Missed moments, made up nightsâŚ
content: angst, sexual content. I think thatâs it?
California Airportâ 1:00pm
Paige knows the call is going to be bad before she even answers it, because Azzi never calls three times in a row unless something already feels off, unless something has already started breaking before either of them has said it out loud..
The airport is loud in that annoying, nonstop way, people dragging suitcases, announcements echoing overhead, everyone moving cuz they have somewhere important to be, and Paige is just standing there stuck in place, staring at a screen that still says cancelled like itâs mocking her
Her phone keeps vibrating in her hand.
Paige exhales through her nose, runs a hand through her hair, and answers
She tries to make it sound normal, like nothingâs wrong yet, like she didnât just spend the last hour trying to argue with a gate agent who does not care about her life falling apart in real time.
Thereâs silence on the other end, not long, but heavy enough that Paige can already picture Azziâs expression, the way her jaw sets when sheâs holding something back, the way her silence always means more than whatever sheâs about to say
âHey,â Azzi says back, but it doesnât sound like a greeting, it sounds like sheâs waiting.
Waiting for an explanation Paige hasnât given yet.
Paige shifts her weight, already feeling defensive even though she hasnât technically been accused of anything yet, which honestly makes it worse.
âIâm at the airport,â she starts, words coming quicker now because she knows she needs to get ahead of this, âmy flight got cancelled, like fully cancelled, thereâs a storm or something and everythingâs delayed or overbooked, Iâm trying to get on another one but itâs a mess right nowâ
She keeps talking because silence feels dangerous, because if she stops then Azzi gets to fill the space and Paige already knows thatâs not going to go well.
âIâve been here since the morning trying to fix it, Iâm on standby for like two different flights andââ
âBut you were at Coachella yesterdayâ
Azzi doesnât raise her voice, doesnât interrupt loudly, she just drops it in there, calm and flat and way too precise, like sheâs been holding onto that sentence and waiting for the exact moment to use it.
Her jaw tightens immediately
âYeah,â she says, slower now, already irritated, âand I still had a flight booked that wouldâve gotten me there on time, this isnât like me just not planning shit, I had it handledâ
Thereâs a pause, and it stretches just enough for Paige to feel it settling in her chest, that uncomfortable pressure that means this isnât just about the flight anymore.
âToday is the draft, Paigeâ
The way Azzi says it is quiet but it lands hard, like sheâs not just reminding her, sheâs pointing out something bigger, something obvious that Paige somehow still managed to mess up.
Paige lets out a breath, shaking her head even though Azzi canât see it.
âI know that,â she says, frustration slipping in now because what else is she supposed to say to that, âyou think I donât know that, like seriously?â
âThen why does it feel like you donâtâ?
That one hits in a way Paige doesnât expect, because itâs not loud, itâs not dramatic, itâs just honest in the worst way possible.
For a second Paige doesnât answer, which almost never happens btw cuz her smart mouth always has an answer, especially when sheâs wrong. she knows exactly what today is, she knows what it means, she knows how much pressure Azziâs been under and how long sheâs been working toward this exact moment.
She knows she was supposed to be there,Not just there somewhere in the crowd, but there in the way that matters, the person Azzi looks for first, the person who sees her before the cameras do, the person whoâs supposed to be steady when everything else feels overwhelming.
And instead sheâs stuck in an airport arguing about stupid standby lists.
âIâm trying to get there,â Paige says finally, her voice lower now but still tight, still defensive because she doesnât know how to not be, âlike what do you want me to do, teleport or something?â
Azzi lets out a short laugh, and this one isnât even pretending to be nice anymore.
âI want you to care, Paigeâ
That flips something instantly.
Paige straightens, her grip tightening on her phone.
âWhat the fuck are you talking about?â
âIâm talking about the fact that today is the biggest day of my life,â Azzi says, and now thereâs something breaking through the calm, something sharper, âand my girlfriend is stuck at an airport because she decided to go to a music festival the day beforeâ.
Paige scoffs under her breath, disbelief mixing with frustration.
âThatâs not fair and you know it,â she fires back, words coming faster now, âI planned everything, I had a flight, I didnât plan for the airline to completely screw me over, how is that my faultâ.
That controlled, cutting quiet.
And Paige feels heat rush up her neck
âOkay so what, you want me to control the weather too,â she snaps, starting to pace again, ignoring the looks sheâs getting now, âIâve been trying all morning to fix this, you think I want to miss this, like seriously?â
Azzi doesnât answer right away.
And that silence says more than anything else.
Because it feels like doubt.
Like she doesnât fully believe Paige.
âI donât know what you want me to say,â Paige continues, pushing through it, âshit happens, flights get cancelled, itâs not like I just decided not to show up. â
âYeah,â Azzi says slowly, âbut youâre still not hereâ.
For a second neither of them speaks, and everything thatâs been building just sits there between them, heavy and unresolved and way too big for a phone call.
When Azzi speaks again, her voice is quieter, âToday is the biggest day of my life,â she says, slower this time, like she needs Paige to really hear it, to understand it, âand my girlfriend isnât gonna be here⌠wowâ.
The disappointment in her voice is worse than if sheâd yelled.
It sinks in, sharp and quiet.
Paige closes her eyes for a second, jaw tight.
âYou donât know that,â she says, but thereâs less bite now, less certainty
âI do,â Azzi replies immediately, no hesitation, no softening, nothing to cushion it.
And thatâs what pushes Paige right back over the edge.
âOkay so now weâre doing this,â she says, her voice rising again, frustration spilling over, ânow youâre just gonna act like I donât care at allâ.
âIâm not acting, Iâm telling you how it feelsâ
âWell it feels like youâre blaming me for something I canât controlâ.
âAnd it feels like you didnât think this throughâ.
Paige lets out a sharp laugh, shaking her head.
âAre you serious right nowâ
âYeah, I am,â Azzi says, and now itâs all out in the open, no holding back anymore, âbecause I wanted you here, Paige, like actually here, not maybe, not hopefully, not depending on a standby list or whatever the hell is happening right nowâ
Paigeâs chest tightens at that, because that part hits somewhere real, somewhere she doesnât want to deal with in the middle of being pissed.
âI told you Iâd make it,â she says, stubborn, holding her ground even if itâs cracking underneath her, âand Iâm still trying to, youâre acting like I just gave upâ
Azzi exhales, and this time itâs shaky
âI donât know if youâre gonna make itâ
The real fear underneath everything.
It comes out sounding like doubt.
And Paige hears it exactly like that.
âIâm trying my bad, I shouldâve predicted a storm across the country, thatâs on me I guessâ.
On the other end, Azzi exhales.
And when she speaks again, her voice is different.
Not softer, just⌠done.
That alone makes Paigeâs heart race.
Because that word, that tone, it doesnât mean the argument is over.
It means Azzi is pulling away from it,
âCome or donât,â she cuts in, not loud, not emotional, just flat in a way that feels final, âIâll be getting drafted either wayâ
Paigeâs grip on her phone tightens
âAzzi, thatâs notââ
âIf you cared, youâd be hereâ
That one hits in a place Paige doesnât even have time to process.
Because before she can respond, Before she can push back or fix it or say anything at all.
Paige pulls the phone away from her ear, staring at the screen like it might somehow undo what just happened.
Her chest feels heavy in a way that has nothing to do with the flight anymore.
âYeah,â she mutters under her breath, shaking her head, already grabbing her bag, already moving again because standing still clearly isnât helping anything, âokayâ
But the word doesnât mean anything,
Because now itâs not just about getting to the draft anymore.
