Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Nicole walked through the gates to the park with a smile on her face. Kids were gathered at each end of the asphalt court, bouncing balls and shooting at the hoops. She loved these neighborhood youth initiatives that the WNBA held around the city from time to time.
She walked over to where the league outreach officials were preparing to begin the event. The woman in charge, Beth, smiled at her. “Nicole, it’s good to see you.”
“Hi, Beth,” she replied. “I’m glad I was in town. You know I love these events. Looks like you have a good turnout.”
“We do,” Beth replied. “You can put your bag here with ours. We’re about to get started.”
Nicole set her bag down with the others and looked around the area.
There were smaller kids at one basket who looked to be around eight or nine years old, and the older kids were at the other end of the court.
Her attention was drawn to a little girl who was heaving the ball with all her might towards the basket.
Nicole smiled as the ball went in and the little girl jumped up and down.
Someone started clapping and Nicole turned to see a smiling Ariana Villa walking towards her.
Nicole gave her a surprised look. “I didn’t know Superwoman came to these things.”
Ariana laughed. “I didn’t know Nicole Neal commentated kids' games.”
Nicole chuckled. “Oh, I’m here to play.”
“Really?”
Before Nicole could reply, Beth gathered them around and the clinic began.
Nicole and Ariana were at the basket with the youngest kids and led them through drills working on dribbling, passing, and shooting.
Laughter, screams, and squeals filled the air along with the sounds of balls bouncing.
The kids were attentive and most of them recognized Ariana.
Nicole enjoyed watching Ariana interact with the kids, giving each one her undivided attention.
They played several different games so the kids could use the skills they’d just learned. Then towards the end of their time they taught them a few simple plays and let each one take the shot.
Ariana was working with the kids on defense and Nicole had been helping with offense. As the kids were walking away to get a drink and snack, Nicole noticed the little girl who grabbed her attention at the beginning of the clinic hadn’t made a basket yet.
She walked over and squatted in front of the girl. “Hi, my name is Nicole. What’s yours?”
“Chloe,” the little girl responded.
“Okay, Chloe, we have time for you to take one more shot,” Nicole said. “Ariana is playing defense, but I’m going to help you by keeping her away. You dribble around me and make the shot. Okay?”
The little girl’s eyes lit up and she nodded.
“Okay, get ready,” Nicole said. She turned to Ariana, who nodded and winked at her.
Nicole turned around with Ariana behind her. She faced the little girl and held her arms out, keeping Ariana back. “Okay, Chloe, I’ve got her. Do your thing.”
Nicole could feel Ariana’s chest bump into her back as she wrapped one arm around her. Chloe bounced the ball around them and with a determined look on her face heaved it toward the basket. It just cleared the rim and went in.
Nicole and Ariana both jumped up and cheered as the smile on Chloe’s face rivaled the brightness of the sun.
“Chloe, you just scored on the best player in the league!” Nicole said, giving her a high-five.
They both laughed as Chloe ran to join the others.
“That’s quite a screen you set,” Ariana said.
Nicole chuckled. “I had to keep the lane open for my guard.”
“Yeah? So she can score on the best player in the league?”
A smirk covered Nicole’s face and she raised one shoulder. Ariana might not be the best player in the league, but in Nicole’s opinion she was at the top.
“I noticed earlier that you have a nice jump shot,” Ariana said.
Nicole grinned, took the ball, and shot over Ariana’s head. She was rewarded with a clanging swish as the ball went through the chain net. “You didn’t google me? I’ve played a little basketball in my time.”
Ariana laughed, reached for the ball and threw it to Nicole. “Go again.”
Nicole dribbled as Ariana held up her arm in a defensive position.
She raised her brows and faked one way then the other as Ariana stayed in step with her.
Nicole raised the ball like she was going to shoot then quickly took it back down but Ariana had already committed to block the shot.
Once clear of Ariana’s arm, Nicole shot the ball and it went through the hoop.
“Nicely done,” Ariana said. “Wait a minute.”
Nicole waited as Ariana stepped in front of her.
“You were taller yesterday,” Ariana said.
Nicole chuckled. “I had on heels.”
“Yes you did,” Ariana murmured.
Nicole’s eyes widened as a whistle blew, calling them all over to the sidelines. She glanced at Ariana then looked away. A little hint of surprise as well as delight tingled through her body. Was Ariana Villa checking me out?
“Thank you all for coming today,” Beth said. “Ariana has agreed to sign a few autographs. We hope to see you next time.”
As Ariana signed autographs Nicole looked down to see Chloe standing next to her.
“Nicole, do you play basketball in the WNBA?” she asked.
She chuckled. “No, I don’t. Do you watch the games on TV?”
Chloe nodded.
“Sometimes I’m the person you hear telling you the score and the player’s names,” Nicole said.
“Oh, you’re the commentator.”
Nicole was surprised at the little girl’s knowledge. “Yes, that’s me.”
“But you can play, too.”
Nicole nodded. “I played when I was in college, but I wasn’t quite good enough to play in the WNBA. But I still love playing and that’s why I like to come do these clinics with kids like you.”
“I don’t think I’ll be good enough to play in the WNBA either,” Chloe said. “Can I have your autograph? Maybe I’ll be a commentator, like you.”
Nicole took the notepad Chloe held out to her. The clinic had provided one for each kid at the beginning of the event. “You never know, Chloe. If you keep practicing you might be as good as Ariana one day.”
“Thanks, Nicole,” Chloe said.
She handed the notepad back to Chloe as she got in line for Ariana’s autograph.
“Nicole?” Ariana called to her.
She looked up and Ariana mouthed the words, “Wait for me.”
