Title: You Always Have
Pairing: Paige Bueckers x Reader, Reader x OC
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Toxic behavior, manipulation, cheating, swearing, heavy angst, intense emotions, suggestive content, sex
Word count: 5k+
Summary: What Paige wants Paige gets… even when she’s in the wrong…
🏷️: @yailtsv , @nicebellee , @sitawita , @thatonesuschix , @vamptizm , @elalfywhore , @starfulani , @authentic-girl03 , @paige05bby , @paxaz535 , @azziswrld , @jadasogay , @paigeluvvr
It had been two weeks since I walked out on Paige, and honestly, I hadn’t looked back. It was hard to leave her, considering everything we had been through, but I knew I deserved better.
It was the right thing to do. Paige cheated on me—not once, but multiple times—and no amount of apologies or “I was drunk” excuses could fix that. I couldn’t keep playing the fool. Not anymore.
I was at a party, trying to enjoy myself, keeping my mind off everything, when KK found me. She slipped through the crowd, wearing that familiar apologetic look she always did when it came to Paige’s mess. She nudged me, an awkward smile on her face.
“Yo, she really misses you,” KK said, scratching the back of her neck like she was nervous. “Paige’s been asking about you non-stop. You should talk to her.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or roll my eyes at her. After everything, Paige was the last person I wanted to hear from. But I couldn’t deny that her words hit me like a sharp pang in my chest. Did Paige really miss me? Or was this just another act in her endless manipulation games?
“Why does she need you to come talk to me?” I asked, arms crossed over my chest, raising an eyebrow at KK.
“Look, I’m just trying to help,” she said. “She’s a wreck without you. I can’t make her stop calling me about you.”
I let out a dry laugh. “She had her chance. She blew it.”
KK winced but didn’t push further. “Okay, but think about it. Paige is at her place. She’s just… trying to make things right.”
I took a deep breath, feeling a familiar warmth spread through my chest despite myself. I hated that I still cared, even after everything. But I wasn’t weak anymore. I wasn’t the girl who put up with Paige’s bullshit. I was stronger now.
“I’ll think about it,” I said, trying to sound neutral, but deep down, I knew I was already leaning toward going.
By the time I showed up at Paige’s apartment, I had convinced myself that it would be a short visit. I was just going to hear her out, let her apologize, and then leave. No strings attached. I wasn’t going to fall for her games again.
But when she opened the door, I felt my heart skip a beat. Paige looked… different. She had this look in her eyes, a mix of vulnerability and regret. And god, she was still beautiful. My pulse quickened.
“Can I come in?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Paige stepped aside, letting me walk past her into the apartment. The air between us was thick with tension, and I could feel the ghosts of our past lingering in every corner of the room.
The couch, where we used to cuddle for hours. The kitchen, where we shared countless meals. The bedroom—God, don’t even get me started.
“I know I fucked up,” Paige started, her voice hoarse. “I’ve been a terrible person to you. But you were my everything, and I messed that up. Please, just give me a chance.”
I didn’t say anything at first. I crossed my arms and looked at her, feeling the weight of everything that had happened between us. There was a time when I would’ve forgiven her without question, but I wasn’t that girl anymore.
“You know you don’t just get to walk back into my life like nothing happened,” I said, my voice cold. “You cheated on me. You broke my trust. Do you even know how much that hurts?”
She took a step toward me, her eyes pleading. “I do. I do, and I regret it every damn day. I’m sorry, more than you’ll ever understand. I just want us back. I don’t want to lose you.”
I bit my lip, trying to fight the emotions that were bubbling to the surface. But I couldn’t ignore the pull, the magnetic force that always seemed to draw me back to her. Even now, despite the pain, I still wanted her.
And maybe that was why, when she leaned in slowly, her lips brushing against mine in a gentle kiss, I didn’t pull away. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, as if we were both testing the waters again. But the more I kissed her, the harder it became to hold onto the walls I’d spent the last two weeks building.
