“It wasn’t until I overheard you describe word-for-word what you liked about the opposing team’s shooting guard the other night.”
“That’s kind of a giveaway, huh?”
“You did say, and I quote,‘How does she get such a nice ass, it just sits perfectly in her shorts’. That was a slight giveaway.”
Megan used her dramatic, high-pitched American socialite voice.
“I do not sound like that.” Candice crossed her arms underneath the basket. The wrong move as the ball soared through the air, fell through the hoop and onto the head of the distractedpoint guard.
“Ouch.” She rubbed aggressively; Megan found the whole ordeal amusing.
“You’re up next.”
“How many did you hit?”
“Nineteen.”
“Seriously?I hate you.”
They traded places; Megan smelled the perfume as she passed Candice. That was not the scent of a girl who had just played a full game of basketball; the rose and jasmine aroma appealed to Megan.
Without thinking, she said, “Yousmell good.”
Candice in the arc of shooting fumbled the ball. It missed the net completely.“Thank you.”
“So, back to the girlfriend, was that a no?” Megan enquired.
“No girlfriend. I have been single since I came to the UK. I suppose it’s easier that way if I ever end up going back to Philly. Whatabout you?”
Megan walked towards Candice, ball in hand. “When you go up for the shot, you need to snap your wrist more. Like this.” Megan locked in her position, arm at 90 degrees, knees bent and poised. When she jumped, her arm extended and her wrist jolted forward, giving the ball the arch it needed to sink comfortably into the net. “Did you see the way my wrist flicked forward? You need that to be able to propel the ball further, it’ll give it more of an arch. Your arm also needs to extend fully.” Megan demonstrated once again, another perfect shot—a broad smile appeared.
“Our very own Steph Curry. I can’t wait to see how you get on during the season.” Candice followed Megan’s instructions to the letter. The shot fell short. “You make it look so easy.”
“You have to give it time, you’re altering your shot completely so you need to adjust to it. Keep trying.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Megan launched the ball back towards Candice. The sequence was repetitive, but it was a necessity. “No, I have nogirlfriend.”
“Huh.” Candice smirked.
“What?”
“I find that hardto believe.”
The muscles around Megan’s mouth tensed and her lips closed. She tried to remain composed despite the obvious flirting.
“I only came back to England two months ago. I don’t move that quickly.”
“There was nobody at Stanford?”
Megan answered honestly. “There was for a while, but we split in Senior year.”
“How come?”
“We wanted different things.”
Megan’s phone interrupted the conversation. She ran to the bench to see Nancy calling. That was unusual for a Wednesday evening or early afternoon in NYC, so she picked up immediately. “Hey Gram, everything okay?”
