Twenty Five

The sound of bouncing basketballs and sneakers screeching against the polished court floor faded into the background as I walked toward the locker room. Practice had just ended, and the team was already buzzing with excitement over the upcoming game this weekend. But I couldn't shake the electric aftershock of the kiss Paige and I had shared earlier. Every time I closed my eyes, her lips were still there, soft against mine, a promise that was more real than I ever imagined.

As I neared the locker room, I saw the girls gathering their bags, laughing and joking like they always did after practice. It was a familiar scene, one I had witnessed countless times over the past few months. But today, there was something different in the air—a subtle shift that had nothing to do with basketball. And I was starting to feel it seep into my bones.

"Hey, Inds!" Nika's voice broke through my thoughts, and I turned to see her waving me over. She was leaning against a bench, casually chatting with Caroline and Amari, but the way she looked at me told me she knew something was up.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I could get away with pretending like everything was normal. But of course, Nika would see right through me.

"You good?" Nika asked, raising an eyebrow as I approached.

I gave her a quick, noncommittal shrug. "Yeah, just... tired, you know?"

She didn't buy it for a second. "Bullshit. You've got that look, Inds. The one where you're trying to act like everything's fine, but we all know you're not fine. You and Paige, huh?"

I froze, my heart skipping a beat at the mention of her name. I glanced over at the team, and sure enough, a few of them were watching us with interest. Great, the whole team was probably already buzzing about the kiss.

I took a deep breath and smiled at Nika. "It's... a thing. We're figuring it out."

"You're damn right it's a thing," Nika smirked. "I saw the way she kissed you earlier. No mistaking that. You're her thing, Inds. And she's definitely your thing."

I could feel my cheeks flush, but I quickly tried to brush it off. "It's just... complicated, you know?"

Nika laughed, her voice playful but knowing. "Complicated? Girl, we've all seen the way you two look at each other. It's not complicated, you're just scared to admit it."

"Not scared," I shot back, feeling defensive. But Nika just raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eye.

"Okay, sure," she said with a grin. "So, are we calling her 'mama' yet, or what?"

I laughed despite myself, the tension easing a little. "Definitely not. That's... that's still a work in progress."

As I turned away, trying to gather my things, Nika's voice called out to me one more time.

"Don't wait too long to figure it out, okay? Life's too short to keep things in the 'maybe' category."

I paused at the door, feeling her words sink in. She was right. We couldn't keep pretending like we weren't something—something more than teammates, more than friends. Whatever this was, it wasn't going to stay in the 'maybe' category forever.

The next few hours felt like they dragged on endlessly. I spent the rest of the evening editing photos and reviewing shots from practice. The team's energy was contagious, even if I was trying to ignore the anxious buzz in my chest. The game this weekend was important—too important for me to let my personal life interfere. But with every passing moment, the connection between Paige and I kept creeping back into my thoughts, stubborn and relentless.

Around 9:30 p.m., I decided to head home. I wasn't expecting to hear from Paige tonight, but when I checked my phone, I noticed a text from her. My heart skipped a beat as I opened it:

Paige: I can't stop thinking about you. I know we said we'd figure it out, but I want you to know that I'm all in if you are. No more running. I don't want to hide this anymore

I stared at the text for what felt like an eternity. My heart was pounding so loudly I could barely hear anything else.

I don't want to hide this anymore.

Those words rang in my head, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. This wasn't just about a kiss anymore—it was about everything we could be together. About everything we had the potential to build.

But the next part was even harder to process.

Paige: Can I see you tomorrow?

I didn't have to think twice. My fingers flew over the keyboard.

Me: I want that too. Tomorrow works. I'll meet you after practice?

A pause. Then:

Paige: It's a date

The following day was a blur. The practice session was intense—everyone was keyed up for the big game ahead, and it showed in every move they made. Paige, as usual, led the charge, throwing herself into every drill with an intensity that made the rest of the team step up their game. I was in my usual spot on the sidelines, snapping photos, trying to focus on the action without getting distracted. But it was impossible. All I could think about was her.

And the way she'd looked at me yesterday. Like I was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

When practice ended, I caught sight of her across the court. Her dark, messy hair was damp with sweat, and she had that focused look on her face—the one that made her look untouchable. But today, there was something different. She wasn't just focused on the game anymore. She was focused on me.

Paige made her way over to me, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. "You ready for tomorrow?" she asked, her voice low.

I nodded, trying to ignore the way my heart was racing. "Yeah. You?"

She stepped closer, the air between us charged with something I couldn't quite name. "I'm ready. I've got you on my mind, though. You know, after that kiss..."

I felt the heat flood my face, and I quickly turned my attention back to my camera. "We should focus on the game, P. We can talk after."

But Paige wasn't having it. She reached for my camera, gently pulling it out of my hands and setting it aside. "The game is important. But I think we both know what's really on our minds." Her voice was teasing but serious, a promise lingering in every word.

Before I could respond, she was already closing the distance between us. Her lips found mine once again, and this time, I didn't pull away.

This wasn't just a kiss—it was a declaration. The beginning of something more. Something real.

When we pulled apart, I felt like I could finally breathe again.

"See you tomorrow, baby girl," Paige whispered, her smile so soft it almost made my heart ache.

"I'll be there," I whispered back.

And for the first time in a long while, I knew exactly where I was headed. No more hesitation. No more second-guessing.

Tomorrow, we would take the next step. Together.