Los Angeles, Beautiful on The Outside...

{This story is ready to read on my P-a-t-r-e-o-n. If you wish to read ahead then the link is https://www.p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/easyread. Be sure to remove the dashes. I hope to see plenty of you there and enjoying this novel.}

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

~~~(Date: January 24th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Downtown LA)~~~

~~~(Time: 12:33 PM)~~~

My tolerance for this city is only so much, and being honest. I'm not fond of living here. I wouldn't even be able to leave my home. Not without getting recorded by everyone. There is no privacy in LA. I'm glad that I'm lying in the comfortable California King and not having to deal with all the crap so far. I will say it's much warmer here than in Oregon during this time of year.

Ellie is sitting on the couch and is watching the TV. She has it loud enough for everyone to hear. Hannah has never been to LA, and she's looking out the window and taking in the sights she can see. "It's been reported that Ulysses Kennedy has landed in Los Angeles and is staying in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Stephen A., what are your thoughts on this." Another debate show.

It's likely Sports Center since that's the only one that'd be on around this time of day on the west coast. "Well, Scott, it's to be expected. The kid is turning 18 today, and the LA Lakers organization being what it is, has probably offered for him to come down for his birthday. He's the biggest rookie coming to basketball since Lebron." My birthday is known to the people of debate shows.

Stephen A. has a lot of controversial topics and opinions, but that doesn't mean he's an idiot. He knows the LA Lakers would do something to bring me down here. "Not only that, they're one of the teams with the highest chances to draft him. Right up there with the Knicks and the Pacers. Teams will be flying him in all over the country to see how well he fits with the team." Right again.

That's precisely why the LA Lakers brought me down here, and Ellie has already been on the phone with Rob Pelinka. My agent, James Monroe, took care of all the details on our flight over. I'm supposed to be taken to the UCLA Health and Training Center around 3:30 PM. It's where the Lakers practice. I've never been there personally, but I heard it's pretty cool.

I try and drown out the conversation happening, but the TV is too loud to ignore. "What do you think about this move from the LA Lakers? Should the other top picks be scared?" No reason they should be. The Draft is meant to be fair. The worst teams in the league get young talent and start rebuilding. While the best teams stay at the top and try to stay there.

That's my take on The Draft. I couldn't say how much I'm valued by every team specifically, but to the worst teams in the league, I'm a once in a history type of player. "The Knicks should be worried, Scott. No matter what, I just know that we're not getting that top pick... The league has never seen such blatant tanking." Yeah, that's not good for business.

Any teams with a record below .400 are tanking to raise their odds of getting me. "I'll say this, though. No matter where Ulysses Kennedy goes, they're winning the NBA Championship. Maybe not in the first year, but very quickly! Understand that! That's how special this kid is!" Ellie turns off the TV and releases a long sigh.

Hannah is still by the window and looking like a kid would the first time they're in a candy shop. "When you're done working out with the Lakers, do you think we can check out some of the clothes stores here!? I've never been to some of the ones in LA!! Holden is too small to have all this!!" Ellie and I have been here before, and we reacted the same way the first time here.

LA got really old, real fast, and I have a feeling that once we're done in LA, Hannah won't be wanting to come back for a while. "Yeah, if that's what you want to do. We don't have any money to spend. That means just window shopping." Ellie answers before I can, but I don't mind. Hannah lets out a squeal of excitement, runs towards my bed, and jumps on it.

Snuggling up next to me, and hugging me the best she can with our height difference. Her being this happy and excited is making this trip way better for me. It's hard being here without my team.