Chapter 4
Chapter Four
“Ariana Villa with another steal,” Shealyn said.
“She is hustling after the loose ball—” Nicole added before she saw Ariana leap through the air, knock the ball back into the court, and fly over the media table. Nicole gasped.
In the next instant Ariana Villa slid over the table, landing squarely in Nicole’s lap. Before she could even think, Nicole reached out her hand to catch Ariana’s head so it didn’t slam into something solid like the table or a chair.
As Nicole cradled the back of Ariana’s head their eyes met.
Suddenly time stood still. Nicole could no longer hear the sounds of the crowd or the game.
She couldn’t see anything except Ariana Villa’s face and those dark brown eyes locked on hers.
Nicole saw a moment of fright then Ariana’s eyes softened into the most deep, intense stare.
It felt like Ariana was looking and seeing past the commentator and peering into Nicole’s heart.
The strangest feeling came over her. She felt something open inside her, welcoming Ariana in.
With a whoosh of air the moment was over. Nicole could once again hear the crowd, now hushed since Ariana’s high-flying routine landed her in a heap.
“Are you okay?” Ariana asked.
“Are you okay?” Nicole replied, still holding the back of Ariana’s head in her hand.
“I think so.”
Shealyn had rolled her chair back when she saw Ariana hit the table. She stood and said, “Here Ariana, swing your legs this way.”
Nicole continued to support Ariana’s head while Shealyn helped her get her feet on the ground. “Well, as you can see, Ariana Villa saved the ball, but not herself. If it wasn’t for my courageous partner catching the diving guard, who knows what could have happened. It appears she’s not injured.”
After Ariana got to her feet she sat down in Shealyn’s chair and looked over at Nicole with a grin. “Nice view, Nicole, but I’m not ready to retire. Maybe someday.”
Nicole laughed as Ariana got up.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ariana asked.
Nicole nodded. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“Thanks for catching me,” Ariana said. “But I’ve gotta go.”
Nicole laughed again as Shealyn described the scene. The trainers checked Ariana out and determined she came out of the self-inflicted crash unscathed.
“Wow, Nicole,” Shealyn said. “We’ve nearly been hit by flying balls, but we’ve never had a player end up on our side of the desk.”
“I do remember a mascot occasionally joining us when we’re on camera. I’m just glad she’s not hurt,” Nicole said.
“Thanks to your quick thinking and cushioning her fall.”
“I don’t think I could’ve gotten out of the way.” Nicole chuckled. “In an instant, here she was.”
Shealyn laughed. “Well, that should make tonight’s highlight reel.”
“As I was saying before Villa decided to become superwoman, she has hustled after every loose ball this afternoon and it’s made a difference,” Nicole said.
“It sure has. We’ll take a quick time out with two minutes to play,” Shealyn said. “New York leads by fourteen.”
Once they were off the air Shealyn turned to Nicole. “Are you all right?”
Nicole nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She thought back to the moment when she and Ariana shared that intimate look and wondered if she imagined it.
“We’re back on in thirty,” Jeannie said into their headsets.
Nicole gazed over at the New York bench. The players were huddled around the coaches as they gave instructions and she saw Ariana glance her way. She gave her a small smile and raised one shoulder. Nicole returned her smile and nodded.
“Three, two, one,” Jeannie counted them down.
“We’re back for the end of this opening game of the season,” Shealyn said. “We’ve seen quite a game today.”
“Yes, but New York has pulled away with their shutdown defense in this second half,” Nicole added. “They have definitely upped their game this season with the added points Ariana Villa has supplied along with the crisp passes she’s known for.”
“The chemistry between her and Cameron Benson does not seem to have wavered at all over the off season.”
The whistle blew and the game resumed. New York took command much like they had for the entire second half and the game ended with them winning by ten points.
“Let’s go to Keeley who is with Nia Stevens,” Shealyn said. “She poured in twenty-eight points this afternoon.”
