Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
“Come out with us.”
“No thanks, Nia,” Ariana said, plopping down on her couch. “You and Rae take it easy on Cameron. Just because Terrance is out of town doesn’t mean she can go wild.”
“Haha,” Cameron deadpanned, walking into the living room from her bedroom. “I’m wild for Terrance and he knows that. Besides, we're just going to dinner. Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
“Yeah, Ari,” Rae said. “Whatcha gonna do here?”
“I’m going to watch the Dallas and Seattle game. We will play them both in the next two weeks.”
“Yes, but we play Connecticut first. What happened to one game at a time?”
“I’m ready for Connecticut,” Ariana said. “Go on. Have a good time.”
Her phone pinged with a text and Ariana smiled as she read it.
“Uh oh. Who’s that?” Nia asked.
Ariana quickly looked up and tried to hide the excitement on her face.
The text was from Nicole and she’d simply asked if she was busy.
That meant Nicole wasn’t busy and they’d have time for a chat.
Since Nicole returned from Atlanta they had texted every day and Ariana hoped they could find time to talk tonight.
That was one reason she didn’t want to go out with her teammates tonight.
“Come on,” Rae said. “Do you have a new woman? Who’s putting that smile on your face?”
“Nunya,” Ariana said.
“What?” Rae gave her a confused look.
“None of your business,” Ariana clarified.
“Ohh!” Nia laughed.
“Who is she talking to?” Rae asked Cameron.
Cameron shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“I do not have a new woman,” Ariana said. “You know I don’t go out with anyone during the season. Maybe I have a new friend. But I know you’re not going to get into my business because right now I’m playing so well you wouldn’t want to mess that up! Right?”
Rae nodded and grinned. “You are playing lights out! We want that to continue, so yes, I’ll back off.”
“If you have someone new, good for you,” Nia said. “You’ve been single too long.”
“If you have someone new, I’d better be the first to know,” Cameron stated.
“I don’t!” Ariana exclaimed. “This conversation is over. Let’s move on.”
“Okay, can we bring you anything?” Cameron asked.
“Nope, I’m good.”
As soon as they walked out the door Ariana called Nicole.
“Hey,” Nicole said.
“Hi.”
“When you didn’t answer I thought maybe you were still at practice,” Nicole said.
“I was trying to get rid of Cameron and a couple of my teammates,” Ariana said. “They’re going to dinner.”
“You’re not going with them?”
“No, I wanted to watch Dallas and Seattle.”
“That’s what I’m doing.”
“It would be so much fun to watch a game with you,” Ariana said. “Do you think we can make that happen sometime?”
“That would be fun,” Nicole replied.
“In the meantime we could watch the game together tonight and talk about it,” Ariana suggested.
“Okay,” Nicole replied. “I just sat down with a peach tea and I’m having avocado toast. What about you?”
“Avocado toast? Isn’t that more like breakfast or brunch?”
Nicole chuckled. “Yes, but I love it and didn’t want to make anything for dinner. Are you having a soda? Let me guess, Diet Coke?”
“No, I limit myself to one soda a week,” Ariana said. “It’s a treat and I’m saving it for Saturday after the game because I know we’re going to win.”
“I love your confidence!” Nicole said. “It’s sexy.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, it goes with those pretty brown eyes.”
“Thank you,” Ariana said quietly. Was Nicole flirting with her?
“Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have said that. It’s just that some people sound boastful when they talk about winning, but not you. It’s more matter-of-fact and certain. I find that sexy.”
“Hmm, you know what I find sexy?”
“I’m listening.”
“Your voice,” Ariana said. “Why do you think I like listening to you so much?”
“Really? It’s just my voice,” Nicole said.
Ariana grinned. She could imagine Nicole’s deep voice whispering during sex and she absolutely should not be thinking those things.
“Isn’t your team dinner tomorrow night?” Nicole asked, shaking Ariana out of her thoughts.
“Yep. Hey, why don’t you come?”
