Recharged and ready for the second half, the team left the locker room and went back onto the court. They did a short warmup, shooting a few balls before the whistle to begin the second half.
Ariana felt confident that if they stayed with the plan that they could control the second half and pull away for the win. She went around to each player with encouraging words and fist bumps.
She glanced toward the media table and watched Nicole and Shealyn as the camera was on them before play started. Ariana tilted her head as she watched them, it reminded Ariana of her and Cam. They had played together for years and knew what the other was going to do on the court. In much the same way, Nicole and Shealyn were teammates in their part of the sport and their experience together was evident in how seamlessly they commentated during games.
The referee blew the whistle to call the players onto the court and the second half began. New York’s team played defense with a renewed intensity and they quickly increased their lead.
Ariana played most of the game. She had a short rest period at the end of the third quarter and was ready to go back in when the fourth started.
As the game began to wind down in the middle of the fourth quarter, Ariana was substituted out as New York enjoyed a ten point lead.
She drank plenty of water with electrolytes to keep her hydration level steady for the final push at the end of the game. Ariana had prided herself on keeping fit even in the offseason.She came into training camp ready to go whereas some of the other veterans had to play themselves into shape.
“Villa,” Coach Bell called and pointed at her. “You and Benson check back in.”
Ariana and Cameron ran to the scorer’s table, ready to go back in with the next whistle stopping play. They crouched down on the floor so the officials at the table could see.
Her gaze was drawn across the court where Nicole and Shealyn were. In the past the commentators had sat on the same side as the players and the scorer’s table. She could remember how some players would try and throw the commentators off their game by messing with them during the broadcast.
She could see Nicole and Shealyn following the game as their heads turned to watch the movements of the players. Their lips were moving with every bounce, pass, and shot of the ball.
The ball went out of bounds and the referee blew the whistle to stop play. She motioned for Ariana and Cameron to enter the game.
The ball had rolled to the other side of the court so Ariana jogged over to retrieve it. She could hear Nicole’s commentary and that smooth, silky voice drifted over her like honey. Even in all the noise and excitement of the game Nicole’s voice rose above the rest.
As she turned to give the ball to the ref she heard Nicole laugh at something Shealyn said. Ariana knew Nicole had a beautiful voice, but that laugh might be even better.
“Is everything okay on that side of the court?” Cameron said as she got ready to throw the ball in to Ariana.
Ariana shrugged. She was relaxed and loved it when she could play like this, enjoying the game as she had as a kid. It didn’t always happen this way, especially if they were losing, but not today. It had been a good afternoon and she was playing well.
They were ahead by twelve points when Ariana once again batted the ball away from the opposing player. She hustled after it, trying to keep it in bounds so she could pass it to one of her teammates.
As the ball bounced then flew towards the media table, Ariana leaped and reached as far as she could. She swatted the ball back into the court. All she could see as she flew through the air was the fear on people’s faces as they moved back.This is going to hurt.
Chapter Four
“Ariana Villa with another steal,” Shealyn said.
“She is hustling after the loose ball—” Nicole added before she saw Ariana leap through the air, knock the ball back into the court, and fly over the media table. Nicole gasped.
In the next instant Ariana Villa slid over the table, landing squarely in Nicole’s lap. Before she could even think, Nicole reached out her hand to catch Ariana’s head so it didn’t slam into something solid like the table or a chair.
As Nicole cradled the back of Ariana’s head their eyes met. Suddenly time stood still. Nicole could no longer hear the sounds of the crowd or the game. She couldn’t see anything except Ariana Villa’s face and those dark brown eyes locked on hers. Nicole saw a moment of fright then Ariana’s eyes softened into the most deep, intense stare. It felt like Ariana was looking and seeing past the commentator and peering into Nicole’s heart. The strangest feeling came over her. She felt something open inside her, welcoming Ariana in.
With a whoosh of air the moment was over. Nicole could once again hear the crowd, now hushed since Ariana’s high-flying routine landed her in a heap.
“Are you okay?” Ariana asked.
“Areyouokay?” Nicole replied, still holding the back of Ariana’s head in her hand.
“I think so.”
Shealyn had rolled her chair back when she saw Ariana hit the table. She stood and said, “Here Ariana, swing your legs this way.”
Nicole continued to support Ariana’s head while Shealyn helped her get her feet on the ground. “Well, as you can see, Ariana Villa saved the ball, but not herself. If it wasn’t for my courageous partner catching the diving guard, who knows what could have happened. It appears she’s not injured.”
After Ariana got to her feet she sat down in Shealyn’s chair and looked over at Nicole with a grin. “Nice view, Nicole, but I’m not ready to retire. Maybe someday.”