Nicole made a few notes in her notebook before closing it and reaching for her bag. When Keeley threw it back to them Shealyn signed them off with information about the next game.
“Game one is in the books,” Shealyn said to Nicole.
“Good job, partner,” Nicole replied. “I’m meeting Kate at Stuart’s bar after the game.”
“Oh, I haven’t seen her in so long,” Shealyn said.
Kate Bradley was Nicole’s longtime friend and agent. They’d met when Nicole was in college and Kate was in law school. It didn’t take long before the two became best friends and as Nicole’s career took off she enlisted Kate as her agent and contract negotiator.
“She’s hoping you’d join us.”
Shealyn sighed. “I can catch the train and be home in time to have dinner with the girls,” she said. “It won’t always be like this. I promise to go with you next time.”
Nicole smiled. “I get it. You no longer live in the city and the commute home is a little longer. Next time!”
Shealyn smiled and nodded.
As they put their things away Nicole looked for Ariana Villa. She wanted to make sure she was all right, but she’d played the rest of the game and knew the team wouldn’t have let her if anything was amiss.
She and Shealyn walked across the court and through the tunnel to reach their dressing room.
“Are you changing?” Nicole asked.
“Nah,” Shealyn said.
“Me neither,” Nicole said, grabbing her clothes from the closet. “I’ll walk out with you.”
Nicole walked into the bar and looked to her left where most of the tables were occupied. She glanced to her right and saw her best friend waving to her midway down the long bartop.
“Hey,” Nicole said, placing her garment bag on an empty bar stool.
“Let me take that,” a man said, reaching over the bar.
“Thanks, Stuart,” Nicole said, handing him the bag.
“I’ll put it back here out of the way,” he said. “Don’t you look sexy? By the way, great game and great commentating, as usual.”
“Ah, you’re too sweet,” Nicole replied.
“Shall I bring you a beer?”
“That would be perfect.” Nicole turned to Kate and smiled.
Kate opened her arms and they hugged. “It’s good to see you. Stuart’s right. You’re looking good!”
“You, too,” Nicole replied, sitting next to her. “It’s already crowded.”
“I don't know how some of the players beat you here,” Kate said. “But they’ve taken up the space in the back by the dance floor.”
Nicole glanced over her shoulder and saw several of the New York players already celebrating their victory. “They had a good game.”
“I caught the end of it when I got here,” Kate said. “So, how are you? How’d it go?”
Nicole nodded. “Good. The broadcast went well. No opening-game problems.”
“What’s this I hear about a player landing in your lap?”
Nicole chuckled. “It was one of those things.” She shrugged as the memory of Ariana Villa’s eyes flashed through her brain. “Hey, how’s Emily?”
A sweet smile appeared on Kate’s face. “She’s wonderful.”
“Still in marital bliss after all these years,” Nicole said with a smile.
Kate chuckled. “I’m so glad you two didn’t hit it off when you went out.”
Nicole laughed. She had gone out with Emily on one date right after she graduated from college. A couple of days later she and Kate ran into Emily and Nicole introduced them. As they say, the rest was history.
“When she found out we were meeting after the game she asked who you were dating,” Kate said. She gave Nicole a look and waited.
Nicole smirked and took a sip of her beer.
“Uh huh, that’s what I thought,” Kate said.
“You’re married to the love of your life,” Nicole said. “I’m married to my job. We’re both happy.”
“Mmmhmm,” Kate murmured, sipping her drink. “You know it might be fun to go out with someone just for the…um, you know.”
Nicole glanced at Kate. “You know? You can’t just say sex?”
Kate shrugged. “Well, who knows, maybe it could lead to something else.”
Nicole sighed and shook her head. “Not you, too!”
Kate chuckled. “I gather Shealyn has been asking the same questions.”
Nicole felt someone push between her and the person on the next stool, trying to get the bartender’s attention. When she turned around she looked right into Ariana Villa’s smiling face.
