Forty One

I don't think I'd ever been so aware of everything around me until that moment. Paige's lips still lingered on mine, and the moment her kiss deepened, I realized I wasn't sure what I'd been so afraid of. Every ounce of doubt, every ounce of hesitation, had melted into thin air. It was just the two of us, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

When we finally pulled away, the soft panting of our breaths filled the space between us. Paige rested her forehead against mine, her hands still warm on my waist. I could feel her pulse under my fingertips, a steady beat matching my own. I could hardly remember what it had felt like before this moment.

"You're killing me, baby," Paige said, her voice low and filled with that teasing edge she always had, but with a softness that made my stomach flip.

I smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering on her skin. "I think I'm the one being killed here."

Paige chuckled, and for a moment, it felt like the world had gone back to normal. But, in truth, nothing would ever be the same again. We had crossed a line, and I couldn't go back now. I didn't want to.

But of course, I wasn't going to just let this moment hang there. I had to play it cool—that was my thing. "You really think you can keep up with me, huh?" I asked, grinning and nudging her lightly in the ribs. "You've got some serious competition on your hands, Bueckers."

Paige raised an eyebrow, a half-smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, I'm well aware. You've got game, Inds." She lowered her voice to a near whisper, as if she was sharing a secret. "But don't forget—I can always raise the stakes."

My heart skipped a beat. Was she serious? I took a small step back, looking at her. "Is that so? You want to play? Or is this your way of telling me I'm too good for you?"

She laughed, the sound low and smooth. "Not at all. I never back down from a challenge, especially not when it comes to you."

Her words landed somewhere deep in my chest. I wasn't sure how to describe it—how could a few words make me feel like the only person in the room? But I couldn't deny that I loved the way she made me feel seen. The way she looked at me, as if I was something more than just her teammate.

Before I could say anything else, the sound of sneakers squeaking on the court interrupted our bubble. I looked over, only to see the rest of the team trickling in for their practice session, their voices already rising in familiar banter.

"Uh-oh," Paige muttered, flashing me one last look before she turned toward the rest of the team. "I think we're being watched, baby."

I felt a hot blush creep up my neck. Oh no. There was no way to hide the way we'd just been acting. And even though I was trying to keep it together, it felt impossible to ignore the way my heart was still beating a little too fast. The rest of the team was going to notice. They always noticed.

"Alright, alright," Ice—called out from across the gym. She smirked knowingly. "Looks like Paige and India are having their own little moment over there. You two done flirting, or do we need to make this a team-building activity?"

I shot her a glare, my cheeks burning even hotter now, while Paige just chuckled beside me. "Shut up, Ice" I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, you know I didn't ask for all this commentary," Paige added, giving the team a playful shrug. "If you want to join in, though, I'm happy to accommodate."

That was Paige for you. She had this way of making everything feel like it was part of the fun. Even the most awkward situations—like this one—became something we could laugh about. Her confidence made me feel like maybe I didn't need to feel embarrassed. Maybe it was just us, and whatever was happening, no one else had to understand it.

But of course, that didn't stop the girls from throwing us a million teasing looks. Nika gave us a wink as she passed by on her way to the practice line. "You know, I think the two of you might just be the worst-kept secret in the gym."

"Oh, come on, Niks" Paige shot back, tossing her hair back over her shoulder. "You're just jealous because I can shoot better than you and have a fantastic new teammate to work with."

"Is that so?" Nika asked, pretending to think it over. "Guess I'll have to show you I can outshoot you any day of the week."

"Keep dreaming, babe," Paige teased, her voice low and laced with playful mockery.

The banter was contagious, and I found myself smiling at the easy camaraderie that the team always brought. Even in the midst of everything, they never let anything go unsaid for too long. I was used to it by now, but with Paige standing so close to me, it felt different. Like something had shifted in the way I looked at all of them. Like maybe they weren't the only ones who had to adjust to this new dynamic.

Caroline came over with a wink, leaning in like she was about to spill some top-secret tea. "I'm just saying," she said in a low voice, "if you and Paige are gonna make this official, you should know that we're all going to be here for it. Support system, you know? No questions asked."

My heart skipped again, and this time, it wasn't just the rush of nerves. I realized that, no matter what happened between Paige and me, I wasn't alone in this. Our team had always been there for each other—through thick and thin—and the thought of them knowing and supporting us felt... good.

"I'm definitely not saying we're 'official'," I stammered, trying to hide my flustered expression. But before I could continue, Paige interrupted, her grin mischievous as always.

"Wouldn't worry about it, Caroline," Paige said with a wink. "If we decide to make things official, we'll let you know. And don't worry, I'll be sure to tell you the moment we get matching jerseys with our names on them."

Caroline threw her head back and laughed. "Now that I would pay to see."

But as the laughter echoed in the gym, I realized that, in some way, it didn't matter if anyone else knew. What mattered was that this—whatever it was between Paige and me—was real. And in that moment, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

After a few more minutes of teasing and banter, the team took their positions for practice, and I gave Paige one last look before joining the rest of the girls.

But as I walked away, I couldn't shake the smile on my face, the sense of relief in my chest. Because no matter where this went, I knew one thing for sure: I wasn't facing it alone.

I glanced back over my shoulder to find Paige already watching me, her eyes soft and full of promise.

Maybe this was just the beginning after all.