Chapter 332: Heart to Heart
Tuesday, January 31st, Evening
Ashton leads Angela out to The Commons, and the two friends looked at each other. Of the A's, they knew each other the longest. They drifted over time and growth, but looking at each other, Angela knew this would be a hard love session. Angela nodded.
"So what's wrong? Don't want to be here?" Ashton asked.
"Ash, it's not that, it's I'm not getting the whole honored by your high school deal," Angela said.
Ashton sighed, "For someone like Anna or me, this was the high point in our careers. I never played in college, you know this, Angie," she said.
Angela sighed and looked around The Commons. "You know I didn't have a great time in high school," she said.
"I was there and suffered with you," Ashton said.
Angela looked through a window in the door at the Field House. "It doesn't feel like I did all that stuff; it feels like a different person. I can't connect it all," she said.
Ashton sighed, "I know; you have how much gold to your name? NCAA, WNBA, Europe, and the Olympics, but, Angie, not everyone was lucky like you. Maybe Kay, but only four of us went professional. To most of us, this is important, and we expect, hell, we deserve to have our leader engaged, especially since we fought for you to lead us," Ashton said.
Angela shook her head and looked at Ashlyn standing on the sideline talking to several players. "Yeah," Angela said.
"This is now," Ashton said.
"What?" Angela asked.
"I figured you'd forget that one," Ashton said.
"Forget what?" Angela asked.
"We had three battle cries, Live for This, Be Heard, and This is Now; the third was less used if you remember," Ashton said.
"This is now; it's what Ashlyn sent us out with when Kay won the championship," Angela said.
"Do you remember why we came up with those war cries?" Ashton asked.
Angela shook her head, "No," Angela said.
"You, because of you. We got them from your favorite songs that year. We did this because of you. Did you hear that love fest they gave you when you walked out there?" Ashton said.
"It's not me, I'm nobody," Angela, "I didn't ask for this."
Ashton sighed, "No, Nemo, you didn't, but you made this day, your attitude, your leadership, every time a girl shows any level of talent in basketball, the sports pages put in the headline the next Angela. So, you're not nobody, Nemo. So, stop being a sad sack and enjoy it for them," Angela said.
Angela turned around. "They really ask if it's the next me?" Angela asked.
"Yes," Ashton said, "When I'm working on girl's knees, shoulders, backs, and ankles, they all ask about playing ball with you."
Angela sighed, "I'm no hero," she said.
"I know you've been to hell and back in your personal life. I can't imagine how you felt when they buried Church. He always made you happy," Ashton said.
Angela nodded, "Why me?" she asked.
"Because, Nemo, they know you never needed us, we needed you, but you never needed us. You've proved it; you proved that you could win with anyone. You're a special player, and they want to be part of it," Ashton said.
Angela nodded and stepped aside. Andrew McMichael exited the Field House with his son, Phelan, and daughter, Fi.
"Angela, Ashton, I didn't expect to see y'all out here," Andrew said.
"Just needed to hash a few things out," Ashton said.
"Oh, I can take the kids somewhere else," Andrew said.
"Letting them burn off some energy?" Ashton asked.
"Yeah, they're bored," Andrew said.
"We're finished here, talking that is," Angela said, "I think we've come to an understanding."
"Are you sure, Angie?" Ashton asked.
Angela nodded, "Yes, very sure," she said.
"So, God, Angela, it's good to see you," Andrew said.
"We were at the same dinner a few nights ago," Angela said.
"But you spent most of the night talking to teammates and introducing Jess," Andrew said.
"Oh, sorry," Angela said.
"Daddy, who's this?" Fi asked.
"This is Angela; she played basketball with Momma," Andrew said.
Fi nodded and looked up at Angela. "Do you know Auntie Tall?" Fi asked.
Angela chuckled and looked to Ashton. Ashton cracked a small smile and shook her head. Angela bent down to look at Fi on her level. "Did your cousin Brett tell you about Auntie Tall?" Angela asked.
Fi nodded, "Yes," she said, in a small kid's voice.
"I'm Brett's Auntie Tall," Angela said.
Fi's eyes got wide and looked at Angela. "Wow! You're tall," she said.
"Yes, I am," Angela said and stood up.
"My Momma said you could slam dunk a basketball," Phelan said.
Angela nodded, "I used to at one time," she said.
"Why can't you now?" Phelan asked.
"I got old," Angela said.
"C'mon, I brought y'all out here to run around, not bug Angela," Andrew said.
"Ok, Daddy," Phelan said.
"Yes, Daddy," Fi said.
Andrew excused themselves and guided the kids away. Ashton watched as Angela lifted and lowered one leg several times. Once Angela finished, she bent over and massaged her knee.
"Knee bothering you?" Ashton asked.
Angela nodded, "Yeah, that's normal," she said.
"How bad?" Ashton asked.
"It's okay, structurally, for now, but the tread is mostly gone," Angela said.
"How long left?" Ashton asked.
"Two to three more seasons," Angela said, "That's how long I'm signing for."
"So, where did you sign?" Ashton asked.
"Nowhere, free agency starts tomorrow," Angela said.
"Oh!" Ashton said.
"When I get back to Greenwich, I'll head out to sign," Angela said.
"Oh!" Ashton said.
Angela shrugged and straightened up. "I don't expect much going on," she said.
"So, what are the plans post-basketball?" Ashton asked.
Angela sighed, "That's tough, except for Church and Jess; basketball has been my adult life, how I connect with most of my family," she said.
"So, I'll ask again, so what are the plans post-basketball?" Ashton said.
"I'd like to coach," Angela said.
"Coach?" Ashton asked, "Well, I can see you doing that."
"I feel I could still give to the game after my playing days end," Angela said.
"At what level?" Ashton asked.
"Whatever level they'll take me," Angela said.
Ashton nodded, "The rumor here, which you probably know already the truth, is Coach is retiring soon, and Ashlyn's the heir apparent," she said.
"I've heard," Angela said.
"The story is Coach Sinclair is going with Coach too," Ashton said.
"I heard that too," Angela said.
"Maybe, there's a spot here," Ashton said.
"Ashlyn's already offered me a position if she gets the job," Angela said and shrugged.
"I guess I'm a step behind, again," Ashton said.
"That's okay, Ash," Angela said.
Before Ashton could respond, the door opened, and Kelly stepped out.
