Mind Games (Page 196)

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

~~~(Date: October 26th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)~~~

~~~(Time: 6:15 PM)~~~

The comfortable couch of my penthouse hotel room starts to bring me to the edge of sleep. It's too early to go to bed, so I turn on the TV. I mindlessly turn something on to fill the room with noise. My phone lights up next to me after a few minutes.

I've got new messages from Hannah and Ellie. They're checking in on me. I left the park around 30 minutes ago; it started getting too cold for most people to keep playing.

The messages they've sent are on similar trains of thought. Almost as if they're giving a combined front. My girlfriend and Mom are teaming up to turn me into their thinking.

They don't want me visiting public parks in the opposing team's cities. It's something many will attribute to me wanting to play with fans. That's part of it, but there is a deeper meaning. When the Sixers players see that, it'll unbalance them.

Put them on a necessary tilt for the game, and we'll have an advantage. The Sixers are a middle-of-the-pack team, but Joel Embiid isn't a joke. He's a top-level player and a former MVP. He's never won a championship, but he's a formidable opponent.

Many claim him to be this era's most skilled big man until Jokic came around. I'm looking forward to my match-up with Embiid.

The system and all its gifts make it impossible to beat me one-on-one, but I'm playing on a team. There is no such thing as an 82-0 NBA team. While I could chase that record, I don't plan to. It's not something worth the effort.

It'll drive the energy level of my teammates into the ground by the time the postseason comes. I want them to have enough gas in the tank to help me. My only goal is to become the youngest NBA player to win a championship and finals MVP.

A record currently held by Magic Johnson. When this season is over, it'll be a record I have. No chance in hell I'm letting this once-in-a-lifetime chance slip through my fingers.

More buzzing from my phone takes my attention. Hannah and Ellie have replied to my dismissive response to their texts.

[If you're not careful from now on, I'm not cooking for you anymore.]

Ellie's threat resonates within me far more than Hannah's threat.

[You better knock this crap off, or I'm not letting you an inch within my body.]

If I had a choice between regular sex with Hannah or Ellie's cooking. The one I'd give up is my intimate time with Hannah. Sure, it's a mean thing to admit. But she can't cook for shit. On the other hand.

She's VERY flexible...

A debate for another time. One thing I've always respected and feared at the same time is how clever women use their power over others. Not necessarily men. All women learn to control from other women.

Not from men.

Daughters watch their Mothers influence their Fathers. It's a process that I admire and despise at the same time.

[How about a compromise? I won't play in public parks where high crime rates exist.]

I'm at the bargaining stage, and they're already starting to text back. This is gonna go on for a while; I already know it.

~~~(POV: Hannah Fiona)~~~

~~~(Date: October 26th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Apartment, New York)~~~

~~~(Time: 6:55 PM)~~~

Ellie and I's attempts are paying off in turning Ulysses to the safer side of playing at public parks. He's all over the basketball side of Twitter, and several dozen Youtube videos are being uploaded with reactions.

It's actually quite entertaining to watch. Ellie sits beside me, staring at her phone, waiting for Ulysses's next text. On the other hand, I'm thinking about three days from now.

I'm having my first official meeting with a rival college in a gymnastics meet-up, and Ulysses will be there. He'll be coming home for a day to watch, but he'll be back on the road again. He has a series of road games.

He's really going the extra mile to be there for me. It means more to me than I can put into words. His being there will put me on edge and make me perform better. Watching him play in front of millions inspires me to be great.

"What's taking him so long?"

My boyfriend's Mom releases an almost whispering voice. She's far more worried about Ulysses's actions than I was. Sure, I don't want him playing in dangerous cities in public parks, but he's his own man.

I trust him to make the right and responsible choice. Knowing Ulysses as I do, he's doing it to get into the heads of the Sixers. Ellie still sees him as her little boy from time to time.

Only when he's in danger, she acts like he's a child again. I think it's rather cute, and I know Ulysses doesn't have an issue with it. She's really just giving her unnecessary stress.

"He's probably watching TV or some Youtube. Let him relax; we've already given him enough hard time. There is no reason to continue now; we got what we wanted."

She looks at me with a slight smile and hesitantly places her phone on the coffee table. She's a wonderful Mom and person.

"You're right... I just get so scared someone will hurt him sometimes. He's at the center of the basketball universe. His nickname takes on a new meaning..."

The Singularity.

It's rather tacky, in my opinion. I prefer the short version of his name. UK rolls way better than The Singularity. But all great players had some unique monikers following them around.

It stands to reason Ulysses has some of his own.

I reach my hand over and place it on her back. Moving closer and supporting her. She's almost on the verge of tears. She's not usually like this, but I can tell something else is bothering her. I don't know what it is.

"Is something else going on with you, Ellie... You're not normally this worried about Ulysses. You can tell me anything; you're my best friend."

She rubs her shoulder a little nervously and takes a breath of air. Preparing to speak.

~~~(POV: Ellie)~~~

~~~(Date: October 26th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Apartment, New York)~~~

~~~(Time: 7:03 PM)~~~

Hannah is doing her best to support me. I know I'm acting strange, but I see the comments people leave on Twitter about Ulysses. Some of them walk the line, and others go way past it. Threatening him... Promising to do him harm.

She's waiting for me to explain, and my eyes drift to the ground a little. Preparing to tell her what I'm feeling.

"People on Twitter... On the internet... They threaten him sometimes... All the time... What if one of those crazies goes to one of the parks he's playing at..."

She immediately wraps me in a hug, and I can't do anything to stop myself from responding in kind. I'm probably the only one in Ulysses's life that worries about this. He's my son. When my sister and brother-in-law died, he became mine.

He's always been such a sweet and kind boy, and now he's a young man and in the spotlight for the world to watch. I don't know any other basketball Mothers; I can only think they've been through the same thing I'm going through.

Women throw themselves at him... He's got access to an unlimited supply of assets and money... I worry about him more than I'll ever really tell anyone.

"The internet can be a scary place... Ulysses hates the comments I get when my practice film is posted... Videos of my past performances... There are bad people everywhere..."

She can relate to Ulysses on a level I can't. She gets sexualized on the internet, which is what happens to Ulysses. My son has haters and fanatic fans.

The same can be said for Hannah. She has a bright light on her since she's in sports and is the boyfriend of the best basketball player to come out of high school since Lebron James.

"I just wish he knew how dangerous his actions really are..."

That's all I want... For him to understand that it's bad for him to put himself in a position that can lead to harm...

Or death...

I don't know what I'd do if he died...

"Hey, do you want to go to his next away game with him? To see that nothing bad will happen to him?"

That's something I said I wouldn't do. I told myself I'd always be there for his home games but give him space on away games. He's not a little boy anymore; I can't hold his hand everywhere he goes.

Despite that, I want to say I'll go to the away games so badly. But this is a fear I have to overcome. Not indulge.

"No, that would be encouraging what I'm feeling. I need to get over this fear, not feed it. Thanks for being here, Hannah. You're my best friend too."

It's not long before we're both lightly crying in this emotional moment. We both needed something to vent through, and this whole thing with Ulysses might have been the final straw.

I really needed to talk with someone about this.