Now itâs about showing up after all of that.
And somehow, that feels even harder.
The room shifts before anything is even said, like everyone feels it coming at the same time, conversations lowering just enough, heads turning toward the stage, anticipation building in a way that feels physical, like itâs pressing against her chest
Azzi sits a little straighter without even thinking about it, fingers pressing lightly into the fabric of her dress, grounding herself in something real while everything else starts to feel like itâs moving too fast and too slow at the same time
Not nervous exactly, not in the way people expect, because sheâs been ready for this, sheâs always been ready for this, but thereâs still something about the moment finally arriving that hits different, something heavier layered under the excitement
She scans the crowd again, slower this time, more deliberate, like if she just looks carefully enough sheâll find what sheâs been looking for this whole time, but itâs the same blur of faces, the same movement, the same almost-recognition that never fully lands
Or at least nothing she can hold onto
Her jaw tightens slightly as she looks forward again, forcing herself to stop, because she canât keep doing that to herself, not right now, not when everything sheâs worked for is literally seconds away
The voice in her head is sharper now.
On stage, Cathy Engelbert steps forward, the room quieting in a way that feels immediate, like someone flipped a switch and pulled everyone into the same moment at once
Azzi feels it in her chest, that shift, that collective attention locking in, and suddenly thereâs no more space to think about anything else, no more space to wonder, no more space to look for someone who might not even be there
Her breathing slows, just slightly, controlled, like everything sheâs trained herself to do kicks in automatically
Cathy adjusts the card in her hands, smiling out at the crowd, letting the silence stretch just enough to build it up even more
âWith the first pick in the 2026 WNBA DraftâŚâ
The words echo through the room, clear and sharp and heavier than they should be, like they carry everything leading up to this moment inside them
Azziâs heartbeat stutters, then picks up again
ââŚthe Dallas Wings selectâŚâ
Time slows in that strange, unreal way, like everything around her fades just a little at the edges, like sheâs aware of everything and nothing all at once
But hearing it is different
ââŚAzzi Fudd, University of Connecticut.â
For a second it doesnât even fully register, like her brain needs an extra beat to catch up to what just happened, to process the fact that itâs real, that itâs done, that everything sheâs worked for just got spoken into existence in front of an entire room
Then everything hits at once
The sound first, applause crashing over her from every direction, loud and overwhelming and real in a way that finally snaps everything into place
Her teammates are already moving, hands on her shoulders, pulling her into quick hugs, voices overlapping, excitement spilling over in a way that makes it impossible not to feel it
Sheâs smiling before she even realizes it, something genuine breaking through everything else, something bright and earned and hers
her body moving on instinct now as she turns toward the stage, toward the cameras, toward everything waiting for her on the other side of this moment
The stage feels brighter when she steps onto it, the lights hitting her just enough to blur the crowd into something less defined, something easier to ignore, and sheâs grateful for that for a second because it lets her stay present, lets her lean into what this moment is supposed to be
She hears her name again, closer this time, said with pride, with certainty, and she smiles like sheâs always imagined she would, like this is exactly how it was supposed to go
She shakes hands, poses for the pictures, holding up the jersey with Dallas stretched across it, cameras flashing in quick bursts that almost make everything feel like a sequence instead of a single moment
Itâs loud again, but in a different way now, more focused, more centered around her, and she leans into it just enough to let it feel real
When she steps off to the side, the noise shifts again, less overwhelming but still constant, and thatâs when things start coming back into focus piece by piece
She spots the UConn group first, all of them crowded together, phones out, recording, smiling way too big, some of them already yelling things she canât fully make out but knows are probably annoying in the best way
Then sheâs being guided again, where the interviews are happening, where everything becomes a little more structured, a little more controlled
Holly Rowe is already there, smiling, ready, professional in that way that makes it easy for Azzi to slip right into the version of herself she knows how to be in moments like this
She answers questions, talks about the moment, about the journey, about what it means, her voice steady, her smile easy, like nothing is out of place, like there isnât anything sitting underneath all of this waiting to be dealt with
Until her face shows up on the big screen behind them
Because the camera angle changes, the focus widening just enough to include more of the crowd, more of the reactions, more of everything happening around her
And without even thinking about it
Like her body moves before her brain can stop it
Her eyes scan quickly at first, then slower, more intentional, searching in a way sheâs been trying not to all night
Off to the side, just past the main section, standing with the UConn group like she slid in late and didnât bother fixing anything about it
Clean but completely out of place, like she walked in from a different event and just decided to stay anyway
Itâs so obviously Paige
Even with everything else going on
Azziâs breath catches just slightly
Because sheâs really here
Paige is looking right at her, like sheâs been waiting for Azzi to find her, like she knew it would happen eventually
Just that small, easy smile that feels way too familiar
Like nothing happened earlier
Like there isnât still tension sitting between them that hasnât been touched yet
Then she lifts her hand, just a little, a quick wave, casual in a way that almost feels unfair considering everything
And Azzi doesnât even realize sheâs stopped listening to the question for half a second until she feels it, that slight pause in herself, that moment where everything else fades just enough for her to feel it fully
Followed right behind by something else
Because sheâs still mad
Still holding onto the way that call ended, the way Paige didnât get to respond, the way things were left unfinished and unresolved
And now sheâs just⌠here.
Like she made it in time and that fixes everything.
Azzi blinks, forcing herself back into the moment, back into the interview, nodding slightly like she didnât just lose her place for a second
And that changes everything.
Even if she doesnât want it to.
Even if sheâs not ready to deal with it yet
Her eyes donât go back again.
That awareness sitting at the edge of everything
Like no matter what else happens tonight, She knows exactly where Paige is.
By the time she steps fully off the stage, everything starts coming at her all at once again, just in a different way now, more personal, more immediate, hands reaching for her, voices overlapping, people pulling her into hugs before she can even fully register whoâs who
Itâs overwhelming, but in a good way.
Her teammates are the first to get to her, loud and excited and completely unfiltered, wrapping her up in quick, tight hugs, saying things over each other that she canât fully process but understands anyway, pride and energy and history all packed into those few seconds.
She laughs a little, breathless, letting herself fall into it just enough to not overthink anything.
Then her parents again, slower this time, steadier, her mom holding onto her for just a second longer, her dadâs hand firm on her shoulder, grounding her in a way nothing else really has tonight.
Thereâs a shift in her chest, something tightening and pulling at the same time, like her body recognizes the presence before her mind fully catches up
Not across the room, not half-hidden in a crowd
Right there in front of her, like sheâs always supposed to be
And for a second everything feels weirdly still
Like all the noise around them fades just enough to make this moment stand out in a way Azzi isnât ready for
And she looks exactly like she did from a distance, which somehow makes it worse and better at the same time
Azziâs eyes flick over it automatically, taking it in without meaning to
She really just showed up like that
And thereâs a part of her, buried under everything else, that almost wants to laugh
But it doesnât reach the surface
Because right underneath that is everything else
And the fact that she wasnât there earlier
That she didnât get to be the one to see her first
Didnât get to share it the way she wanted to
She steps in like there isnât anything unresolved between them, like this is the most natural thing in the world, and wraps her arms around Azzi without giving her time to decide how she wants to react
Because sheâs not about to make a scene
So her arms come up too, slower, a little more controlled, resting against Paigeâs back in a way that looks right from the outside but doesnât fully match the way Paige is holding her
Because Paige holds on tight
Tight enough that Azzi feels it
Feels the intention behind it
Her chin brushes lightly against Azziâs shoulder as she leans in just enough to say it, her voice low but clear
âIâm so proud of you, baby.â
And thatâs what makes it worse
Because Azzi wants to react to that, wants to let it mean what it usually means, wants to fall into it the way she normally would
But everything from earlier is still sitting there, untouched, unresolved, too fresh to ignore
So she doesnât say anything
She just pulls back after a second, just enough to create space again, her hands dropping from Paigeâs back as she gives her a small smile that looks right, looks normal, looks like nothing is wrong
Even though it doesnât feel like that at all
Paigeâs expression flickers for half a second, something quick and almost unnoticeable passing through her eyes, like she felt the difference too, like she expected something more and didnât get it
But Azzi doesnât stay in that moment long enough to deal with it
She turns slightly, already being pulled into another hug, another congratulations, another voice telling her how proud they are, and she leans into it, lets it carry her forward so she doesnât have to stop and think about what just happened
It keeps moving like that for a minute, a blur of faces and hands and smiles, everything blending together in a way that makes it easier to avoid the one thing she doesnât want to sit with yet.
