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Catching Hodge’s woebegone expression, Dylan couldn’t help but grin. “It’s alright,” she said softly after she’d finished ordering. “Get what you like.”

“But….”

“Believe me, you won’t offend me. I’m the only vegetarian I know, and if I took exception to people eating animal products, I’d be dining alone for the rest

of my life.” She chuckled. “Really, it’s fine.”

Something in Dylan’s eyes convinced Hodge, and her stomach leapt for joy.

After the waiter left, Dylan folded her hands in front of her, and fixed her dinner companion with a penetrating stare. “As you probably know, the Badgers

have several picks in the upcoming draft. Aside from the number one, we’ve got another first round, two seconds, and a third.”

Hodge nodded. She’d heard about the flurry of deal making during the off-season. The Badgers were well positioned to pick up some outstanding talent.

“I’d like you for number one.”

If she hadn’t been sitting, Hodge would have likely collapsed to the ground in an undignified heap. While even a blind man would have noticed the interest

in her as a player, never in her wildest fantasies had she ever imagined she would be the first person selected in the draft. At most, given the multitude of

excellent prospects this year, including a 6’ 7” center who people were already comparing to Dylan, she hoped to go somewhere in the late first, early

second round.

Dylan was obviously still talking, but Hodge couldn’t hear her for the buzzing in her ears. When the coach stopped talking and fixed her with that piercing

gaze again, Hodge all but slapped herself out of her stupor.

“Would you…mind running that by me one more time? I think I missed something.”

“Which part?”

Hodge blushed. “Everything after the ‘I’d like you for number one’ part.”

Dylan laughed softly. “I asked you if that would be alright with you.”

Hodge felt that queer stunned sensation threaten to come down over her again. She gamely shook it off. “You’re asking me?”

“Yes, I’m asking. To be honest, Catherine, I have no desire to waste my prime pick on someone who’ll refuse to sign a contract because she believes her

talents could be put to better use elsewhere. The Badgers have never been contenders, but we’re getting close. I want someone who wants to be on our

team as much as we want to have her. And I’d like that someone to be you.”

“Are you kidding?” Hodge asked, with a natural exuberance that she couldn’t hide if she tried. “I’d love to play with you!”

She froze as those words hung in the air between them. She felt her entire body go warm with a flush hot enough to start the overhead sprinkler system.

“I…uh…didn’t exactly mean that the way it sounded.”

“I think I understand your point,” Dylan replied dryly.

Hodge continued on as if she hadn’t heard, though in fact she had. “It’s just…. When I was a child, I fell in love with basketball. I don’t know why, I just

know I did. And as I got older, people kept giving me reasons why I couldn’t play. They told me I was too short, or too slow, or too skinny, or whatever.

And it was hard, because when you’re a kid, you kind of walk this tightrope between wanting to listen to ‘authority’ and wanting to prove everyone wrong.”

She laughed. “I know I don’t look like much of a rebel, but I was in those days.”

Dylan simply smiled and nodded, interested in hearing this fascinating young woman speak her mind. Her voice was melodic and soothing, and as she

listened, Dylan felt her headache begin to slip away.

“I was in high school, fighting for a spot on the team, when you turned the league on its ear. You were…it was…god…amazing to watch. It was then that I

realized.”

“What?” Dylan asked, entranced.

“Everything I was going through, you were too.” Hodge held up a hand to forestall any comment. “I don’t mean that you were too short or anything,

because obviously you’re not.” She laughed softly. “But I can remember the articles and the sports commentators saying that a woman would never be

able to dunk as well as a man, or shoot as well as a man, or hundreds of other things. And instead of listening to those people, you just went ahead and

proved everyone wrong by doing what they said you couldn’t. And I realized that if you could do it, so could I. I saw that you were opening a door, and I

was going to do my best to walk through it.”

Leaning slightly forward, Hodge looked Dylan directly in the eye. “You taught me how to fight, and you taught me how to win. And I know there is so much

more I can learn from you. So yes, I want to be part of the Badgers as much as you want to have me there.”

Their food arrived just as Hodge finished speaking. Dylan used the time to ponder Hodge’s words, and the passion so evident in the young woman. If

there had even been a glimmering of a doubt before, none existed any more. Catherine Hodges was a winner.

Dinner was eaten in companionable silence, and when the last morsel had been consumed and the dishes taken away, Dylan again looked at Hodge.