“If it isn’t the best commentator in the game,” Ariana said with a bright smile. “And also my savior and a soft landing hero.”
Nicole laughed. “Congrats on the win.”
Ariana glanced past Nicole at Kate.
“Oh, Ariana Villa,” Nicole said, gesturing between the two women, “Kate Bradley.”
Kate smiled. “So you’re the player that gave my best friend a lap dance at work.”
Ariana’s face lit up and she pointed at Kate. “Oh, I like you, Kate Bradley!”
She lifted her hand to high five Kate and Nicole grabbed her beer in fear of flying limbs spilling it. The delight on Ariana’s face coupled with her laughter made Nicole melt a little inside. What the hell!
Ariana smiled at Nicole and quietly said, “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Are you going to ask me that every time you see me?”
Ariana tilted her head. “Maybe.”
Nicole chuckled. “I’m guessing you’re all right because you played the rest of the game.”
“I promise I am.” Ariana leaned a little closer. “I love celebrating with my teammates, but I’d really rather be home watching a replay of the game. Did you say nice things about me?”
“You had twenty points, ten assists, and four steals,” Nicole stated. “What do you think?”
Ariana’s brows shot up her forehead with another delighted smile on her face. Nicole smiled at her reaction.
“I’ve got to finish this beer so I can get home and watch the game,” Ariana said.
Nicole laughed as Stuart set two beers down for Ariana.
“You know you’re the best commentator in the business,” Ariana said casually.
“I wasn’t aware of that,” Nicole replied.
“Well, you are.”
“I didn’t think the players paid attention to what we had to say.”
“Smart ones do,” Ariana replied.
Nicole smiled and took a sip of her beer.
“Uh, could I get your phone number in case I have comments or questions during the game?” Ariana asked.
Nicole gave her a skeptical look.
“I know that sounds like a come-on, but I promise it isn’t,” Ariana said.
“Oh, it’s okay if it’s a come-on,” Kate said.
Nicole swung her head around and looked at her friend wide-eyed. “Kate!”
Ariana chuckled and waited.
Nicole reached for her purse, unlocked her phone and handed it to Ariana. “Put your number in there.”
When Ariana gave the phone back, Nicole hit the button to call Ariana’s phone. “There, now you have my number.”
“Thank you.” Ariana grinned. “Enjoy your night. It was nice to meet you, Kate.”
“You, too.” Kate gave her a little wave.
As Ariana walked away Kate bumped her shoulder to Nicole’s. “She was flirting with you.”
“What?” Nicole exclaimed. “No she wasn’t.”
“Yeah, she was,” Kate said. “Isn’t she gay?”
“Yes, but she’s a player.”
“Who cares if she sleeps around,” Kate said.
Nicole looked at her and smirked. “I didn’t mean that kind of player. She’s a basketball player. We can’t date players,” she said. “Journalistic integrity.”
“So? Who said anything about dating her? She’s pretty and entertaining.”
Nicole glanced over her shoulder and saw Ariana out on the dance floor with her teammates. She couldn’t help but wonder if Ariana had shared the moment with her earlier at the game or if it was all in Nicole’s head.
“Hey, tomorrow is Saturday and you’re in town,” Kate said. “Want to have brunch with me and Emily in the morning?”
“Ah, I can’t,” Nicole said. “I’m doing this youth initiative with the WNBA. We’re playing basketball with kids in a neighborhood park.”
“Always working. Always basketball.”
Nicole grinned and finished her beer. “One more for me and my bestie, Stuart,” she called.
“Well, at least you’re staying for two beers tonight.”
Nicole chuckled and bumped her shoulder into Kate’s. She couldn’t keep from glancing over her shoulder one more time. When she did Ariana was looking her way and smiling.
Nicole nodded and turned back to her friend. Kate was right. Ariana was entertaining, but she was more than pretty. When she smiled like that Ariana Villa was beautiful.