Until a voice cuts through it
âCan we get a picture of you two?â
Because she knows exactly who they mean without having to ask
Thereâs a small shift beside her as Paige steps back in, close again, like she never fully left in the first place
And Azzi turns toward her, smile already in place again, practiced, easy, giving the cameras exactly what they want
Paigeâs hand comes to her back naturally, like it always does, steady and familiar, fingers resting just at her waist in a way that would normally ground her instantly
Azziâs hand mirrors it almost automatically, resting against Paigeâs back, the contact brief at first and then settling just enough to look right for the picture
And through all of it, she keeps the smile in place, keeps everything exactly how it needs to look
Even if it doesnât feel like that at all.
The next stretch of time barely feels like it belongs to her.
Everything starts moving faster after that, or maybe she just loses track of it, because one interview turns into another and then another, each one slightly different but also exactly the same, questions about the moment, about the journey, about what it means to go number one, about Dallas, about the future, about everything she has worked for wrapped into clean, polished answers that she knows how to give without even thinking anymore.
She nods at the right times, smiles when she is supposed to, laughs lightly when something calls for it, her voice steady and controlled in a way that makes it seem effortless, like none of this is overwhelming, like she is completely grounded in every second of it.
From the outside, it probably looks perfect.
Inside, it feels like she is slightly out of sync with herself, like she is watching it happen just a fraction of a second behind, because part of her attention keeps drifting somewhere else no matter how hard she tries to stay present.
She catches glimpses of people in between questions, familiar faces passing through her line of sight, flashes of movement, flashes of reactions, but none of it really sticks long enough to matter, because she does not get the chance to stop moving, does not get the chance to settle into anything real.
And she does not get the chance to go back to Paige.
That part lingers more than she expects.
Not in a loud way, not enough to pull her completely out of what she is doing, but just enough to sit in the background of everything, like a thought she keeps pushing aside and it keeps finding its way back anyway.
She tells herself it is fine, that this is how tonight is supposed to go, that there will be time later, that this is bigger than one conversation or one moment that did not go the way she wanted it to.
She tells herself she is not going to let an argument ruin this.
By the time the interviews finally start to slow down, it does not feel like a clean ending, it just kind of tapers off, like someone gradually turned the volume down on everything instead of cutting it completely.
Her smile lingers out of habit for a second longer than it needs to before it softens into something more natural, something a little more tired, and she exhales quietly as she steps back, rolling her shoulders slightly like she is finally allowed to feel the weight of everything that just happened.
That is when it really settles in.
It is real in a way that feels heavier now that there is a pause, now that she is not actively talking about it, now that she has a second to actually exist inside it instead of performing around it.
And almost immediately, her mind shifts again.
The memory of that hug comes back first, the way it felt just slightly off, the way Paige held on tighter than she did, the way the words sounded softer than she was ready for, and the way she did not respond, did not give anything back except a smile that was easier than honesty in that moment.
She presses her lips together slightly, glancing off to the side without fully turning her head, like she might catch another glimpse of her without making it obvious that she is looking.
And that should make it easier to ignore.
Because now that things are slowing down, now that she is not being pulled in ten different directions at once, there is more space to think about it, more space to feel the fact that she actually misses her, which is annoying considering she is still mad, still holding onto everything from earlier, still not ready to just let it go like it did not happen.
But she also knows herself well enough to recognize what is underneath that.
She does not want to end the night like this.
Not after a day that is supposed to mean this much.
The thought settles in slowly but firmly, not dramatic, not sudden, just clear in a way that makes it hard to ignore.
She is not going to ruin this.
Whatever is going on between them can wait a few hours.
It can wait until they are somewhere private, somewhere real, somewhere that is not filled with cameras and people and expectations.
Tonight is supposed to be good.
And she wants it to be good with Paige.
The realization lands just as someone nearby mentions the after party, casual, like it has been obvious this whole time, like everyone already knows where they are supposed to go next and what the night is turning into.
Azzi blinks slightly, the shift catching her off guard for a second, because it feels like the night just started and somehow it is already moving into something else.
She glances around, picking up on the change in energy, people starting to move with more direction now, conversations shifting, groups forming and breaking apart as the next part of the night takes shape.
It does not feel like enough time has passed.
It does not feel like she has had a second to just be.
But there is no pause built into nights like this.
Everything keeps moving whether she is ready for it or not.
Someone hands her a garment bag, and she takes it automatically, thanking them without really thinking about it, already shifting into the next version of herself that the night requires.
The change happens quickly, almost rushed, tucked away in a private space
just a transition point between one moment and the next.
She exhales as she reaches for the zipper, fingers steady even though her mind is still catching up, still processing everything that has already happened and everything that is about to.
Her draft outfit comes off carefully, set aside with more intention than the moment allows, because even in a rush she cannot bring herself to treat it like it does not matter.
But the night is not over.
She changes into something new, something meant for movement, for noise, for a space that will be louder and less controlled than the one she is leaving behind, and when she catches her reflection for a second, it almost feels like looking at a different version of herself.
Her hand pauses for just a second as she adjusts the last detail, her expression settling into something more neutral, more composed, like she is bracing herself for whatever comes next.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, without her fully acknowledging it yet, there is one thought that lingers stronger than the rest.
She is going to find Paige.
They are not going to let this night go to waste.
They are not going to let this night go to waste.
Thatâs what she told herself not even ten minutes ago, standing in front of a mirror, fixing something that didnât even need fixing, convincing herself that she could just push everything down for a few hours and deal with it later like a normal person.
That lasts about five seconds.
Because the second she steps into after party her eyes land on Paige automatically. Paige isnât hard to find.
Sheâs off to the side, leaning back like she belongs anywhere she stands without needing to prove it, still in that same white collared shirt and black Nike vest. But thereâs girls. Too close. Not just standing near her, but leaning in, bodies angled toward Paige trying to pull her attention in laughing at things that probably arenât even that funny, brushing against her arm.
One of them says something and leans in even closer, and Paige tilts her head slightly to hear her better, smiling, relaxed, completely at ease like this is normal, like sheâs not doing anything wrong because technically she isnât.
And thatâs what does it.
Thatâs what flips something in Azziâs chest so fast it almost catches her off guard.
Because Paige isnât shutting it down.
Sheâs just there, laughing, letting it happen, responding in that easy way she always does, like everything is light and nothing matters enough to take seriously.
Like this doesnât matter.
Like they donât matter.
