Where the hell did that pillow come from?

The previously discovered pillow was making waking up marginally more pleasant, though it didn't change the fact that couches were not designed for six-two centers to sleep on. Her stomach was still sore from Ford's forearm. It hurt about as much as her back, which was reminding her that it didn't like being squashed- but neither of those hurt quite as much as the lump caught between her heart and her throat.

No, she hadn't dreamed it. She really had missed the game-saving free throw, stayed up all night trying to figure how she could have shot it right, sleepwalked her way to the team bus with teammates who didn't want to talk to her, spent the flight to New York playing the scene out again in her head, somehow found her way back to the apartment, and decided that she could go no further than the couch.

She frowned. There had been something else, too. Oh. Right. That stupid trophy. Much good it had done her. "Congrats. You don't suck anymore." Except that she had sucked, sucked her team right out of the playoffs. So she'd thrown it, hoping it would break and maybe release some of the tension. She'd heard it bounce against the back of the couch but not shatter, and she'd been too tired to take a second shot at it.

Now the stupid thing was back on the table. How it'd managed that, she had no idea, but it was begging to be thrown again. So she picked it up, except a piece of paper was stuck to it- a list of some kind, not in her handwriting but in one she'd come to know almost as well. She tore the paper off and began to read it to herself.

There's no crying in basketball, unless you break something.

No breaking. I mean it.

As Janel read over the list, her expression of confusion settled into a smile, then into a grin.

The door opened, slowly and quietly. Cathrine peeked through. "About time you got your butt up," she said, no longer keeping quiet.

"Thanks for the pillow. Want it back?" Before Cathrine could say a word, Janel tossed the pillow at her, an action she regretted when she saw that Cathrine was carrying several bags and was therefore defenseless against the attack. "Guess not."

"Cheater."

"The eggs are fine."

"I'll make breakfast."

"What time am I having dinner on Friday?"

"7:30. Couldn't get earlier."

"Wanna come?"

"You need time with your dad."

"When are the open houses?"

"The really good one is on Tuesday."

"Did you buy tape?"

"Yes."

"Tell Shay I'll bring coleslaw for the whole team."

"Just did."

Janel shook her head. "Okay, but do you need help getting that into the bedroom?"

"You offer, I'll take it."

"That's always worked for me."