“What?”
“We’re having our team dinner at Stuart’s bar. You could come and hang out with him. When we’re finished I’ll join you,” Ariana said.
“Yeah, I can see the pictures on social media now. Nicole Neal crashes New York team dinner to get the inside scoop.”
Ariana laughed. “It’s the perfect cover for our secret.”
Nicole’s laughter through the phone caused a tingle to hum through Ariana’s body.
“Okay, basketball buddy, the game is starting,” Nicole said.
They watched the game and commented on the plays. Ariana told Nicole things she saw the other players doing and Nicole praised her observations.
“You’re getting good at this, Ari.”
“I can’t wait to watch a game together. In person,” she added.
“You know, maybe we could do that Sunday.”
“We’re playing Sunday,” Ariana said. “We have a one-on-one game, remember.”
“Oh, I remember,” Nicole said.
Ariana could hear a beeping through the phone. She looked at her screen and only saw Nicole’s picture. “Are you getting another call?”
“Yes, it’s Shea. I’ll call her later,” Nicole said. “I meant to tell you that my conversation with her went well. No more setups and my love life is now my own.”
“Good for you.”
“Thanks for suggesting I wait to talk to her when I wasn’t so upset.”
“I’m glad it worked out,” Ariana said. “When you texted me earlier I must have been smiling because Rae and Nia were full of questions.”
“Uh oh.”
“It’s okay, I told them if they wanted me to keep playing as great as I have been then they wouldn’t get in my business,” Ariana explained.
“Oh, nicely done,” Nicole said.
Ariana chuckled. “Yeah, maybe our love lives are our own now.”
“I don’t know about you, but I have confidence we can take care of ourselves and we know what we’re doing.”
Ariana thought about this for a moment. Maybe Nicole knew what she was doing, but Ariana wasn’t so sure.
There was something about Nicole Neal and all Ariana wanted was to spend more and more time with her.
Whenever she thought about it, though, all she saw were obstacles.
Nicole couldn’t go out with her, so why even think that way. Maybe being friends would be enough.
“What a play!” Nicole exclaimed.
Ariana sighed and put her focus back on the game.
“What’s wrong?” Nicole asked. “Don’t worry, you wouldn’t let that pass make it over your head like Preston did.”
“You have a lot of confidence in my abilities,” Ariana said, amused.
“I’ve been watching you play for years,” Nicole said. “I know you as an athlete, Ari, and I like the person I’m getting to know.”
“Isn’t that funny,” Ariana said. “I’ve been listening to you for years, but the more we talk the more I want to know. Going for that ball and landing in your lap was the best save I’ve ever made.”
Nicole’s laughter echoed in Ariana’s ear. “It has to be one of the best catches I’ve ever made,” she said.
“One of the best?” Ariana joined her laughter.
“Hmm, well, I can’t think of another time I’ve caught a person who came flying through the air at me,” Nicole said.
Ariana heard a beeping noise indicating Cameron was entering the code into the front door to unlock it.
“Oh no.” Ariana groaned. “They’re back.”
“Okay, you’ve gotta go,” Nicole said.
“I’m so glad we got to watch the game together,” Ariana said hurriedly.
“Me, too,” Nicole replied.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Ariana said.
“Hey, who’s winning?” Cameron asked, walking into the living room.
Ariana hadn’t been paying that much attention to the game in the last few minutes. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she’d quickly set her phone down on the couch. She didn’t want to hang up, but she knew she couldn’t tell Cameron who she was talking to.
“Uh, Dallas. Where’s Nia and Rae?” she asked, changing the subject.
“They went home from the restaurant,” Cameron said, sitting down next to her. “Hey, you’d tell me if there was someone you have your eye on. Right?”
Ariana looked over at Cameron and raised her brows. “What?” she asked nervously.
“Earlier, when you got that text and Rae saw you smiling at your phone,” Cameron said. “Have you met someone?”