Azzi feels the shift immediately, sharp and uncomfortable, something tightening in her chest that she tries to ignore for about half a second before it pushes right back.
Her jaw sets slightly as she watches just a little longer than she should, eyes catching every small detail she wishes she didnât notice, the way Paige leans in just enough, the way she smiles, the way she doesnât step back.
Fuck this night, fuck solving shit, to hell with letting this night go to waste, and fuck Paige Bueckers.
Because why should she be the one trying.
Why should she be the one holding it together when Paige is over there acting like nothing happened.
Like they didnât just argue hours ago.
Like there isnât still something sitting between them that hasnât been dealt with.
Azzi looks away quickly, almost like sheâs snapping herself out of it, like she refuses to stand there and keep watching something thatâs only making it worse.
Her heart is beating a little faster now, not from the music, not from the crowd, but from that sudden rush of irritation she canât shake.
Sheâs not walking over there.
Sheâs not interrupting, not inserting herself into whatever that is, not giving Paige the satisfaction of knowing itâs getting to her.
If Paige wants to stand there and entertain that, she can.
Azziâs not about to chase after her.
She turns away fully this time, letting the crowd pull her in the opposite direction, slipping into conversations she doesnât really care about but participates in anyway, smiling when she needs to, responding just enough to keep things moving.
Anything to keep herself occupied.
Anything to not look back over there.
She knows where Paige is without checking, knows when she moves, knows when the energy shifts around her, like some part of her refuses to fully disconnect no matter how hard she tries.
And when Paige gets closer at one point, just passing through, not even stopping yet, Azzi feels it instantly, that familiar presence that usually pulls her in without thinking.
This time she shuts it down.
She turns slightly, just enough, keeps her focus locked on the person in front of her, nodding like sheâs fully invested in whatever theyâre saying, like nothing else exists in that moment.
Like Paige doesnât exist in that moment.
She keeps that up the entire night.
Every time thereâs a chance for eye contact, for a conversation, for anything that might force them to actually deal with whatâs going on, Azzi avoids it cleanly, slipping away just enough to make it look natural.
She doesnât look at her, doesnât talk to her, doesnât give her anything.
Because right now, being mad feels easier than walking over there.
And risking that she actually cares more than she wants to admit.
Paige knows she messed up bad because Azzi wonât even look at her.
It started back at The Shed, the second Paige slipped in late, still catching her breath, still trying to make herself smaller than she actually is so she didnât pull focus, because that was the whole point of everything she did today.
She knew what tonight was supposed to be.
She knew how big it was, how much it meant, how long Azzi had been working toward that exact moment, and the last thing Paige wanted was to walk in and accidentally make it about anything other than her.
Because she knows how people are.
She knows how fast things shift, how quickly attention turns, how fans start talking, how one picture or one clip can turn into something else entirely.
If she showed up dressed like she usually does, styled, noticeable, matching the energy of the night, it wouldnât stay about Azzi for long.
It would turn into something else.
Or worse, something about Paige.
And she wasnât about to let that happen.
She didnât care that it made her look like a waiter.
If anything, that was the point.
Let her teammates say whatever they want.
As long as Azzi got her moment exactly how she deserved it, Paige was good with that.
Saw her name get called, saw her walk up there
And then she hugged Azzi.
âIâm so proud of you, babyâ, because she was, because she is, because that part was never complicated.
but she didnât say anything back.
Just pulled away, smiled like everything was fine, and moved on.
Thatâs when Paige knew.
Nothing about this was fine.
And itâs starting to piss her off.
She knows she messed up the timing, knows she wasnât there when she was supposed to be, knows that mattered more than anything else tonight.
Paige exhales slowly, dragging a hand through her hair as she leans back slightly, trying to play it off, trying to look like sheâs just here, just part of the night like everyone else.
Thatâs when the girls show up.
They slide into the space around her like itâs natural, conversations starting easily, laughter coming quick, one of them stepping just a little closer than necessary, asking something that Paige barely registers because her attention is still somewhere else.
Normally, she wouldnât think twice about it.
Sheâd respond the same way she always does, relaxed, easy, not taking any of it seriously.
She laughs lightly, says something back, keeps it casual, nothing that actually means anything.
And more importantly, she sees the exact second Azzi sees her.
The way Azziâs eyes land, the way they linger just long enough to take everything in, the girls, the space between them.
And something in Paige shifts immediately.
Because if ignoring her is the game now, then fine.
A small smirk pulls at her lips before she even fully thinks it through, subtle enough that no one else would notice, but itâs there, sitting just under the surface as she turns her attention back to the girls in front of her.
Maybe if Azzi sees it, really sees it, sheâll finally drop whatever this is and come over here and say something instead of pretending Paige doesnât exist.
Because thatâs what Paige actually wants.
Not whatever weird tension theyâre sitting in right now.
She wants it to be normal again.
Wants Azzi to look at her the way she usually does, talk to her like nothing is off, like theyâre still them and not whatever this is supposed to be.
If it takes a little jealousy to get there.
If it takes pushing just enough to get a reaction.
Paigeâs fine with that.
But her eyes flick back once.
Because at the end of the day
She doesnât actually care about any of this
She just wants Azzi to come over
But the second Paige looked back, Azzi was gone.
Her eyes wandered the place trying to see where the brunette went and then sees her, talking and laughing with others.
âIâm so fucked,â she mutters under her breath.
She knows exactly what this is now.
And instead of coming over, instead of saying something, instead of even giving her a look that meant anythingâ
And now sheâs over there acting completely fine, like she didnât just clock the whole situation and decide she wasnât entertaining it.
Which means the plan backfired.
Paige straightens slightly, running a hand over the back of her neck as she looks back up again, eyes landing on Azzi whether she wants them to or not.
Now itâs not just waiting for Azzi to come to her.
Now itâs knowing she wonât.
And that sits weird in her chest, heavier than she expected, because for a second she really thought it would work, thought Azzi would get a little jealous, get a little annoyed, come over and finally say something instead of playing this whole silent game.
But Azziâs not doing that.
Sheâs doing the opposite.
Sheâs acting like she doesnât care at all.
Paige shifts her weight slightly, barely paying attention to whatever the girl next to her is saying now, nodding at the wrong time, giving a half answer that doesnât even make sense because her focus is completely somewhere else again.
Because now sheâs stuck between two options she doesnât like.
Either she keeps standing here, playing it off, pretending sheâs unbothered and letting Azzi do whatever sheâs doing over there.
Or she goes over there herself.
Which feels a little too close to losing.
Her jaw tightens slightly at that thought, not enough for anyone else to notice, but enough for her to feel it.
Because this wasnât supposed to turn into that.
She wasnât trying to start something.
She just wanted Azzi to talk to her.
Not planned, not some big dramatic lead-up, just one of those moments where the timing finally lines up whether theyâre ready for it or not.
Azzi is halfway through another conversation sheâs barely paying attention to, nodding along to something someone is saying, when she feels it again.
Before she can move, before she can slip out of it like she has been all night, thereâs a hand around her wrist, not rough but firm enough to stop her from walking away like nothingâs happening.
Azziâs breath catches for half a second, more out of instinct than surprise, because she knew this was coming eventually, knew Paige wasnât going to let the whole night pass without saying something.
She just didnât expect it to feel like this.
Paige pulls her just slightly out of the main flow of the crowd, not completely hidden, but enough to create a pocket of space where the noise dulls just a little, where everything feels closer, more direct.
But not fully public either.
Azzi turns toward her slowly, already knowing what sheâs going to see before she even fully looks.
