“Hmm, you don’t think…” Cameron said.
“Think what?”
“Maybe she’s crushing on Nicole, too.”
Ariana looked over at Cameron and frowned. “During a game? Come on.”
“I don’t know.” Cameron shrugged. “Why else would she be over there?”
Ariana could feel a flash of heat ignite in her stomach.
The referee announced the decision and the game resumed. Ariana couldn’t keep from watching Maggie during the remainder of the game. There were no more reviews and the game ended with an Atlanta win. She was about to turn the channel when the courtside reporter started interviewing the players after the game. She could see Nicole and Shealyn getting ready to leave the court.
“There she is again,” Cameron said.
Ariana stared at the screen and could see Maggie standing with Nicole and Shealyn. She could once again feel that burning sensation inside her stomach. If she and Nicole were just becoming friends then why did she have this feeling?
“Do you know Maggie?” Ariana asked.
“Nah,” Cameron said. “Maybe they all hang out after the games.”
“Yeah, like we do.”
Cameron nodded and went back into the kitchen.
Ariana sighed and shook her head. “What the fuck,” she murmured.
Chapter Eleven
“Right this way.”
Nicole and Shealyn followed the hostess through the restaurant to a large table in the back. Nicole was not looking forward to this dinner. If her entire team wasn’t here, she would have made some excuse to go up to her room. She’d been taking deep breaths off and on all night trying to tamp down the anxiety Maggie Patterson had caused.
During the game Maggie had appeared in front of them several times and obstructed their view. She made comments during time outs while they were off the air and kept smiling at Nicole. It was obvious she was trying to get Nicole’s attention. At one point Nicole had asked Maggie to move. She laughed it off and stayed out of their way for the rest of the quarter. After they’d changed, Maggie was waiting for them and Nicole could now feel her following close behind her as they approached her team.
Adding to her anxiety was the fact that Shealyn seemed to find this amusing. Nicole planned to have a conversation with Shealyn once they’d gone up to their rooms. Her dating life was her business and Shealyn needed to accept that.
“There’s room down here,” Keith said, pointing to the end of the table.
“Hey everyone,” Shealyn greeted the group. “This is Maggie Patterson. She called the game tonight and is joining us.”
Nicole tried to ease past Shealyn so she could sit at the end of the table. The last thing she wanted was to be seated next to Maggie.
Shealyn took a step and slid into the chair on the end, leaving Nicole and Maggie to sit side-by-side on her right. Nicole narrowed her eyes at Shealyn then turned to Keith. “How did you get here before us?”
“You beautiful people have to change clothes,” Keith said.
“Yeah, but you have all the equipment.”
“We’re fast and we were hungry!” he replied with a grin.
They ordered and the sounds of various conversations filtered through the air. Nicole reached for her phone hoping there would be a text from Ariana waiting. When they’d exchanged texts at halftime it had given Nicole a moment of calm. She didn’t realize just how much she looked forward to their interactions until Maggie became such a nuisance during the game. To Nicole’s surprise Ariana seemed to ease her anxiety.
“Thanks again for letting me tag along,” Maggie said.
“You’re welcome.” Shealyn smiled.
“I love it when I have games on your network,” Maggie said.
