Thirty Seven

I hadn't realized how much I'd missed the quiet moments until after the game. The buzzer had rung, the crowd had erupted in cheers, and now the gym was starting to empty. Paige had walked away with that grin on her face, her energy still high, but me? I felt like I'd been holding my breath the entire game and only now, in this rare moment of calm, could I finally exhale. I watched her mingle with the team, her voice loud and filled with excitement as she high-fived the girls. The rush from the win was still fresh in the air, and it felt good.

But it wasn't just the win that made me feel this sense of... peace. It was her. Paige.

I slipped my camera strap off my shoulder and set the bag on the bench beside me, my fingers still trembling a little from the intensity of the game. My heart had been racing for more than just the team's points. It had been racing for Paige.

I leaned against the gym wall, trying to steady myself, watching the team celebrate their victory. Aubrey, of course, was at the center of the action, cracking jokes and making everyone laugh, while Azzi stood quietly in the corner, taking it all in. But Paige... Paige was standing next to Aubrey, her eyes sparkling like she was alive in a way I couldn't describe. She was soaking in the camaraderie, the joy of the moment, and even from here, I could tell she was radiating confidence.

"Inds," Aubrey called from across the room, her grin so wide it almost looked painful. "You need to come over here and celebrate, girl! Get in on the action! Or are you too busy with that camera?"

I glanced over at Aubrey, who was gesturing for me to join them. Of course, I wanted to—more than anything—but something held me back. Not the team. Not the celebration. No. I was still standing there, too aware of the way my heart pounded in my chest when Paige wasn't even looking at me.

"I'll be right there," I called back, giving her a half-wave, trying to mask how distracted I was.

I didn't want to admit it, but I was tired of hiding. Tired of pretending like I wasn't constantly aware of Paige. The moments we shared, whether quiet or loud, meant more to me than I'd ever thought possible. It was like every time she smiled at me, it carved a little space in my heart that I hadn't known existed.

"India!"

Paige's voice cut through my thoughts like a warm breeze, and I immediately turned toward her, blinking at the way she'd jogged over to me without hesitation. The others had moved on, but Paige had kept her eyes on me—on me.

"Hey, superstar," I said with a grin, trying to make my voice sound casual, even though my heart was still racing in my chest.

She stepped closer, her eyes scanning me as if she was looking for something. "You were amazing tonight, baby girl," she said, her voice soft and a little breathless from the excitement. There was a playful glint in her eyes, but also something deeper. "How's your heart doing?"

"Are you asking about the game or about the fact that you keep giving me heart attacks?" I shot back, trying to mask the way my stomach fluttered at the thought of her so close.

"Both," she said, her lips curving into that signature grin of hers. "But mostly about that last part."

My breath hitched, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say. Paige and I had gotten close, but this—the way she looked at me, the way she was standing there so close to me—was different.

"I, uh, I'm good," I stammered, even though my voice sounded less sure than I wanted it to. "Just... need a minute to process everything."

She nodded slowly, as if she understood exactly what I meant. "I get that. I needed a minute after the first quarter." She leaned in slightly, her voice low and a little teasing. "But I think you need a different kind of minute."

Before I could react, she reached out, running a finger along the strap of my camera. My breath caught again at the contact. It was such a simple gesture, but coming from her? It felt intimate. Intentional.

I swallowed hard, my eyes locking onto hers, and suddenly the noise from the team behind us seemed miles away. The world seemed to narrow until it was just me and Paige, standing here in this tiny moment that felt like it could stretch on forever.

"You okay?" she asked softly, her gaze never leaving mine.

"Yeah. Just..." I paused, struggling to find the right words. "I don't think I've ever been this aware of someone before."

Paige's expression softened, and she took another step closer, her breath warm against my skin. "You don't have to hide it, you know." Her voice dropped even lower, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. "I'm not going anywhere, baby girl."

My chest tightened at the tenderness in her words. I hadn't realized until just now how much I needed to hear that.

"I don't know what I'm doing, Paige," I admitted before I could stop myself. "This... us? It feels real, but also like I'm stepping into something I'm not sure I can handle."

Paige's smile softened, but there was an edge of understanding in her eyes. "You don't have to have it all figured out right now, India. I'm not asking you to, but I'm not going anywhere either. Not for you."

My heart stuttered in my chest.

"I don't know why this feels so easy with you," I murmured, glancing down at the floor. "Like it's not supposed to be, but it is."

Paige tilted my chin up gently with her finger, bringing my gaze back to hers. "Because it's supposed to be easy, Inds. You don't have to fight it. You're not alone in this."

My breath hitched again, and the noise of the gym seemed to fade into the background. The only thing I could hear was the rush of blood in my ears and the rhythmic pounding of my heart. The world felt still, and in this one moment, I knew—despite all the chaos and the unspoken words between us—that Paige was right.

We weren't fighting this. Not anymore.

I stepped closer to her, closing the gap between us. "Okay," I whispered. "No more fighting."

Paige's smile was the only thing I saw before I closed the distance between us and kissed her.

It was soft, like I was tasting the promise of something more. The kiss wasn't rushed, wasn't full of urgency. It was the quiet, tender thing that had been building between us for months, years maybe.

When we pulled apart, my heart was still racing, but now, it felt like it was racing for the right reasons.

"Yeah," I whispered, my forehead resting against hers. "No more fighting."

Paige chuckled softly, the sound vibrating against my skin. "Good. You're mine, baby girl. Just like I'm yours."

I couldn't hold back the smile that tugged at my lips, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to believe it.

I was hers. And she was mine.

And whatever came next, we'd face it together.