“Cliché?”
Nicole closed her eyes and groaned. “You’re right. I’ll be your dessert any day.”
Ariana chuckled and moved next to Nicole. She kissed her cheek and rolled onto her back, very satisfied with herself. “That was fun,” she said, tangling her fingers with Nicole’s.
“Mmm, this entire day has been fun,” Nicole said. “However, we haven’t talked about the moves you’re going to make against the defenses you see this week.”
Ariana chuckled. “The moves I’m going to make? You’re the one with moves.” She rolled onto her side and rested her head in her hand as she gazed down at Nicole. “I especially like the one with your?—”
“Stop!” Nicole exclaimed, meeting Ariana’s gaze with a smirk then a smile. “How quickly your focus can change. I seem to remember in the beginning all you wanted to do was talk about basketball and how to exploit other teams’ weaknesses.”
Ariana smiled and let her hand roam over Nicole’s stomach. “That’s true but a wise woman told me not to take the fun out of the game. I don’t know when I’ve had so much fun.”
Nicole laughed and rolled off the bed. Ariana watched her gather their clothes from the floor, tossing Ariana’s towards her. “You know, you’re always complimenting me on my physical beauty and the way I move. Have you looked in the mirror?”
Ariana sat on the side of the bed and slipped her shorts then her shirt on as she continued to watch Nicole. She reached out and grabbed Nicole’s wrist, pulling her onto her lap. “You are a beautiful woman, Nic. Own it.”
Nicole smiled as she gazed into Ariana’s eyes. “Thank you.”
The touch of Nicole’s hand on Ariana’s cheek sent a shiver through her body. Her thumb gently moved, tracing the corner of Ariana’s mouth as she smiled and gazed into Nicole’s eyes. She didn’t see desire or passion; Ariana saw true affection.
This moment in time would be one Ariana remembered when her thoughts turned to Nicole and she felt that little curiosity in her heart wondering what she was doing or perhaps wishing they were together.
“Okay, show me how I’m going to kick ass this week and I’ll show you a little something I discovered at my last game.”
Nicole nodded, got up, and took Ariana’s hand, leading them towards the door and to her office. “I have a busy week.”
“Uh oh, we’re away on Tuesday, but please tell me you’re calling our game Saturday in DC,” Ariana said.
Nicole pulled up her schedule and bumped her shoulder into Ariana’s where she sat next to her. “You like it when I call your games?”
“I wish you called all my games,” Ariana said, gazing over at her. “Then I’d get to see you more often.” She hoped that didn’t sound needy or too much. Ariana liked Nicole and liked being with her. Now that their friendship had become even more, she didn’t want to have unrealistic expectations.
“I’d like that, too,” Nicole said.
“You would?”
“I love watching you play, Ari,” Nicole said. “But I like being with you, spending time with you. And now…”
Ariana smirked. “Yeah, and now?”
“We just have to be careful. Okay?”
Ariana nodded. “Where are you off to this week?”
“I’m headed to Las Vegas for a game tomorrow night then on to Arizona,” Nicole explained.
“You’re not coming back here?”
Nicole shook her head. “My parents live in Phoenix. So I’ll see them Wednesday before I call that game on Thursday. I’ll fly to DC on Saturday in time to call your game.”
Ariana sighed dramatically. “Thank goodness.” Then she grinned at Nicole. “You’re spending time with your parents?”
“Yeah, they moved to Phoenix when they both retired,” Nicole explained. “I see them when I do games there and during the off season. Plus they come here to catch a game occasionally.”
“We’ve never talked about our families.” Ariana shrugged.
“We will,” Nicole said.
