Homecourt Advantage by Rita Ewing Read Free Book Online Page B

so far as to tell us not to bother our men with any domestic squabbles until the play-offs are over,” Trina said smugly.
    “So she’s suggesting that we ignore any problems we might have with the guys until after the play-offs? She can’t be serious,” Dawn said, peering into a small compact mirror. After a quick glance she clamped it shut, as if dismissing, Casey thought, anyone’s petty concerns with her appearance.
    Casey looked up at Remy, who appeared slightly amused. It was like a three-ring circus. Alexis was going overboard, but the team being sold was a real threat, and it was probably inevitable if the Flyers didn’t win the championship this year. Casey doubted many of the other women even knew about the potential sale, and if they did, she was sure their men had a gag order on them too. No one was supposed to know. Collin had not even told Remy.
    Truthfully, the guys didn’t need any distractions right now, but how could she tell these women to change their style of dress and put their personal-relationship issues on the back burner until after the season? Hell, Casey didn’t know if that was something she could do herself. She’d had to physically bite her tongue about a hundred times since she’d found out that Brent had been seeing his illegitimate daughter behind her back. She didn’t even know if
she
could last until the end of the season, but she was willing to give it a try.
    “You all are right,” Casey said. “It does sound crazy but—”
    “Sounds crazy? Casey, it is crazy. That woman is nothin’ but crazy.”
    “Come on, Trina. Don’t be nasty. She’s not crazy; maybe a little pretentious and misguided, but she’s not crazy,” Lorraine said.
    “Listen, Trina,” Casey said soothingly. “I know you’ve been supporting Rick’s career for years, but can’t you just look at this as another way of supporting your man? I know this is a new team for you all, but in New York … well, things are done a little differently up …” Casey realized her mistake too late.
    “Oh yeah, different than how us country folks down in North Carolina do things. That’s right, things are more sophisticated up here, Miss Casey. I’ve supported Rick in every way imaginable, but this is ridiculous.”
    Trina could be so impossible at times.
    “Trina, that’s not what she meant,” Remy finally interjected. “I hate to tell you this, but it
is
different for the guys playing basketball in the number one market in the country—just like it is for any entertainer working in New York City. They’re under much more intense scrutiny than any other place in the United States. The critics are tougher, the fans are tougher, the pressures are more abundant. It’s endless. And you know who else is included in that invasion? Us. The women behind the bench. I know you all aren’t public figures in your own right, but the media considers you fair game whether you like it or not, even those of us who aren’t even married to the guys,” Remy said, walking toward Trina.
    Casey gave Remy a silent smile of thanks for coming to her rescue. Remy was her girl. Casey had begun to feel as if she was in over her head, and she was glad to have an ally.
    “Look,” Casey said, “I know it may seem stupid on the surface, but think about it. How many times have any one of you gotten into an argument with your man before a game and it ruined his concentration and he ended up having a bad game? I know that’s happened to all of us at some point. And even if the argument was his fault, hell, we’re women, after all. We know we’re really stronger than men when it comes down to it. Is it going to hurt us to hold our tongues just until the play-offs are over? There’s a lot riding on this season.”
    “Casey, that’s a lot to ask someone. It’s not like anyone plans to get into an argument with their man, but things happen, and when they do, who can hold back their feelings? I know it’s almost impossible for