Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Nicole looked up from her computer screen and gazed into her parents’ backyard. She’d flown in that morning from Las Vegas and now sat at their kitchen island making notes about the upcoming game. They had always been supportive and knew her visits would also include work.
She’d chosen this particular spot to work from because she liked the view into the backyard as well as her parents' antics.
Her dad piddled around the backyard with landscaping and her mom loved to volley suggestions his way while reading a book on the porch.
Sometimes her dad would look at her mom and simply shake his head which made them both laugh.
Neither of them walked by the other without a wink or a little touch.
They said I love you with their actions as well as their words.
Nicole hoped to have that someday with the right woman.
She smiled and chuckled to herself. The right woman. Maybe she’d ask Ariana what she thought that would look like.
Nicole took a deep breath as thoughts of Ariana meandered through her head. She wasn’t necessarily surprised when Ariana’s lips met hers on the roof two days ago, but what followed was one of the best afternoons and evenings she’d spent in—well, she couldn’t remember when.
The sex had been amazing. Where there was sometimes awkwardness after being with someone new for the first time, she hadn’t felt any of that with Ariana. Their connection was undeniable, but what were they going to do with it? How could this be anything more than a casual fling?
Yet, nothing about this felt casual. This was downright dangerous for Nicole’s career. Which made her question why she was letting this happen. Nicole was always in control, aware of her surroundings, and how her daily life could affect her career. It had always been that way.
But now… Ariana had invaded her thoughts and, if Nicole wasn’t careful, her heart.
“Hey, honey,” Lori Neal said, walking in from the backyard. “I imagine you have a basketball game you’d like to watch this evening.”
Nicole tried to hide the smile on her face. She’d been planning to watch Ariana’s game using work as an excuse. “I do, but I can always pull up the replay later.”
Her mom shook her head. “I looked and New York is playing.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “With the time difference the game will be starting soon.”
Nicole glanced at her phone where she’d sent a “good luck” text to Ariana not long ago. A smile played at the corners of her mouth as she imagined Ariana getting ready to play. She’d made slipping the note Nicole left her at Stuart’s bar in her sock a regular part of her pregame routine.
“My granddaughter informed me I should watch this game with you because her new favorite player is on the team. You can tell me all about her. Her words, not mine.”
Nicole laughed. Her ten-year-old niece had been playing basketball since she was six and loved the game almost as much as Nicole did. “Who is Livi’s new favorite player?”
“Let me think… Oh, Ariana is her first name.”
“Villa,” Archie Neal said, walking in from the backyard. “She’s the best point guard in the league.”
Nicole’s mouth gaped open in surprise. “Uh, o-okay,” she stammered.
“Do you know her?” Lori asked.
“Of course she does,” Archie said, looking at Nicole. “I heard you talking about how good she is when you called her last game.”
“I do know her,” Nicole said. “When did she become Livi’s favorite player?”
“Since our granddaughter has decided she is going to be the next great point guard,” Archie said.
Nicole chuckled. “As stubborn as she is, I can see that happening.”
“You’re not wrong. She reminds me of someone else I know,” Lori said, squeezing Nicole’s shoulder and walking into the living room. “Come on, it’s about to start.”
Nicole reached for her phone and sent a quick text to Ariana. She knew she wouldn’t get it until after the game, but did she have a story for her.
As the game was about to start Nicole could feel her heart leap in her chest when the camera zoomed in on Ariana.
She was wearing her hair in a loose bun on top of her head instead of her regular ponytail.
Nicole would have to ask her about the change.
She’d been wearing her hair that way when they’d played on Sunday.
Nicole flashed back to running her fingers through Ariana’s hair once she’d released the dark brown strands. Everything about her was sexy. Nicole widened her eyes and couldn’t believe those kinds of thoughts were running through her head while she sat in her parents’ living room.
“Is that her?” Lori asked.
Nicole nodded with a smile on her face.
“You must like her,” Lori said.
Nicole quickly turned to her mother. “What?”
“The way you're smiling,” Lori said.
“I do,” Nicole replied. “I can tell you that she’s an even better person than she is a point guard. We were at a youth event together not long after the season started.”
“Have you known her long? She’s having a great season,” Archie said.
“Yeah, I mean, I’ve known her to say hello, but we’ve kind of become friends this season,” Nicole explained.
“I’d guess so, after she jumped into your lap,” Archie said.
Nicole’s brows flew up her forehead. “Oh, you saw that.”
“Yeah, it was great.” Archie chuckled. “You probably kept her from getting hurt.”
The game started and they focused on the screen. Nicole watched as Ariana did the things they’d discussed on Sunday. Her defense was stellar and by halftime she’d scored eighteen points with three steals.
Nicole hadn’t noticed her mom go into the kitchen for snacks until she sat back down next to her on the couch.
“So, tell me about her,” Lori said.
“What? Who?” Nicole asked innocently as her cheeks began to warm.
Lori chuckled. “You know who. Ariana Villa.”
“As I said, we’re friends.” Nicole shrugged. “It’s new.”
“Uh huh,” Lori replied, munching on popcorn and offering the bowl to Nicole. “You don’t smile at your other friends like that. Does she bat for your team?”
