I throw on my sports bra, my team jersey, and step into my basketball shorts, pulling my hair up in the mirror and fixing it up and out of the way.

I had been back in Istanbul for four hours, slept for three, and woken up with my alarm for tonight's game. I was the first here in the changing rooms. I had yet to see Avery who was out when I got home.

I turn away from the mirror as the girls begin to filter through the doors "Teddy" Ray acknowledged "so happy you are back" she says tapping my shoulder as she passed by.

"Nomikos" Tasia says smiling broadly "we missed you" she says coming to stand beside me.

Tasia was six foot three and a fantastic player for the team. "So did Isra" she says looking to me teasingly.

I shake my head "Tay, no" I chastise, like I'm speaking to a pet.

She looks at me, eyebrows raised "not happening anymore?" she asks.

I shake my head again firmly "No, not happening ever again"

Tasia sets down her bag at her locker beside me as more girls filter in behind us, each one greeting me with a warm welcome back.

The last in was Avery, who lit up on sight of me and wrapped her arms around me "Teddy" she exclaims "man I missed you" she says releasing me with one last squeeze. "How are you doing" she asks concerned. "I'm so sorry about your dad"

I look over her concerned features and offer a soft smile "getting there"

She smiles "well I'm glad to have you back" she says running her hand down my bare arm gently.

"So what happened, why are you cutting Isra loose?" Tasia asks, as she throws off her bra and top and instead places on her sports bra and jersey.

Avery looks to me surprised, pushing her blonde hair behind her ear "you've cooled it with Isra" she asks me curiously.

"Yes I am done with all of that" I inform, sitting down and pulling on my crisp white socks.

Avery sits opposite and does the same, her eyes coming back to me as I push my foot into my brilliant white sneaker and tie the lace.

"Fucking, to escape" she asks

I look back to her and nod "yeah"

"What made you stop" she asks tying her laces.

"Harper" I reply honestly.

She looks back to me curiously "Harper" she asks.

I stand up and dust myself down again before starting my stretches.

"Yes...we are going to start dating again when I get home. I need to work on my crap before I can ever be good enough for her...for the future I want with her"

Avery takes that in and stands up to stretch out herself. "I think that's great Ted. Really great...and for what it's worth I think you look good together, she clearly loves you and you her"

"Thank you Ave" I say stretching my arm across my torso.

***
The game is a little shakey first quarter and we are down five points, but the second quarter picks up pace and Avery and I get back into the swing of each other, weaving around each other again and playing well. We had found in these months playing together, that we were extremely well matched, and Avery could read my mind before my next move with ease. Every now and again you came across another girl on court you vibe with on another level, and when that happens success is sure to follow, and it does, we win games, a lot of games, all twelve of us working together to to put balls in baskets and prevent the opposition from doing the same. The swooshing sound of the balls that we possess, passing through the net, it becomes a euphoric sound as our season progresses.

***
I lie in the dark on the couch at Mary and Erica's, my cell in my hand. Teddy's game is playing from last night on the small cell screen, and I watch her with a constant ache. I missed her and here she was thousands of miles away, dancing on a court with Avery Lane, the commentator doing nothing for the rise of jealously I feel as he goes on and on about "Lane and Nomikos" and how their style of play together is quite electric. They are an impressive duo they haven't seen in years. "I would not be surprised if one of the WNBA teams snap these two up as a pair when they return to the states" he adds.

The Co- commentator agrees "you can see why Lane and Nomikos are constantly being paired together off court too... see that look Lane gives Nomikos each time they come together after a successful play..."

I click the side button on my phone as the screen fades to black. I knew Teddy was famous and interest in her love life was always something I would have to swallow, but I hoped soon, that I wouldn't have to constantly ride out another Teddy love interest in the press. I hoped it would be clear, sooner than later, that she was taken and all bets would finally be off. Teddy was not a free for all, she was mine, I loved her, and I hoped the world would know it soon.

Teddy's contract in Turkey felt like it bound us to this in-between, a place we still had to be apart. We were caught in the limbo of our relationship when all I wanted was to do was cement it into a state of permanence and move forward, together...forever.

"Are you okay Harps" mama asked walking toward me through the dark. She bends down and clicks the light on beside me and takes the seat next to me on the couch.

I lie my head against her shoulder and snuggle in "I just miss Teddy" I confess.

She pulls me under her arm and strokes my hair down my back "I know baby but she will be back so soon"

I close my eyes and inhale my mamas scent, peace resumed as soon as I was encased in her arms. "I thought I heard you and Willa earlier... is something wrong? I don't think I've ever heard you talk to each other in raised voices like that" and I hadn't, it worried me greatly. Mama and Willa were the most in love and chill couple I perhaps had ever known, they just were always content together like years apart had made every small and normal act for others, for them, seem just heavenly. They took an evening walk together every night as the sun set, washed up together, booked vacations, went on runs and bike rides, literally just waking up together, I knew, still made mama smile, like every time she woke up and Willa was still there she could breath a sigh of relief, that the whole thing hadn't been a wonderful dream.

Mama sits with that question and I look up to find a sadness in her eyes "mama what is it" I ask.

She turns to me and forces a smile "we are fine" she says.

I frown a little "what made you both upset" I ask.

She bites down on her bottom lip anxiously looking away as her hand continued to stroke my hair down my back "Willa is going to a therapy session for Teddy" she reveals.

I sit up a little "wow that's... so your not happy" I ask confused.

She shakes her head "no it's not about Teddy or therapy" she says looking back to me lovingly "I love Teddy and I am so happy she is working on herself. Oh Harper you and Teddy I just know it's all going to work out, and you my darling one, my little chick, you are going to live a life loved beyond measure with that girl. I have no doubt at all that Theodora will absolutely make your dreams a reality. It's not about Willa helping Teddy... it's about Morgan" she confesses.

