#ncaaw

“Wait, what?” you asked, voice a little shaky, heart thudding in your chest.

Paige smirked, brushing a strand of hair out of your face, her touch lingering against your cheek. “You heard me,” she said softly, her voice low but playful. “It could be a lot of fun.”

A rush of heat spread through your body, and suddenly, you were caught between the thrill of the moment and the surprise of her bold suggestion. Your thoughts raced—was this really happening?

You swallowed hard, your pulse quickening as the weight of the situation settled over you. Paige’s fingers gently traced your jawline, sending shivers down your spine. The idea had shaken you, but it also stirred something deep within—a curiosity, an excitement that you hadn’t expected. There was no denying the heat between you, the electric charge that always seemed to spark whenever you were together. But this… this was different.

“Paige…” you whispered her name, almost as if saying it would help you make sense of what she’d just proposed. Your eyes searched hers, trying to gauge how serious she was, or if this was just a momentary whim.

She didn’t flinch. Her gaze held steady, playful but sincere. “What, baby?” she asked softly, leaning closer, her breath warm against your lips. “We don’t have to. But…” Her fingers curled against the back of your neck, pulling you gently toward her. “If we did, it would just be for us. No one else would ever know. You know how I get when I'm on away games...”

Again, such a horny fuck.

Her voice was a mixture of teasing and promise, and the way she looked at you—like you were the only person in the world that mattered—made it hard to think straight. The space between you was almost nonexistent now, your foreheads nearly touching as her lips hovered dangerously close to yours again. The temptation was overwhelming.

Your heart pounded in your chest, a mix of anxiety and anticipation swirling together. “You… you’re serious?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper, unsure if you wanted her to confirm or dismiss the idea.

Paige’s lips curled into a half-smile, and she tilted her head slightly, eyes twinkling with that mischievous glint that always made your knees weak. “Why wouldn’t I be?” she said softly, brushing her lips against yours in a feather-light kiss that left you wanting more. “Think about it—something just for us. A secret just between us.”

A secret.

That word sent a ripple of excitement through you, despite the nervous flutter in your stomach. The idea of something that was just yours and hers, shared in the privacy of this moment, was undeniably thrilling. You’d never done anything like that before—never even considered it, really—but with Paige, everything felt different. She had a way of making you feel like you could step outside your comfort zone and still be completely safe with her.

Your fingers unconsciously tightened on her waist, pulling her closer, your body betraying the uncertainty still lingering in your mind. Paige noticed, her smile widening, and she took the opportunity to press her lips against yours again, deeper this time. Her kiss was demanding but patient, giving you time to melt into it, letting the hesitation slip away with each passing second.

When she pulled back, her eyes searched yours for any sign of doubt, but you were lost in her, your mind spinning with possibilities. “Got my phone right here,” she murmured, voice low and seductive, her hand sliding down to the pocket of her basketball shorts. She pulled it out slowly, holding it between you like a tempting offer.

Your breath caught in your throat as you stared at the device in her hand, your mind racing. It would be so easy to say yes, to give in to the moment, to let yourself be swept up in the rush of it all. Paige’s thumb hovered over the screen, her expression a perfect mix of teasing and serious.

But the gravity of what she was suggesting wasn’t lost on you. This wasn’t just a random suggestion—it was intimate and personal. Something you couldn’t take back once it was done. You thought about what it meant, how this moment would tie the two of you together in a way that went beyond anything else you’d shared.

“P,” you started again, your voice softer this time, more sure of yourself. “I… I don’t know. What if something happens? What if—”

“Nothing will happen,” she cut you off gently, her hand coming up to cradle your cheek, grounding you with the warmth of her touch. “I would never let anything bad happen. Not to you. Not to us.” Her eyes softened, the playful edge fading into something more serious, more real. “It’s just for us, I promise.”

You searched her face, feeling the sincerity behind her words. Paige had always been good at making you feel safe, like no matter what you did or how crazy things got, she’d always be there to catch you if you fell. And right now, looking into her eyes, you wanted to believe that more than anything.

