Read Hart of the Matter (A Love of the Game Novella) for Free Online

filled every second they found themselves alone with fluff conversation, refusing to give him an opening to discuss anything real. 
    There were times she knew he became frustrated with her but she didn’t care. 
    Bailey might be somewhat fragile on the outside but she’d built a steel vault around her heart over the years.  There finally came a day when she didn’t love him less, but she didn’t obsess as she once had. 
    It was shitty consolation but it was something.
    He was braided into every vein in her body and there was nothing she could do to change that but she could choose to give all the love inside her to the woman and little girl who needed it.
    Until they didn’t need her anymore.
    When the Phoenix Suns went to the Finals, Bailey, Harley, and Lexie traveled to every game. 
    The night the three of them sat in box seats in the Seattle arena and watched Hart’s team take the NBA Championship for the first time in Suns history was one of the proudest of her life. 
    It was also one of the loneliest.
    The three of them screamed themselves hoarse from the box above the court.  They’d contemplated being on the floor but worried about Lexie being trampled.
    Up here, they could sob openly without anyone seeing them.  “They did it.  They fucking did it, Harley.”
    “We knew they would.  They were playing too good this year not to take it all the way.”
    “I’m going to head back to the hotel.”  Bailey wiped her face and grabbed her bag.  “It’s just weird during stuff like this.  He should be able to celebrate without me being a shadow.”
    “Hey…”
    “No, I’ll see you tomorrow.  I love you and I’m so fucking proud.”  She waved as she got on the elevator and knew Harley felt sorry for her. 
    Returning to the hotel took a lot longer than she thought it would and halfway there, she made the decision to return to California a couple of days early.  Quickly throwing her luggage together, she changed her flight, called a cab, and texted Harley from the airport before dawn.
    The return message was, “ You’re running.  I love you and I’m sorry. ”
    Two hours later, she received a text from Hart.  “ We have to stop, Bailey. ”
    She had no clue what that meant and didn’t answer him.  That night, she was pouring herself a glass of wine when he texted her again.  “ I love you.  You know that, don’t you? ”
    Throwing the glass against the wall, she allowed herself to scream and rage for almost an hour before her inner self slapped the fuck out of her. 
    You are way too old for this shit, girl.
    Breathing deeply, she cleaned up the mess, took a shower, and climbed into bed.  For a long time, she stared at her ceiling and thought back over the twenty-five years she’d known Hart.  It seemed that every memory, every conversation, was determined to replay itself. 
    To the empty house, empty room, empty bed, she whispered, “Yes, Hart…I know you love me.  I just wish it meant the same thing to both of us.”
    Bailey threw herself into work as never before and worked out constantly to relieve the tension, the frustration, and the heartache she kept praying would go away so she could have peace.
    It never fucking did.
    Finding excuses to avoid the two females she adored became difficult.  Since they’d moved to Arizona, Bailey was accustomed to visiting them once a month.
    Watching Harley find happiness again was bittersweet.  She desperately wanted to feel what it was like and every day, it seemed to slip further and further away.
    * * *
    Harley made Lexie call her Aunt Bailey about visiting.  Never able to deny the little girl, she booked a flight.  Only when she arrived at Hart’s house did she realize Lexie was out of town with her grandparents. 
    “Harley, she begged me to come!  I would have hung out with them in California!”
    “I needed a girls’ day and I’m not sorry.  I’m embarrassed to go alone.  I feel weird.”
    Laughing, she hugged her