Closer. Intimate.

"Celebration time?" Te'a said. Something in her tone. Suggestive. Dangerous.

And then. Words that would change everything.

"One more time?" Te'a whispered.

I stepped out of the bathroom.

They froze.

"What the hell Jordyn?"

Excuse all errors Ajah