Still, there was a part of you that hesitated. You weren’t sure if it was fear of the unknown or just the sheer intensity of the moment. “I trust you,” you whispered, leaning your forehead against hers, feeling the steady rise and fall of her breath against your chest. “But this is… new.”

Paige’s lips pressed a soft kiss to the corner of your mouth, her voice tender when she spoke again. “It is new. But that’s what makes it fun, right?” She pulled back just enough to look you in the eyes, her thumb brushing your bottom lip gently. “We can stop at any time. If you’re not comfortable, we won’t do it. I can always delete it.”

That’s what you needed to hear—the reassurance that she wasn’t pushing you, that this was completely your choice. And in that moment, with Paige so close, so open, so trusting, you felt the last bit of your doubt melt away.

“Okay,” you breathed, the word escaping before you could overthink it. Paige’s eyes lit up immediately, and you couldn’t help but smile at her excitement. “But only if—”

“Only if it’s just for us,” she finished for you, her lips crashing against yours again before you could say anything else. This kiss was deeper, more urgent, as if the floodgates had been opened, and all the tension between you was finally spilling over.

Her hands roamed your body, pulling you closer until there was no space left between you. You could feel the rapid beat of her heart against your chest, mirroring your own, as her phone clattered to the floor beside you, forgotten in the heat of the moment.

She pulled back slowly, analyzing your expression to see if there was any trace of hesitation left. When she was satisfied, she pulled away slightly and grabbed her phone. There was no going back now.

───

"Just like that, pretty girl," she mumbled as she let out a low moan, her hand gripping your hair as you glanced up her iPhone lens facing you. You hummed at the sight, your tongue poking out to taste more of her.

You were on your knees as Paige laid on the couch, her legs spread as you ate her out slowly, just how she liked. Her hands were on your head, controlling your every movement. Every time you glanced up at the camera, it was a new level of motivation—the idea of being recorded was exhilarating, and the thought of Paige rewatching the tape when she was alone...

God, the thought alone made your pussy wetter.

You moaned as you gazed up at the camera once again, a small smile on your lips as you leaned away. At that, Paige let out a chuckle. "Dirty fucking girl," she shook her head in mock displeasure.

Your chin was covered with her juices, you were glimmering under the camera's flash. Paige's free hand leaned in, wiping it all over your face before pushing your head in again.

You shut your eyes at the taste, humming once again. God, she tasted heavenly. You began moving your tongue quicker across her wetness, the sound echoing throughout the room as Paige let out another groan.

"Oh fuck, yeah. Keep going, just like that, just like that," she praised as her head fell back on to the couch in pleasure. Her grip on your hair tightened as she pushed you into her pussy, another groan leaving her lips.

Your tongue began flicking her clit rapidly, her moans and your sloppy sounds echoing throughout the empty apartment. A few seconds later, her body stilled as she came, the tape becoming shaky before her phone fell onto her stomach.

Paige leaned down to give you a sloppy kiss, humming at the taste of her on your tongue. "Was so good, baby," she mumbled against your lips before leaning away.

↳ make sure to check out my navigation or masterlist if you enjoyed! any interaction is greatly appreciated !

“OKAY SO BOOM,” you hear your teammate, kk, say to her phone, “we back with another insta live! how y’all doin’?”

“kk someone said they saw you at chick-fil-a being a big back, can you confirm?” ice snickers as she reads a viewer’s comment.

“man, y’all never stop, huh?” kk side-eyes jokingly.

you giggle off-camera as you peer over your girlfriend’s shoulder to watch the two girls interact with fans. you were rested against the headboard of your hotel bed, paige lying comfortably on top of you with her arms around your torso and face buried in your neck.

you aimlessly rubbed her taut muscles underneath her loose shirt, relieving her stress from the game earlier in the day. the team was currently away from its home in connecticut, as they had an away-game against ohio state.

the huskies won, of course, but the score was much too close for anyone’s comfort, especially paige’s. with this season being her first after her acl tear last year, she felt immense pressure to come back twice as good and carry the team on her shoulders all the way to a national championship.

