Nicole rested her chin in her hand. “You really didn’t google me. I’m single.”
Ariana’s brows lifted. “I find that hard to believe.”
“With my work and travel schedule, it’s hard to give anything but basketball my attention.”
“Oh, I get that,” Ariana said. “I rarely have two home games back to back and I’m out of town every week during the season.”
“Oh, hey,” Nicole said. “I noticed when you put your number in my phone you didn’t put your name, you put the number ten.”
Ariana smirked and took a sip of her drink.
“Is that how you think of yourself? Or is it just your jersey number?”
Ariana raised a shoulder. “You decide.”
Nicole laughed. “I think Kate’s right. You are a charmer.” Then she had a thought. She narrowed her eyes at Ariana. “What’s my name in your phone?”
She could see Ariana hesitate for a moment. “I’ll have to explain.”
“Uh oh…”
“When you were calling the Toronto preseason game I walked into the living room and Cameron was watching the game. I may have mentioned something about your voice and commentary…”
Nicole tilted her head. “Go on.”
“Cameron calls you my crush,” Ariana stated.
Nicole’s eyes widened.
“So, you’reCrushin my phone,” Ariana said. “Before you decide I’m a creep and get up, please understand that I respect your comments and your knowledge of the game.” She sighed. “And you have such a lovely voice.”
Nicole smiled. “Thank you. And I don’t think you’re a creep.”
Ariana exhaled a relieved breath. “I appreciated you texting with me last night while I was watching and listening to your comments. You see things I can’t or don’t during the game. You have such good insight.”
“I love talking about basketball,” Nicole said. “I’m a student of the game. You can watch players and they will give you cues on what they’re going to do.”
“Oh?”
Nicole nodded. “I could tell when you were going to pass or take the shot.”
“Really? I telegraph my moves?”
“Everyone does.”
“Maybe you need to help me so I can hide my cues better or you could share other player’s tendencies so I’ll know what to look for.”
Nicole shrugged.
“Is that like insider information?”
Nicole chuckled. “I’m not a coach. I just call what I see.”
“There’s more we have in common,” Ariana said.
Nicole raised her brows. “Pretty brown eyes, nice jump shot, kids…”
“And students of the game.”
