40 On our way home

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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~

~~~(Date: September 26th, 2025)~~~

~~~(Time: 5:00 AM)~~~

~~~(Location: Four Seasons)~~~

I get up as my alarm keeps going off, and I stretch. Our flight back to Holden, Oregon, is in an hour. Ellie should be getting up too. She has her own room. I want a shower. I head for the bathroom, and much to my disappointment, their showerhead isn't detachable.

So that means I'm going to have to bend unnaturally to get clean. I sigh and take off my clothes, and I hop in. I struggle to clean myself, but I get it done. They don't make showers for people my height. I finish my shower, and I step out and get dressed in my only other pair of clean clothes.

My phone goes off on the bed, and I pick it up and see a text from Hannah. She says she wants me to call her. I knew she got up early, but I'm 3 hours ahead over here. That means she can't sleep. Since it's 2 am there.

I call her, and she instantly picks up the phone. "I can't believe you!" I don't know what I did, but she's angry for some reason. Before I can ask, she starts up. "Every supermodel on Twitter and Instagram is commenting on your highlights!" I'm at a loss for words right now. This isn't the first time women have commented on my games.

So why is it bothering Hannah now? And it's not like I have any control over what people say. I didn't even post any of it. Before I can start asking, she starts laughing. She had me scared for a second. "Oh c'mon, Don't be so quiet! I know you have no control over it! I just wanted to mess with you a bit!" This girl is trouble, but she's the good kind of trouble.

I chuckle into the phone and relax a bit. "When are you supposed to be home?" I knew this was going to be the first thing she asked me. I'm willing to bet money she's going to meet me at the airport.

It'll take the same amount of time getting back as it did getting here. "I'll be at the airport around 10:15 AM or 10:20 AM. Will I see you then?" My voice has a tinge of coyness to it, and I hear her giggle on the other side. "Well?" I keep the coy edge in my voice, and I hear her force a sigh out.

My smile grows at her response. "I guess I could make it... What will I get from you?" So she wants to play it like this. I'm down for another date, and since my weekends will be free from now on, it'll be easier to meet up. "Y'know, I have yet to go fishing with you? How about next Friday night we go and camp in the woods for the weekend and fish?" I don't mind that idea at all.

I keep her waiting a little longer than one should, but she's a patient girl. "I'll be looking forward to it. See you later today." We both say goodbye and hang up. I finish getting dressed, and I'm in my trademark sweats and hoodie.

I sit on the bed and check Twitter to see what Hannah was talking about. To my surprise, my mentions are filled with highlights in my games at Rucker Park. I scroll and see the many comments from people. There is a sizable amount of women calling me cute or handsome, and while I don't usually care. It does stroke my ego just a bit.

There will always be someone out there who thinks you're cute, and it's nice to hear it once in a while. I can see NBA players Tweeting at me, and some are trash-talking, and others are congratulating me.

LeBron's biggest fans are seriously shit-talking me. It's amazing how many people sit love him despite being retired. I can only hope that I have that much support when I retire. I close the app as I hear a knock at the door. "Let's go, Ulysses!" Ellie's voice comes from the other side, and that means it's time to get a move on.