Chapter 8

An hour had passed and Sidney showed up. Karen was talking with her sister who came with Jordan about 10 minutes before. She noticed him walk in and watched him go towards some of the guys. Karen brought her attention back to Britnie.

“What time are they coming?”

“Max said around nine and it’s only a little after.”

“So, can I ask you a question before they get here?”

“Sure.”

“Any idea what’s going on with Jordan? You’re around the arena a lot, have you noticed any changes with him?”

From there Karen knew he hadn’t told her “I’m sure it’s just the stress of the game. Sidney gets it every now and then. All you can do is play through it and his mood will get better.”

“I don’t know I just feel something is going on with him.”

Karen was about to tell her the truth when Natalie and Max walked through the door. They got everyone to move back and as soon as they came up the stairs, they all yelled surprise and totally caught Nat off guard.

“Oh my god, how did this happen?” she said looking at all the people.

“Why don’t you ask that awesome husband of yours” Karen told her.

“Max? You did all this?” Natalie said turning around to face him.

“Well you know, I have to keep you happy some how, why not a party in your honor.”

“I love you baby” she told him.

“I love you too Nat” he said kissing her to the cheers of the crowds.

The night got going and everyone was having fun that is except for a few choice people. Karen was talking with Natalie and Britnie when Max and Jordan came over. Karen tried to avoid eye contact with Jordan, but he made it harder for her by talking to her. One of the player’s wives was taking pictures of the evening and she came upon them. She was ready to take it when Max stopped her.

“Hey Sid” he yelled over to him “come here for a minute.”

Sidney walked over to the group “what’s up Max?”

“We’re about to take a group photo with our lovely ladies and we need you in the picture with us.”

“Sure, no problem” Sidney said standing behind Karen. He pressed his body into her back and it took all Karen had to not lean into him. She managed to force a smile for Natalie’s picture but it was killing her how unrealistic it was. Karen felt his hand on her waist and he gave it a squeeze when the picture was taken. As she turned around to say something to him, Sidney had gone back over to where he was leaving her alone. Karen excused herself from the group and walked away with someone following her.

“Hey, you ok?”

“No Jordan I am not ok” she said trying to let the tears not fall. “He hates me so much right now.”

“He’ll forgive you Karen just give him time” he said. Jordan didn’t want to give away the fact he would be there for her if Sidney wasn’t. He just hoped she wanted him too.

Karen looked at him “you need to tell Brit.”

“I know and I was planning on telling her tonight. I was going to give you fair warning first.”

“She really loves you.”

“That’s why it's going to kill her. I mean we’ve only been together for 8 months, but I didn’t want to hurt her either.”

“How did we let it get this bad?”

“I don’t know” Jordan said hugging her.

Sidney thought that maybe it was time to talk to Karen. He left his friends and went to find her. He went around the corner and saw Jordan with his arms around her. Sidney wanted nothing more than to go confront them and pull Jordan off her, but he headed downstairs to the bar instead.

“You know Jordan I don’t think we need to do this right now.”

“What? I’m comforting my friend” he said removing a stray piece of hair from her eyes.

“Go spend time with Britnie, she deserves it.” Karen walked away and went back towards Natalie. She saw her wipe her eyes and knew the picture had to be hard on her. Natalie put an arm around her to comfort her as they talked. After a few minutes, Karen looked down at the crowd and stopped when she saw Sidney at the bar…with a very pretty girl. She saw him smiling and laughing with her but when his hand went up to touch her arm, Karen had seen enough. She told Natalie she had to go and left the VIP area. Karen walked past Sidney and he could tell she had seen them. He excused himself from the girl and followed Karen outside.

“Karen wait” Sidney yelled after her.

“Why, so I can go back in and watch you come on to every girl in there to get back at me? You won’t talk to me, you won’t let me explain so why don’t you just go back in and do whoever you want. Maybe then you’ll hate me a little less.” Karen couldn’t stop the tears as she turned around and practically ran to her car. She knew she hurt him but he didn’t really need to punish her this much. Sidney sighed and went back into the club.

Karen got home and went inside. She walked up to their bedroom and packed a couple of bags. She couldn’t impose anymore on Natalie and once Jordan tells Britnie, Karen wouldn’t be able to stay with her. Her mother would be too happy about the situation and couldn’t deal with her right now either. There was only one other place she could go.