“Why are you staring at me?” Ariana asked, still staring at the TV. “You’re missing the game.”
They had been sitting side by side on the couch inching closer and closer to each other until their arms touched. Nicole benther arm, placed her elbow on the back of the couch, and rested her head in her hand.
“Shea caught me watching your tunnel walk right before our game the other night,” Nicole said.
“Oh?” Ariana widened her eyes and looked over at Nicole.
“She wanted to know what made me smile so big.” Nicole smirked. “I’ve added your arms to the sexy list.”
Ariana chuckled. “Okay. I will remember that when I choose my next outfit.”
“She didn’t know I was looking specifically at you, but she made an interesting observation.”
“And?”
“She said she can tell we’re becoming friends.”
“How? We haven’t been around her, except for that one time before our game you called.”
Nicole nodded. “That’s what I said, but she could tell. We do have a way about us.”
“It’s our connection. I’m not going to try and hide it.”
“You know, that day you met Kate at Stuart’s bar she made an intriguing suggestion.”
Nicole felt Ariana’s eyes lock on to hers. “Are you going to share?”
“She said I should ask you out,” Nicole admitted. “After the season, of course. I think her words were something like, a fling would be good for you.”
Nicole watched as a slow smile appeared on Ariana’s face. She could see her eyes turn even darker brown. For a second she almost thought she saw a flame flash in Ariana’s eyes.
“I knew there was a reason I liked Kate.”
Nicole chuckled.
“You’ll have to do the asking, Nic,” Ariana said, “because it’s your career that matters.”
“So does yours!” Nicole exclaimed. “You may want to think about how being connected with me could affect your career.”
Ariana scoffed. “I’m more concerned with how our connection is affecting my heart.”
Nicole looked at Ariana with surprise. Her honesty gave Nicole’s heart a jolt.
“We’ve talked a lot tonight,” Ariana said. “Are we still basketball buddies?”
“We’ve been watching basketball the last three hours,” Nicole pointed out.
“I won’t ask you out because that’s stepping on a boundary, but will you play basketball with me Sunday?”
Nicole smiled. “You’ve been checking my schedule again.”
“Is that a yes?”
“How about we have lunch together, play for a while, then we can go over the games?”
“I’d love that.”
“Me too.” Nicole paused. “Do you think we can make this a regular thing? Playing basketball and talking games?”
