Nicole raised a brow and nodded slightly before bursting into laughter. “Good God, Stuart. I’ve never had anything like it.”
He raised his brows and leaned in again. “Tell me.”
Nicole hesitated and took another sip of the beer.
“Come on, I’m like your favorite gal pal. You can tell me.”
“I mean, sex is sex, but with”—Nicole paused and looked to her right then left—“her, it feels new and exciting every time.”
“That’s probably because you don’t get to see each other very often.”
Nicole and Ariana had been in the midst of what Nicole imagined as a torrid, forbidden affair. When apart they would text and call each other until their schedules finally aligned so Ariana could meet Nicole at her apartment. There had been times when they tried to talk or have a conversation before theirclothes would fly off, but it never happened. Once Ariana walked across the threshold of Nicole’s apartment their hands were reaching, eyes blazing with fire and lips crashing together.
Nicole had even tried preparing a meal and having it ready when Ariana arrived. But when she opened the door Ariana was standing there in a sleeveless fitted tank top with tight shorts that showed off all her muscles. Nicole grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her into the apartment. They ended up on the couch, both naked, breathing hard and giggling like teenagers.
“Something, besides you, smells good,” Ariana commented, tucking a strand of hair behind Nicole’s ear.
“I made us dinner, thinking you’d be hungry.” Nicole chuckled.
“Oh, I was hungry.” Ariana wiggled her brows and pulled Nicole in for another kiss.
Nicole had several memories just like this one and some included the toys she kept in her nightstand.
They still played basketball and tried to outdo each other on the rooftop court. Nicole had notes ready for every opponent Ariana faced as the season continued. At the end of July, New York was leading the standings with Minnesota and Phoenix right behind them.
Over the past two and a half months Nicole and Ariana had been able to meet about once a week at her apartment. Nicole was always excited to get to call Ariana’s games and they now knew where several hidden unoccupied spaces were located at the various away venues in the league.
Nicole wondered if the secrecy and threat of being discovered sometimes added to the desire and passion that erupted between them. However, she loved spending time with Ariana. They laughed, they played, they cooked together, enjoyed studying basketball together, and even cried at a sappy movie they’d watched last weekend.
After finding out Ariana was her niece, Livi’s, favorite basketball player Nicole had arranged for a couple of video chats with Ariana. Livi was a bit shy at first but Nicole marveled at how quickly Ariana made her feel comfortable and even showed her a couple of moves on the rooftop court while Nicole held the phone.
In a couple of weeks Ariana and her team were scheduled for a long road trip. They would be away from home for two weeks playing the teams out west. Nicole hoped to call her game against LA and maybe she could introduce Ariana to her sister and her family.
Nicole knew Ariana wasn’t looking forward to being away from home that long, but the league scheduled this part of the season like this every year for various teams. It took a toll on the team and seemed to always happen as they were making a push towards the playoffs.
They had begun to talk about their families more and Nicole learned that Ariana’s mom and little brothers lived in Portland. Her mom had raised Ariana alone until she was in high school when she met her husband and had the twins. Ariana saw them whenever she could. In the past, they would meet Ariana in Seattle when her team played there.
“You have a dreamy look on your face,” Stuart said. “What are you thinking about?”
Nicole brought her focus back to the bar and Stuart. “Sorry, I was just remembering some things. I’d like to do something for Ariana. We always meet at my apartment because…” She shrugged.
“I get it. You have to be careful.”
Nicole nodded. “Yeah, she never complains, but we can’t go out like other people do.”
“Why would she complain?” Stuart said. “She’s having sex with the hottest sportscaster ever. Then she gets to play and talkabout her favorite thing. Hmm, maybeyou’returning into her favorite thing.”
Nicole took a sip of her beer. Since Ariana literally fell into her lap months ago Nicole had felt something happening inside her heart. It wasn’t necessarily a shift, but more like making room. She looked forward to her time with Ariana and couldn’t wait to speak to her every day whether it was text, a phone call, or, if they were lucky, a rendezvous at her apartment.
There were a few things that Nicole loved in her life and she protected and cherished them. Her family and friends, of course, but also basketball, which included playing with Ariana. She loved having brunch takeout from their favorite diner while discussing various defensive strategies; sometimes they agreed and sometimes they didn’t.
A small smile crept onto Nicole’s face as a memory of waking up next to Ariana wafted through her head. She never knew if she’d wake with her arms around Ariana or if Ariana would have Nicole tucked to her chest. Those quiet intimate moments had snuck into her heart much like how they stole moments together whenever they could.
In reality, Ariana Villa hadn’t only fallen into her lap that day, she’d also jumped into Nicole’s heart and made room for herself. Now Nicole couldn’t imagine a day without her.
“I thought about asking Kate if we could stay at her family’s place in Rhode Island. It’s pretty secluded and we could walk on the beach. Plus they have a couple of cute restaurants.”
“You don’t think you’d be recognized there?”