Before I knew it, the kiss deepened, and for a moment, I forgot everything. I forgot about the hurt. I forgot about the lies. All I could focus on was Paige and the feeling of her lips on mine, the warmth of her body pressing into mine.
But just as quickly as it started, I pulled away, my chest heaving. Paige’s eyes were wide, filled with confusion and hope.
“I’m sorry, Paige. I can’t do this,” I whispered, taking a step back. “This isn’t what I need. Not anymore.”
I turned to leave, walking quickly toward the door, my heart pounding in my chest. Paige didn’t try to stop me. She just stood there, staring after me in silence.
Five months later, I had moved on. I was dating someone else now—someone who treated me right, someone who respected me and my boundaries. But the shadow of Paige still hung over me, especially when I ran into her one night at a party. She was standing across the room with her friends, laughing and looking like she had everything under control.
I didn’t expect to feel anything when I saw her. But when her eyes met mine, something dark flickered in them. Her gaze didn’t leave mine as I made my way to the bar with my girlfriend, and I knew something was coming.
The next day, my phone blew up with messages from my girlfriend, who had seen the pictures. The ones where it looked like I was with Paige, laughing and standing way too close to each other.
“You told me you were done with her,” my girlfriend’s voice was shaky when she called me. “Why does it look like you’re cheating on me with Paige?”
“Wait, what?” My heart raced as I tried to process what she was saying. “No, it wasn’t like that. It was a setup. Paige—”
“Don’t even,” she interrupted, her voice tinged with hurt. “I can’t believe this. I thought you were over her.”
“I am over her!” I insisted, panicked now. “It was a mistake. You have to believe me.”
But she didn’t. She hung up on me, and I was left standing there, heartbroken, as everything seemed to fall apart.
I didn’t know where else to go, so I found myself outside Paige’s apartment again, my fists clenched as I knocked on the door.
When she opened it, there was no hesitation. I barged inside, anger fueling every step.
“You have no fucking right to ruin my life again, Paige!” I shouted, pacing the room. “You know damn well that was a setup, and you’re the one who orchestrated it!”
Paige didn’t back down. She stood there, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at her lips as she watched me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I’ve missed you, babe. I know you missed me too. That’s why you’re here.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t set this up!” I yelled, turning to face her. “You manipulated everything. You made sure I’d be caught in the middle of all this.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you think,” she shot back, her eyes darkening with a mix of anger and something else I couldn’t quite place. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, not anymore. You’re mine, and you always will be.”
My chest tightened. “I’m not yours anymore, Paige. I’m done with you.”
But before I could leave, she grabbed me by the wrist, pulling me back toward her. “Don’t walk away from me,” she said, her voice lower now, dangerous. “You know you want this. You always have.”
I tried to pull away, but she was stronger than me. She shoved me against the wall, her lips crashing into mine with an intensity that I couldn’t deny. My body betrayed me as I responded, the heat between us igniting once again. But I wasn’t going to let her win. Not like this.
I broke the kiss, shoving her away. “Fuck you, Paige. I’m not doing this again,” I spat, turning to leave.
But as I opened the door, I heard her voice one last time.
“I’d rather fuck you than anyone else, you know that,” Paige said, her words laced with smirking confidence.
I froze as I felt the heat of Paige’s body close in on me again. The distance between us, so fleeting moments ago, seemed to vanish in an instant.
My back hit the wall with a soft thud, and I gasped, breath caught in my throat as her hand found its way to my jaw. The sensation of her fingers against my skin was electric, sending a jolt straight to my chest, my heart pounding harder with every passing second.
“Don’t,” I tried again, the words almost a whisper, but they were powerless. My chest ached, a dull throb where my emotions collided with all the years of history we shared.
Paige’s smirk never faltered, but her eyes… her eyes held a fire I couldn’t quite read—something dangerous, something raw. She stepped even closer, bringing her body into full contact with mine. I could feel the heat radiating off of her, the undeniable pull between us, no matter how hard I fought it.
