“I’m sorry I woke you,” Nicole said with tenderness in her voice.
“No, I’m glad you did,” Ariana replied. “When I got home last night the only person I wanted to celebrate our victory with was you. But I held back. I may not be able to next time.”
Nicole chuckled. “Understood. Didn’t you celebrate on the plane on the way back?”
“We did, but I was still excited when I got home.”
“Ari, you can call me anytime,” Nicole stated.
“Be careful,” Ariana said. “You may regret that.”
“I don’t think so, but right now, I’ve got to go,” Nicole said. “We’re pulling up to the airport.”
“Safe travels and thanks for calling,” Ariana said.
Nicole chuckled. “It sounded like you meant that.”
Ariana laughed. “I’ll be watching tonight.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Nicole said. “Last night when they interviewed you, when you stared into the camera about the tricks you learned…”
“Yeah, Nic. I was looking right at you.” Ariana smiled as she remembered staring into the camera hoping Nicole was watching.
“I knew it!” Nicole laughed. “Hey, did you say anything to Cameron?”
“No, this is just between us,” Ariana replied. “It’s like we have a secret.”
“Yeah, just between us.”
“Go have a great game,” Ariana said.
“If I knew where you lived I’d send you an excellent cup of coffee,” Nicole said.
Ari chuckled. “If I knew where you lived I’d send you a peach iced tea.”
Nicole laughed. “I really have to go. Again, sorry I woke you.”
“It’s okay. Bye, Nic.”
“Bye.”
Ariana stared at her phone and smiled. She was pleased Nicole had called instead of texting her this morning. As she replayed their conversation in her head she realized they hadn’t talked about the game. Ariana wanted to thank her again for her insight which she’d used and was sure it led to at least three of her steals last night.
Her thoughts kept returning to their short discussion about their dating life. Ariana had learned over the past several years she was better off not dating anyone during the season. On two separate occasions she’d tried the long distance dating life that her travel and basketball schedule seemed to warrant. Neither of those relationships had lasted very long.
Ariana knew who she was and had worked too hard not to give her full concentration to her professional life as a basketball player. Her friends and family understood her focus and devotion to basketball. When it came to a girlfriend or partner she hadn’t figured out the balance to make that work.
Was it because she hadn’t found the right woman as Nicole put it? Wouldn’t the right woman understand her and work with her? Ariana meant what she said about being a good girlfriend. She wanted to be, but simply hadn’t found a way to make that happen with her career.
A noise outside Ariana’s closed bedroom door brought her out of her thoughts. She got out of bed and walked into the kitchen to find Cameron making coffee.
“Did you stay here last night?” Ariana asked.
“Good morning to you, too.” Cameron took two mugs down from the cabinet and turned to smile at Ariana.
“Good morning.”
“No, I got home a little while ago. I thought I heard you talking to someone.” Cameron raised a brow. “Do I need to get another mug?”
