“It also feels electric for me. Like static electricity that won’t leave my body, clinging to me.”
But it only sparks with you.Were the words I didn’t say, because the longer I was on this bed, the more I knew I didn’t want to have Bee only once.
“But how we make each other feel is no longer our concern,” I finished, feeling like I should be leading the conversation but I was drowning in Bee instead. “Our on-court relationship is the priority.”
“Agreed.”
“We’re going to be two of the best teammates this league has ever seen,” Bee rambled. “We’re gonna give the Violets a run for their money. We’re gonna make the Jaguars cry—even though I’d rather not—and we’re going to get Miami a ring.”
I smiled at her positivity, her unbending confidence, and pure joy. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Bee
I started my day off heading to the arena, straight into the flurry of front office who was getting ready for training camp, selling tickets, working on game night planning, and, most importantly, social media content that would hopefully sell that Nola and I didn’t hate each other. We needed to sell that we had created a loving, healthy environment for the Waves team to dominate this season.
And, like yeah, sure, that was partially true.
The healthy environment was the part where Nola and I pretended my nipple piercings hadn’t been in her mouth, and that she hadn’t made me saypleaseon the journey to one of my top three orgasms of all time.
The loving environment was our newly-rekindled friendship, because otherwise we were talking about unrequited love, and I was moving through life as if that didn’t annoy me at all.
I should be ecstatic that we were building a friendship again—that every time I was honest and reminded Nola how much shehurt me, genuine remorse was written all over her face. Instead, I was getting off to the thought of us every night. I was making my morning juices and leaving a totally kidding, very sarcastic note about us being lovers. They were vague enough that they worked as a joke.
But we both knew.
I made sure to stop by every desk on my way to Nina’s office, greeting staff, accountants, and analysts because we were all a team. This was, of course, easier to do with the Jaguars because staffing was so small and doubled up on tasks. But dammit, I couldn’t just stop something I’d already started.
Nina’s office was tucked into the back corner, just on the verge of having a nice view of the highway with great lighting.
“Knock, knock,” I announced myself to the marketing director. Her hair was in a bun haphazardly placed on her head, and her tortoise shell glasses slipping down her nose.
“Oh my gosh, hi Brittney!” Nina stood to welcome me in. Though her eyes looked tired, her energy was giving me a run for my money.
“Why do you look like you’re on your sixth cup of coffee?” I leaned on the door frame and checked my watch, courtesy of a designer brand trying to talk me into a partnership. “It’s only eleven in the morning.”
“I’m on my third shot of espresso. Mondays are Marcello’s off days, and honestly, I’m really cooking on this social series of you and Nola,” she rambled.
Is this how I sound to everyone?
“That’s what we’re doing today, right? Can I get a sneak peek?” I smiled warm and wide, batting my lashes. I had enough skin in the game to be hyper aware of every single piece ofsomethingthat could affect my image, whether I cared or not. My public recognition either ranged from people who had absolutely no idea who I was, had followed my trajectory incollege, or knew me as the league’s crash out queen. If I was going to be criticized by the people who cared about women’s basketball, I hoped they could critique the fully actualized version of me. It was the only version of me I was willing to give anyway.
The way I chose to be myself in the public eye came with plenty of cons, but at least I’d always be proud of who I was. I could care less if people found me annoying or dramatic. What they couldn’t say was that I didn’t know my shit or that I was afraid to defend my team.
Nina chewed on her bottom lip while she thought, her eyes flicking to the massive monitor on her desk. “Okay, fine. But only because it’ll be good context for you and what we’re shooting today.”
“Bet, let’s do it.”
Nina sat back down in her chair and motioned for me to take the seat on the other side of her desk. While she swiveled the monitor toward me, I noticed the various posters and frames that decorated the walls. Volleyball team photos from college, beach pictures with her friends and family, anniversary posters of the first league game after its inception. Nina reeked of women’s sports in the best way possible.
“Okay, so essentially we’re spoofingThe Office.”
“Oh my god, I love mockumentary!” I shouted, already on board and I didn’t even know my task. She could ask me to do standup in front of the whole front office and I’d give it a shot.
“Same! It’s so dry and subtly effective.”
“Nina, are you a movie snob?” I asked with a devilish grin. I had no expectations of making my next friend another marketing director, but at this point why not.
