Thirty One

The hum of the bus engine was a steady backdrop as we pulled into the parking lot of Mohegan Sun Arena. It was game day, and the energy among the team was palpable. Paige sat in her usual spot near the front, her long legs stretched out into the aisle, earbuds in and eyes closed. She radiated calm confidence, like the game was already hers, and it probably was.

I slung my camera bag over my shoulder, stepping off the bus behind her. The team filed into the arena with a mix of laughter, banter, and serious pre-game rituals. Azzi was already bouncing a ball, dribbling it against the smooth concrete as Ice and Aubrey debated their favorite pre-game snacks.

As usual, I trailed behind with my camera, capturing candid shots of their pre-game routine. Paige caught me aiming my lens at her and smirked, her dimple appearing like it was meant just for me.

"Get my good side, babe," she teased, adjusting her hoodie.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help grinning. "All your sides are good, P. Unfortunately."

She chuckled, falling into step beside me. "You nervous about the game?"

I stopped mid-step and gave her a pointed look. "Do I look like I'm playing tonight?"

"You're part of the team, baby girl," she said, her voice softer now. "Your work makes us look good, on and off the court."

I swallowed, the compliment catching me off guard. "Thanks, Paige."

Inside the locker room, the team went through their usual chaos. Aaliyah was blasting music from a speaker, and Nika was doing an exaggerated TikTok dance in front of Amari, who was cracking up. Ice sat in the corner, quietly tying her sneakers with laser focus, while Aubrey fiddled with her headband.

Paige sat on one of the benches, unwrapping her tape and redoing it with practiced precision. Every so often, her eyes flicked toward me, and I could feel the weight of her gaze even as I focused on photographing the moments.

"India," Azzi called out, snapping me out of my zone. "You're coming to the sideline again, right?"

"Of course," I said, lowering my camera. "Someone's gotta make you all look good in action."

Nika laughed. "You better get my three-pointers. Highlight reel worthy."

Paige looked up, her voice cutting through the chatter. "You better not miss my blocks, Inds. I want that posted first thing tomorrow."

The team broke into laughter, and I threw her a mock salute. "Yes, captain."

By the time warmups started, the arena was alive with energy. Fans filled the seats, their cheers echoing off the walls. I stationed myself on the sideline, adjusting my camera and preparing for tip-off.

Paige caught my eye during a break in warmups, jogging over with her usual swagger. "You ready, love?" she asked, her tone casual but her gaze searching.

"Always," I replied, lifting my camera to take a quick shot of her up close.

She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping. "Make sure you don't get distracted watching me out there."

"I could say the same to you," I shot back, keeping my tone light even as my heart raced.

Her smirk widened, and she jogged back to the court.

The game was intense from the start. Azzi drained the first three-pointer, setting the tone, while Paige dominated on defense, her presence commanding the floor. I moved along the sidelines, snapping shot after shot, capturing the raw emotion and athleticism of the team.

In the third quarter, Paige dove for a loose ball, crashing into the scorer's table. My breath hitched as I lowered my camera, but she was already on her feet, brushing herself off like nothing happened.

She glanced over at me, her expression unreadable, before winking and jogging back onto the court.

"Show-off," I muttered, lifting my camera again.

By the time the buzzer sounded, UConn had secured another victory, the score a comfortable margin in their favor. The team celebrated with chest bumps and high-fives, their energy filling the arena.

Paige found me on the sideline as the crowd started to disperse. She was still catching her breath, her jersey clinging to her from the effort.

"You get my blocks?" she asked, her dimple making another appearance.

"All three of them," I replied, tilting my camera to show her the shots.

She leaned closer, nodding in approval. "Not bad, baby girl."

"Not bad?" I raised an eyebrow. "I'd say they're great, just like the player."

Her gaze softened, and for a moment, the noise of the arena seemed to fade. "Thanks, Inds."

The bus ride back was quieter, the team's energy spent. Most of the girls were asleep or scrolling through their phones. Paige sat beside me this time, her arm brushing against mine as she leaned back in her seat.

"You good?" she asked, her voice low enough that only I could hear.

"Yeah," I said, glancing at her. "You?"

"Never better," she said, her smile lazy but genuine.

As the miles passed, the space between us seemed to shrink. And for the first time, I let myself wonder where this connection—this something—was heading.