“Oh.” Ariana felt the heat rush to her cheeks.
“The last thing I wanted to do was go to dinner with her,” Nicole stated. “I turned her down, but our team already had dinner plans. Shea overheard us and invited her to join us anyway. I don’t know what she was thinking, but at one point I had to ask Maggie to move away from our desk. Shealyn thought all of this was funny, but it could’ve been a huge mess. Believe me, I’m talking to Shealyn as soon as I get off the phone with you. My dating life is mine! I’m tired of her and Kate messing where they shouldn’t. This could’ve affected the broadcast.”
Ariana felt her heart lift as Nicole continued to ramble. When she finally stopped Ariana said, “I’m sorry that happened to you. But Nic, you handled it well. I’m sure no one noticed on the broadcast.”
“You’re being sweet,” Nicole said. “I’m rambling on and on because I am so irritated with Shealyn and with Maggie. Things didn’t get any better at dinner.”
“I had a bad feeling when I saw Maggie hanging around you. This is going to sound strange because I know you can take care of yourself, but Nic, I felt this need to protect you.”
“Ari.” Nicole sighed. “Let me ask, do you ever have problems with officials? I mean, do you play differently if you know certain referees are calling your game?”
“Mmm, not really,” Ariana replied. “We are aware of the officials who tend to call a tighter game than others and adjust accordingly.”
“Has an official ever called a foul on you to send a message?”
“What do you mean?” Ariana asked. “I’ve had fouls called on me that I didn’t think were fouls, but that happens to everyone.”
“Maggie mentioned controlling the game or sending messages to certain players by how they call fouls.”
“I’m not surprised,” Ariana said. “Most officials are fair and usually at the beginning of the game you find out how they’re going to call it. If they let some contact slide then you know how closely you can guard on defense. Things like that.”
“Do you know Maggie?”
“I know her to say hello or nod before a game, but that’s it,” Ariana said.
“Have you ever had problems with her officiating?”
“No, not that I can remember.”
“She said some questionable things tonight and it made me wonder,” Nicole said. “We all have favorite players, but just as I can't show partiality neither can an official.”
“Yeah, but they do,” Ariana said. “Some players get more leeway than others because in a way they’ve earned it. I’m okay with that as long as it doesn’t determine the outcome of a game. You know?”
“Yes, I know what you mean.”
“Lucky for me it doesn’t matter if I have favorite players or commentators,” Ariana said with a smile on her face. “I think you know who my favorite commenter is.”
Nicole chuckled and Ariana could hear the tension was gone from her voice. “Do you mean Shealyn?”
Ariana laughed. “She’s not bad, but her partner is so much better.”
“Thank you,” Nicole said. “You have no idea how much I needed to hear that tonight. I’m used to things going wrong during a broadcast and adjusting, but I’ve never had anything happen like tonight.”
“No one noticed but you and Shealyn.”
“You are really good for my ego, Ariana Villa,” Nicole said.
Ariana chuckled. “Now you know how I feel when you say something nice about me.”
“I call it like I see it.”
“And I call it like I hear it.”
Nicole’s throaty laugh through the phone caused a rush of heat to flow through Ariana’s body. This was a welcome warmth, unlike the pang of jealousy from earlier. It had been a long time since Ariana had felt either of those emotions, much less because of the same woman.
Chapter Twelve
“Hey, are you still there?” Nicole asked into the phone. She and Ariana had just been laughing and now there was silence.
