24. FILLER

"Waittttt!" Alexis smiled as she leaned in closer to Jessica, "Sofia was bopping in LA?" She laughed like it was the funniest thing ever.

Jessica rolled her eyes not understanding her over amusement about it as she nodded.

"I'm not even surprised. That shit is funny and sad at the same time for Mateo. Finding out your girl is a gold digging ass ho, literally." Alexis laughed again.

"Alexis it's not funny," Jessica let out.

"Have you talked to him since?" Jessica shook her head yes as they grabbed some of the last of her stuff to put in her car so they could make the drive to San Diego. "He apologized for fighting in my house again, but didn't apologize for fighting Dwayne because he had it coming as he says."

Alexis laughed, "that's real! He right though. From the stories you've told me Dwayne egged it on every time."

Jessica sighed, "yeah. And I told him I got it and also let him know that Dwayne and I weren't a thing and weren't going to be a thing."

Alexis looked over at her with a smirk, "did you now? And what made you tell him that?"

Jessica rolled her eyes, "not what you're thinking. Just clearing the air, letting it be known that he won't be around like that anymore."

"Mmhm, sure!"

"Stop it," Jessica let out. "Besides we haven't even talked like that since he apologized."

"Cause he probably in his feelings about Sofia gold digging ho ass," Alexis laughed again. She found it so funny. "Whole time she tried to make it seem like that's what you were."

Jessica shrugged, "I get it though. I'd feel a way."

Alexis shook her head, "nahh! Fuck that! That bitch was trying to come at you like you was some gold digging groupie meanwhile that was her title the whole time."

Jessica couldn't help but to laugh at that one, "Lex stop it."

"Nahh, you been too nice Jess. I don't even know who you are anymore. You used to fight bitches for me and you all nice and shit to a bitch who tried it."

"One, I'm pregnant. Two, like I said I completely understand how she felt. If I was in a situation where my man got another girl pregnant I would've reacted the same way! But like I told Mateo if she comes at me like that again it will be a different story."

"Yeah and I'm the different story, you might can't do anything until the baby drops but I can."

Jessica laughed, "with the shit that her and Mateo are probably going through right now I'm sure I'm the least of her worries."

Jessica sighed as they walked out of her apartment. She still had a couple of things there but Alexis said she would grab them and keep it at her place until she sent for them.

"The dramatics," Lex let out as she rolled her eyes, "let's go!"

"This was my home for three years. My first place after I got my job at the hospital."

"And now you're moving on! For better." Alexis smiled as she pulled the door closing it and then locking it since she would be keeping the key until she got the rest of the stuff out. She had thirty days to do it.

Jessica and Alexis made their way to the car as they prepared themselves for the eight hour drive they would take to Jessica's new home.

"So have you talked to Dwayne?" Alexis questioned as she started the drive.

"Yeah, I told him he was dead wrong. Told him with me moving this was the perfect time for us to distance ourselves because he clearly can't play nice with Mateo. And Mateo isn't going anywhere. He's the father of my child, and I'm not dealing with the bullshit. Especially with him not even being my man."

Alexis nodded, "respect! Stand up for you man."

Jessica gave her a stale face, "Mateo is not my man nor is he about to be! So kill the thoughts and comments."

Alexis smacked her teeth. "I give it until Kaiden is one , the two of you will be together by his first birthday."

Jessica looked at her like she was stupid, "on that note I'm going to sleep!"

"Nuh uh! You're about to talk to me!" Alexis let out as Jessica positioned the pillow against the window and closed her eyes.

"Jess!" She called out as Jessica easily ignored her, keeping her eyes closed.

—

They arrived to San Diego a little after six after leaving around nine that morning. They ran into some traffic pushing them behind but they were finally there. "This is cute as hell." Alexis let out as she took the townhome in from the outside.

"It is isn't it." Jessica let out as she took it in as well. Mateo had sent her pictures but this was her first time seeing it up close and personal. "Let me see where his mom is at, she has the key since he forgot to leave it the last time he came to San Fran." She pulled out her phone calling his mother, she quickly answered stating she was inside and had the door unlocked.

"Well, let's go!" Jessica said with a nervous smile. They grabbed some of her stuff and then made their way in, walking into a house that smelled of good cooking.

"Mmm," Alexis let out. "That smells so good." Jessica couldn't agree more, she sat her stuff down seeing that Mateo had his sofa's switched and now had hers in there. They walked towards the kitchen as Catalina stood over the stove. She quickly turned around and smiled at the two. "Hija," she said as she looked at Jessica and then down at her belly as her eyes widened. "He's getting so big." She walked over to her and brought her hands to her belly before focusing back on her and then looking at Alexis.

