Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“Let’s go to shootaround,” Shealyn said, dropping her bag in the office where they would change before the game.
Nicole laid her clothes over the back of a chair and shouldered her small backpack. “Anyone in particular you plan to talk to before the game?”
They walked down the corridor towards the sound of bouncing basketballs and squeaking shoes on the gym floor.
“Well, it won’t be your favorite point guard since she’s not playing in this game,” Shealyn said as they walked onto the floor.
Nicole smirked. “We are supposed to be neutral.”
Shealyn chuckled. “I’m teasing you. We can’t help but have favorite players here and there.”
“Yes and some of them aren’t the best players on the court either,” Nicole replied.
“Here comes one of our favorites now,” Shealyn smiled at a tall woman holding a basketball as she approached them. “Janell Jackson.”
“Hi, JJ,” Nicole said.
“It’s nice to see the network sent the A-team to cover our home opener tonight,” Janell said.
Nicole smiled. Some players appreciated what Nicole and Shealyn brought to the game; however, there were always those who did not like their comments.
“How am I doing so far?” Janell asked.
“You’ve only had one game,” Shealyn replied. “I’ll let you know.”
“What about you, Nicole?”
Nicole studied Janell for a moment. “I noticed some fancy footwork in your opening game and you added a fade-away jumper.”
“It’s hard to shoot over those trees in the paint!” Janell exclaimed. “I had to do something.”
“You’re one of those trees!” Nicole chuckled.
“Thanks for noticing, Nicole.” Janell nodded. “I worked hard in the off season.”
“You always do,” Nicole replied.
Janell wasn’t the best inside player in the league, but she was an asset because she was a team player.
Whether that meant coming off the bench to fulfill a specific role or starting the game to set the tone.
Nicole and Shealyn had covered Janell when she was playing in college.
Now, as a ten-year veteran, she was always a favorite to talk to and they considered her a friend.
“We’ve added two players from the French national team,” Janell said.
“Oh, we know,” Shealyn said.
“Of course you do.” Janell chuckled. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to them.”
“I’m going to take a look at our new setup on the other side of the court,” Nicole said.
“Oh yeah, they have a special table for the broadcast media across from the scorer’s table,” Janell said.
“It’s like that in most arenas now. We can’t listen in on your time-outs anymore.” Shealyn chuckled.
“We don’t have to,” Nicole added. “They have the coaches miked-up a lot of times now.”
As Shea and Janell walked away, Nicole strolled across the court watching the players shoot, pass, and practice their footwork. She stopped behind the broadcast table and looked out over the court.
“How’s the view?”
Nicole turned as a woman approached the table from the other end of the court.
“Hi Maggie,” Nicole replied. “I didn’t realize the referees came to the game so early.”
Maggie chuckled. “We usually don’t. I was in Atlanta for work, so I decided to come on in.”
“That worked out nicely for you,” Nicole commented.
“Yeah, sometimes things line up.”
“I would imagine your job has to be flexible with all the travel we do during the season,” Nicole said.
“Isn’t that the truth,” Maggie said. “I actually relocated to New York City during the off season. I’m hoping to get more of the games in that area and not have to travel as far.”
Nicole nodded and watched the players at one end of the court.
“You live in the city, don’t you?” Maggie asked.
Nicole looked at her and smiled. “I do.”
“Maybe we could get a drink sometime,” Maggie said. “You could share your favorite hidden spots in the city.”
Nicole raised her brows. “Then they wouldn’t stay hidden.”
Maggie chuckled and Nicole was glad to see Shealyn coming towards them. She didn't know Maggie well, but there was something about her that always made Nicole wary.
“Are you flying back right after the game?” Maggie asked.
“No, we’re staying the night.”
“Maybe we could have dinner after the game then?”
“Sorry,” Nicole replied as Shealyn came up next to her. “We’re having a team dinner afterwards. Most of us are based in New York so this is our first away game so to speak.”
“Hi, Maggie,” Shealyn said. “You could join us for dinner. We’ve got room for one more.”
Nicole gave Shealyn a pointed look.
“Thanks, that would be nice,” Maggie said. “My crew is flying back after the game so I’m on my own.”
“Ah, life on the road,” Shealyn commented.
“Did you get any inside scoop from the players during shootaround?” Maggie asked.
Shealyn laughed. “You know they won’t tell us anything.”
“I see they’ve tucked you away from the action,” Maggie said, pointing across the court.
“That way you won’t hear us talking about how long the officials are taking to review a play,” Shealyn said. “I hope you’ve worked on that during the off-season.”
“We have to get it right,” Maggie replied.
“Hmm, we’ll see,” Shealyn said with a smirk. “We’d better go.”
“I’ll see you after the game,” Maggie said before jogging off.
As they walked off the court Nicole said quietly, “I wish you hadn’t done that.”
“Why? Maggie wanted to have dinner with you.”
“Yes and the last thing I’m thinking about is a date,” Nicole said. “The season is just beginning.”
“There’s someone out there who’s right for you, Nicole,” Shealyn said. “If you won’t try and find them then I will.”
Nicole groaned. “It’s not Maggie Patterson.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t right here among us,” Shealyn said, spreading her arms wide as they walked down the hallway and into their changing room.
Nicole sighed and began to change clothes. “Maybe you’re trying too hard, Shea.”
“Mmhmm,” Shealyn murmured. “She may sneak up on you. Ohhh, that would be fun.”
Nicole giggled. “You’re too much.”
“No, I’m not,” Shealyn replied. “I just want you to have the happiness that I do.”
“How do you know I don’t?”
Shealyn tilted her head. “Because I know you. That heart of yours has a lot of love to give and there’s one lucky woman out there waiting.”