“You can’t walk away from me that easily,” she said, voice low and dangerous, her words slipping into the space between us like a threat.
I tried to pull away, but the wall behind me offered no escape. Paige’s free hand came up to rest on my hip, holding me in place. My breath hitched as her lips hovered just inches from mine. I could feel the tremor in her hands as they gripped me, as if she too was struggling to keep control of whatever was unfolding between us.
“You really think you can just throw us away like that?” Paige continued, her voice now a soft growl, a breath against my lips that made my pulse spike. She leaned in just enough for me to feel her proximity, her lips a mere whisper away from mine. “You know you want this. You always have. I can see it in your eyes.”
I tried to stay calm, tried to summon some shred of resistance, but everything inside me screamed to give in. I was caught between the desire to push her away and the instinct to let go, to lose myself in her again.
I shook my head, my voice barely a whisper. “I can’t keep doing this with you, Paige.”
But then, she pressed her body fully into mine, the weight of her presence suffocating me, her lips brushing against my ear as she spoke again.
“Then why are you still here?” she asked, her tone almost teasing, like she knew exactly what was happening—how my resolve was crumbling under the pressure of everything that had once been so familiar.
Before I could respond, her lips found mine once more, this time more insistent, more demanding. And I couldn’t stop myself from kissing her back. It was a fleeting moment of weakness, a slip, a crack in the armor I’d built around myself.
But as quickly as it started, I pulled away again, my hands pushing against her chest, creating the tiniest gap between us.
“No,” I whispered, my voice trembling with frustration and longing, my breath shallow. “This isn’t us anymore, Paige. This is just you trying to have control. And I won’t let you.”
Paige’s eyes darkened, a storm flickering behind them. She reached up and cupped my face, her thumb brushing over my bottom lip like she was memorizing the feeling of it.
“Then stop pretending you don’t want this, too,” she said, her voice thick with something dangerous. “You think you can just walk away from me? That easy? After everything we’ve been through?”
Her words hung in the air, an unspoken truth between us. I hated how they made my stomach flip, how they made my resolve waver. But I couldn’t let her win. Not this time.
“I’m not yours anymore, Paige,” I said, my voice steady now, the weight of my decision crashing down. “I can’t keep letting you drag me through this.”
I pushed her hand away from my jaw, and for a second, she just stared at me—like she couldn’t believe what I was saying, what I was doing.
“I’m done,” I told her, the words leaving my mouth with a finality I hadn’t thought possible.
I shoved past her, but as I reached the door, I felt the sudden press of her palm against the wall beside me, blocking my exit.
“You’re not done with me,” she said, her tone low and dangerous, her breath warm against the side of my neck as she leaned in, her chest pressing against my back.
“Cause, I’ll never be done with you.”
“Seriously Paige, Don’t.”
“Don’t what, baby?” she purred, her voice a husky whisper that sent my pulse into overdrive. “Don’t touch you? Don’t kiss you? Or don’t remind you how good we are together?”
I tried to turn my head away, again, but she cupped my face in her hands, holding me captive. Her thumbs brushed against my cheekbones, a deceptively gentle gesture that belied the fire in her eyes. “I hate me,” I said, the words barely audible.
“I know,” she stated, her voice low and intense. “But I know want me. More than I want to admit.”
And then her mouth was on mine, a searing brand that erased all thought, all resistance. It was a kiss of pure, unadulterated need, a desperate claiming that left me breathless and weak. I tried to fight it, to push her away, but her strength was undeniable, her will unyielding. And deep down, a part of me didn’t want to fight it at all.
Her fingers danced down my body, teasing and tormenting, until they found the hem of my shirt. With a swift tug, it was gone, tossed carelessly to the floor. My bra followed soon after, leaving my breasts bare and aching for her touch.
“Wow, bet she doesn’t get you this wet, like I do, does she?” Paige whispered against my lips, her fingers already found a way of working their magic between my legs.
