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Aimee nudged me. “Friends in high places, huh?” she teased. “Now we know who The Russian invited to share his VIP box with.”
“Great, like I wasn’t nervous enough,” I said. “So much easier playing in front of fans and strangers!”
“While being broadcast around the nation,” Aimee reminded me.
“And there’s that,” I agreed, “but you forget about the cameras when you’re in the heat of the moment.”
“Mm,” she nodded. “I bet you’ll forget The Russian and his friends are watching the moment that whistle blows to start play.”
I watched as Lucas and Mia entered, along with Eddie and Tiffany, and moments later Nik and Sasha entered with Harry, the youngest Saints’ team member, and another guy whom I didn’t recognize, but he must have been a friend of Harry’s. I was sure Sasha was looking forward to going to a sports game and not having to work for a change.
The media cameras went from our court over to the Saints, and kids swarmed them for autographs. Security held the kids back from the VIP area, but Lucas and Nik went out to sign some shirts and caps for the kids, and a few other body parts for female fans. There was no sign of The Russian ... I hoped he was okay, I hoped he was still coming. Of course he’d be coming, why wouldn’t he? I was getting as bad as he was.
“There’s your boy,” Aimee said, and I looked in the direction she was looking.
There was my beautiful Russian – dressed for the VIP area in a black button down shirt, with gray pants and black shoes. His short back and sides haircut highlighted those high cheek bones, accentuating his strong chiseled jaw.
“Gorgeous,” Aimee muttered. “Who’s that with him?”
“Uh-huh,” I said. “That’s Tia, his little sister, she’s ten.”
So cute the two of them together, and he was so protective of her with his hand on her shoulder. They were in the merchandise line and she was picking out what Suns items she wanted, The Russian was listening patiently. He looked up and his eyes scoped the area, seeing Lucas over in the stands and giving him a wave. Then he looked towards our dressing room, and his eyes finally landed on Aimee and me hiding against the wall; his eyes locked on me. He smiled and I think I orgasmed.
I smiled back and both Aimee and I gave him this starstruck wave. The Russian leaned down and whispered something to Tia and she looked in our direction, trying to find us. When she saw me, I got a huge grin and exaggerated wave as she jumped on the spot with excitement. The Russian shook his head and I laughed. It had taken only a few minutes before the crowd realized who he was and he started getting mobbed in the line. He moved Tia in front of him and again glanced in my direction. I waved and, grabbing Aimee’s arm, we disappeared back into our Suns’ allocated rooms. As we walked down the hallway, Maria from marketing passed me and stopped, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Carla, you’re a legend,” she gushed.
“I haven’t played yet,” I said, confused.
She waved her phone at me. “Social media is going berserk! Our game is trending everywhere ... there are pictures of you girls arriving and the Saints arriving, and it’s all over everything. We’ve had a huge jump in membership sales ... like this is the place to be.”
“That’s great,” I brightened. “Good for the club.”
“Good for the club,” she repeated, rolling her eyes as though I had discovered gold and thought it was tin. “It’s huge. We’ve never sold this many packages before the start of a new season ... you’re making my job easy. Promise me when you’re commentating Suns games next year, you’ll bring your friends,” she said, cocking her head in the direction of the VIP area.
“Ah, I’ll do my best,” I said. Then I remembered I had to do the media interview and raced back out to the entrance of our run, with a few minutes to spare. The TV crew were there waiting. It was funny being interviewed by Catherine, who was one of my new commentary team buddies in my new job.
“A big day for you and it looks like you’ve brought the crowd with you,” Catherine said, holding the microphone over to me.
“A very exciting day,” I agreed, “and the Suns are wrapped to have this turnout, thanks to all our fans, followers and other local teams that are supporting us,” I said without blatantly mentioning the hunky row of Saints and their partners sitting opposite, or that The Russian had paid some obscene amount to purchase those seats.
“The Suns and Sky are no strangers on the basketball court,” Catherine continued. “Last time you played them, the Suns lost 53 to 55. Got some tricks up your sleeve today?”
I grinned at Catherine. “It was a tough match and the time before we beat them by an equally slim margin ... so I think that today the fans will see two well-matched teams, both trying desperately to win. And yes, always a few tricks up our sleeves.”
“Well, enjoy your last Suns’ game and congratulations on a stellar career. Ladies and gentlemen, Carla Brooker,” Catherine said to the camera and the audience.
I nodded my thanks, gave a wave to all, and jogged back into the run, but not without a quick glance to my heartbeat in the VIP area. Our eyes locked for those few moments and I recharged. I returned to the changing rooms for my final rah-rah, psyche up, pre-match session with my girls. Game on.
