Chapter Twenty-Six
Bee
There were a million things going on in my head at any given moment. A long running list of to-dos, all urgent, all important, taking up space whether I wanted them to or not.
Where are my little sisters right now?
Am I the favorite child?
Is Aaliyah too stressed as the eldest daughter?
Do I text my college friends enough?
But that all quieted when I was on the court. The constant noise that was my brain, turned into a gentle hum, a comforting silence. The silence was so natural it felt like breathing.
How much time do I have before the shot clock expires?
Who can get open the quickest for me to pass the ball to?
How many steps do I need to get to the rim?
But playing against Nola brought the noise back.
And it had always been that way. It was why I was so easily annoyed by her; why I had to make her work too hard when we were at opposites.
She messed with my equilibrium in a way I couldn’t explain—had never been able to explain—and I never thought I’d be able to get an answer why.
But when I touched her, the static returned. Silence, pure bliss. I only picked her up when she fell because that was what teammates should do. But how her skin felt under mine felt like how her eyes did when they were on me.
Electric. Hot. Steady.
And then there was the quiet.
Touching Nola eased me, so much that I wanted to do it again and again. And that realization scared the shit out of me.
Living with someone I was actively trying to have a better relationship with is one thing, but a dependency? A crush? Definitely not a crush. Whatever the fuck this was could absolutely not happen.
Tashi and Farrah clapped their hands, the official commencement of the duel of Brittney and Nola. I hadn’t noticed before but I spotted Nina and Marcello on the far end of the court. Marcello was back to being occupied with cameras and, yes of course, this would be used for content.
“This is exactly why it only took me three days to sign the both of you.”
“What’s your normal decision timeline?” Nola asked with curiosity.
“Two weeks minimum,” Farrah answered for our coach, the only one who seemed unfazed by Tashi’s lethal stare and booming voice.
“Good stuff, you two. Training camp officially begins in three weeks so…” Tashi lost her words and used her hands to help guide what I think she wanted us to say.
“Can we come practice here?” I asked.
“Yes. No practice team, but open gym and weight room, so stick to your regimes, schedules, rituals, the woo woo, and I’ll be holed up in my office.”
“Roger, that captain.” I saluted our fearless leader as she walked off because she sent fear through my own body.
I’d also do anything to not look at Nola.
“Honestly guys, that was kinda hot to watch,” Farrah admitted now that it was just the three of us.
“What?” Nola questioned, while I rolled my eyes, “Farrah, please.”
“I’m serious! Y’all have good chemistry opposing, but that shit is going to work so well on the same side.” She winked. “I got dinner plans, but let me know if you guys want to practice before camp.”
“I’ll text you, boo.” I hugged my best friend before she turned to Nola to dap her up.
“Uh, Brittney?” I heard Nola clear her throat next to me as we headed to the weight room.
“Yes?”
“Rashida, Allison, and Daya are coming over for take out…if you want to join us.” Nola rubbed the back of her neck, looking at anywhere but me. I thought she was still on the I’m-the-enemy-kick, but an invite to dinner was actually nice.
“Are you offering because your aunts-slash-bosses told you to invite me?” I inquired hesitantly.
“No, this is coming from me.” She peeked at me like a scared puppy. What the hell was going on? “And then they asked if you were joining us.”
“Right…” I squinted, trying to think of anything that would get me out of this. I was still raw from my on-court realization about Nola, and I couldn’t hide that shit from Allison.
That woman had her third eye wide open.
“Well, given that your best friend doesn’t care for me, I feel like I should pass.” I answered honestly. “I don’t want to kill the vibe.”
“You wouldn’t!” Nola exclaimed. “Daya just…follows my lead. She’ll drop the guard dog act, I promise.”
“You know you’re not obligated to like me, right? We don’t have to hang out or be friends if you hate me that much.” Fuck me, the vulnerability was slipping out. I needed a roast session with my siblings to toughen me up again.
“I don’t hate you,” she whispered as we reached the locker room. “And I think we should hang out. At least to show Rashida and Allison we’re good, ya know.”
“Then I’m in.”
“Cool.” Nola swung her arm wide to dap me up. Something totally normal and chill that teammates and friends did all the time.
I didn’t even think about what her touch did to me before I was going in to meet her hand, her palms dragging across the other, the small zap between our skin making me gasp.
I was hoping, praying, it was quiet enough, but Nola’s eyes left our hands to find my face.
Our bodies moved on autopilot, our fingers locked around each other and cupped into a grip.
This interaction only took seconds and yet years felt like they were going by. The small zap grew stronger the longer we touched, my hand blooming from minor spark to full on flames.
She had to feel this too. It was impossible that this was all in my head. And then I had my confirmation when I looked up to meet her eyes. We stared at each other, hands interlocked, no sign of either of us wanting to break apart.
But I was the first to pull back. The first to end this torment. This small wildfire, that absolutely shouldn’t grow into anything more than friendship.
I cleared my throat, mumbled, “Okay, cool,” and I ran to the showers, desperate for relief.