Nicole could feel Kate’s stare and see the wheels turning in her head as she took a couple of breaths.
“Okay,” Kate finally said. “I remember our discussion on boundaries, but I am your best friend. Couldn’t you give me a hint?” She held up her hands. “Don’t answer that! I have to be patient. That was our agreement. You will tell me when the time is right."
“Oh, I will.”
“Let’s toast to Nicole having sex!” Stuart said, raising his glass.
Nicole choked on her drink. “Really?”
Kate laughed. “Yes! You’re actually seeing someone during the season. This is big.”
Nicole had to agree. This was big. Thank goodness the game was starting and there wouldn’t be any more questions. Especially since she wasn’t sure about the answers.
They watched and chatted as the first quarter was coming to an end.
“Hey, just a reminder,” Kate said. “We haven’t finalized your contract extension yet.”
Nicole nodded. She’d had a few thoughts about her future lately although most of them involved her and Ariana not getting caught.
“She’s going to shoot,” Stuart said, watching Ariana take the ball from a teammate.
Nicole smiled at his commentary, but then her face fell. She jumped up and gasped as Ariana crumpled to the floor in pain.
“Oh my God!” Kate exclaimed. “Was that Ariana?”
“Yeah,” Stuart said, staring at the TV. “Oh no, she’s not getting up.”
Nicole watched as Ariana grabbed her ankle, her eyes tightly shut and her face grimaced in pain. Concern and distress, coupled with a moment of panic, coursed through Nicole’s body. Her eyes were glued to the screen and she took a breath, trying to keep from running out of the bar and hurrying to the arena.
She watched as the trainers and medical staff surrounded Ariana and Cameron kneeled next to her.
“That was a foul, right?” Kate asked.
“Yeah, I think she came down on the other player’s foot,” Stuart said.
Nicole was quiet as they cut to a replay and showed Ariana’s ankle rolling off the defender’s foot. She knew how painful that could be and hoped it wasn’t too serious. When they returned to live action Ariana was sitting up and talking to the trainers.
“The shot went in and a foul was called so Villa will have one free throw,” the commentator said. “If she can take it.”
Nicole still hadn’t said anything when they helped Ariana to her feet and she tried to take a step.
“Ouch,” Kate said. “That doesn’t look good.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Nicole finally murmured.
Ariana hobbled over to the free throw line in an effort to take the shot. Nicole wasn’t surprised when it went in because Ariana rarely missed a free throw. They immediately took her out of the game and the camera showed Ariana with her arms around the trainers as they carried her to the dressing room.
There was no way Nicole could show up at the arena. She’d have to wait to hear from Ariana and right now that seemed impossible.
Nicole was thankful that Stuart kept chatting with Kate so she wouldn’t notice how upset Nicole was. She took another deep breath and tried to turn her attention back to the game. When the first quarter ended the commentators shared an injury report that Ariana wouldn’t return.
“I hope she’s okay,” Kate said. “Hey, you can find out how bad it is, can’t you?”
“Yeah, maybe,” Nicole replied.
“Let me know. She’s become a favorite ever since I met her that day she gave you a lap dance.”
Nicole smiled and tried to chuckle. Kate loved to refer to Ariana’s lap dance whenever she got the chance.
