Nicole chuckled. “We have all day, don’t we?”
“You know, I woke up this morning and just knew this was going to be a good day.”
Nicole smiled and studied Ariana for a moment. Yes, she thought her confidence was sexy, but her optimism and that smile did something to Nicole’s heart. It had been so long since she’d felt anything like this for another woman.
“You do realize we’ve added something new to our list,” Ariana said.
“Our list?”
Ariana huffed. “I thought you were keeping up. Remember? The things we have in common.”
“The list is growing.” Nicole hadn’t forgotten the list and it was nice to know Ariana also thought about it. She smiled and looked into Ariana’s pretty brown eyes. They would always top the list.
Ariana tilted her head. “We were meant to be friends.”
Nicole stared at Ariana and took a deep breath. She wanted to be Ariana’s friend and could feel the chance for more between them, but how could they make that happen? “You mean basketball buddies.”
Ariana laughed. “We can start with basketball because we both love it, but there’s more. I know you can feel it.”
Nicole slowly nodded and felt her heart speed up.
“Sorry it took me so long to get over here,” the waitress said, setting two glasses of water on the table. “What can I get you?”
“Let me guess,” Ariana said. “You want the avocado toast.”
Nicole looked at Ariana in surprise. “How’d you guess?”
“You were having avocado toast the other night as we watched the game.” Ariana winked and pointed to her head. “I remember.” She turned to the waitress. “I’ll have the waffles. I’m going to need energy to keep up with you when we play basketball.”
“Okay,” the waitress said, writing their order on her pad. “I’ll have it right out for you.”
Ariana leaned over and Nicole noticed a change in her demeanor.
“I know you have to be careful associating with players,” Ariana said seriously. “I don’t want this to end, Nic. Hell, we’re just getting started. I promise, no one will know about our secret basketball sessions.”
Nicole sighed. She didn’t want this to end either. “I trust you, Ari. It’s not that. Look at what happened last night. Maggie took out her frustration with me on you. That can’t happen.”
“It won’t. That was a one-off,” Ariana said. She sat back and stared at Nicole.
“What is it?” Nicole could tell there was something else Ariana wanted to say. “You can tell me. Did she say something else?”
Ariana shook her head. “No.” She exhaled a deep breath. “I think Maggie was jealous and I can understand that.”
Nicole furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
“When you told me about her asking you out, I may have felt a little hint of jealousy myself.”
Nicole’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t believe it. Oh no, this connection she felt to Ariana wasn’t one-sided.
“Don’t freak out on me,” Ariana said. “I know you can’t date players and you aren’t interested during the season, but can’t we at least be friends? Basketball buddies?”
This was a bad idea, but Nicole wanted this. She felt it deep inside. Ariana was the person she could talk basketball with, plus they liked a lot of the same things. Honestly, she sometimes got lonely during the season because none of her friends understood her commitment to her job. Yes, she put it first most of the time and that could make friendships difficult to maintain. But not with Ariana. She got it.
“You aren’t saying anything,” Ariana said, her face falling.
Nicole swallowed. “I’m not freaking out. Well, yes, I am a little, but it’s not what you think.”
Ariana’s brows climbed up her forehead in question.
