Chapter 272: Miami/Detroit Game
Saturday, January 28th, Evening
The knock-on her bedroom door broke her out of her gloomy silence. She moved back to sitting on her bed as the sky became too dark for her to watch the ocean. She should get off her ass and check on the kids, but they know the rules; it's game night. Though it was Saturday, she might let them stay up for the whole game.
There was another knock at her door. Was she's the doorman to Macbeth? The knocking slowly brought her more of her malaise. Slowly, she turned her head to the door; the question was which one of her four children was knocking at her door.
"Who is it?" Ashlyn asked.
"Angela!" Angela yelled from behind the door.
"Angela? When did you get in?" Ashlyn asked.
"This morning, are you going to let me in?" Angela asked.
"I'm not descent," Ashlyn said.
"You never were, and anyway, we've lived together," Angela said.
"Okay," Ashlyn said, "Come in."
Angela entered the bedroom and closed the door behind her. Slowly, she walked across the room, kicked off her shoes, and joined Ashlyn on the bed. Angela rested her hand on Ashlyn's.
"What's wrong?" Angela asked.
"A lot of things," Ashlyn said.
"Like what?" Angela asked.
"For one, you're the first adult in months to lay on that side of the bed," Ashlyn said.
"You have a King…" Angela said.
"California King," Ashlyn corrected.
"California King, I have a full and sleep alone all the time," Angela said.
"You're single; I'm married; I shouldn't be sleeping alone," Ashlyn said.
"You've chosen to live here and not Miami," Angela said.
Ashlyn sighed, "I just couldn't be a basketballer's wife," she said.
"You have to take the pluses with the minuses, and why are you working then?" Angela asked.
"I like my students, even the dumb ones, and have you ever just sat around the house not doing anything?" Ashlyn asked.
"I've done it when Jess was little before I started working at ESPN," Angela said.
"How was it?" Ashlyn asked.
"Boring," Angela said.
"See my point?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yeah, I guess," Angela said.
"They have Faith's surviving son filling in for her," Ashlyn said.
"How old is he?" Angela asked.
"A freshman, fourteen, I believe, he was her oldest," Ashlyn said.
"He survived the accident?" Angela asked.
"Yeah, and his two halves," Ashlyn said.
"You mean, your niece and nephew," Angela said.
Ashlyn nodded, "Not like I get to see them anymore; they go to private school," she said.
Angela nodded, "So, why are you hiding in your bedroom?" Angela asked.
"Didn't want to face the world today, and James is playing tonight," Ashlyn said.
"Detroit, I believe," Angela said.
"Yeah, did Brett tell you? Anyway, in Miami, they played last night too," Ashlyn said.
"So, what do you normally do when you watch his games?" Angela asked.
"Drink," Ashlyn said.
"Not a bad thing," Angela said.
"Except when it's multiple bottles," Ashlyn said.
"Well, I'm here; we could watch it together and catch up," Angela said.
"Did you bring Jess with you?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yes, she's at Beaulieu keeping Nomi and Ellis company," Angela said.
Ashlyn leaned against Angela. "I missed you, Angela," she said.
Angela put an arm around Ashlyn. "I missed you too, Ash," she said.
"When are you coming home?" Ashlyn asked.
"Four years, if I don't get a coaching job, somewhere," Angela said.
"No openings at UCONN, and don't want a front-office job?" Ashlyn asked.
"No," Angela said.
"You can be my assistant," Ashlyn said.
"Where do you get that idea?" Angela asked.
Ashlyn sighed, "When Lucas retires, Kiera said she'll go with him, and he wants me to take over," she said.
"When is he going to retire?" Angela asked.
"I don't know," Ashlyn said.
"Yeah, well, that leaves me at square one," Angela said.
"So, where are you playing this season?" Ashlyn asked.
"I know where," Angela said.
"Why don't you share it with me?" Ashlyn asked.
"I can't, some legal stuff," Angela said.
"That's some BS," Ashlyn said, "Just don't tell me its back in Atlanta."
"It's not Atlanta; I didn't even consider playing there, again, even though Sarah Churchill encouraged it," Angela said, "and Spencer Churchill would love us to be close by."
"So, what were her reasons?" Ashlyn asked.
"Who's the reason?" Angela asked.
"Your sister-in-law," Ashlyn said.
"I never married Church; we were, but, well, there was always another deployment," Angela said.
Ashlyn reached up with the remote and turned on the large television in the bedroom. She set the channel to the one where Miami was playing Detroit. Ashlyn put the remote down and watched the TV.
"The game is starting," Ashlyn said.
"Yeah, it looks like that time," Angela said.
"Do you want to stay and watch with me? I could use the company," Ashlyn said.
Angela nodded and got comfortable, "Sure, I intended to, but you're not who I'd chose to share a bed with," she said.
"You're not my choice either," Ashlyn said.
"At least we can agree on that," Angela said and laughed.
Ashlyn laughed, "That's true," she said, "Anyway, who would you like to share a bed with?"
Angela laughed, "Who do you think?" she asked.
"I honestly have no clue; that's why I asked," Ashlyn said.
"Liam Helmsworth," Angela said.
Ashlyn looked at her weirdly. "I always pictured you more for Chris Helmsworth, not a hunger games fan," she said.
"I don't want someone prettier than me in my bed," Angela said.
"Aren't you glad this is my bed," Ashlyn said.
"Funny," Angela said.
Ashlyn shook her head and laughed. The two old friends laid in the bed and watched the Miami basketball game. At halftime, Angela went with Ashlyn to check on the younger children. They said good night to Brett and returned to watch the second half.
The game ended with Miami beating Detroit 116-103. James scored 23 points to lead Miami in scoring. When he called, he talked to both Ashlyn and Angela. Later Angela said good night and returned to Beaulieu Manor. Ashlyn went to sleep with a little more peace of mind.
