Thirty Nine

The day after practice felt like a blur. Between the overwhelming chaos of coaching, team drills, and the constant hum of conversations between players, it was hard to get a moment to myself. But despite the noise, despite everything, there was this... shift. A subtle but undeniable change in the air whenever Paige and I were in the same room. We didn't have to speak for it to be obvious. The little looks. The unspoken understanding. The spark in her eyes whenever they found mine.

I couldn't ignore it. I didn't want to.

But as much as I wanted to let the quiet tension between us settle into something comfortable, I couldn't help but overthink it. What did this mean for us? For me?

I sat in the media room, my camera on the table in front of me, tapping my fingers against the edge of it, trying to focus. The guys on the men's team were laughing in the hallway, loud and boisterous as usual. The gym echoed with the sound of sneakers against the hardwood floor. It was just another typical day at UConn, yet everything felt different. Everything felt like it was slowly pushing me closer to something... more.

I needed to take a deep breath and step back. Focus on my work. That's all I could do right now, right?

"Hey, Inds," Aubrey's voice broke through my thoughts, and I looked up to find her leaning against the doorframe, grinning like she knew exactly what was going on in my head.

"Hey," I replied, trying not to sound as distracted as I felt. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to check in on you," she said, crossing her arms over her chest as she stood there, her tone serious but playful. "You've been... distracted. And I'm no expert, but I'd say it has something to do with our favorite number 5."

I groaned, knowing exactly what she meant. It was hard to keep anything from Aubrey—especially when it came to Paige. "I'm fine," I lied, a little too quickly. "Just... a lot going on. The game tonight, the media stuff... everything." I gestured toward the stack of work on my desk, avoiding her gaze.

Aubrey didn't buy it for a second. "You're so not fine," she said, walking into the room and sitting down across from me. "Girl, I've known you long enough to know when you're putting up a front. And right now? You're definitely putting up a front."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You really know how to make a girl feel like she's a terrible liar."

"You're not a terrible liar. You're just terrible at hiding the fact that you're overthinking everything."

I froze. Overthinking. She was right. I was a wreck, mentally sorting through the same thoughts over and over again. What was I supposed to do with what was happening between Paige and me? Was I really ready to let myself feel something so real, so raw, especially with everything I had on my plate?

Aubrey's eyes softened as if she knew exactly what I was thinking. "You're scared," she said gently, her voice a little quieter now. "It's okay to be scared. But don't let that fear stop you from seeing what's right in front of you."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words. I had spent so long trying to keep my feelings for Paige buried, trying to convince myself that there was no way we could work, no way this would be anything other than a mess.

But with every second, it was becoming harder to deny the chemistry between us.

"I don't know if I'm ready to take that leap," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, what if I mess things up? What if it makes everything weird between us? Between the team? I don't want to be the person who ruins that."

Aubrey tilted her head, her smile warm and understanding. "Inds, listen to me. You're not ruining anything. You're only ruining things if you don't try. Don't let fear keep you from doing something you might regret not doing."

I let out a deep sigh, resting my head in my hands for a moment. "You really know how to make me feel like a mess."

She laughed, the sound light and comforting. "It's my superpower."

We both fell into a comfortable silence, and I glanced down at my camera, fingers grazing the lens. Aubrey's words echoed in my mind—don't let fear keep you from doing something you might regret not doing.

It wasn't the first time I had heard them, but something about hearing them from Aubrey, with her knowing smile and steady confidence, made them feel more... real. It made me realize that maybe I didn't have to figure it all out right now. Maybe I just had to stop running and let myself be open to whatever came next.

But as I looked back at Aubrey, I knew she wasn't done.

"So," she said, her grin spreading. "I'm guessing you're still gonna try to avoid Paige after practice, right?"

I shook my head with a small chuckle. "What? No! I'm not avoiding her."

Aubrey raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Because you've been practically running in the other direction every time she comes near you."

I flushed, guilty as charged. "I'm just... trying to figure things out."

Aubrey just nodded knowingly. "You know, I think Paige is just waiting for you to stop being stubborn. She's into you, big time, Inds. And if you're as into her as I think you are, then don't waste time. Let her know."

I wanted to protest, but the words caught in my throat. Because, deep down, I knew she was right. It was like I had been waiting for permission to be brave, waiting for some sign that it was okay to take the leap. But maybe, just maybe, the sign had been there all along.

"You're right," I said finally, taking a deep breath. "I just need to stop overthinking it."

"That's the spirit," Aubrey said, flashing me a wink. "Now go get her, Inds. Before I end up having to call Paige and give her a pep talk. I'm not sure if I can handle that."

I smiled, the weight of everything lightening a little. I glanced down at my phone—there was a message from Paige. The heart in my chest thumped as I opened it, seeing her simple text:

"Hey, I'm free after practice. Want to grab dinner?"

I couldn't help but smile at the thought of spending more time with her. It was like everything I had been holding onto was unraveling, and in the best possible way.

"I'm going," I said, standing up and grabbing my camera. "I'm going to let her know I'm ready."

Aubrey gave me a knowing smile. "That's what I like to hear."

Later that evening

The gym was quieter now, everyone else gone after a long day of drills, and the only sounds in the air were the quiet hum of the lights above us and the shuffle of sneakers on the polished floor. Paige had stayed behind to work on her free throws, and I had just wrapped up with my last shot for the evening.

As I moved toward her, the nervous energy I had been carrying all day started to fade, replaced by something else—something lighter. Paige was shooting from the foul line, the rhythmic sound of the ball bouncing echoing through the otherwise empty gym.

I paused at the edge of the court, just watching her. She was in her element, her focus unshakable as she moved effortlessly, the quiet confidence she exuded making everything feel right.

"Need some company?" I asked, leaning against the side of the court.

Paige glanced up, her eyes lighting up when she saw me standing there. She flashed me a grin, the familiar spark in her eyes that made my heart race. "Thought you'd never ask," she said, tossing the ball to me with an ease that left me no choice but to catch it.

I smiled, stepping onto the court.

It felt like the first time I was truly here. Not just with Paige, but in the moment. No more second-guessing. No more overthinking.

Just us.

And that felt more than enough.