Nicole smiled and shrugged. It wasn’t that she wanted to be alone, but who would want to share this life she loved? It could be a lot and right now, in her career, she couldn’t make any compromises.
Ariana took a sip of her drink and turned up the volume on the TV.
“What game are we watching?” Cameron said, sitting down next to her with a bowl of chips. “Oh wait, let me guess—um, your crush is calling which game?”
Ariana chuckled. “She and Shealyn are in Atlanta. Why wouldn’t you want to listen to that beautiful voice?”
“That’s not the only reason you want to watch her games.”
“You’re right, she knows a lot about basketball,” Ariana replied. “We might learn something. She’s smart and maybe she’ll share something that will give us an edge.”
“Mmm, maybe,” Cameron murmured. “There’s more to her than basketball. You could find out since you’re friends now.”
Ariana shrugged. “I don’t know that we’re friends,” she said hesitantly. “She can’t show favoritism.”
“We both know you’re one of her favorite players,” Cameron said.
“She likes you, too.” Ariana paused as they waited for the pregame to end and the network to switch to Nicole and Shealyn courtside. “I did find something out about her when I fell into her lap.”
“Yeah?”
Ariana glanced over at Cameron and smiled. “She has pretty brown eyes.”
Cameron chuckled. “Thank God you noticed. You’re so focused on basketball during the season I sometimes wonder about you.”
“That’s why if I have a girlfriend I usually lose her during the season,” Ariana said. “It’s better that I’m single for now.”
“Ah, it’ll all work out when you find the right woman.” Cameron waved her hand. “Just look at me and Terrance. He understands compromise during the season and I make it up to him in the off season. You find ways to make it work.”
“There she is,” Ariana said.
“Look at Shealyn’s hair,” Cameron exclaimed. “That’s real! She must have a stylist before the game.”
“Your hair is real.”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t look like that,” Cameron said. “It’s hard to keep it that way with two and sometimes three games a week. I’m telling you, Ari, black women's hair can be a lot.”
They were both quiet while Nicole and Shealyn welcomed the TV audience and talked about the key players.
“Oh, they’re talking about JJ,” Ariana said. “I wish she still played here with us.”
“Yeah, she’s the best.”
Ariana listened to Nicole talk about what they might learn in tonight’s game. She knew Nicole was talking to her and smiled.
“Oh, she’s talking about us!” Cameron exclaimed, slapping Ariana’s arm. “That’s right, Nicole. We’re getting our championship back this year.”
Ariana chuckled and stared at the screen. She felt like those pretty brown eyes were staring into hers. What was Nicole trying to tell her?
“They’re calling our game Saturday in Connecticut," Ariana said.
“Oh cool, I can ask Shealyn about her stylist.”
Ariana chuckled. “I’m trying to figure out Atlanta’s defense and you’re worried about your hair.”
“That’s why we get along so well, roomie,” Cameron said. “You worry enough for both of us.”
They settled in and focused on the game.
It was close most of the first quarter, but Atlanta managed a six point lead in the second quarter.
As the game approached halftime Ariana was tempted to text Nicole just for fun.
She didn’t want to bother her and figured she wouldn’t respond if she was busy.
“Okay, it’s time for real food.” Cameron got up and went to the kitchen as the halftime show began. “I’m warming up the leftover roasted chicken and pasta.”
“Oh, that sounds good. Thanks.”
Ariana reached for her phone and sent Nicole a simple text.
This game isn’t very exciting. Good thing you and Shealyn make it bearable.
She smiled as the familiar three dots appeared on her screen.
Learning anything?
Ariana smirked at her phone and replied.
You have pretty brown eyes.
You’ve already told me that. So do you.
Let’s compare notes when you get back.
You’ve got a deal.
Ariana couldn’t stop the smile on her face. What was it about Nicole Neal that had suddenly grabbed her attention? Thoughts of her were never far from her mind.
“Here you go.” Cameron set two plates on the coffee table.
“Thanks.”
The second half began and Atlanta built a larger lead in the third quarter.
“Another review,” Cameron said. “What is it with this referee crew?”
“I get that they want to make the right call, but does it have to take so long to review the play a couple of times? Nicole and Shealyn have made the calls long before the refs have finally made up their minds.”
“Yeah, and they’ve been right every time,” Cameron added.
“Of course they have.” Ariana smiled.
“Why does that ref keep hanging around at the media table?” Cameron asked. “Is that Maggie Patterson?”
“Yeah, that’s her. I don’t know why she’d be on that side of the court. The scorer’s table is where they make the decisions.”
“Hmm, you don’t think…” Cameron said.
“Think what?”
“Maybe she’s crushing on Nicole, too.”
Ariana looked over at Cameron and frowned. “During a game? Come on.”
“I don’t know.” Cameron shrugged. “Why else would she be over there?”
Ariana could feel a flash of heat ignite in her stomach.
The referee announced the decision and the game resumed.
Ariana couldn’t keep from watching Maggie during the remainder of the game.
There were no more reviews and the game ended with an Atlanta win.
She was about to turn the channel when the courtside reporter started interviewing the players after the game.
She could see Nicole and Shealyn getting ready to leave the court.
“There she is again,” Cameron said.
Ariana stared at the screen and could see Maggie standing with Nicole and Shealyn. She could once again feel that burning sensation inside her stomach. If she and Nicole were just becoming friends then why did she have this feeling?
“Do you know Maggie?” Ariana asked.
“Nah,” Cameron said. “Maybe they all hang out after the games.”
“Yeah, like we do.”
Cameron nodded and went back into the kitchen.
Ariana sighed and shook her head. “What the fuck,” she murmured.