Kailyn #2
“I’m not going anywhere, beautiful. Just turning the lights off.
” Winking, he walks into the hall, shutting the light off before making his way to the other side of the bed and climbing under the covers.
Seizing the opportunity, I snuggle into his chest as he wraps his arms around me, placing a kiss to my head.
We lay like that for a while, just breathing each other in as our breaths start to match each other.
“How did the game go tonight?”
“It was a shit-show. We lost, and everything felt off.” He sighs into my hair, pulling me tighter into him.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve been there.”
“There’s nothing you could’ve done for us. We were all out of sync.”
“Still, it sucks that you all had a shitty night. But I know you’ll bounce back in the next one. I believe in you guys.”
He presses his lips to mine, the love and adoration we have for each other pouring out in waves. There's no heated tongues or rushed intensity, it’s just us, slowly breathing into each other, letting this feeling of love and warmth and home wash over us. It’s slow and tender, and so perfect for us.
We pull away from the kiss slowly, but keep our bodies snuggled into each other and our foreheads pressed together.
His fingers drift from my cheek to my hair, gently massaging my scalp as we lie there and breathe each other in.
We both fall into a relaxed state, and I let the feeling of his warmth envelop me, lulling me into a deep and peaceful sleep.
Waking up, I feel a warmth wrapping around me that I haven’t felt in a long time. Slowly, I peel my eyes open and look over to see Jake still laying in bed next to me.
I remember everything from last night: getting sent back to the hotel by Coach, my cramps and the nausea and pain that had me laying on the floor of the hotel bathroom, Jake coming in and taking care of me and knowing exactly what I needed just like he used to.
Rich,whiskey colored eyes slowly blink open right next to me, Jake’s beautiful smile taking over his whole face.
“Good morning, baby girl.” He brushes a strand of hair away from my face.
“Good morning, handsome,” I say in a hushed tone.
Slowly, his fingers glide from my face and down my arms, leaving goosebumps as he goes. He snakes his arms behind my back and under the hem of my, or rather his, T-shirt and starts to rub soothing circles on my lower spine. “How are your cramps?”
“They’re better than last night. I’ll still have them for the next few days, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“You don’t have to handle it alone anymore.”
He leans over and places a soft kiss on my lips.
This is my favorite way to wake up, in his arms, surrounded by his warmth and love. I never want this feeling to end.
He pulls away from the kiss and sits up, the covers pooling in his lap. “How about we order some breakfast and relax until we have to get on the bus?”
“Sounds perfect.” Rolling over, I start to get up, making my way over to the bathroom as I pee and brush my teeth, making sure to take my birth control before walking back out to him still sitting up in the bed, a lazy smile on his face as he watches me. “What are you looking at?”
“Oh, I’m just admiring the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
I blush, laughing lightly as I make my way back over to him and crawl into bed. “Oh, shut up.”
He pulls me into him, resting his head on top of mine as we lay there, waiting for the food.
We relax into each other, relishing in the silence and peace until there's a knock on the door, signaling that our food is here.
Wordlessly, Jake gets up and makes his way to the door, grabbing the food and then bringing it back to the bed, setting everything up and handing me my camomile tea that is perfectly made.
Once he’s back in bed, we tuck into the food, and I feel so giddy at this moment. It’s so easy to sit here with him and not feel like I have to fill the silence or be anything but myself.
He collects the trays once we’re both done with our food and takes them to the desk, setting them there before joining me in bed again. “Hey, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
He leans down, resting his forehead on mine. “With all of the Eric shit that we’re dealing with plus your job on the line, I think we need to talk to Coach again. I want to tell him about us in-person and make sure we’re clear with HR and get an answer from him on how to handle this.”
I nod along. “I agree. Eric’s behavior is escalating, and I’m starting to get scared about what he could do.”
“Did he do something last night?” I shake my head at him.
“No, he hasn’t done anything since I told you, but I still have an uneasy feeling.