she never talked with anyone about how she was feeling - except with you. she claimed that you were the only one that truly understood her fears and would be able to chase them away simply with your warm smile and passionate words. when she told you this with tears in her eyes from her overwhelming emotions, your heart swelled immensely at her vulnerability.

the two of you had been together for close to a year now, and all your teammates and close friends were aware, but you both opted for a private relationship. there were many reasons as to why this was the decision, the most important being that you knew how the media would react - and neither of you wanted to jeopardize your careers.

there had been a few rumors and speculations about your particular closeness with the blonde, but you had been very careful around the cameras, ensuring that no one would have concrete evidence of your relationship.

as of right now, your entanglement with paige was out of frame, shielding you two from the camera and live viewers. paige was half asleep on her phone, still nestled in your arms while you listened in on your teammates’ silly bickering.

“i know they’re beefing right now but kendrick definitely won!” kk exclaims.

“okay, but who’s the better artist overall?” ice responds as her eyes scan the rapid-fire comments.

“that’s not even the point of this discussion, bro.”

“whatever,” ice laughs, shaking her head, “someone asked where everyone else is - yanna and aubrey are out getting dunkin for all of us, nika is already sleeping, aaliyah is taking a shower, and…” she stops herself before she mentions you and paige, “i actually don’t know what everyone else is doing.”

“what are you talkin’ about, ice? paige and-“ kk is cut off by ice swiftly kicking her leg under the table they’re sat at. she gives her a pointed glare as if to say “shut the hell up,” which makes you chuckle.

“anyways…” ice moves on from the close slip-up, “did y’all watch the game today? i think it was on youtube live or something.”

you tune out of their conversation when you feel paige groan lightly into your skin.

“you okay, babe?” you whisper into her ear.

“mhm,” she responds with a slight rasp in her voice, “can you do that thing you were doin’ earlier, though?”

“what thing?” you didn’t even notice what you were doing, or at least what you stopped doing, until she mentioned it.

“when you rub my back,” she answers.

“you like that?”

“'course i do,” she hums, “it’s like a massage.”

a flushed smile graces your face as you go back to caressing her soft skin, focusing on her tense muscles. when you press particularly hard on her lower back, she lets out a satisfied groan as she drops the arm that was stretched and holding her phone.

you can practically feel her melt into your embrace entirely, body going limp as she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. after placing a delicate kiss on her head, you too let your eyes close as you began to fall asleep with her.

“kk, i think they want you to sing,” ice says, pointing to one of the messages on the screen.

“oh i gotchu,” she smiles, instantly getting up from her chair, “what song should i sing?”

“do…” ice responds before reading one of the fans’ suggestions, “oh someone said do adorn by miguel.”

“that’s a good one, okay let me warm up a bit,” she says before obnoxiously and very poorly attempting to do vocal runs to “warm up her voice.”

“hold on you’re, like, not in frame right now,” ice says before she slightly adjusts the camera so that kk can be seen clearly.

but unbeknownst to all of you, your compromised position with paige can now also be seen clearly. you were too comfortable in your slumber and on the girl in your arms to pay attention to what the camera was showing.

kk was too busy "performing" for the fans and ice was too busy making fun of her for doing so, which is why nobody knew what what going on.

"did she eat guys?" ice asks the fans with a grin as kk sits back down, slightly out of breath from dancing.

both of them scan the comments, slightly confused with furrowed eyebrows at what the comments were talking about. it certainly wasn't about kk or ice.

user01: OH MY GOD

user02: THIS SHIP IS SAILING GUYS

user03: is that who i think it is in the bg 😳

at the third comment they read, they both inch closer to the screen to try and understand what their fans' were so enthralled by.

ice is first to realize how you and paige could easily be seen cuddling on the bed behind her and kk. with wide eyes, she quickly yet subtley moved the camera so that you and paige were once again hidden.

kk, still oblivious as to what they were so focused on, whispered to ice, "what happened?"

