#game winner

The gym is loud, but KK hears her.

Not her voice.

Just…her.

Kayleigh.

Somewhere in the corner of her eye, moving along the sideline, hands clasped, bouncing slightly on her toes like she can’t stand still when the game gets tight.

KK shouldn’t be looking.

Clock’s running down. Score tight. Coach yelling something she barely processes.

But she looks anyway.

Just for a second.

And Kayleigh’s already looking at her.

Like she knew KK would.

That does something to her chest she refuses to unpack right now.

“Arnold!”

KK snaps back. Ball in her hands.

Right. Game.

Five seconds.

The defender’s on her heavy, pressing, trying to force her out wide.

KK exhales slow.

She’s done this a thousand times.

But this time feels different.

Because she knows Kayleigh’s watching.

Three seconds.

Quick crossover. Space.

Two.

She rises.

One.

Ball leaves her hands just as the buzzer sounds.

Silence.

Then the net snaps.

Game over.

The place explodes.

Teammates crash into her immediately. Paige yelling in her ear, Azzi grabbing her shoulders, Nika somewhere behind her screaming like she just lost her mind.

“LET’S GOOOOO”

KK’s laughing, breathless, adrenaline hitting all at once but her eyes…

Her eyes are already searching.

And she finds her.

Kayleigh’s standing just off the court, hands over her mouth, eyes wide like she just watched something unreal.

Like she’s seeing KK differently now.

That feeling in KK’s chest gets worse.

Stronger.

She slips out of the crowd faster than she should, ignoring Paige grabbing at her jersey.

“Yo where you going??”

KK doesn’t answer.

She’s already walking toward her.

Kayleigh doesn’t move.

Doesn’t look away.

“Good shot,” she says when KK gets close, voice a little breathless.

KK huffs out a small laugh. “You think?”

Kayleigh smiles, shaking her head. “No, like…that was insane.”

There’s something in her tone.

Something real.

Not just teammate hype.

KK steps a little closer.

“Had to do it,” she says, quieter now.

“For the team?” Kayleigh teases lightly.

KK tilts her head.

“For you.”

It slips out.

Too easy.

Kayleigh’s smile falters for half a second.

Not in a bad way.

In a caught off guard way.

KK notices everything.

The way Kayleigh tucks her hair behind her ear right after. The way her weight shifts just slightly closer instead of away.

Yeah.

She definitely noticed.

Before either of them can say anything else, the team crashes in.

“OH MY GOD KK” Paige is back, grabbing her again.

“You’re actually ridiculous,” Azzi adds, shaking her head but smiling.

Nika’s already hyping it up louder than everyone else combined.

“You see that shot?? FROM DEEP??”

Carol and Blanca are laughing in the background, Kelis dapping KK up while Janna and Ashlyn are talking over each other about the play.

Sarah just shakes her head like she expected it, and Kaitlyn’s already breaking down the move like it’s film study.

It’s chaos.

And in the middle of it, Kayleigh’s still right there.

Close.

Watching KK like she’s still stuck on that moment.

KK glances at her again.

Kayleigh raises an eyebrow slightly, like she’s challenging her.

Like she’s saying do that again.

KK smirks.

Oh.

So that’s how it’s gonna be.

Paige notices the look immediately.

Of course she does.

“Ohhh nah,” she says, pointing between them. “What’s going on here?”

“Nothing,” KK says too fast.

Kayleigh laughs softly. “Yeah, nothing.”

Nobody believes them.

Not for a second.

Azzi just watches quietly, arms crossed, already clocking everything.

Nika leans over to Paige. “Give it like…two weeks.”

“Less,” Paige says immediately.

KK rolls her eyes, but she doesn’t move away.

Neither does Kayleigh.

And when the noise dies down just a little, just enough for it to be a moment again

KK leans in slightly

voice low

only for her

“Next one’s for you too.”

Kayleigh’s smile comes back slower this time.

More knowing.

“Better be,” she says.

And yeah

KK’s already planning it.

—