Nicole nodded and went over to get her bag. She watched as Ariana signed and spoke with each child.
“That was nice of you to stay and give every kid an autograph,” Nicole said when Ariana walked over to her. “Not every player does that, you know.”
She shrugged. “I love doing these things.”
“I do, too.”
“Then why haven’t we done one together before now?” Ariana asked.
“I guess we haven’t been in town at the same time.”
Ariana nodded. “Would you like to go for a coffee or something?”
“Don’t you have practice?”
“I do later.”
“I could use a protein smoothie,” Nicole said.
Ariana’s face brightened. “I know just the place. Let’s go.”
They grabbed their bags and walked down the street into a smoothie shop and placed their orders. While they were waiting for their drinks Ariana said, “Were you surprised when I took the tip off last night and went down and shot?”
Nicole chuckled. “I loved it! I’ve always thought you should shoot more.”
Ariana grinned as they walked over to a table and sat down. “So, did I use my weapons like you thought I should?”
Nicole raised her brows and studied Ariana for a moment. “You’ve been listening to my commentary.”
“I always listen to you,” Ariana said. “You know what you’re talking about.”
Their names were called and Ariana went up to the counter to get their drinks. When she sat back down Nicole asked, “Did you enjoy watching your performance last night?”
Ariana took a sip of her drink and shrugged. “I focus more on what I missed, like passing opportunities or defense.”
Nicole nodded and sipped her drink.
“I’m trying to figure out why we haven’t talked more before or after games,” Ariana said. “We have a lot in common.”
“Oh, we do?”
“Yeah, we both have pretty brown eyes, nice jump shots, and we like playing with the kids,” Ariana said.
Nicole sipped her drink, trying to hide the smile she couldn’t keep from her face.
“It was nice talking to you at the bar last night and I enjoyed meeting Kate,” Ariana said.
“Oh, she’s something else.”
“She must not like your girlfriend,” Ariana said.
Nicole furrowed her brow. “My girlfriend?”
“She was encouraging me to come on to you.”
Nicole rested her chin in her hand. “You really didn’t google me. I’m single.”
Ariana’s brows lifted. “I find that hard to believe.”
“With my work and travel schedule, it’s hard to give anything but basketball my attention.”
“Oh, I get that,” Ariana said. “I rarely have two home games back to back and I’m out of town every week during the season.”
“Oh, hey,” Nicole said. “I noticed when you put your number in my phone you didn’t put your name, you put the number ten.”
Ariana smirked and took a sip of her drink.
“Is that how you think of yourself? Or is it just your jersey number?”
Ariana raised a shoulder. “You decide.”
Nicole laughed. “I think Kate’s right. You are a charmer.” Then she had a thought. She narrowed her eyes at Ariana. “What’s my name in your phone?”
She could see Ariana hesitate for a moment. “I’ll have to explain.”
“Uh oh…”
“When you were calling the Toronto preseason game I walked into the living room and Cameron was watching the game. I may have mentioned something about your voice and commentary…”
Nicole tilted her head. “Go on.”
“Cameron calls you my crush,” Ariana stated.
Nicole’s eyes widened.
“So, you’re Crush in my phone,” Ariana said. “Before you decide I’m a creep and get up, please understand that I respect your comments and your knowledge of the game.” She sighed. “And you have such a lovely voice.”
Nicole smiled. “Thank you. And I don’t think you’re a creep.”
Ariana exhaled a relieved breath. “I appreciated you texting with me last night while I was watching and listening to your comments. You see things I can’t or don’t during the game. You have such good insight.”
“I love talking about basketball,” Nicole said. “I’m a student of the game. You can watch players and they will give you cues on what they’re going to do.”
“Oh?”
Nicole nodded. “I could tell when you were going to pass or take the shot.”
“Really? I telegraph my moves?”
“Everyone does.”
“Maybe you need to help me so I can hide my cues better or you could share other player’s tendencies so I’ll know what to look for.”
Nicole shrugged.
“Is that like insider information?”
Nicole chuckled. “I’m not a coach. I just call what I see.”
“There’s more we have in common,” Ariana said.
Nicole raised her brows. “Pretty brown eyes, nice jump shot, kids…”
“And students of the game.”
“Hmm, I guess you’re right,” Nicole said. “Oh, I can think of another. We both go to Stuart’s bar.”
“You know Stuart?”
“Oh yeah, I met him years ago,” Nicole said. “I’ve followed him from bar to bar all over the city. He and his husband are my good friends.”
“Me too!” Ariana exclaimed. “I was so glad when he finally bought this bar for himself. How have we not run into each other at Stuart’s before last night?”
“I don’t always go when I know it’s going to be busy.” Nicole could feel Ariana’s eyes on her. “What?”
“Why have you never interviewed me?”
“Shealyn usually does the interviews with players,” Nicole explained. “I do all the player profiles, the game analysis, and notes for the broadcast.”
“You’re friends with some of the players, right?”
Nicole nodded. “Most of my friends are players, coaches, owners, support staff, or people involved with basketball.” She shrugged. “I told you I love the game.”
Ariana nodded. “So, let’s see. We both have pretty eyes and nice jump shots; we like playing with kids and going to Stuart’s bar…”
“And we love the game,” Nicole added. She studied Ariana for a moment.
She did know a lot of players, but couldn’t allow herself to get too close because of optics.
She couldn’t give the perception that she favored some players over others.
Of course, she knew some players better than others and a few had become friends, but they knew how and when to keep things professional thus protecting them all.
Nicole had to agree with Ariana that they did have a lot in common. It had been a long time since she had been interested in another woman, for friendship or otherwise. But there was something about Ariana Villa…
Nicole sipped her drink and smiled at Ariana.