"they saw paige and y/n," ice replied putting a hand up to cover her mouth while leaning to whisper back in kk's ear.

now it was kk's turn to widen her eyes and cover her mouth, this time in shock. she turned to look back at you two, still fast asleep with arms intertwined.

she stood up from her chair and moved to block the bed entirely, not wanting another incident to happen. she knew that the fans loved to screenshot and record their lives, which always ended up being posted all over social media no matter what.

she also knew that she and ice would be getting an earful from you two once you caught drift of the situation.

------

you began to wake up as soon as you felt your girlfriend move from her position on top of you. she’s now next to you, head resting on your shoulder as one of her arms rests on your stomach.

“where you goin’?” you mumble, voice hoarse from just waking up. you were only half awake but you could tell that the room was now empty, the silence comforting and sunrise peeking through the hotel blinds.

“nowhere, ma, i’m right here,” paige rasps with a light kiss to your collarbone.

you were about to fall back asleep but are disturbed by your phone vibrating violently next to you. with a tired groan, you blindly reach for it in an attempt to silence it. even as you pick it up and unlock it, you are still bombarded with notifactions from all kinds of social apps - instagram, tiktok, twitter - you name it.

you’re now awake with curiosity, confused as to why you’re getting so many messages. you usually had your phone on “do not disturb” with the exceptions of your family, friends, and select media accounts. you scroll aimlessly through some of your dms, but when you don’t find an answer, you relocate and scroll through your explore feed.

your eyes shoot open as you register one of the top posts - a video clip of you and paige sleeping peacefully behind ice and kk on live.

“shit."

"what?" paige mumbles into your shirt.

"look," you nudge her, showing her the post on your screen.

"oh shit."

"my thoughts exactly..." you say, heart beating faster with anxiety at the thought of your careers at risk, "what do we do?"

"i mean," she starts cautiously, "i don't think there's much we can do."

as much as you hated to hear it, it was the truth. clips and captures had already spread like wildfire. people have always speculated and theorized, but with this mishap, their suspicions were practically confirmed.

paige sits up against the headboard of the bed when she notices your reaction - or lack thereof. your expression remains unmoved as you think of any way to de-escalate the situation.

"hey," she says, grabbing your phone from your grasp, "don't stress it too much, alright? what's done is done, and all we can do is act normal - like nothing happened. i can even beat up ice and kk if you want."

you know she's only half joking but the sentiment brightens your mood, "you're right. thanks, p."

"whatever it takes to get you off your phone and back under this blanket," she shrugs, "i mean, did you see the time? we have a full hour before we have to meet up with the team, i'm not letting it go to waste."

"so you're spending it...sleeping?" you giggle.

"no," she protests, "i'm spending it in a nice ass bed with my beautiful girlfriend."

"and who is this girlfriend?" you tease.

"at this point, i think the whole world knows it's you, ma."

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No!”

“No.”

“Still no.”

“Just wear my jersey, dude.” Paige is complaining. Again. “No, I’m not wearing your jersey. That’s like tattooing ‘Property of Paige Bueckers’ across my forehead.” Paige raises her eyebrows. “Please do that.” I throw a shoe at her. “That’s not happening.” She dodges it easily. “I swear I’d still have sex with you if you did,” she says. I roll my eyes, retrieving said shoe. “That’s not my main concern here.”

“So you don’t even care that it’s my homecoming game?” She pouts. “No, I don’t.” Paige frowns, flopping onto my bed. “Give me one good reason you won’t.” I scoff. “The entire world is going to know we’re hooking up.” It’s her turn to scoff. “Do you think I’ve hooked up with every person who wears my jersey to a game? Because that’s, like, a lot of people.” I frown at her. “That was a really weird time for you to flex.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m just saying that it’s a popular jersey. It’s not that deep. Plus…” She rolls over so that she’s seated in front of me, tugging at my shirt. “I think you’d look really sexy in it.” I peck her mouth lightly, and she grins. “I’ll think about it,” I tell her. “Yes!” She crows, then leaps off my bed and runs out of my room. “That’s not a yes!” I call after her. 

