Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Nicole had been texting with Ariana since she left her apartment on Sunday evening. She’d sent Nicole several photos of prospective outfits for Tuesday's tunnel walk. It was fun to see Ariana’s style, but she also threw in a couple of outfits just to make Nicole laugh.
It seemed that Ariana was always in her thoughts.
There was something pulling them towards each other and Nicole could feel it.
She suspected Ariana felt it too. It started with basketball but there was more to it and Nicole didn’t know what to do about it.
She loved her job and her career. Hard work had made her a trusted analyst and voice in the sport of basketball.
To allow anything more than friendship with Ariana would threaten everything Nicole had worked so hard for.
Why would she risk all of that for someone she was just getting to know? Maybe she was lonely. She hadn’t had a girlfriend in a long time and hadn’t felt that little spark for anyone in ages. Well, until Ariana fell into her lap.
Nicole thought back to when she’d formed friendships with other players over the years.
She’d felt a connection with other players who had become friends just as she had with Shealyn.
Nicole knew that sometimes she just hit it off with certain people.
It sounded simple, but not with Ariana. They definitely had a connection, but Nicole felt a spark with Ariana and tried to suppress it.
She’d explained it away in regular conversations with herself.
God, maybe she was losing it! The back and forth in her head felt like a basketball dribbling between hands.
When it came down to it, Nicole had never been tempted like this with a player.
She was always careful where friendship was concerned, but none of her friendships had felt like this.
It was new, however she was confident she could navigate this budding relationship and keep it where it belonged: in the friendship zone.
Sighing, Nicole turned her attention to the court in front of her. The players were warming up as game time approached and she took the opportunity to check her phone again for any photos from Toronto’s pregame. She’d looked earlier and had seen videos from other games.
She smiled as a reel of several New York players appeared on her screen. Then she saw Ariana and her smile widened. She was wearing wide legged pants with a sleeveless top that showed off her muscular shoulders and biceps. Nicole would have to add Ariana’s shapely arms to her “what’s sexy” list.
“That’s making a statement,” she said under her breath.
“What’s got you smiling so?” Shealyn asked.
Nicole hadn’t noticed Shealyn walk up in front of her and she quickly lowered her phone. She shrugged and met Shealyn’s gaze. “Oh, I was just looking at the tunnel walks from around the league,” she said, hoping to sound casual.
Her heart had jumped in her chest as she’d watched Ariana confidently stride down the tunnel wearing that outfit. Now it was pounding because Shealyn had caught the smile Ariana put on her face.
Shealyn quirked an eyebrow. “And?”
“Some of these outfits.” Nicole chuckled, trying to hide her reaction to Ariana.
“Let me see.”
Nicole pulled up the reel and watched it again with Shealyn.
“Look at your friend Ariana,” Shealyn commented.
“My friend?”
“Come on, you know what I’m talking about,” Shealyn said.
Nicole shook her head, wishing Shea would back off.
“That girl wants to be your friend and I can tell you like her,” Shealyn said.
“It doesn’t matter. You know how hard it is to be friends with players,” Nicole said. “You’ve done it with JJ and a few others, but you had history with them before you stepped behind the mic.”
Shealyn shrugged and stared at Nicole for a moment. “Friendships with players are hard, especially during the season, but you have friends who are players too.”
Nicole nodded. She did have several friends who still played in the league, but none of them were in her thoughts like Ariana. And she certainly didn’t play one-on-one with them.
“Be careful, partner,” Shealyn said. “Ever since that girl landed in your lap I’ve seen something between you two.”
Nicole looked over at Shealyn and furrowed her brow. “When? We’ve only called one game of hers since then.”
“Yeah and look what happened. That’s when Maggie called that bogus foul on Ariana. Maybe she saw it, too.”
Nicole smirked. “That was Maggie on a power trip.”
“Okay, call it what you want.” Shealyn pursed her lips. “Just remember, you can look but don’t touch.”
Nicole’s mouth fell open in surprise. Shealyn had known her for years. Maybe she could see the friendship growing between her and Ariana, but surely no one else had noticed.
“We’re almost ready,” Keith said from behind their desk.
Nicole reached for her headphones and carefully put them over her ears, drowning out the crowd. She needed a moment to ground herself and focus on her job. One final thought of Ariana drifted through her head: she hoped she had a good game.
Nicole walked into her apartment and immediately turned down the hallway.
She stopped in her office to set her bag and purse down then continued to her bedroom.
She was glad they had flown back to New York after the game tonight.
It had been a long day, starting with their early flight this morning, talking to players at shootaround, then calling the game this evening.
She hung her garment bag in her closet and would deal with it in the morning. A quick shower would wash the weariness of the day away so she stepped into her bathroom and started the water. It streamed down and pattered over the shower floor as Nicole quickly undressed.
She pulled her hair up on top of her head and walked into the steaming droplets, instantly feeling her muscles relax.
Minnesota and Indiana had played a close game tonight and Nicole learned some things about both teams. She couldn’t wait to share her observations with Ariana.
A smile played across her face as she closed her eyes and let the water rinse her face cleanser away.
Nicole could imagine Ariana’s excitement when she showed her what she’d learned. New York had won tonight and Ariana had scored another twenty points. She must have been open as Nicole predicted and took the shots.
She stopped and realized she was in her shower, thinking about Ariana, and only had thoughts about basketball. See there, she could keep Ariana in the friend zone. Nicole finished rinsing her body and stepped out of the shower with a momentary burst of renewed energy.
