Twenty Four

The next few days felt like I was walking in a dream—half in the real world, half lost in a cloud of possibility. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could think about was Paige. That look she gave me, the words she whispered, and the warmth of her hand in mine. It felt like I had crossed some invisible line, and now nothing in my life seemed to make sense without her in it.

We had won the game. The victory was sweet, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more important hanging in the balance. It wasn't just the win—it was the weight of the moment we shared. That brief but intense connection between us, like everything else had faded, and there was only us left.

And then, of course, there was the aftermath. The team was on cloud nine, naturally. Coach was praising everyone's performance, but even she had a special gleam in her eye when Paige was brought up. It was like the world was in sync with the momentum we were building, but my mind? It was a mess.

I hadn't seen Paige since the game, not really. There had been a few fleeting moments in the locker room, passing by each other in the halls, but nothing that could really be called an interaction. It was like there was this unspoken understanding between us, like we were both waiting for something. Waiting for what, exactly? I wasn't sure, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the ground under us was shifting.

The next day, we had practice in the morning, the gym bustling with energy as usual. I was in the background, getting shots of the players warming up, snapping photos of their usual drills. Paige was doing her thing—focused, intense, every inch the powerhouse she was on the court. But every time I caught her eye, my heart did this flip, and I could feel the tension between us.

"Inds, get a shot of me when I'm about to break this girl's ankles," Paige called out, a teasing glint in her eye.

I smirked, raising my camera. "I'm sure you'll have no problem with that, P. You've got her already shaking in her sneakers."

"Damn straight." Paige shot me a wink before turning back to her drill.

The ease of our banter was almost too comfortable. The way she joked with me, the way I could respond without thinking, without hesitation, made it clear that something had shifted between us. It wasn't just about the game or the pictures anymore. It felt like we were becoming something... more.

As practice wrapped up, I lingered by the sidelines, making sure I had all my shots. The team gathered together to do a cool-down, and I couldn't help but notice the way Paige moved through the group. She wasn't just the star player; she was the leader, the one they all looked up to. There was a confidence about her that was magnetic, like she could command the entire room with just a glance.

Nika was the first one to approach me, slinging her arm around my shoulders. "So, what's going on with you and Paige, huh? You two looked like you were having a moment after the game." She grinned like she already knew the answer.

I rolled my eyes, pushing her off me. "Nothing's going on. We're just... talking. That's all."

"Oh, really?" Nika raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "I saw the way you two were looking at each other. And I've been seeing the way you're looking at her lately too. Don't think I don't notice."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's not like that, Nika. We're just figuring stuff out. I'm not even sure where it's going, but I... I like her. Okay?"

Nika's grin grew even wider, and she leaned in like she had a secret to share. "Well, I think she likes you too. Don't overthink it. Just let things happen, you know?"

Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut through the conversation.

"Hey, Inds." It was Paige. Her voice was low, casual, but there was something about the way she said my name that made my pulse quicken. "You got a minute?"

I looked up at her, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves twist in my stomach. "Yeah, of course," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt.

She gave Nika a nod, then motioned for me to follow her. My heart raced as I trailed behind, not entirely sure where we were headed, but trusting her all the same. We moved past the locker rooms, through the hallways of the gym, until we reached the quiet, almost hidden corner by the gym entrance, where the noise from practice seemed to fade away. It was just us now.

Paige leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, but she wasn't facing me directly. She was looking out at the court through the open door, like she was gathering her thoughts. The silence stretched between us for a moment, thick and full of unspoken words.

"So," she began, her voice softer than I expected. "About what happened after the game..."

I swallowed, suddenly feeling vulnerable. "Paige, I—"

She turned to face me, cutting off my words with a small shake of her head. "No, listen. I just... I need to say this. I don't know what's going on between us, but I can't pretend like I'm not feeling something. And I don't want to just let it slide, you know? I don't want to ignore it, not when... not when I can't stop thinking about you."

My breath hitched in my chest. "You're thinking about me?"

She gave me a half-smile, her eyes locking with mine in a way that made my stomach flip. "Yeah. More than I should, probably. But I can't help it. You've been... on my mind, India. A lot."

I wasn't sure what to say, my heart hammering in my chest. I'd spent so much time wondering if she felt the same way, questioning if I was reading too much into it, but hearing her say it out loud felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

"I've been thinking about you too," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I just didn't know if you felt the same. I didn't want to... mess things up."

Paige pushed off the wall, closing the space between us in two strides. She was so close now that I could feel the heat radiating off her, her presence overwhelming in the best way possible.

"You won't mess things up, India," she murmured, her breath warm against my ear. "I want this. I want you."

Her words sent a rush of warmth through me, and before I could say anything else, her lips were on mine. The kiss was slow at first, like we were testing the waters, but when I responded, when I leaned into it, everything clicked. It wasn't just a kiss—it was a promise, an unspoken agreement between us. We were finally on the same page.

When we pulled apart, I was breathless, a mix of disbelief and exhilaration swirling in my chest. "Paige," I whispered, her name falling from my lips like a prayer.

She smiled, her forehead resting against mine. "Yeah, baby girl?"

"I don't know what happens next... but I'm ready," I said, my voice filled with the truth of everything I was feeling.

Paige's smile softened, and she kissed my forehead, her fingers lightly tracing the line of my jaw. "We'll figure it out. Together."

And in that moment, for the first time in days, everything felt right. No more uncertainty, no more doubt. Just us.