___________

Amaya Battle. That’s the name of Paige’s high school teammate on the Minnesota team. Am I a little pissed at how close they are? Yes. Am I going to let Paige onto that fact? Certainly not. Am I going to pull out her home jersey that she lent to me and put it on?

Absolutely.

I have no reason to be jealous. I know that. Paige has told me multiple times that Amaya’s like her little sister. But when Paige stops during the handshake line to give her a hug, then goes back to find her and give her a longer hug, a flame fires in the pit of my stomach. I tug off her jersey and shove it into my tote, packing my camera up as Paige goes to do another interview. One of the other media boys, Zach, looks at me curiously. “You all good?” He asks. Zach’s always flirting with me subtly - something Paige really hates. But I get the idea that maybe I can use that today.

“Yeah!” I say brightly. “You wanna go with me to the presser, though?” Zach looks surprised. “Uh, yeah, sure! You normally take Brian, though…” I laugh airily. “Well, today I want to take you,” I gush, laying a hand on his arm. I make eye contact with Paige from across the gym as she takes an interview headset off. Point: Me.

Zach follows me to the presser, where Geno, Aaliyah, and Paige are lined up, seated at a table. I take my phone and click the recording button before setting it on the table. I wink at Paige before walking away, and I turn to see her eyes still on me as the questions begin. Zach unknowingly plays directly into my plan, leaning down to whisper a joke in my ear. I look up at him and laugh, brushing a hand against his shoulder. I catch Paige’s eyes narrowing and her brow furrowing when she looks over. Point: Me.

Zach asks to see my copy of the stat sheet, and I lean closer to him, having him peek over my shoulder to read it. When I turn to him, we’re nearly face to face, and I hear Paige stutter over her answer. “The younger guys… yeah, the younger guys are really stepping up. Sorry, what was the question?” The reporters all laugh, and I shoot her a grin. She shakes her head at me ever so slightly, her nostrils flaring. I step away from Zach, smirking to myself. Checkmate.

As soon as Paige’s questions are done, she storms over to me, grabbing me by the wrist and dragging me to the visitor locker room. She pushes me against a locker, staring down at me, eyebrows raised. “You wanna explain what the hell that was?” I hum, brushing my hands over her shoulders, trailing them down her arms. “What?” I ask. I untuck her jersey as she seethes. “Is there a problem?” I ask innocently. “What kind of shit are you pulling?” She demands, wrenching my hands away from her and pinning them to the lockers above me.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I breathe. She steps closer, searching my eyes. “You know what you’re doing.” Her breath hits my face. I push my face closer. “What are you gonna do about it?” I challenge. Her hips move to pin mine against the locker. “You’re in for it tonight.” I give her a shit eating grin. “I can’t wait,” I murmur, biting my lip. Her eyes search mine again. “Fuck,” she whispers agitatedly, letting me go. I smile sweetly at her, walking out the locker room door without so much as a look back.

______________

Paige doesn’t say another word to me about any of that for the rest of the night. We go back to her place, her childhood home, and we all meet her family. After that, she shows me around her house, her old bedroom, and we hang out with her brother for a bit. It isn’t until after, until the team goes home, that Paige and I get a moment alone.

We’re in her bedroom, her seated on her bed, me looking through the drawers of her dresser. “So, you looked pretty close with Zach today,” she starts. I raise my eyebrows. “We work together,” I muse. She’s quiet. “How’s Amaya?” I ask sweetly, turning to her. She blinks. “Is that what all this is about?” She asks. I play stupid. “All what? I’m just asking how your high school teammate is? After you hugged her multiple times?”

“Bro, she’s like my little sister, I’ve told you,” Paige starts exasperatedly. “Mm-hmm. Did you tell her how much you love her, Paige? How you just miss her so, so much?” I put some whine into my voice, stalking towards Paige to stand between her legs, tugging at her hair. I know I’m being mean, but from the way her breath whistles out, she doesn’t seem to mind it. “You really want to know what Zach and I were talking about?” I ask. She grits her teeth. 