Paigeâs expression isnât relaxed anymore.
Thereâs something sharper there now, something frustrated, something thatâs been building all night finally pushing to the surface.
âWhat the fuck is up with you?â
It comes out low, controlled, but thereâs no mistaking the edge behind it, the kind that doesnât come from nothing, the kind thatâs been sitting there waiting for the right moment to land.
For a second, Azzi doesnât answer.
Not because she doesnât have anything to say.
Her eyes flick past Paige for just a second, and thatâs when she notices it.
Not right on them, but close enough, angled just enough, people watching just enough for it to matter.
Of course this is the moment it happens.
Paigeâs grip is still there, still holding onto her wrist, not tight enough to hurt but enough to keep her from just walking away again, and Azzi can feel the tension in it, the frustration, the need for an answer that sheâs not about to give right here.
Not in front of everyone.
She shifts slightly, just enough to loosen the hold without making it obvious, her hand sliding free in a way that looks natural if anyone is paying attention.
Her smile doesnât drop.
She leans in just a little, close enough that her voice stays between them even with everything going on around them.
âWeâll talk at the hotel.â
Like this isnât anything serious.
Like sheâs not actively choosing to shut this down right now.
Paige doesnât move immediately.
For half a second, she just looks at her, like sheâs trying to read past the smile, past the tone, past the way Azzi is handling this so cleanly it almost feels unfair.
Azzi holds the eye contact just long enough to make it convincing, just long enough to make it seem like everything is under control, like this conversation is already handled.
Then she pulls back slightly.
From the outside, it looked clean. But Paige and Azzi knew better.
Because now itâs not just tension sitting between them anymore.
For what happens when they finally get to the hotel room.
And thereâs no one around to interrupt it.
Azzi slips her shoes off by the door, barely looking back, already moving further into the apartment like sheâs trying to outrun the conversation before it even starts.
Paige stands there for half a second, watching her, jaw tight, patience already thin from everything thatâs been building all night, from being ignored, from being shut down, from that fake smile.
âAre you serious right now?â
Her voice cuts through the space sharp and immediate, not loud yet but close, like sheâs already halfway there.
âIâm tired, Paige,â she says, not turning around, her tone flat like that should be enough, like that should end it. âI just want to go to sleep.â
Thatâs what sets Paige off.
âYeah, no, fuck that,â Paige snaps, pushing off the door and following after her, the frustration finally spilling over. âYou donât get to do that. You donât get to ignore me the entire night, pull that shit at the party, and then come home and act like youâre just gonna go to sleep like nothing happened.â
Azzi finally turns then, quick, like that hit a nerve exactly where it was supposed to, her expression tight, controlled but barely.
âI didnât pull anything,â she shoots back, her voice sharper now, the calm from earlier gone. âYouâre the one who came up to me in the middle of a crowded room and decided that was the time to start something.â
Paige lets out a short, disbelieving laugh, running a hand through her hair as she paces a step closer.
âStart something? Azzi, are you hearing yourself right now? Iâve been trying to talk to you all fucking night and you keep dodging me like I did something insane. For God fucking sake youâre acting like I cheating on you or sum, I was a bit late Jeez i still made it before your name got called I donât get what the big deal is.
âI wanted you to see me first, before everyone else, before the cameras, before all of it. I was there for yours wasnât I? Was I late to yours? When it was your draft I was there with you the whole fucking day!â
Paigeâs expression shifts, just slightly, something real breaking through the anger for a second.
âI still made it,â she says, softer but still defensive, like she needs that to count for something.
âYeah, you made it,â Azzi says, nodding once, but thereâs no softness in it. âAfter everything already started. After it already mattered.â
Silence hits again, but this time itâs sharper, heavier, both of them standing there with too much left unsaid and no easy way to say it.
Paige exhales hard, shaking her head.
âYouâre being overdramatic,â she says finally, and the second the words leave her mouth, she knows they hit wrong.
Azziâs expression changes immediately.
âOverdramatic?â she repeats, slow, like sheâs making sure she heard that right.
Paige runs a hand over her face, already irritated, already too deep into it to backtrack properly.
âYou know what I mean,â she says, her tone still edged. âyouâre acting like I completely ruined your night over something I couldnât control.â
Azzi lets out a short laugh, but thereâs nothing amused about it.
âYou donât get to decide how I feel about it,â she says, her voice low but sharp. âAnd you definitely donât get to call me overdramatic because I actually cared that you were supposed to be there.â
Paige opens her mouth to respond, then stops, clearly frustrated, clearly not wanting to drop it but also not getting anywhere.
âWhatever,â she mutters finally, stepping back slightly, her hands dropping to her sides. âIâm not doing this right now.â
âGood,â Azzi shoots back immediately. âThen donât.â
Paige lets out another breath, shaking her head again like sheâs trying to physically get rid of the frustration sitting in her chest.
âIâll just sleep on the couch.â
It comes out quick, almost like a challenge, like she wants a reaction even if she wonât admit it.
Paige stands there for a second longer, like sheâs expecting something else, like sheâs waiting for Azzi to change her mind, to say something, to not let it end like that.
Azzi just turns away again, walking toward her room without another word, like the conversation is over, like thereâs nothing left to say tonight.
And Paige is left standing there, frustrated, tired, still pissed, but underneath all of thatâ
Something that feels a little too close to regret.
Paige is stretched out on the couch, staring at the ceiling like itâs going to give her an answer if she looks at it long enough, one arm thrown over her eyes, the other hanging off the side like she just gave up halfway through getting comfortable.
She hasnât moved in at least twenty minutes.
Hasnât even tried to sleep again.
Because every time she closes her eyes, it just replays.
The look on Azziâs face.
The way her voice changed when she said she wanted Paige there first, before everything, before the cameras, before the moment stopped being just hers.
Paige exhales slowly, dragging her hand down her face, letting it rest there for a second like sheâs trying to physically push the thoughts away.
âYeah⌠I fucked that up.â
Itâs quiet, barely above a whisper, but saying it out loud makes it settle differently.
Not on purpose, not in some careless way, but that doesnât really matter now, does it.
From Azziâs side of it, none of the effort, none of the stress, none of the last-minute everything changes the fact that she wasnât there when she was supposed to be.
Paige shifts slightly on the couch, turning her head toward the hallway without fully meaning to, like her body already knows where her mind is going.
Because no matter how annoyed she was earlier, no matter how frustrated she got at being ignored, it never really sat right.
Knows how she gets when something actually matters to her, how she doesnât always say everything directly but you can feel it anyway, sitting right under the surface.
Paige swallows slightly, her jaw tightening just a bit as another thought slides in, one sheâs been trying not to sit with too long.
She huffs out a quiet breath, shaking her head slightly against the couch cushion.
âYeah, that didnât help either. Youâre so fucking dumb why canât you use the same iq you have in basketball you dumbass.â she says like sheâs scolding herself.
Azzi didnât say anything about it, didnât bring it up, didnât even look at her long enough to make it obvious.
She saw the way her eyes landed, the way she looked and then looked away, the way she shut down instead of saying something.
Not because she cared about those girls, she doesnât, not even a little, but because she wanted a reaction, wanted Azzi to finally come over and say something, wanted to break whatever weird distance they were stuck in.
And instead it just pushed her further away.
Paige lets her head fall back again, staring at the ceiling like it personally offended her.
âSmart,â she mutters, dry, almost annoyed at herself.
Because now Azziâs in the other room.
Probably still thinking about everything.