“Mom!” Nicole exclaimed, almost choking on a kernel of popcorn.
“Oh, a baseball metaphor isn’t appropriate?” Lori chuckled. “Is she gay?”
Nicole sighed and narrowed her eyes. “Yes, Mom. She’s gay, but that doesn’t really matter. You know it’s hard for me to be close to players and not appear biased in the eyes of others. It’s a fine line.”
“Mmhmm, I believe you’ve called it career-ending,” Lori said.
“Yeah, I don’t get that,” Archie said. “You’ve got these fathers calling their sons’ games in college basketball.
Or what about the former football players who have gone into broadcasting and call their old team’s games?
You know they still have friends on the team.
No one seems to mind that. Come to think of it, they have to have friends across the league who play on the other teams. How’s that any different from you being friends with basketball players? ”
Nicole appreciated her parents’ support. “I know, Dad, but it’s part of the business. I knew when I went into it that it would be that way.”
“Did you really though?” Lori said. “It seems to be short-sighted to think you wouldn’t have some sort of relationship with the players. You’re all in the same business.”
“Yeah, I am friends with some players, but I don’t socialize with them much during the season,” Nicole said.
“Which sounds very lonely since those are the people you’re spending the majority of your time with,” Lori said.
“We’ve had this conversation before, Mom,” Nicole said. “I love my job and my career is important to me.”
“Don’t fill up on popcorn,” Archie said, getting up from his recliner. “Let’s have Gino’s pizza for dinner. I’ll go get it and be back before the end of the game.”
“Are you sure?” Lori said. “I can have it delivered.”
“I’m not sure what I want,” Archie said. “I’ll surprise you.”
Nicole chuckled. Her dad had a thing for pizza and loved to try different combinations. He and Albert, the guy who owned Gino’s, had been friends since her parents retired here. Albert was always ready to entertain Archie’s imagination.
“No onions!” Nicole yelled after him.
When they heard the door close Lori turned to Nicole and patted her shoulder. “I can see she means something to you.”
“Because I smile when I look at her,” Nicole replied, knowing her mother had seen right through her.
“I’m your mother,” Lori said. “I know these things about you and I can tell by the way you watch her and the softness in your eyes.”
Nicole sighed. “It’s complicated, Mom.” She couldn’t tell anyone how Ariana’s smile warmed her heart or how much fun it was to play basketball with her.
“It usually is. But what if she’s worth it?”
“We barely know each other.”
“Yes, you keep saying it’s new,” Lori said. “Tell me what you do know.”
Nicole turned towards her mom. “When I talk about basketball with her it’s different from my job or even with Shealyn.
It’s like we get each other.” She smiled.
“One of our favorite things is figuring out ways for her to stop the other team when she plays defense or how to pick the other team apart. That’s why you saw me smiling during the game.
We planned some of those things and they worked. ”
“What else?”
“I told you she does youth events for the league. She’s really good with kids.”
“Like you are.”
Nicole smiled at her mom’s compliment. “We play basketball together on the roof of my building.”
“That has to be fun,” Lori said. “You can’t really do that when you’re calling games.”
“Spending time with her is easy,” Nicole murmured, looking back at the TV.
“And sometimes it makes your heart race or little butterflies flutter in your stomach,” Lori said.
Nicole looked over at her and scoffed. “How do you do that?”
Lori patted her leg. “I know you, honey. Plus, don’t you think I feel like that when I look at your dad?”
Nicole sighed. “I think you’re getting way ahead of what’s happening here. We barely get to see each other because of our schedules. I’ll be gone all week and won’t see her until Saturday when I call her game in DC.”
“That doesn’t matter.” Lori shrugged. “You take advantage of the time you do get to spend with each other.”
“But we can’t even go out in public because of my job,” Nicole said.
Lori smiled. “Then it’s a good thing you have everything you need at your apartment.”
Nicole chuckled and nodded. “We do.”
“It sounds to me like you have a lot in common. You’ve found someone who loves the things you love. Can you trust her to be discreet?”
Nicole nodded. “She knows what a risk I’m taking.”
“You can’t talk to Shealyn or Kate about this, can you?”
Nicole shook her head. “Actually, they’d both love it because they are always trying to set me up. But they wouldn’t love that Ariana is a current player in the league.” Nicole fell back against the couch, a sinking feeling in her stomach. “God, the repercussions if anyone found out.”
“Honey, you knew all of this before you let Ariana into your life. Your heart is trying to tell you something.”
“I’ve never known anyone like her,” Nicole said, smiling at her mom.
“Maybe it’s time to adjust your career goals, take on a new challenge. Then you can act on what your heart is telling you.”
“Oh, I don’t know…”
“One other thing. Be careful when you call her games. That smile of yours.” Lori chuckled.
“Oh, Mom,” Nicole said. “Slow down.”
“We’ll see.”
The second half started and Nicole couldn’t keep her eyes off of Ariana.
Her mom was definitely getting way ahead of where she and Ariana were.
Yes, they had a lot in common, but again, their schedules made it hard to see each other.
She did get flutters in her stomach and her heart sometimes jumped in her chest, but was it the same for Ariana?