What he said, what he made me feel in that moment,” I close my eyes, trying to stave off the tears that have started to build, “It tore at everything that I’ve worked so hard at.
I feel like he was inside my head, pulling at every insecurity and forcing me back into this dark place that I already escaped once. I don’t know if I can do it again.”
His hands cup my cheeks, fingers tangling in my hair as he rubs soothing circles on my neck.
“Don’t let him take your power away. Kailyn, you are so much stronger than that asshole’s attempts to make you smaller.
You are anything but small, because you shine so much brighter than anyone I’ve ever met. ”
I feel a press of his soft lips on my forehead as I let his words sink in. “You just said it yourself, you fought like hell to overcome all of those demons and insecurities. If you were able to do it once, you can do it again. I believe in you.”
The words sink into my bones, sliding through me like a soothing balm. Jake is one hundred percent right. I put in the work, fought to find myself, my confidence, my voice.
I am good enough.
I am strong enough.
I am confident enough.
No one gets to take my power away again.
“Thank you, Jake.” I pull back slightly, my lips hovering over his as I just let them press together. This feeling is all I need from him, the reassurance that he gives me by just being here, and the confidence that he’s always had in me.
“Always, Kailyn.”
We settle into each other, just breathing in the moment until we’re interrupted by the ringing of Jake’s phone.
He reaches to the nightstand and grabs it before flipping it over to see an incoming text from Connor, letting us know we have to load the bus in an hour.
With a soft kiss, he helps me off the bed as we make our way around the room, getting dressed and packing before leaving.
“Should one of us walk out first and make sure the coast is clear?” I ask, and he looks less than impressed. “What? You wanna get caught before we go to HR?”
Sighing, he reluctantly agrees. “Fine.”
He walks out the door before looking left and right, then signaling that it’s safe to leave my room. We walk side by side to the elevator, and make our way down to the lobby. Luckily, we don’t run into any other players on the way down.
Once the doors open, I see most of the players and staff in the lobby, and of course I catch Eric looking right at me, a knowing smirk on his face. I look away as fast as I can, not wanting him to see anything or give away how nervous he makes me feel.
“I’ll see you on the plane. Just text me if you need me, and promise you won’t deal with your period on your own anymore?” He says in a hushed whisper as we crowd by the wall.
“I promise, you’re my first call. Now go, before you get in trouble.” He starts to walk away toward the team, and then turns, looking around before he winks at me.
A blush coats my cheeks just as Coach walks by, looking between us before a smirk lights up his face. He nods his head in what looks like approval, his eyes shining bright before he makes his way to Coach Johnson.
Well, so much for Jake telling Coach himself.
“How was last night?” Emilia says as she and Hannah walk up next to me, startling me enough that I jump a bit.
“It was miserable, until it wasn’t.” I tell her.
She looks over to Jake, a smile on her face as she leans her head on my shoulder.
“Hey, so I talked to Jake about the ‘you know who’ stuff, and I think you’re right.
When we get back from this series, we should pull Coach aside and talk about everything.
” All three of us turn our heads, seeing Eric standing in the same spot as before, but now he’s talking with one of the other trainers.
“Yeah, I agree.” Hannah chimes in.
“Has he done anything since we’ve left?” Emilia asks.
I shake my head no at the same time Hannah does.
“I’m pretty sure he knows we’re coming after him. I think he’s planning his next move or maybe just laying low. If we don’t talk to Coach and HR soon, I’m worried about what he’ll do.” She looks over at him once more before darting her eyes back towards us.
Emilia and I nod in agreement, forming a game plan before we hear the call to start loading the bus.
On the ride over to the plane, all I can think about is how for the first time in a long time, I’m truly happy.
I feel lighter than I have in forever not having to hold everything in.
I’m not weighed down by my past choices, but more determined than ever to learn from them and make this relationship with Jake last for the rest of forever.
I know we had a false start, but this right here, is the true start to our forever.