And Paige is out here on the couch, wide awake, knowing sheâs the reason for most of it.
She shifts again, sitting up this time, elbows resting on her knees as she leans forward slightly, running her hands together like sheâs trying to get rid of the restless energy sitting under her skin.
She should just leave it.
Talk in the morning when everything isnât so raw.
That would be the smart thing to do.
That would be the logical thing to do.
She lasts maybe ten more seconds before that thought falls apart.
And if sheâs quiet in there right now, that doesnât mean sheâs fine.
It probably means the opposite.
Paigeâs head tilts slightly, her focus shifting without her even realizing it, listening to the silence like sheâs trying to catch something hidden inside it.
For half a second, she doesnât move, like her brain needs time to process what she just heard, like maybe she imagined it, maybe it was something else, maybeâ
And her chest drops instantly.
Sheâs already moving before the word fully leaves her mouth, pushing off the couch so fast it barely makes a sound, her feet hitting the floor as she crosses the space in a few quick steps, all the hesitation from earlier completely gone.
She reaches the door in seconds, not even bothering to knock, her hand already on the handle as she pushes it open just enough to slip inside.
The room is dim, the only light coming from somewhere faint, barely outlining the space, but itâs enough.
Enough for her to see her.
Azziâs curled slightly on the bed, facing away from the door, shoulders drawn in like sheâs trying to make herself smaller, like if she just stays still enough she wonât fall apart completely.
And even from here, Paige can tell.
Sheâs trying not to cry.
Trying to hold it in like no oneâs supposed to see this part.
Paigeâs chest tightens immediately, something sharp and heavy hitting all at once, guilt and concern and something softer underneath it that pushes everything else aside.
Because sheâs not supposed to look like that.
For a second, Paige just stands there, taking it in, like the sight of her like this caught her off guard more than anything else tonight.
And then she steps closer.
Like sheâs approaching something fragile she doesnât want to break any further.
The mattress dips slightly as she climbs onto the bed, the movement gentle but noticeable, and for a second she hesitates, watching Azziâs back rise and fall unevenly, hearing the quiet effort sheâs putting into keeping herself together.
Paige reaches for her anyway.
Her hand finds Azziâs shoulder first, warm and familiar, sliding gently as she pulls her closer, not forcing it, just guiding her until Azzi turns enough to fall into her.
And then she really pulls her in.
Both arms wrapping around her, firm and steady, one hand pressing softly against her back while the other comes up to cradle the back of her head, guiding it down until Azziâs face is tucked against her chest.
Right where she always ends up.
For a second, Azzi holds it together.
Itâs quiet at first, like sheâs still trying to keep it contained, but it doesnât last, her shoulders shaking slightly as everything sheâs been holding in all night finally spills out, her hands gripping at Paigeâs shirt like she needs something solid to hold onto.
Paige tightens her hold immediately, instinctively, her chin resting against the top of Azziâs head as she pulls her even closer.
âHey, hey⌠I got you,â she murmurs, her voice low and soft. âYouâre okay, baby, I got you.â
this is where they always end up no matter how bad it gets.
âIâm sorry,â Paige says after a second, the words coming out quieter now, more real. âIâm so fucking sorry.â
Azzi shakes her head slightly against her chest, her voice breaking when she finally manages to speak.
âNo, Iâm sorry,â she says, pulling in a shaky breath. âI was being dramatic, I made it a bigger deal than it needed to be, I justââ
Paige cuts her off immediately, her hand coming up to tilt Azziâs head just enough so she can look at her, even in the dim light.
âDonât do that,â she says, her voice firm now, not harsh but certain. âDonât you dare blame yourself for that.â
Azzi blinks at her, still teary, still a little shaky, clearly not expecting that.
âYou were right,â Paige continues, softer now but just as serious. âYou were completely right. I shouldâve been there, like actually there, when it started. I know how much that meant to you, and I hate that I missed it.â
She exhales slightly, her thumb brushing lightly under Azziâs eye, catching what she can of the tears.
âAnd then I made it worse,â she adds, a small, almost frustrated laugh slipping out. âStanding there with those girls like that was gonna fix anything. That was stupid.â
Azzi lets out a quiet breath at that, her shoulders relaxing just slightly as she leans back into Paige again, not fully pulling away this time.
âI just wanted you there,â she admits, her voice softer now, less defensive, more honest. âLike before everything started. I had this whole thing planned in my head and it just⌠didnât go like that.â
Paige nods slightly, her hand still resting against her back, steady, grounding.
âI know,â she says quietly. âAnd Iâm sorry I messed that up for you.â
Thereâs a pause after that, not uncomfortable this time, just⌠calmer, like the tension thatâs been sitting between them all night is finally starting to loosen.
And then Azzi lets out a small, almost embarrassed laugh against her chest.
âI even bought a special lingerie just for tonight.â
she mutters, like sheâs debating whether she shouldâve said it at all.
Paige blinks, then lets out a soft laugh, the tension breaking just a little more.
âOf course you did,â she says, shaking her head slightly, her voice lighter now.
Azzi groans quietly, hiding her face again.
âIâm not laughing,â Paige says, even though she clearly is, just a little. âI mean, I am, but not like that.â
She shifts slightly, pulling her closer again, pressing a quick, soft kiss to the top of her head.
âIâll make it up to you,â she murmurs. âI promise.â
Azzi huffs quietly, but thereâs no real attitude behind it now, just tiredness settling in where everything else used to be.
âIâm too exhausted for any of that right now,â she says, her voice already softer, slower. âMy feet actually hurt so bad, those heels were a mistake.â
Paige lets out another quiet laugh at that, her hand moving down to rub lightly along Azziâs back.
âYeah, I couldâve told you that,â she says.
Because somewhere in the middle of that sentence, somewhere between the exhaustion and the comfort and finally letting everything go, she just⌠stops.
Her breathing evens out, her grip loosens slightly, her body settling fully against Paige like she doesnât have the energy to hold herself up anymore.
She falls asleep right there.
Still tucked against her.
Paige goes still for a second when she realizes, her hand pausing slightly against her back before continuing again, slower now, more absent, like she doesnât want to disturb her.
She looks down at her, the faint light catching just enough to make everything softer, calmer, like the version of Azzi she knows best is finally back.
And something in her chest settles with it.
âYeah,â she murmurs quietly, more to herself than anything. âIâll fix it.â
Her arm tightens just slightly around her, careful, protective.
She actually lets herself sleep too.
The next morning (Azziâs pov)
The first thing Azzi notices when she wakes up is the cold empty space beside her, and for a second she just lays there, eyes half-open, trying to place it.
Because for a moment it feels wrong.
Like she missed something.
Her hand drifts slightly across the mattress, like she expects to find Paige there anyway, like maybe she just shifted or got up for a second, but thereâs nothing except the faint imprint where she used to be.
Azzi frowns slightly, still waking up, still caught somewhere between sleep and reality.
And then she smells it, eggs and coffee and Something sweet underneath it all that she canât fully place yet but knows instantly isnât random.
Her brows lift just slightly, confusion easing into something softer as she blinks herself fully awake, pushing herself up slowly, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.
âOkayâŚâ she mutters quietly, more to herself than anything.
She swings her legs over the side of the bed, standing up, still a little slow, still feeling the leftover exhaustion from last night sitting in her body.
Before she makes her way to the door her eyes land on the shopping bag and remembers the lingerie she got.
For a second she just looks at it, and then something shifts in her expression, something softer, almost amused, like a memory clicking back into place.