"Morgan" I ask.

She looks away "Willa and Morgan are having a session together to help Teddy... alone" she confesses.

I see that's the source of her pain, of course it caused her grief to consider them in a room together , going over the past and digging it all up.

"Oh mama" I whisper leaning into her shoulder and squeezing her tightly "Willa loves you ... there's nothing to worry about. I know it must be a torturous thought to think of them coming back together, but it's for Teddy and nothing that could possibly be said that could make Willa turn away from you. Mama, I've said it before many, many years ago when I shouldn't have even seen it... but the way Willa looks at you, the way she has always looked at you...she adores the air you breath, and she has looked at you every day the same way since. Mama you are Willa's other half and that's all you need to remember... block out the noise you hear, it's just your head running away with itself"

Mama sighs and leans into me, her head resting on mine "I hope you know how much I love you" she whispers.

"I do mama... I do"

***

The after game work down with the team was full of laughter and playfulness as we rode the high of a win, but as we stripped off our jerseys and got ready to stretch it out before the showers my coach tapped me on the shoulder.

I turn around and place my jersey around my neck, sweat drips down my stomach.

"Teddy... please see Isra for an ice bath... I'm concerned that was a pretty intense game. I've sent him to get it ready"

I shake my head "coach I feel fine"

She looks at me sternly "ice bath" she states and I slowly nod.

I hadn't wanted to spend any time with Isra alone "wait surely Lane needs one too" i point out.

Coach turns and looks to Avery, assessing her with her eyes narrowed "yes I think you are right...Lane go down with Nomikos for an ice bath"

Avery raises her eyebrows at me "bathing together now Teddy... what will the tabloids say"

"Unless they have a mole in here they won't know" I say and we grab our bags and towels and walk side by side down to the physio area.

"Perhaps wipe the sweat off before Isra sees you and orgasms on the spot"

I shirk that off with a dramatic shiver as if I'm desperately trying to get Isras image off of me... "Avery that was quite honestly the most disgusting image you could ever inflict on me" I state.

She laughs "nothing you've not seen before. You should have stuck with me. I should think that image would have been much more appealing" she says eyebrow cocked.

I whip her with the end of my towel, she squeals and jumps away from me laughing "Now now Teddy don't get physical with me" she jokes and I roll my eyes.

Avery opens the double doors to the Physio centre and Isra turns from the ice baths looking disappointed to see Avery walk in beside me. "Oh, Lane" he observes "you need one too" he asks and she nods "okay" he says finger poised "let me just go get it ready" he says.

I point to the bath beside mine "this one will do Avery fine" I state, as I realise Isra is going to the one in the room behind, and there was no way in hell I was spending a second alone with him, half naked.

He turns back, eyes widening "this one" he asks.

Avery and I step forward dumping our belongings beside the baths "yes these two will be just fine and you can leave us to girl chat if you want. I haven't seen Ave in ages and I shouldn't think you want to listen to that for fifteen minutes"

He looks to me slightly frustrated and I can see his plan was to get me alone for a bit and work on me. Another guy who just wouldn't leave it at no, he had to try and find a way around it.

***

"Thanks Isra" we say as he fills the second bath and begrudgingly leaves us to it.

I pull off my shorts so I am in my underwear and get into the cold water, the instant it hits me, my teeth start to chatter, and my body shudders. I look over to Avery and she is stepping in too but she's taken her sports bra off and thrown it aside and is going in topless.

I quickly look away from her half naked form beside me "Avery, your nipples are going to shoot off it's freezing" I say with a little laugh.

She turns to me and winces as she lowers in "Stop looking at them" she teases.

I lower down further into the water until my arms are in too .and I can no longer see Avery. "Slightly dramatic" she says playfully as I disappear from sight.

I laugh and pop back up slightly and she smiles widely over the side of hers "you know Avery ... you can't keep flirting with me"

She rolls her eyes "I'm not doing it on purpose and I can't help it... but I will try my best to put a cork in it"

I nod "thank you"

"Why is it you don't want me to do it... is it Harper or is it because I'm actually doing something for you right now?" She asks with her eyebrows raised.

I look to her and shake my head and lower back down out of sight.

"It is isn't it... you are attracted to me and you don't want to be" she teases.

"Avery quit it or we can't be friends. I made a promise to Harper that you had never tried it with me so please don't make me a liar"

Avery sighs "fine I'm sorry... don't worry I won't try anything... god I would never Teddy. You don't think I've wanted to before now?" She asks "and I could have but I haven't because unlike Isra here" she says looking at him coming up the hallway through the clear windows "I have restraint"

I sit back up and look to her "Avery we can be great together... on court... and that is something. I really appreciate your friendship and your companionship in the game. We work well together don't you think? Drop the flirting and we can do great things"

She salutes with her hand "completely agree ... I can settle for being the work wife.. I just need to find a girl to be my home slice" she says with a wink.

I let out a loud laugh as Isra walks in and he thinks we are laughing at him, it's written all over his face.

"Avery needs a girlfriend... we were laughing about that" I say trying to soothe his paranoia but he uncomfortably comes over and checks the temp of the baths, as Avery hides her modesty with her arms.

"You are good to go" he says and he steps back out of the room with not so much as another word.

Avery bares her teeth in awkwardness "shit that wasn't good he thought we were laughing at him" she says stepping out .

I get out the other side of mine and grab my towel turning away from Avery and her breasts.

"Let's go shower" i suggest.

I turn to her quickly before she says anything "don't even say it" I say finger flexed at her.

She smiles "I won't" she says cheekily.

Honestly between Isra and Avery, I was about to lose my damn mind, and if I wasn't in a binding contract I would cut my losses and run.