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Chapter Twenty-six
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Ariana felt Nika's hands tighten around her waist before letting go. She yanked the hat off her head, gloving it nicely over Ariana's curls. She smiled down at the doctor who grinned back up at her with awe-struck eyes. The dozens of cameras surrounding them seemed to fade into their surroundings, with the taller holding the doctor by her hips as she admired Ariana adjusting the cap. Was this what fame felt like?
It was as if the ordeal half a game ago didn't happen, there was only one thing on Nika's mind—There had been only one thing on Nika's mind.
"Lookin' good, doc." she murmured, grabbing the front of the cap with her fingers, tilting it downwards. "Maybe you should be a player instead."
"I like looking after them more, but thanks." Ariana chuckled, feeling a light drizzle of confetti shower the both of them as KK and Ice threw two handfuls of it over them. She heard the two of them run off cackling, hurling balls of confetti at teammates.
Their faces were plastered on every jumbotron around the arena, some over Ariana's shoulder and focused on Nika's irresistible urge to smile and others on the big dimpled grin the doctor shot back. Only cameras from the press seemed focused on other players having their fun with celebrating.
"Congratulations, Nika," Ariana whispered, strangely coherent over the celebratory clamour surrounding them. Her voice was the only one Nika seemed to focus on anyway. "I knew you'd pull through and show everybody who you were... I'm proud of you."
The Croatian felt her heart swell, her chest tightened. Looping an arm around her neck, she pulled Ariana into one last embrace. "Thank you."
"Yo, Niks! Get your ass over here for the picture!" Aubrey yelled, waving a hand as the team huddling around the trophy Geno held.
Nika turned back towards Ariana, her eyebrows raised in question before the doctor shoved her away gently. She chuckled, "Go! They're waiting for you."
She watched all of them with prideful and excited expressions, beaming from ear to ear as they held up fours. Simms held her phone up, snapping a few pictures before UConn's photographers took some on their own gear. Ariana's stomach warmed at the sight of them, a sense of relief and happiness washing over them for the first time in a long while. She wanted to savour the moment before championships began creeping up their steps.
As everybody dispersed to talk to press and take pictures with each other, Azzi found herself strutting over to her roommate. She was greeted with a dimpled smile, as the shorter wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug.
"Can't imagine myself sharing this win with any other PT." She looked up. "Kelly would kill me if she heard me say that."
"Good job, Az. The girls wouldn't have had the confidence to pull themselves back onto their feet if you hadn't come in." She ruffled the taller's hair, earning a whine as Azzi desperately tried fixing it before covering it with her cap. "Work that Azzi Fudd magic."