âOh my God,â she breathes out quietly, a small smile pulling at her lips.
What the night was supposed to look like before everything went sideways.
Her fingers curl slightly as she stands there for a second longer, then she lets out a quiet breath, shaking her head just a little.
And instead of walking outâ
A few minutes later, sheâs standing in front of the mirror, adjusting the robe around her, making sure it covers just enough, her hair still a little messy from sleep, her expression softer now, lighter.
She takes one last look at herself, then turns and heads out.
The smell hits stronger the second she steps into the kitchen.
Not perfectly, not like something out of a movie, but clearly thought out, plates, food, coffee already poured, flowers sitting in the middle, balloons everywhere and more flowers.
Paige is standing by the oven, pulling out a tray with a look on her face that already says sheâs about to complain about something.
Azzi just stands there for a second, taking it all in, that warm feeling in her chest growing, spreading, settling in a way that makes everything from last night feel further away.
Paige turns slightly, setting the tray down, already shaking her head.
âYeah, Iâm never making these again,â she says immediately, not even realizing Azziâs there yet. âWho the hell decided cottage cheese belonged in cookies, because thatâs actually criminal.â
Azzi lets out a quiet laugh, the sound slipping out before she can stop it.
And something in her expression shifts instantly.
She doesnât even get the word out fully before Azzi starts walking toward her.
Paigeâs still mid-rant, already continuing like she didnât just get interrupted.
âIâm serious, they smell weird, they look weird, I donât even thinkââ
Her hands come up, sliding around the back of Paigeâs neck as she pulls her in and kisses her.
Paige freezes for half a second, clearly not expecting it, and then everything else just drops.
Her hands move automatically, finding Azziâs waist, pulling her closer like there was never any distance to begin with.
The kiss deepens slightly
Paige's hands tighten on Azzi's waist, fingers pressing into the soft fabric of the robe. Azzi makes a quiet sound against her mouth, something between a sigh and a hum. Her fingers slide up into Paige's hair, tangling gently at the nape of her neck, tugging just enough to tilt Paige's head slightly, changing the angle, deepening the kiss even more. her tongue brushing against Paige's lower lip in a way that's deliberate, teasing, like she's reminding Paige exactly who she's kissing.
Paige exhales sharply through her nose, her grip shifting, one hand sliding up Azzi's back, the other dropping lower, fingers grazing the curve of her hip through the robe. She can feel Azzi's heartbeat, or maybe that's her own, they're so close it's hard to tell anymore.
"You're distracting me," Paige murmurs against her lips, but there's no complaint in it, just breathless recognition.
Azzi pulls back just enough to look at her, close enough that their foreheads are almost touching, her eyes darker now, warmer, still a little puffy from crying last night but somehow more beautiful because of it.
"Good," she says softly, her voice low, almost a whisper. "You deserve to be distracted."
And then she kisses her again.
Her teeth graze Paige's lower lip, just barely, just enough to make Paige's stomach tighten, and then she soothes it with her tongue, slow, deliberate, like she has all the time in the world now. Paige makes a sound she didn't mean to make, something low in her throat, and Azzi smiles against her mouth at that, small and satisfied, like she's keeping score.
When they finally pull back, itâs not far.
Not enough to break it completely.
Azziâs hands are still wrapped around her neck.
Paigeâs hands are still firm at her waist.
Close enough that their breaths still mix.
Paige exhales softly, a small smile pulling at her lips as she looks at her.
âSoâŚâ she murmurs, voice quieter now but still carrying that teasing edge. âHow does it feel being a Dallas Wing and being with an amazing girlfriend and teammate like me?â
Azziâs lips twitch, her expression shifting just enough to match the tone.
âOh, Iâm dreading it already,â she says, completely straight-faced.
Paige recoils slightly, hand coming up to her chest in fake offense.
âOuch, bro. Thatâs crazy.â
Azzi laughs softly at that, but instead of pulling away, she just pulls her back in again.
Paige kisses her back immediately, but thereâs a flicker of confusion when Azzi doesnât stop there.
Because she starts moving.
Paige stumbles slightly with it, trying to keep up, a quiet laugh slipping through the kiss.
âWaitââ she mumbles against her lips. âBabe, letâs at leastââ
Azzi doesnât let her finish.
The door closes behind them with a soft click, and Paige barely registers it before sheâs being pushed gently onto the bed, the movement smooth but confident enough to make her blink in surprise.
Azzi stands over her for half a second.
And Paige forgets what she was about to say entirely.
"Yeah," Azzi says, her cheeks flushing slightly, but she doesn't look away, doesn't hide. "The lingerie."
"You're wearing it right now."
It's not a question, but Azzi nods anyway, her teeth catching her lower lip briefly.
"For you," she adds quietly. "I mean... I bought it for last night. For after. But..."
"You're trying to kill me," Paige says, her voice rougher now, her eyes not leaving Azziâs perfect body.
"You started it," she says. "With the flowers. And the balloons. And the cottage cheese cookies."
Paige groans, dropping her head back against the mattress.
"Don't bring up the cookies right now."
"Why? You don't want to think about cottage cheese while you'reâ"
Paige doesn't give Azzi a second more to respond hands gripping Azzi's waist firmly, pulling her flush against her chest. Azzi's breath hitches, eyes widening, but she doesn't pull awayâher hands hover uncertainly before settling on Paige's arms. 'P, waitâ' Azzi starts, voice soft, but Paige cuts her off again.
â Nah, no waiting. I promised I'd make it up to youâ
Her fingers dig into Azzi's hips, steering her back toward the bed with unyielding pressure. Azzi stumbles slightly, a mix of surprise and heat flushing her cheeks, but she lets Paige lead, submissive under the weight of that promise.
Paige pushes her down onto the mattress, not rough but insistent, climbing over her to straddle her thighs. Azzi's legs part instinctively, giving Paige space, her body arching up just a fraction. Paige's hands pin Azzi's shoulders, holding her in place as she leans down, capturing her mouth in a deep, possessive kissâtongue thrusting in, claiming every inch. Azzi moans into it, soft and yielding, her fingers clutching at Paige's shirt.
âHands above your head,âPaige orders, breaking the kiss with a nip to Azzi's lower lip. Azzi hesitates, biting her lip, but obeys, stretching her arms up, wrists crossing like an offering. Paige smirks, satisfied, grabbing the robe's belt from the floor and looping it around Azzi's wrists, tying them loosely to the headboardânot tight enough to hurt, but secure enough to remind her who's in control. âGood girl. Stay just like that. Let me show you how sorry I am.â
Azzi squirms, a whine escaping. âP.. stop teasing, I need you.â
Paige chuckles, low and teasing, her hands roaming down to take the lingerie fully, trailing nails over her bare skin, scraping lightly over her collarbone, down to her tits. She cups one, thumb flicking the hard nipple, then pinches it sharp enough to make Azzi gasp and arch.
âLemme get you right baby,â Paige says as she lowers her head, mouth latching onto the other nipple. She sucks hard, tongue swirling, teeth grazing the sensitive place.
Paige presses her thigh down between Azzi's legs, grinding just enough to tease without relief.
âOh god, Pâyesâ Her hips twitch up, seeking contact but Paige pushes it back down. âNot yet. Beg for it if you want more.â Paige pulls back, watching Azzi's face flush deeper, her bound hands tugging futilely at the tie.
Azzi bites her lip, eyes pleading.
âplease Paige... touch me. I need youâ
The words come out small, and Paige's core tightens at the sound. She slides lower, hands hooking under Azzi's knees to spread her wide, exposing her fullyâpussy glistening, clit swollen and begging.