“No,” Ariana quickly replied. Maybe partial truths would keep Cameron from discovering her and Nicole’s secret. “Sometimes Nicole Neal texts me. It’s like we’re basketball buddies.”
“Oh yeah?”
“That’s all it is,” Ariana assured her. “You know what a good analyst she is and I enjoy talking basketball with her because sometimes I learn things.”
A sly smile grew on Cameron’s face. She nodded. “Okay, I got you,” she said. “Getting good info and using it.”
“Yeah.” Ariana nodded.
“But she’s still your crush.”
Ariana raised one shoulder. “I love her voice.”
Cameron laughed and got up. She held out her hand to give Ariana a slap as she walked towards the hallway.
“Hey, I couldn’t let Nia and Rae know who I was texting with because Nicole has to be neutral,” Ariana said.
“No worries,” Cameron said. “Like you said, that’s your business.”
Ariana smiled and watched Cameron disappear down the hall.
She let out a deep breath. It wasn’t exactly lying to Cameron, but she didn’t tell her the whole truth either.
How could she tell her that her crush on Nicole was only growing the more time they spent together?
Ariana groaned and fell over onto the couch. What am I going to do?
Nicole sighed as she heard Ariana end the call. It was abrupt, but she knew it had to be that way. So why then did it sting? She should be grateful that Ariana understood and was willing to keep this delicate new friendship under wraps.
Nicole found herself looking forward to the game tomorrow and also to Sunday afternoon when she and Ariana could do what they love together, play basketball. Is that all I’m looking forward to?
“Mmm,” she groaned. “Don’t go there. Nothing can happen anyway.
” Maybe not, but she remembered Ariana mentioning their team dinner was at Stuart’s tomorrow night.
She smiled as an idea began to form in her head.
“Secrets can be fun,” she murmured. Then she reached for her phone to return Shea’s call.
“Hey there,” Shealyn said, answering the call.
“Hi, sorry I missed your call. What’s up?”
“Surely you’re watching a game,” Shealyn said. “Where were you?”
Nicole chuckled. “I went to the bathroom. Is that okay?”
“Yes, of course,” Shealyn stated. “It’s just that you’re always home, analyzing or watching a game, so I was surprised when you didn’t pick up.”
“I’m watching Dallas and Seattle.”
“I watched a little of that one and then flipped over to Chicago and Minnesota,” Shealyn said.
Nicole’s gaze was on the game, but she wasn’t watching it.
She was thinking about Ariana and their conversation.
Nicole hadn’t meant to say she found Ariana’s confidence sexy, but once the words were out she didn’t have a choice but to explain it.
She smiled thinking about what Ariana had said about her voice. That’s how her crush began.
“Hey,” Shealyn said. “We’re okay. Right?”
“Yeah, sure,” Nicole said, trying to focus on her phone.
“I really am sorry about the other night,” Shealyn said. “It was funny to me but you had to cover plus be the center of Maggie’s attention. I was not a good partner.”
“It’s okay,” Nicole said. “Maggie will be there Saturday night. Please do not invite her to anything.”
“I promise I will not!” Shealyn exclaimed. “She’s not right for you anyway.”
“Um, who gets to decide who is right for me?” Nicole asked.
“I know, I know. You do,” Shealyn said.
“Thank you,” Nicole said. “The only love life we are discussing is yours. How’s Dewayne?”
Shealyn chuckled. “He’s listening to the girls read and then it’s bedtime.”
“Did you need something when you called?”
“Oh, yeah,” she replied. “We pushed the production meeting to eleven in the morning. You should have an email about it.”
“Okay, I’ll see you then.”
“Enjoy the game. Bye.”
Nicole ended the call. She didn’t like lying to Shealyn, but she did not need her opinions on Ariana Villa or the time they were spending together. She reminded herself that they were professionals and could keep it that way.
Then why was she so looking forward to Saturday’s game and Sunday afternoon?
This is still not a good idea.