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t form a coherent thought. My body was a symphony of sensation, every nerve ending screaming for release. A whimper escaped my lips, a sound of pure, unadulterated pleasure.
“That’s right, baby,” Paige murmured, her voice thick with lust. “Taking my fingers so well. You’re such a slut for me, aren’t you?”
Her words were like a whip, lashing against my skin, igniting a firestorm of desire. I bucked against her hand, desperate for more, my body betraying every ounce of resistance I had left.
“Come on, baby,” she urged, her fingers relentless. “Cum for me. Cum on my hands.”
I gasped for breath, my body trembling in the aftermath. Paige continued to stroke me until the last shudders subsided. Then, she pulled her hand away, her fingers slick with my juices.
“Good girl,” she murmured, licking her fingers clean.
Before I could protest, she tossed me over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I yelped in surprise, my head spinning as she carried me down the hall. She kicked the bedroom door shut with her foot, the sound echoing in the sudden silence.
She dumped me unceremoniously onto the bed, her eyes never leaving mine. I scrambled to sit up, but she pinned me down with her hands, her body hovering over mine.
“If you want me to stop, all you have to do is say the word,” she said, her voice low and dangerous.
“Fuck you,” I spat, trying to push her away.
But she didn’t budge. Instead, she leaned down and captured my lips in another searing kiss. Her tongue plunged into my mouth, and I found myself responding despite my best intentions.
Her hands roamed over my body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. She attacked my neck, sucking and biting until I cried out. Then, she moved lower, her mouth latching onto my breasts, teasing my nipples until they were hard and aching.
I moaned, my body arching beneath her touch. She knew exactly what I wanted, what I needed. And I was powerless to resist.
She moved lower still, her tongue tracing a path down my stomach, lower and lower until she reached the apex of my thighs. I gasped as she began to eat me out, her tongue and fingers working in perfect harmony.
As if she was on a mission, and having me under her was the end game. And it was working more than i wanted to admit.
I cried out, my body convulsing as I came again and again. “Mmm shit, ma that’s the 3rd time, I’ve made you cum only from my fingers and mouth. Alone.”
All I could do was whimper out while nodding head. I had been under Paige for so long, I lost track of time, lost track of everything except the exquisite pleasure that consumed me.
Eventually, finally she pulled away, leaving me gasping for breath, my body slick with sweat. She hovered over me, her eyes dark and possessive.
“You’re mine,” she said, her voice low and husky. “End of the day. You’re mine. I know you and your body more than you know yourself.”
And I knew, in that moment, that she was right. I was hers. Completely and utterly. And I hated her for it. For knowing that she was right.
Without a second thought she hooked the purple strap to her body, its smooth surface gleaming under the dim light of the bedroom. I watched her, my breath catching in my throat as she positioned herself between my legs.
“Ready?” she asked, her voice a low growl.
I nodded, my eyes locked on hers.
She plunged the strap into me, and I cried out, my body arching against the bed. The sensation was intense, almost overwhelming, but I found myself craving more.
She thrusted into me at full speed , her hips piston back and forth, driving deeper and deeper inside me. I moaned, my hands gripping the sheets tight enough to rip them.
At some point she used her strength and stamina to flip me over, face down into her satin sheets, testing my limits, exploring my desires.
"Yeah, takin' my dick, like a good lil' slut," she growled, her voice a husky rasp that vibrated through my very core. I didn’t tap out, not even when my legs were shaking and my body felt like jelly.
Each thrust of the strap sent shockwaves of pleasure and pain through my tight cunt, pushing me closer to the precipice of oblivion. My legs trembled, muscles screaming in protest, but yet I refused to yield. I wouldn't tap out. Not yet. Not while Paige held me captive in this exquisite torment.
Her words, laced with dominance and desire, fueled the fire within me. "Oh, I know she doesn't have you feeling this good," she purred, her breath hot against my ear.