Paige's fingers trace her inner thighs first, slow and deliberate, building the ache.
âLook at you, so wet already. All for me?' Azzi nods frantically, hips lifting. âYes,I've been wanting this since yesterday.â
Paige rewards her with a single finger along her slit, parting the folds, circling her clit lightly before dipping just the tip inside. Azzi whimpers, thighs trembling. âMoreâplease, deeper.â
Paige obliges but on her termsâthrusting two fingers in slow, curling them against Azzi's walls, finding that spot that makes her cry out. Her thumb presses her clit, rubbing firm circles, the wet squelch of Azzi's arousal filling the room.
âTake it, babe. This is me making it right.â Paige pumps faster, free hand pinning Azzi's hip down to stop her from chasing too hard. her face contorted in pleasureâmouth open, breaths ragged.
âPaigeâfuck, I'm close. Don't stop.âAzzi's voice breaks pleas turning desperate. Paige leans in, lips at her neck, sucking a mark high enough to show. âCum for me then. Show me you forgive me.â
She adds a third finger, stretching her, thrusting deep and rough, thumb flicking her clit hard. Azzi shatters, pussy clenching tight around Paige's fingers, juices coating her hand as she rides the waves, back arching off the bed. âYesâP! Oh shit, yes!âHer cries echo, body shaking, bound wrists straining.
Paige doesn't stop immediately, drawing it out with slower strokes until Azzi slumps, panting. She pulls her fingers free, slick and shiny, and brings them to Azzi's mouth. âTaste how good you are.âAzzi parts her lips obediently,eyes locked on Paige's with that hazy look. Paige watches, arousal throbbing between her own legs, then unties the belt, rubbing Azzi's wrists gently. âFlip over. Ass up.â
Azzi nods, still catching her breath, rolling onto her stomach with a soft whimper. She pushes up onto her knees, arching her backHer face presses into the pillow, arms stretched out in front, fully surrendered.
Paige stands from the bed, her own sweatpants hanging low on her hips, pussy aching and damp against her boxers. She glances at Azzi's trembling form, smirking at how eagerly she's obeying.
âStay right there, don't move,â Paige commands, voice firm as she steps over to her duffel bag by the nightstand. She unzips it quick, digging past clothes and toiletries until her fingers close around the strap.
Paige pulls it out, strips off her sweats and boxers in one go, kicking them aside and steps into the harness, buckling it tight around her hips and thighs, the base of the dildo pressing snug against her clit with every adjustment.
She tugs the straps secure, the weight of the cock settling heavy between her legs, ready to thrust. Glancing back, she sees Azzi peeking over her shoulder, eyes widening at the sight, a fresh flush creeping up her neck. âYou brought that? For me?â Azzi asks, voice small and needy, ass moving back n forth slightly in anticipation.
âKnew I'd need to fuck you proper to make up for last night,â Paige replies, climbing back onto the bed. She kneels behind Azzi, hands gripping her hips to pull her back, aligning the tip of the strap-on with Azzi's dripping entrance. The silicone head nudges her folds, slicking up immediately from Azzi's arousal. Paige teases it there, sliding up and down her slit, bumping her clit on each pass. Azzi moans, pushing back desperate. âPlease, Pâput it in. I want it so bad.â
Paige slaps her ass cheek hard, leaving a red handprint that makes Azzi yelp and clench. âBeg nicer. Tell me how much you need my cock.â Azzi bites the pillow, then lifts her head.
âFuck me with it, Paige. Stretch my pussyâmake me cum on your dick. I'm yours.â The words hit Paige like fire, her own clit pulsing against the base as she grips Azzi's waist tighter.
With one smooth thrust, Paige sinks halfway in, Azzi's walls gripping tight around the intrusion. Azzi cries out, fingers clawing the sheets. âOh shitâ p itâs big!â Paige pauses, letting her adjust, then rocks her hips forward, burying the rest inch by inch until her pelvis slaps against Azzi's ass, fully sheathed. The pressure on Paige's clit makes her groan low, already chasing her own build.
Paige starts slow, pulling out almost all the way before slamming back in, the wet sounds of Azzi's pussy taking the cock filling the room. Azzi's tits sway with each thrust, nipples dragging against the mattress. âHarderâyes, like that,â Azzi gasps greedy, rocking back to meet her. Paige obliges, pace picking up, hips snapping forward with force, the harness rubbing her clit relentlessly. She reaches around, fingers finding Azzi's swollen clit, rubbing fast circles to match the rhythm.
âYour pussy's sucking me in so good. Taking it all for me,â Paige pants as she pounds deeper, the curve of the dildo hitting Azzi's g-spot on every stroke. Azzi's moans turn to screams, body jolting forward with the impacts. âPâI'm gonna cum again! Don't stopâ
Paige spanks her other cheek, alternating the slaps to keep the sting fresh, skin blooming pink under her palm.
Paige leans over her back, chest pressing against Azzi's spine, one hand tangling in her hair to yank her head up. âCum on my cock then. Squeeze it tight.â She thrusts erratic now, chasing her own edge, fingers pinching Azzi's clit. Azzi letâs go agai, pussy clamping down hard on the silicone, juices squirting out around the base as she wails, thighs shaking uncontrollably. The clench pushes Paige over tooâher clit grinding against the harness sends sparks through her, orgasm ripping free with a guttural moan, hips stuttering as she rides it out buried deep.
They collapse together, Paige easing the strap out slow, both panting heavy. She unbuckles the harness quick, tossing it aside to wrap arms around Azzi from behind, kissing her shoulder. âYou good? That make up for it?âAzzi turns her head, lips finding Paige's in a lazy kiss.
Azzi lets out a quiet laugh at that, the sound lazy, warm, her head tilting back just enough to meet Paige halfway.
âMaybe,â she says, teasing, even though thereâs no real edge left in it.
She turns slightly in Paigeâs arms, just enough to face her, her lips finding Paigeâs in a slower kiss this time, not rushed, not trying to prove anything, just⌠there.
Paige hums softly against her, her hand sliding up Azziâs arm, fingers tracing absent patterns like sheâs grounding herself in the moment.
âIâm serious though,â Paige adds after a second, her forehead resting lightly against Azziâs.
âI really am sorry,â she says, softer this time.
Azzi doesnât pull away.
She just reaches for her hand, lacing their fingers together.
Paige presses another soft kiss to her shoulder, lingering just a little longer, like sheâs still making up for it in small ways.
They stay like that for a moment, wrapped up in each other, everything finally feeling⌠right again.
Paige groans quietly, letting her head drop back against the pillow.
âDamn,â she mutters. âThe breakfast is probably cold now. All that hard work, gone.â
Azzi lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head as she shifts slightly to look at her.
âYouâre actually upset about the cottage cheese cookies?â
âIâm upset about everything,â Paige says dramatically, turning her head to look at her. âI cooked, I decorated, I emotionally matured, and this is the thanks I get.â
âDo I hear complaining beuckers?â
âNah Iâd do it again.â
Azzi rolls her eyes at that but sheâs still smiling, still close, still not moving away.
âCome on,â she murmurs. âWe can reheat it.â
âYouâre really about to make me eat those cookies.â
âThatâs messed up.â
Azzi just kisses her again, quick and easy this time, like the conversation doesnât even matter.
And Paige doesnât complain after that.
Because sheâs smiling too.
And everything feels okay again.
âOfficially a wing.â Paige says.
âOffcally a wing.â Azz repeats.
