Chapter 13: Justin vs Bryce? (Kalia’s POV)
1212 Words
I love Justin so much, but that didn’t sit right with me.
I didn’t even know how to feel or what to say. Did he deserve a chance to explain himself? Maybe. But the way he spoke to me was completely uncalled for, especially after I protected him with my Dad.
At the end of the day, we’re supposed to be better than that.
He’s supposed to understand me more than anyone else in this world.
Then there’s Bryce.
God, I feel so conflicted.
He started off as a total f**k boy, but lately… he’s trying. He’s becoming vulnerable. He’s letting me see parts of himself he usually keeps hidden. More importantly, he’s putting in effort.
Real effort.
As I sat there thinking, a notification popped up on my phone.
TeaRoom:
Justin Carter addresses the media. Click video below.
Why am I so nervous?
I clicked the video and watched Justin walk toward the podium. He looked tense. Nervous. He adjusted the microphone and cleared his throat.
“Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to be here today. I wanted to address a few things that have been circulating in the media.”
He paused.
“First, I’d like to address why I was in Texas before training camp. The answer is simple: I was visiting one of my closest friends, one I’ve missed dearly. As many of you know, my family and the Amore family have been close since before either Kalia or I were born.”
Justin took a breath.
“Kalia has been one of the biggest driving forces behind my success. What I mean by that is she’s one of the smartest football minds I’ve ever been around. For the last several seasons, she’s analyzed everything—from my game, to our opponents, to ways our team could improve.”
I felt my chest tighten.
“She helped improve my efficiency. My preparation. My passion. She helped me fall in love with football all over again.”
The room fell silent.
“As for our rapport, karaoke has always been one of our favorite ways to unwind and have fun together. The song that was captured on video was simply one of our favorite songs.”
He looked around the room before continuing.
“The second thing I’d like to address is the speculation regarding the woman I was seen kissing before boarding my flight. Kalia was not that woman. While I am dating, I am currently single and not in a committed relationship that I feel is ready to be announced publicly.”
Something changed in his expression.
His shoulders squared.
His voice became firmer.
“The last thing I’d like to address may come with backlash or consequences, but I think it’s important that I say it.”
My stomach dropped.
“Playing for the Minnesota Storm is a dream come true. I wouldn’t trade this opportunity for anything. I am grateful to this organization, my teammates, and everyone who believed in me.”
He paused.
“But Kalia has had an immeasurable impact on my life. We’ve grown up together. We’ve spent countless hours together. She’s been one of the most important people in my life for as long as I can remember.”
My heart was pounding.
“Obviously, I love her.”
The room went completely still.
“What I didn’t expect was to fall so deeply in love with her that I’d be willing to risk my career for the chance to be with her.”
My hand flew to my mouth.
“I spent a long time thinking about everything that’s happened over the last twenty-four hours. And I’ve realized something.”
He looked directly into the cameras.
“That risk is worth it.”
I couldn’t breathe.
“Kalia, I’d like to publicly apologize for how I spoke to you during our phone call. You didn’t deserve that.”
His voice softened.
“I love you.”
He stepped away from the podium.
“Thank you for your time. I won’t be taking any questions.”
The screen went black.
My mouth was literally hanging open.
He didn’t just do that.
Did he?
I stared at my phone in complete shock.
I’ve dreamed about a future with Justin for years, but was that future even realistic? We lived over a thousand miles apart now. We had careers. Well i’m working on mine.. but regardless. Responsibilities.
Before I could process any of it, my phone rang.
Dad Calling
I groaned.
I really didn’t want to deal with this right now.
Still, I answered.
“Hi, Dad.”
His voice was calm.
“Do you love him?”
I blinked.
“Yes.”
Silence.
For a moment, I thought he might hang up.
Instead, he sighed.
“Kalia, I never want you to think I don’t care about your happiness. Of course I want my baby girl to be happy.”
My eyes watered.
“Now, I’d be lying if I said I loved the idea of you crossing professional boundaries with players. But at some point, I have to trust you.”
I sat up straighter.
“One day, you’re going to run this organization. I’ve trusted you with scouting. I’ve trusted you with draft decisions. I’ve trusted your football mind for years.”
His voice softened.
“So I need to trust your judgment in your personal life too.”
Tears welled in my eyes.
“Whether it’s Justin or this quarterback you’ve been getting close to, you don’t need my permission. You have my trust.”
I swallowed hard.
“Thank you, Dad.”
My voice cracked.
“That’s all I’ve wanted. It felt like you didn’t want me to be happy.”
“Kalia—”
“No, seriously. You trust me with a multimillion-dollar organization that develops championship teams and star athletes. You trusted me during the draft. I just wanted you to trust me with my own life too.”
A small laugh escaped him.
“Fair enough.”
Then his tone brightened.
“I also spoke with Coach O’Donald.”
Oh no.
“What did he say?”
“He told me you took the assistant position for your sports management credit.”
I smiled.
“And apparently Coach Kelley can’t stop talking about you.”
My cheeks flushed.
“He says you’re making a tremendous impression.”
My heart swelled.
“I’m proud of you, sweetheart.”
The words hit harder than he probably realized.
“Thanks, Dad.”
We finished our conversation and said our goodbyes.
Almost immediately, another notification appeared.
Justin: Can we please talk?
I stared at the message for a long moment before responding.
Me: Can I call you tomorrow? I’m exhausted.
A few seconds passed before I added another text.
Me: We’re okay, Justin. Please don’t worry.
Then after a pause:
Me: I love you too.
I locked my phone and set it aside.
The room finally felt quiet.
Too quiet.
Needing a distraction, I pulled up game film and started sketching out my own offensive game plan to compare against Coach Kelley’s in the morning.
I knew he didn’t ask for it.
But right now, football was a lot easier to figure out than my love life.
- Writer
