“After that I go back to work, come up here, and repeat until I get everything done.”
Ariana nodded and bounced the ball to Nicole. She watched her dribble to the free throw line and bounce the ball from hand to hand, waiting on Ariana.
“Did you Google me?”
Ariana grinned and couldn’t wait to share what she’d learned. “I did! I know you were a great shooting guard and are now the most respected commentator in our league.”
Nicole laughed. “I hope you took special notice of my age.”
Ariana furrowed her brow. She knew Nicole was older than her, but why did that matter? “You’re forty-two. So?”
Nicole continued to dribble the ball. “You’re twenty-nine.”
“Yeah, almost thirty. Why does that matter?”
“It matters because you’re a professional basketball player and my legs are twelve to thirteen years older than yours and are not as strong or springy as they once were. That’s why you have to give me ten points.”
Ariana laughed. “You’re a hustler. I’ve seen you shoot and defend. But okay, I’ll give you ten points this first time.”
“First time?”
Ariana loved the brightness in Nicole’s eyes. “You know we’re going to have to play more than one game.”
Nicole chuckled and shot the ball. It fell through the hoop with a swish and only touched the net.
Ariana rebounded the ball and dribbled out to the three point line and shot. It clanged off the rim and fell to the side. “See there? I’ve got to get used to your court.”
They took turns shooting, dribbling, and rebounding for each other. Ariana did this nearly every day, but playing with Nicole made her heart happy and she hoped they’d do more of this.
“Okay, do you want me to show you what I was talking about earlier? How they exploited that foul Maggie called on you?”
Ariana threw Nicole the basketball and assumed a defensive stance. “Come at me.”
Nicole chuckled. “So, you’re picking her up just past half court and you’re backing up.”
“Right,” Ariana said. “To a point.”
Nicole began to dribble towards Ariana and she took a few steps back watching her eyes, the ball, and her feet.
“She looked left, making you think she was going to pass because everyone in the league knows better than to try and dribble past you to the hoop.”
Ariana smiled and felt a sense of pride at Nicole’s assessment of her skills. She took one more step back, saw Nicole look towards her left, and in a blink of an eye Nicole had dribbled around her and scored with an easy layup.
“What the!” Ariana exclaimed.
Nicole laughed. “See what I mean?”
“You tricked me with your sweet words!” Ariana complained.
Nicole shrugged. “Whatever it takes. Last night after they drove on you a couple of times you moved closer and shut themdown. That foul made you tentative. That’s another reason I feel so bad about the whole situation.”
Ariana bounced the ball to Nicole. “Go again.”
Nicole dribbled in place, started to the right then quickly crossed over to the left. Ariana grabbed her around the waist, spun her around and picked her up, holding Nicole’s back to her chest.
“Hey!” Nicole kicked her feet in the air, but Ariana held on. “That’s a foul.”
Ariana laughed and gently set Nicole down. “I told Maggie that she may think I was too closeonthe court, but I decide how closeoffthe court.”