She thought back to Shealyn’s comment of look, don’t touch. “I can do that,” she murmured as she dried her body. Maybe she’d entertain the thought after the season was over like Kate had suggested. I can trust Ariana, maybe a fling isn’t a bad idea.
Nicole looked in the mirror and reached for her moisturizer. She patted it around her eyes and gently rubbed it in. Framing this friendship as “a wait and see until the season is over” might be a way to keep her feelings in check.
She narrowed her eyes at her reflection and tilted her head. “We’ll see,” she said.
Ariana quickly texted Nicole before she got out of her rideshare and thanked the driver.
They weren’t playing basketball today because Ariana had already had practice and needed recovery time before her next game.
When she walked through the automatic door Nicole’s smiling face was the first thing she saw.
Ariana’s heart jumped in her chest. She was looking forward to spending time with Nicole again, but was surprised by the effect her smile had on her body.
“Hey,” Nicole said, walking towards Ariana.
For a moment Ariana thought they might hug. Instead Nicole stopped in front of Ariana and furrowed her brow. “What’s all this?”
Ariana held up the sack she carried in her left hand. “You supplied take-out last time, so I brought snacks.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
Ariana shrugged. “I wanted to.”
Another smile beamed on Nicole’s face and Ariana decided right then to find ways to keep it there.
“I want you to meet someone,” Nicole said, looping her arm through Ariana’s and leading them to the front desk in the building’s foyer.
“Dave, I’d like you to meet my friend, Ariana Villa,” Nicole said.
“Oh, I know Ms. Villa,” Dave replied. “You’re the best point guard in the league.”
Ariana smiled at him. “Thank you. Please, call me Ariana.” She reached out her hand to shake his.
“Ari, Dave is our doorman and takes care of us,” Nicole said.
Ariana could hear the affection in Nicole’s voice. “It’s nice to meet you, Dave.”
“My pleasure.”
“Dave can make sure you have no problems coming and going from my apartment,” Nicole said.
“It’s no one’s business but yours and Ms. Neal’s,” Dave said.
“Oh, so you’ll help me sneak through all of Ms. Neal’s adoring fans undetected,” Ariana teased.
Nicole chuckled and bumped Ariana’s shoulder with her own. “More like your adoring fans following you around the city.”
Ariana playfully looked behind her then back at Nicole and Dave. “I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”
“You never know,” Dave said. “But I’m always here to help.”
“Thank you,” Ariana replied with a smile.
“Have a nice evening, ladies,” Dave said with a slight bow.
They walked to the elevator and once inside Nicole turned to Ariana. “I wanted you to meet Dave because he really does take care of the tenants. He won’t let anyone in the elevators who isn’t supposed to be here.”
“And he won’t let anyone know who I’m coming to see,” Ariana said, raising her brows.
Nicole shrugged. “There’s that, too.”
Ariana smiled. “More secrets and clandestine meetings,” she said in a low, hushed voice.
Nicole smirked and Ariana followed her off the elevator and into the apartment. She set the sack down on the living room table as Nicole plopped down on the couch and sighed.
“What’s wrong?” Ariana asked, sitting next to her.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about all the secrecy and perception stuff,” Nicole said. “Shealyn and I were talking and we’re friends with several players. We don’t do much socially with them during the season, but that’s because we’re all so busy.”
“Okay…” Ariana furrowed her brow. She wasn’t quite sure what was bothering Nicole, but she could tell something was on her mind.
“This”—Nicole pointed between the two of them—“feels different.”
Ariana nodded. “Ah, your other player friends don’t come over and talk basketball or play one-on-one with you?”
Nicole shook her head.
Ariana smiled and moved closer to Nicole until their knees touched.
“I don’t go over to my friends’ places and play basketball with them either.
We may talk a little strategy now and then.
” Ariana shrugged. “We”—she pointed between the two of them—“have a connection. I felt it when I stared into your eyes that day I landed in your lap. You felt it too.”
Nicole nodded. “We both have our boundaries on dating during the season and for good reason.”
Ariana nodded in agreement. “More than friends would be dangerous for you professionally, Nicole. I know that and would never do anything to put you in that position.”
“I know,” Nicole replied. She sighed and gave Ariana a sad smile. “I don’t like you having to lie to Cameron.”
Ariana tilted her head. “You’re talking about the other day when I came home and wasn’t expecting to find Cameron there.
” She sat back against the couch. “I didn’t exactly lie, I just didn’t tell her all the details.
It’s not because of you, Nic. What if I had been out taking ballroom dancing lessons and didn’t want Cameron to know?
I wouldn’t have told her where I’d been then either. ”
“Ballroom dancing?” Nicole’s brows comically crept up her forehead.
Ariana chuckled. “What if I’d met someone and wasn’t ready to share her with Cameron or my other friends? What I’m saying is, she doesn't have to know where I am all the time. You’re not making me lie.”
“But you can’t tell her you’re with me,” Nicole said.
Ariana thought about this for a moment. “I probably could, but I’m choosing not to.” She sat up and leaned towards Nicole. “Please don’t let our need for discretion mess this up. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you and telling you about my game. I want to play basketball with you again.”
“Isn’t it my need for discretion though? If you weren’t a player and I wasn’t a broadcaster…”
“But I am and you are, and we’re professionals and we can do this.”
“The lying and secrecy doesn’t bother you?”
Ariana shook her head. “This is my private life, Nic. It’s my business, not my friends.”
“You’ll tell me if it becomes too much?”
Ariana smiled. “You’ll never be too much, but I do have a lot of basketball to talk about with you tonight.”
Nicole’s face beamed with one of those smiles Ariana was coming to love.