Homecourt Advantage by Rita Ewing Read Free Book Online Page A

said, walking toward the library’s large picture window.
    Casey realized Remy had made that comment for her benefit in an effort to change the direction in which Trina was taking the conversation.
    “Yeah, it’s gorgeous, Casey,” Dawn said, standing up and moving toward the window herself. “The view of Central Park up this high is spectacular. We can see all the way up to Harlem.”
    “I don’t know how y’all can stand to look out that window. I got dizzy when I was over there,” Trina said, waving them off, sounding disgusted.
    Casey grabbed one of the large suede throw pillows resting in front of the grand oak mantelpiece of her fireplace and threw it on the floor next to the coffee table. Taking a seat cross-legged, she tried to figure out another angle of attack to broach the topic for today.
    “Well, listen, ladies.” Casey cleared her throat. “I know nobody is really interested in hearing this, but I did tell Alexis that I would fill in everyone who missed the breakfast.”
    Casey noticed Trina roll her eyes again and she realized that Trina was probably wondering why she had been invited today since she had actually attended the breakfast.
    “So it wasn’t just a social gathering to kick off the play-offs?” Dawnasked, looking back and forth between Casey and Trina from her spot at the picture window.
    “Ha! Social gathering, my butt!” Trina sardonically laughed.
    “Dawn, I know you’re new around here with Michael being a rookie and all,” Lorraine began in her usual diplomatic manner. “But in case you haven’t noticed, nothing is ever as it really seems with Alexis or Coach. There’s a secret motivation behind everything they do, but hey, in all fairness to them, maybe that’s a part of their winning formula, and that is the idea isn’t it … to win?”
    Dawn returned to the sofa and sat down next to Lorraine with a quizzical expression on her face. It was obvious to Casey that Dawn’s confusion was probably a result of her medical background where things were black or white, not somewhere in between.
    “Well, there’s not exactly any secret motivation here,” Casey said. “Alexis was fairly straight about what she expects from the wives and significant others during the play-offs.”
    “What she expects?” Dawn asked with raised eyebrows.
    Casey helplessly looked up at Remy, who was still standing at the window. It was going to be more challenging than she thought, especially with Trina there heading her off at every pass. And Dawn was very perceptive, although she was the youngest of the fivesome at twenty-five years old. Of course, she was in her first year of her medical residency in psychiatry.
    “Maybe ‘expects’ was the wrong word to use. Maybe … a better way to describe it is that she’s hoping to get our cooperation to help ensure the image of the Flyers during the play-offs is … is flawless.”
    “There’s nothin’ we can do about the team’s image,” Trina said. “Alexis was talkin’ out the side of her mouth sayin’ the wives need to dress more conservatively, tone down their makeup, and be at every home game on time ready to participate in courtside interviews if necessary,” Trina said, shaking her head.
    “Tone down our makeup?” Dawn incredulously asked.
    “Uh-huh,” Trina began, staring hard at Dawn. “And I can tell you right now she’d say somethin’ about that gray stuff you got sittin’ on your lips. What is that anyway?”
    “It’s Blade, by Mac,” Dawn said, suddenly looking slightly self-conscious. “You don’t like it?”
    “Is that what she said, Casey?” Lorraine quickly interrupted. “She told everyone how to dress? That’s extreme, even for Alexis. I mean, she’s always talked about us being punctual for the games and I’ve always recognized that she sizes me up every time she sees me, but trying to tell us how to wear our makeup and how to dress, that’s a bit much.”
    “But wait, it gets better. She even went