"Bet she can't make you cry and fall apart at the same time." A shiver ran down my spine as I imagined the depths of pleasure she promised, the complete and utter surrender she demanded.
Paige's hand left the strap for a moment, and I whimpered in protest, desperate for the rhythm to continue. Instead, she delivered a sharp smack to my ass, the sting a delightful shock that jolted me back to the present.
"Don't you worry, baby," she whispered. "I’ve got you. Right where I want you."
The smacks continued, each one perfectly timed to coincide with the thrusts of the strap, creating a symphony of sensations that threatened to overwhelm me.
And then, she did something completely unexpected. I felt her reach for my phone, which lay discarded on the bed. A moment later, I heard the unmistakable sound of the camera app activating.
"Paige, what are you doing?" I managed to gasp, my voice strained.
"Just capturing the moment," she replied, her voice dripping with amusement. "For posterity."
I could feel the heat of her gaze on my back as she positioned the phone, framing the shot. I knew exactly what she was doing, the image she was creating: me, bent over her bed, completely at her mercy.
And then, she did something even more shocking. I felt the vibrations of the phone as she typed a message, and a moment later, I heard the unmistakable "whoosh" of it being sent.
"What did you do?" I demanded, my voice barely a whisper.
"Sent a little message to your now ex girlfriend," Paige purred. "Just letting her know who you really belong to."
"What did you say?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.
Paige leaned closer, her lips brushing against my ear. "I just told her that you've always been mine," she whispered. "Even when you're not."
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning and unspoken desires. I knew that this was a line that couldn't be uncrossed, a point of no return. But as I lay there, pinned beneath her, I couldn't bring myself to care.
Paige resumed her relentless assault, her movements growing more frantic, more desperate. She was taking me apart, piece by piece, stripping away the layers of control and inhibition that I had so carefully constructed.
"That's it," she groaned, her voice thick with passion. "Almost there. Just a little bit more."
I could feel the pressure building inside me, a tightening coil of energy that threatened to explode. My body was trembling uncontrollably, every nerve ending on fire.
My body was a taut string, vibrating with every touch, every word, every movement. I was lost in the moment, consumed by the raw, primal energy that pulsed between us.
Paige continued her assault, her voice a constant stream of filth and praise. She told me how good I felt, how wet I was, how much she loved the way I writhed beneath her touch. Her words were like gasoline on a fire, igniting every nerve ending in my body.
I was teetering on the edge, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The world around me began to blur, the only reality the feel of Paige's hand on my ass, the pressure of the strap inside me, the sound of her voice in my ear.
"That's it, baby," she urged, sensing my impending release. "Let it go. Let it all go."
With a final, earth-shattering thrust, I shattered. My body convulsed, every muscle contracting in a spasm of pure, unadulterated pleasure. A strangled cry escaped my lips as wave after wave of ecstasy washed over me, obliterating everything in its path.
I was vaguely aware of Paige slowing her movements, her grip on the strap relaxing as she allowed me to ride out the storm. My body trembled, my skin flushed, my mind blank. I was completely and utterly spent, a broken mess of pleasure and exhaustion.
As the aftershocks subsided, Paige gently withdrew the strap, leaving me feeling empty and vulnerable. She straddled my back, her fingers tracing slow, sensuous circles on my skin.
"You were so good, baby," she whispered, her voice thick with satisfaction. "You took everything I gave you and more."
I moaned softly, burying my face in the satin sheets. I was too weak to speak, too drained to move. All I could do was bask in the afterglow of our encounter, the memory of her touch, her words, her power.
I melted into the soft sheets, the weight of my body sinking deeper as Paige’s hands worked their magic. Each touch seemed to ease the tension that had been building up for days, months even, and I felt the knots in my muscles begin to loosen under her skilled touch.
Her fingers slid over my skin, gentle yet firm, and I couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh of contentment.
“Relax, baby,” Paige murmured, her voice a soothing lullaby in the quiet room. “I’ve got you.”