"This is my best friend Alexis," Jessica introduced as they spoke to one another. "Well I cooked, I figured you all would be hungry after the ride."

"Thank you, I am starving." Alexis let out.

"Help yourself, everything is done." Alexis didn't hesitate to grab a plate that she had out and make herself a plate.

"How you feeling?" Catalina asked Jessica with a smile.

Jessica took a seat at the table, "I'm good. Tired from the long drive but good. How are you?" She smiled back.

"I'm good! I'm happy you're here." She smiled. "And I just want you to know, I don't want you to hesitate to call me for anything okay? I'm here to help."

Jessica couldn't help but smile at that, her heart ached a little bit wishing her mother could be as accepting and helping as Mateo's.

—

Mateo walked into the airport with his team after one of their games ready to just eat and crash. The team had been doing good, their current record being 20-2. They just needed to keep it up to make it to playoffs this year. Playing a game damn near everyday in different cities definitely could take its toll. But he loved the game and nothing could change that.

All of the team split up as they all went to grab something to eat in the airport. His phone started to ring as he saw Sofia's name pop up. He still felt some type of way about what Dwayne had said, but had yet to bring it up to Sofia. He wanted to have the conversation in person and he didn't see her long enough to bring it up when he went back the next day.

"What's up?" He questioned as he answered. He could hear the smile in her voice as she replied. "Hey baby! I miss you."

Her excitement to talk to him definitely overpowered his. "I miss you too," he let out dryly.

"What's wrong?" She questioned noticing his tone.

Mateo shook his head as he looked at a menu. He told himself he wasn't going to let what Dwayne said affect how he felt, meaning he wasn't going to act a different way towards Sofia until they talked about it. But it was easier said than done. It was getting to a point where it was eating at him to know if what he said was true. He was trying to hold off on googling it because he wasn't trying to be in a full out funk and mess up his game flow.

However, other factors played in his mind. Such as her doing it to come up on a check. It didn't help that she barely worked and ran up his money at times, but he was also reminded that she did work and there had been plenty of times when she treated him on her dime just the same. He knew he needed to have the conversation with her and soon.

"Nothing," he let out. "Just tired. "

"Oh, I get it. It's intense as hell. I saw you guys won though." Her smile could be heard through the phone.

"Yeah," he smiled at the thought of that. It was a close game. "We about to head to the next city as we speak though."

"I can't wait until you get back here." She said seductively.

"Oh yeah? Why is that?" He flirted back.

"Oh many reasons, I have some things I want to show you, and do to you." Her voice got more seductive with each word.

Usually this would excite Mateo but images of what Dwayne said popped into his head, completely throwing him off. "Guess I'll have to wait then." He let out. "But we're about to board," he lied. "I'll hit you when we get to Chicago."

"Okay," she said sadly. "I love you."

"I love you too." He let out before ending the call.

"Everything good?" Jose questioned as he came up on him, slapping his hand on his shoulder.

Mateo looked over at him as he moved up in the line he was in. "Yeah."

"Sounds like trouble in paradise to me, lying about boarding." He laughed.

Mateo sighed not even knowing he was around to hear that. "I just need a minute."

Jose lifted his hands up, "hey, I get it. I'm not judging."

Mateo's mind wasn't in a good place at the moment he sent Jessica a quick text to see if she had made it to San Diego since she was supposed to be driving in today.

Instead of responding she FaceTimed him. He quickly answered as her and his mother were in the camera all smiles. Instantly making him smile. It was nice to know she made it and even better to see her with his mother.

"So you did make it," he let out as he put his ear pods in.

She nodded. "I'm here! Some unpacking to do, but I'm here, you're mother made me dinner. She's literally the best."

His mother blushed, "I told you she was!" He smiled making her blush even more.

"Oh stop!" Catalina let out as she walked away from the camera. Jessica looked back at her with a smile before focusing back on Mateo. "You good?" She questioned.

He nodded as he sighed. He looked up seeing he was next to order, making him realize how slow this line was moving. Luckily they had an hour until their flight left. "Yeah, I'm good. You good? Need anything?"

She shook her head. "Nope! You've done enough. Thank you."

"Alright good," he let out with a nod.

"Well I just wanted to call and check on you, like you check on me." She could easily tell he was bothered.

"Appreciate it, I'm alright. But aye let me get at you later. I'm about to order my food and then head to our boarding zone."

"Okay! Have a safe flight." She gave a small smile before ending the call.

Mateo walked to the register and ordered his food. He was more than ready to get home. This shit was eating him up.

So this was more like a filler chapter! Next chapter will get us back into it!