Nicole set her drink on the table and sighed. “Remember when we were talking after the game the other day? When you left, I turned around and there was Maggie Patterson.”
Ariana’s heart fell into her stomach. “Oh no. Did she hear us?”
Nicole nodded.
“Fuck!”
“It’s okay, baby,” Nicole reached for her hand and squeezed it. “She said she wouldn’t say anything, but I don’t know if we can trust her.”
“What should we do?”
“Wearen’t going to do anything,” Nicole said. “You are going to practice and I’m going to see my bosses.”
“They’ll bench you.”
“Maybe.” Nicole nodded. “If they do then that’s okay. I’ve already got the new contract and I was thinking on the way home that it could be a good thing.”
“How? This is my worst fear coming to life. The last thing I ever wanted to happen is you to lose your job.”
“I’m not losing my job.”
Ariana could feel Nicole move closer and gently stroke her hand. “How could this be a good thing?”
“I’ll be at your games and be able to cheer for you the entire time,” Nicole said. “I won’t have to stay neutral. I can watch you and be mesmerized by your talent and grace without having to say a word on air.”
Ariana scoffed. “You’re just trying to put a positive spin on this. Why didn’t you tell me about Maggie?”
Nicole gave her anare you kidding melook. “I’m not trying to spin anything, Ari. I wasn’t about to give you something else to worry about before your game.” She squeezed Ariana’s arm.“I’ll be at all your games and I’ll get to be your biggest fan and cheerleader.”
“You’re saying this like it’s a done deal.”
Nicole shrugged. “It may be. Think about it. If I step down, it protects the network and us. Plus, I get to watch and appreciate you.”
Ariana sighed. “You’re not bullshitting me, right?”
“You seem to be able to tell, so am I?”
Ariana narrowed her gaze at Nicole and tilted her head. “We’ll see.”
A big smile spread on Nicole’s face. “Let’s go to bed. It’s late, we can talk about this tomorrow.”
Ariana smirked.“Come on, baby, play me like a love song.”
“Every time it comes on,” Nicole sang.
Ariana let Nicole pull her off the couch while they both sang as they walked down the hall. “I bloom just for you.”
“Why would you do that?” Kate exclaimed. “I’m your agent! Ariana must have been furious.”
“She knew,” Nicole said, taking a seat at the bar.
“She knew and you still did it?” Kate slid onto the stool next to her.
“What’s going on?” Stuart said from the other side of the bar. “Why are you here so early?”
Nicole sighed. “I need a beer.”
“Our friend Nicole met with her bosses and resigned!” Kate said.