I nodded weakly, my eyelids heavy, fighting the exhaustion that settled over me. There was something about her touch, something familiar and comforting, that made me forget the chaos, the hurt, the arguments.
It made me forget the reasons why I had walked away in the first place. In this moment, all that mattered was the way she made me feel—safe, cared for, even cherished.
But as my mind drifted in and out of clarity, the weight of the past slowly crept back in. The reality of who Paige was, who we were together, hovered like a dark cloud.
I shifted slightly, turning my face toward her, my breath slow but heavy. I could feel my chest rising and falling, but there was a growing heaviness in my heart. Something I couldn’t ignore.
“We’re bad for each other, you know?” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.
Paige’s hand stilled for a moment, but she didn’t pull away. Her thumb brushed over the back of my hand, as if it was the only way she knew how to respond to the weight of my words.
“I know,” she murmured quietly, her words heavy with understanding. “But that doesn’t mean I want to let go, baby.”
I sighed softly, pulling away just enough to meet her gaze. My heart ached with the familiar conflict, the toxic dance we’d been doing for so long. The way she made me feel wanted, cared for, but also how she always seemed to break me down in the process.
“You’re toxic, Paige,” I said, my voice barely above a breath. It felt like the words had been buried inside me for so long, waiting to be released, to be said out loud.
Paige’s lips parted, but she didn’t protest. She didn’t argue. She simply nodded, like she’d expected it.
“I know,” she whispered, her eyes softening with something unreadable. “But I’ll work on it. I promise. I don’t want to lose you.”
I closed my eyes, my chest tightening. I wanted to believe her, I really did. But every part of me screamed that it wasn’t enough. The past weighed too heavily between us, the broken promises, the betrayals. I wasn’t sure if I could ever really trust her again.
“You have to really work on it, Paige,” I said, my voice shaky with the vulnerability I hated showing her. “I can’t keep letting you hurt me.”
She didn’t say anything at first. She just pulled me closer, her lips brushing over the top of my head, her embrace tightening around me. It was a simple gesture, but it felt like a promise, even if I wasn’t sure I could trust it yet.
“Shh,” Paige whispered, her voice a soft hum against my ear. “Just rest, baby. We’ll figure it out.”
I felt my body give in again, the exhaustion creeping back into my bones as she held me, her warmth wrapping around me like a blanket.
But the words still lingered in my mind. We’ll figure it out.
I spent the next few days in a quiet, reluctant haze, unsure of what to do with the mess of emotions I was feeling. I stayed away from Paige, avoiding her calls and texts, keeping my distance like I was trying to protect myself from getting hurt again.
It wasn’t easy.
I hated the silence between us, but I also couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that if I stayed, I’d fall into the same pattern again. We both needed time.
But after a week of avoiding her, I received a message that I couldn’t ignore.
“Please stop avoiding me. I thought we agreed to work on it… I want to work on it with you.”
I felt a lump form in my throat as I read her words. She wanted to try. She wanted to work on it. But was it too late? Could we fix what was broken between us?
I chewed on my lip, staring at the message as conflicting emotions flooded me. I was still angry, still hurt. But part of me missed her—the genuine parts of her, the ones I thought I could trust. I couldn’t deny the pull, the yearning to fix what we had.
Taking a deep breath, I responded, my fingers hovering over the keyboard for a moment before I typed back.
“I need time, Paige. I can’t keep letting myself get hurt, but I’m willing to try. But only if you are.”
The message was out before I could second-guess it, and I stared at the screen, feeling a strange sense of relief.
I wasn’t sure what to expect after sending that message. Part of me feared Paige would take my hesitation as rejection and pull away, but another part of me hoped—really hoped—she meant what she said about working on herself.
A week passed before I saw her again. I had buried myself in studying for finals, hoping that the stress of exams would distract me from the constant push and pull of my emotions. It worked, for the most part. But then, on a quiet afternoon in the Homer Babbidge Library, Paige found me.