I straddle her waist, attaching my lips to her neck. Her hands immediately go to my hips. “Well, he was telling me how pretty I am,” I start. Her grip tightens on my hips at that. “He was saying,” I murmur, kissing at her jaw. Her jaw goes a little slack, and I grind down against her. “How he can’t get me out of his head.” “Was he now?” She grits out. I smile against her skin. “He was telling me how badly he’s been wanting to ask me out since the beginning of the year.” Her hands trail under my shirt, gripping my torso harshly. “Is that so?” Her voice is strained.

“Mm-hmm,” I hum, kissing down her shoulder, before returning to a spot on her neck and sucking hard. I feel her breathing stutter. “That’s all he said?” She asks. “Oh, of course not,” I say, pulling back to look her in the face. I take her face in one hand, grinding down against her again. I squeeze ever so slightly, then lean in to ghost my lips over hers.

“He was saying how bad he wants to fuck me.”

“Stop.”

I move my lips to her ear. “He was saying how wet my pussy would be for him.” I moan this line out, just to piss her off.

“Baby.”

“He wanted to know how pretty I looked when I came. Does that make you mad, Paige?”

“You know it fucking does.”

I kiss her, hard, grinding down deep and slow. “You want to know what I told him, Paige?”

She’s silent, but her breathing is labored.

“I told him I had a girl, but that she’s too busy fucking other bitches to keep me happy.”

Paige flips at that, turning me around and slamming me onto the bed.

She kisses me hungrily, a hand around my throat. “You know that’s not true,” she snarls, nipping at my lips as she rucks up my shirt. “Do I?” I ask, my eyes rolling up when her mouth attaches to my nipple. “You wanna swear to me you’re not fucking other girls, Paige?” My question is cut off by a moan forcing out of my mouth when she tugs at my nipple, her lips attacking my neck.

“I swear to you that you are the only person I’m fucking,” Her words are hot against my skin as she kisses down my body. She climbs off the bed and wrenches my body to a sitting position, tugging my shirt off, before going for my sweats. “Then why haven’t you asked me to be your girlfriend?” I demand. She freezes. So do I. I hadn’t expected to say that. “That’s what this is about?” She breathes. I cross my arms over my chest subconsciously. “Yes? No. I don’t know.”

She grins stupidly. “Yo?” “Shut up.” “Oh, my God. You were jealous because I hadn’t asked you to be my girlfriend?” She demands. “Paige, stop.” “Of course I want you to be my girlfriend.” Paige kisses me softly, cupping my face. “I’m so sorry. I- fuck. I wanted to ask you this week, and I had this whole thing planned-”

My face burns. “I’m sorry. No, I’m being stupid-”

“You’re not, babe.”

“No, I am. If you were already going to ask… I’m sorry.”

“Baby…”

“Are you gonna kiss me or what?”

“Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

Paige smiles at me. “That was easy.” I roll my eyes, reaching for her to pull her lips back to mine. “You’re so corny.” She kisses me back eagerly, easing me back against the bed. “Wait,” she pulls back. “Zach didn’t actually say all that shit, right?” I roll my eyes, propping myself up on my elbows. “Of course not,” I scoff. “Good,” she smiles, kissing me lazily. “No one talks dirty to my girlfriend but me.”

I laugh slightly against her mouth, flipping her onto her back and placing my legs on either side of her waist again. I run my fingers slowly through her hair, kissing her deeply. “You’re so cute when you’re jealous,” she mumbles. I move my lips to her jaw, teasing there, and she sighs. “Cute?” I ask. “Sexy, actually,” she amends. “You like making your girlfriend mad? Is that it?” I tug the hem of her shirt up, exploring her torso with my hands. She shudders at my cold fingers. “Yeah, it is,” she breathes, craning her neck up to kiss me. I grin, my mouth mere centimeters away from hers. “You need something?” She searches my eyes, challenging me. “Come on, just kiss me.” I tut. “You’re not in control here, baby,” I tell her, tightening my grip in her hair. I grind against her crotch, moaning breathily in her ear, and she groans. 

