As the crowd began to thin they made their way back to the dressing room. Nicole quickly changed and as she was gathering her things she realized she’d left her computer at the media table.
“Hey, I’ve got to run back to the floor. I left my computer there,” she told Shealyn. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you here.”
Nicole hurried back to the table and found her computer bag in her chair. She grabbed it and walked back through the empty hallway to her dressing room. It always amazed her how quickly the players and support staff exited the arena. Up ahead she saw someone familiar bending down to tie her shoe. Nicole lookedaround and saw no one else in that part of the hallway and stopped.
“Hey, honey.”
Ariana stood up and gave her a welcome smile. “I’ll be listening to that song all night.”
Nicole smiled. “I thought you might like that Taylor Swift song.”
“I like it when you call me honey.”
“You played a great game,” Nicole said. “It’ll be okay.”
Ariana sighed, looked up and down the hall then smiled. “When I was growing up it was just me and my mom and she was at all my games. After she remarried and I went so far away for college it was just me. From then on it never really mattered who was in the stands. But now it does. I can feel you cheering me on in your heart.” She leaned a little closer. “Because we know you have to stay neutral.”
Nicole chuckled. “I’m always cheering for you, honey.” She reached out and slipped her hand into Ariana’s and squeezed. “I’ll always be here.”
“I know and that makes all the difference.”
“You’d better hurry and get changed,” Nicole said. She could feel that tingling in her body that reminded her that they should not be doing this.
“I’ll call you later,honey.” Ariana smiled and walked out of sight.
Nicole turned towards her dressing room and stopped in her tracks.
“Hello, Nicole,” Maggie said.
Nicole quickly regained her balance from the shock of seeing Maggie. “Hi, Maggie. Good game.”
“Yeah, if you’re a Dallas fan,” Maggie said, raising an eyebrow. “That certainly looked intimate.”
Nicole’s heart began to bang in her chest. She smiled and before she could say anything Maggie continued.
“How long has this been going on? I’m guessing the network doesn’t know or you wouldn’t still be commentating.” Maggie smirked.
Nicole stood a little taller. “No one knows.”
“Hmm, should I keep this little secret for you?” Maggie gave her a sarcastic smile. “Let me ask you, Nicole, is this why you wouldn’t have dinner with me earlier in the season? Have you and Ariana been sneaking around all this time?”
“No, Maggie. Nothing was going on then,” Nicole said. “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t say anything.”
Maggie scoffed. “I’m sure you would.”
“Just like I haven’t said anything about how you like to control games by calling unnecessary fouls,” Nicole replied. “You do remember that conversation.”
Maggie smirked. “I remember.”
“You know, you’re a good official, Maggie. You’re taking a lot of heat right now because you’renotcalling fouls. That has to go against how you like to call games.”
“Every game is different.” Maggie shrugged. “I won’t say anything, Nicole.”
“I wish I could believe you.” Nicole forced a smile. If she could so easily change the way she officiated games then how could Nicole trust her not to say anything about her relationship with Ariana if it could benefit her in some way?
“See you around.”