I was sitting at one of the tables tucked in the corner, headphones in, my notes spread out in front of me. My brain was fried from cramming, and I had just leaned back in my chair to take a deep breath when I noticed her approaching.
She stood there for a moment, hands stuffed into the pockets of her UConn hoodie, that familiar smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. But there was something softer in her eyes, something careful.
“Didn’t think you could hide from me forever, did you?” she teased, but her voice lacked the usual cockiness.
I sighed, closing my notebook. “I wasn’t hiding,” I lied.
Paige chuckled, pulling out the chair across from me without waiting for an invitation. “You were definitely hiding,” she countered. “But I’m not here to call you out. I wanted to see you.”
I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to get to the point.
She hesitated, drumming her fingers against the table before speaking. “We have a home game tomorrow. You should come.”
I looked away, unsure.
Paige leaned forward, lowering her voice. “Look, I know you’re still unsure about me. About us. And I get it. But I meant what I said—I’m trying. I want to show you, not just tell you. So, come to the game. Let me take you to dinner after. No pressure, no expectations. Just… us.”
Her words hit something deep inside me. I searched her face, looking for any sign of manipulation, any hint of the Paige I used to fight with. But all I saw was sincerity.
“…Okay,” I finally said, the word coming out quieter than I intended.
Paige’s smile was small but genuine. “Yeah?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
And so, the next night, I found myself sitting courtside, watching as Paige dominated the game. She played with a fire I hadn’t seen in a while, her focus sharper, her movements calculated. Every time she scored, her eyes found mine in the crowd, a silent message passing between us.
After the game, she met me outside the locker room, still in her jersey, her hair damp from sweat. “You came,” she said, a little breathless.
“I said I would,” I replied.
Paige grinned, then reached for my hand. She hesitated for a split second before intertwining our fingers. “Come on,” she said, squeezing lightly. “Dinner’s on me.”
Dinner that night was different than any we’d had before. It wasn’t tense or filled with unspoken words. We talked—really talked—about everything. Paige told me about therapy, how she had been taking it more seriously since that night we last spent together.
“I know I have a lot of shit to work through,” she admitted, stirring her drink absentmindedly. “But I don’t want to be the person who keeps hurting you. I want to be better, for myself. And for you.”
Her words made something inside me soften. Maybe, just maybe, she really meant it.
After that night, Paige made it a habit to pull me back into her world. She convinced me to come to more of her games, to join her at parties, to grab late-night food at Ted’s.
Some nights, she’d show up at my apartment, asking to stay over, and other nights, I found myself in her bed, falling asleep to the sound of her steady breathing.
It was slow, cautious, but it felt… right.
A month passed like this, both of us dancing on the edge of something more. Then one night, after another home game, Paige drove me back to my place.
We sat in the car for a moment, the engine still running, the air between us charged with something unspoken.
Paige shifted, turning to face me fully. “I don’t want to do this halfway anymore,” she said.
I frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” she exhaled, running a hand through her hair, “I want you to be mine again. Officially. No more weird in-between, no more hesitation. I want you to be my girlfriend.”
I stared at her, my heart pounding. Part of me had been waiting for this moment, but another part of me was terrified.
She must have seen the uncertainty in my eyes because she reached for my hand, rubbing small circles into my palm.
“I know I hurt you,” she said softly. “And I know I can’t erase the past. But I meant what I said—I’m working on myself. And I want to keep working on this. On us.”
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Was I really ready to give us another shot?
But then I looked at Paige—really looked at her. The way she was looking at me, waiting, hoping. She had changed. Maybe not completely, maybe not perfectly, but enough for me to see that she was serious about this.
So, after a long pause, I squeezed her hand back.
“…Okay,” I whispered.
Paige’s face lit up with relief and something else—something warm.
“Yeah?” she asked, as if she couldn’t quite believe it.
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah.”
And just like that, we started again. But this time, we were determined to do it right.
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-Thank You For Reading!🩵🩶
-prettygirl-gabi🎀✨️