“Fuck, baby. Please.” I close my eyes, breathing against her neck. “Sound so pretty when you beg,” I whisper. “I swear to God I’m gonna fuck whatever this is out of you,” she grumbles, flipping me over and tugging my shorts off. She pulls me onto her lap, a hand around my neck to pull my mouth to hers as I grind my clothed core against her abs. “What do you want tonight?” She asks against my mouth. “What do you want to do?” I gasp as the friction against my clit rushes through me. “Fuck. Anything you want.”

“Fingers,” I moan, and she shoves a hand into my panties. “Oh!” I gasp out, throwing my head back when she pinches my clit. “How many do you want to take?” Paige whispers, nipping at my lips. I balance my hands on her shoulders, riding the heel of her palm. “Three,” I say, meeting her eyes with mine. Her nostrils flare. “You’re sure?” I kiss her hard. “I said three, didn’t I?” 

“Oh, fuck!” I cry out when she fills me with three of her fingers, her bottom lip between her teeth. “You’re so tight,” she tells me, fucking into me slowly. I rock up against her, riding her fingers. “Is that good for you?” She asks. I nod, covering her lips with mine as I continue grinding down. She pushes them in deeper, shoving the heel of her hand against my clit. It’s not enough. I moan in agitation, wiggling around to create more pleasure. “Can I… your mouth. Please, fuck, your mouth.” “Whatever you want,” Paige replies immediately. She eases her fingers out and lays me against the bed, pulling my panties down with her as she lowers herself at the edge.

She laps at my pussy slowly, and I throw my head back in a moan, back arching off the bed, fingers gripping at the covers. I wrap a leg around her head, bringing her closer. “Yes, yes, just like that,” I praise, and I feel her grin against my core. “That’s good?” She asks. “So good, fuckkk,” I whine. “So fucking wet,” she tells me. “Wet for Zach or wet for me?” She demands.

I buck my hips against her mouth. “You,” I bite out, eyes rolling back. “Yeah? Why are you talking to Zach, then?” Her pace slows and I wiggle against her, panting. “Was just… fucking with you,” I say, writhing for her to speed up. Her long fingers push against my hip bone, stilling me. “So you think it’s funny to make your girlfriend mad, huh?” She asks, her voice gravelly. I shake my head, clutching at the sheets as she eases her tongue in and out of me. “Were you mad, baby? Is that why?” I gasp as she sucks on my clit, whipping my head to the side.

“Answer me.” “Fuck! Yes, I was mad.” She laps at me faster and I moan, a high pitched keening sound that tears itself from my throat. “So possessive,” she sighs into me. I lace a hand into her hair, my leg still hooked around her neck. “What would you do, huh? If I was fucking another girl like this? Making her come the way I make you come?” My mind is hazy, but the sharp pain of jealousy cuts through the pleasure. I snap my eyes to hers. “I would kill her,” I pant out. She grins wickedly. “Yeah, you fuckin’ would,” she smirks.

Then she shoves two fingers inside of me and I arch off the bed. “Oh, Paige!” I whine out when her fingers curl into me. “Shh, baby. You have to be quieter.” My pussy clenches at the nickname, and Paige pulls away completely. “What the fuck?” I demand as she stands. She watches me wordlessly, pulling her sweats down, and then her boxers. “Paige!” I say harshly.

She shakes her head, fully naked in front of me now, and wraps a hand around my neck, forcing my head upward. “You think you’re coming that easily after the shit you pulled today?” She shoves my face away and I gasp for breath, my core soaked even further. I watch Paige slip into the strap and spread my legs eagerly. She tuts, grabbing my throat again. “Open,” she says. I hesitate, pursing my lips, but she grabs the back of my head and shoves the strap down my throat. I choke on it, my eyes watering, and I slap at her torso, begging her to ease up. She pulls it out, letting it hang in front of me. “Too much?” She mocks, her smirk shit-eating. I narrow my eyes at her, challenging. “Not enough,” I whisper back. I grab the base of the strap, circling my tongue at the tip, then taking it fully into my mouth. I grab her ass to ease it to the back, and she grabs my head, fucking my throat slowly. She winds a hand into my hair, pulling me off of it and forcing my head back. “You’re such a little slut, you know that?” She asks.

