Nineteen

The next morning was like any other—except it wasn't. I couldn't shake the conversation I'd had with Paige the night before. The way her words had lingered in the air, the way she'd looked at me like she was trying to figure me out. I was used to seeing her confident, a leader who always knew what to say and when to say it. But last night? It was different. There was something vulnerable in her eyes—something unspoken. And I couldn't ignore it.

As the team gathered for practice, I tried to focus on my job. The girls were already in their warm-ups, stretching and getting ready for another day of drills. I set up my camera with the usual routine, but my mind kept drifting back to Paige.

"Inds! Quit zoning out, girl!" Lou's voice cut through my thoughts as she jogged by, giving me a playful shove.

"I'm not zoning out," I muttered, trying to get my head back in the game.

Lou raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, you are. You and P have some late-night heart-to-heart or what?"

I froze. My heart skipped a beat. "What? No—no, nothing like that," I stammered, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

"Uh-huh," Lou teased, her lips curling into a grin. "If you say so. But hey, just remember—she's not like the others. Don't let her charm make you forget yourself, alright?"

I couldn't tell if Lou was trying to be protective or if she was just messing with me, but either way, I nodded quickly, thankful she hadn't pushed further. It wasn't like I could explain to her what happened with Paige—how could I even begin to?

Practice started, and as usual, it was high energy. The girls were focused, the sound of basketballs echoing off the court as they drilled plays. Paige, as always, was in the center of it all. She was the glue that held everything together, moving fluidly between teammates, barking out orders, motivating everyone.

Watching her made it impossible for me to stay neutral. Every pass, every cut she made was deliberate, calculated. It was beautiful to witness, but it was also frustrating. Because no matter how hard I tried to keep it together, I could feel the tension from last night creeping back into my chest.

Nika—ever the energetic point guard—pulled me out of my thoughts. "Hey, Inds, you getting all this?" she called, hands on her hips.

"Yeah, yeah," I replied, snapping a few shots of her and the team in action.

"You better," she added with a smirk, "or I'll come find you and make sure your camera's not broken from all the heat we're bringing today."

"Is that so?" I teased, adjusting the lens. "Don't think I'm the one who'll be running from you, Nika."

She gave me a wink. "You might want to rethink that."

The first part of practice ended, and the team gathered for a water break. I set my camera down for a moment, taking a seat on the sidelines as I scrolled through some of the photos I'd taken.

"You're really good at this," a voice interrupted me, and I looked up to see Paige standing there, a towel draped over her shoulders. Her hair was damp from sweat, and she looked... tired. But in a good way.

"Thanks," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral, even though my heart was racing again. "It's all about capturing the right moment."

She studied the screen for a moment, her gaze lingering on the images. "Yeah, I can see that. You catch the intensity... the energy. It's like you're right there with us, even when you're not on the court."

I bit my lip, trying not to smile. "Well, I do try."

"Don't try too hard, Inds," she said, her voice low, almost like she was saying something secret. "You're good enough already."

Before I could respond, the sound of the coach's whistle cut through the air, signaling the start of another round of drills. Paige gave me a quick nod, turning back toward the team.

But something about the way she looked at me before she left stayed with me long after she was gone. The weight of her words. The subtle glint in her eyes. What did it all mean?

By the time practice was over, the sun was beginning to dip low in the sky. I had a ton of photos to sort through, but I couldn't focus. My mind kept racing back to Paige and those quiet moments we'd shared. I hadn't meant for things to get so complicated. She was my teammate, my friend, and I had always kept my distance—never getting too close, never crossing any lines.

But now? Now it felt like those lines were blurring, and I didn't know how to pull back.

As the team filtered out of the gym, I grabbed my gear and headed for the exit. That's when I saw Paige again, standing by the door, looking like she was waiting for me.

"Inds," she said, her voice a little softer than usual.

I felt a tight knot form in my chest. "Hey, P."

She looked at me for a long moment, like she was searching for something—answers, maybe? I wasn't sure. But the silence stretched on until it was uncomfortable.

Finally, she spoke. "You coming to dinner tonight?"

I hesitated, the invitation feeling loaded. "Yeah, I'll be there. Don't worry about it."

"You sure? I mean, it's just... the usual, but I was thinking..." Her voice trailed off, and for the first time in forever, Paige looked uncertain.

I stepped closer, instinctively reaching for her arm. "What were you thinking?"

She took a deep breath, and for a moment, I thought she might say something that would change everything. Instead, she just shook her head with a smile, like she was brushing it off. "Nothing. I'll see you there."

I nodded, watching her leave, my heart pounding in my chest.

The rest of the night was a blur. The dinner was lively—everyone joked around, and I tried to lose myself in the chaos of it all. But Paige's words, her gestures, the way she looked at me, it all kept coming back. I couldn't escape it.

And when the night was over and I was heading out the door, there she was again, waiting by the exit.

This time, there was no avoiding the tension.

"Inds," she said softly, stepping into my space.

"Yeah?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"I just... I need to know you're not avoiding me."

I blinked, taken aback. "What?"

"I don't know how to explain it, but I can feel the distance. And I don't like it. It's messing with my game."

I swallowed, my chest tight. "I'm not avoiding you. It's just..."

"Just what?" she pressed, taking a step closer. "Tell me."

I met her gaze, and for the first time, I let the truth spill out. "I don't know what this is between us, Paige. I don't know what you want, but I can't keep pretending like this is just normal anymore. I can't keep pretending like I don't feel it."

Her expression softened, and then, with no warning, she closed the distance between us, her lips brushing mine.

It wasn't a kiss of answers or closure—it was a question. One that neither of us had the answer to. But in that moment, I couldn't bring myself to care. All I knew was that this—whatever it was—was far from over.

And neither of us were ready to let go.