Page 84 of Hard Hitter
The other team’s response was to use their time-out, of course, and then to pick a fight. Ari tensed when she saw the other team’s enforcer getting chippy during the next two face-offs. But it was Crikey who ultimately threw down his gloves. His tussle with the other guy wasn’t flashy or even decisive. But it didn’t last too long, and Crikey seemed to only shake out his fist before the refs finally pulled them apart.
Ari let out a sigh of relief, and wondered if Patrick did the same.
“We are going to have to celebrate after this is over,” Becca said, collapsing back into her seat.
“There are still three minutes on the clock,” Georgia chided her. “Don’t you dare jinx us.”
“It’s going to be fine,” Becca argued. “We’ve got this.”
Georgia clamped a hand over her mouth and yelled toward the rafters. “She didn’t mean it, god! Don’t punish us.”
Ari snickered. Her two friends were a walking dialectic about superstition. Ari didn’t know which camp she was in, either. Could fate be tempted into smacking you down? She hoped not. Because that would mean she had seriously pissed off fate somehow lately.
Whether fate gave a damn or not, the clock still read 3–1 when the final buzzer sounded a few minutes later. Brooklyn had two game points to take back with them on the jet tonight.
“Now can we celebrate?” Becca whined.
“Sure,” Georgia said. “I’ll spring for overpriced drinks at the airport bar before takeoff.”
***
Two hours later they were sipping wine out of plastic cups in front of a fake fireplace in the charter terminal of the airport.
“So let me get this straight.” Becca held her cup up. “You told Doulie you wanted to be friends, and he was okay with that?”
Ari took a slow sip. “He was really nice about it,” sheadmitted. “So nice that I suspect he has a secret plan to change my mind. He knows that each time he tries to remove my clothing, I always shed it like a long-haired cat on a pair of black velvet pants.”
Georgia giggled. “You sound like youwanthim to change it.”
“I’ve made up my mind, but my body didn’t get the memo,” Ari confessed. “When I told him I needed a friend, he hugged me. And he smelled so freaking good I just wanted to climb into the collar of his shirt and stay there forever.”
“That would get weird eventually,” Becca said, draining her cup.
“This from the woman who slept with her knees against my butt last night,” Georgia teased. Since Becca’s addition to the trip had been so last-minute, the travel department didn’t make her a reservation. Becca had roomed with Georgia, and Georgia’s room had one king-sized bed.
“You loved it,” Becca insisted. “It was just like old times. We watched trash TV and whined about how hard we work. Although, in ye good old days, we werebothsexually frustrated.”
“Sorry, toots. I still have my moments,” Georgia said. “Leo has always had a NNBG rule, even in high school. But lately the time span is getting ridiculous.”
“What’s NNBG?” Ari asked.
“No Nookie Before Games,” Georgia said. “He used to only meanhoursbefore. But as we approach the play-offs, he says he likes to save it up for afterward.” She got a dreamy look on her face, then. “I don’t really mind, because afterward is pretty great. After that win tonight? I’m going to be extra tired at work tomorrow.”
Becca groaned and flopped back in the airport chair, hands raised into a prayerful pose. “Lord, hear my prayer. Just one hot night! That’s all a girl needs, god! Just send me one.”
“You and Castro seemed pretty cozy the other day,” Ari pointed out. “Anything there?”
“Nah.” Becca waved a dismissive hand. “We’re just buddies. He’s fun, and we just kid each other.”
“Nate didn’t think it was fun,” Georgia said, checking over her shoulder to make sure there was nobody nearby to overhear. “I’ve never heard him so grumpy.”
“I know, right?” Becca crossed her feet and sighed. “He’s just out to ruin a good time. He thinks I ought to actuallyworkfor my paycheck. The nerve of that man.”
“Bottoms up, girls.” Georgia pointed at the screen of her Katt Phone, the rim of which glowed red. “The jet is boarding.” She leapt up, grabbing her bag.
“Look at her hurrying,” Becca whined. “She’s going home to a sextravaganza.” She poked Ari in the elbow. “Your plan to stay single just baffles me right now.”
“I have my reasons,” she insisted. If she could only manage to keep her clothes on, she might even remember what they were.