I bite my lip, searching her eyes. “Just for you, Paige,” I whisper back. She cocks her head. “What was that?” I smile innocently. “I said I’m a slut for you, Paige,” I repeat. “Oh, yeah?” She smirks. Fuck, that’s hot. She pushes me back, climbing onto the bed to sit against her headboard and spread her legs. “Come sit on my cock, then.”

I love it when she does this. When she acts like the strap is an extension of her, when she makes me suck on it and she fucks me senseless with it. I oblige, crawling towards her and pushing myself up onto my knees, legs on either side of her hips and my hands balanced on her shoulders. Paige grabs my ass immediately, massaging it harshly. “Come on. Fuck yourself on it.”

I lower myself onto the strap slowly, my eyes rolling back as it fills me up. “Fuck, you’re so big,” I whine. Her hand closes around my neck, watching me grind onto her. “Fuck that tight little pussy, bet you like that, huh?” I whimper, moving my lips to hers, but she holds my head in place with the hand around my neck. “Oh, yes!” I moan when she hits a spot deep inside of me. “Yes, Paige, right there,” I whimper, bouncing on her, balancing myself by bracing my hands on her hips. It pushes my tits together, and she watches them intently, licking her lips.

“Hold your hair up,” Paige orders, a hand still loosely at my neck. I move a hand from her waist to push my hair back into a loose pony. “Good fuckin’ girl. Ride me just like that, fuck.” She places two fingers on the tip of her tongue, then shoves them into her mouth, before forcing them between my lips. She lets her hand trace down my torso, eyes tracking the shiny trail her fingers leave, before her fingers find my clit. I whimper. "You need more?" She muses, her voice smug. Her hand comes up to massage my tit and I groan, my eyes rolling back. “I’m gonna come,” I whimper, and she pinches my nipple, her eyes dark with desire. I ride her faster, grinding harder, bouncing up and down on the strap quicker. My climax approaches, but I feel it evading me. “Fuck, I can’t. Paige… oh, God. I can’t,” I try to get out. The hand at my neck goes to my face, brushing my cheek. “Use your words, baby,” she coos, smacking my ass. “Please, Paige," I beg, trying desperately to reach that spot myself, feeling frustration ebb at me when I can't.

Paige grins at me wickedly. "What? Fucked the attitude outta you?" I glare at her, panting. She shakes her head and flips us over, pulling out of me and I whine. Roughly, she loops an arm around my torso, dragging me to all fours. Then she smacks my ass. Hard. I cry out into my hand, collapsing onto my elbows. I gasp as she hits me again, my ass stinging from the impact. "Paige," I whine.

"You need something?" I can practically hear the smirk in her voice, and my legs shake when the tip of her strap teases my entrance. "Fuck, you want it so bad, don't you?" She groans, pushing in ever so slightly. I gasp, clutching at the sheets. "Yes," I moan.

"What, baby? What do you want?"

"Just... please, Paige."

"Use your words."

"I am."

"Who's fucking you?"

I grit my teeth, my pride and my desire for her to fuck me so hard I can't walk tomorrow fighting against each other. "You, Paige."

She hums, squeezing my ass cheeks, sliding into my entrance again. "And whose cock you want?" She pushes in deeper, then pulls out.

"Yours."

"Nobody else's?" There's bite to her tone.

"Just yours," I groan, shoving my head into her sheets, wanting to kill her.

She smacks my ass again, hard, and I lurch forward, my back arching.

"Beg for it then," she snarls.

"Oh, my God. Okay! Please, please fuck me, Paige, please," I just about sob, taking the sheets in betwen my teeth in agitation.

"All you had to do was ask," Paige tuts.

She flips me over onto my back, hand squeezing my neck harder, choking me, and drives into me hard. “Shit!” I whine out. She grabs my hip with one hand and fucks me hard, hard enough that my head smacks against the headboard, hard enough that my face becomes wet with tears. She hits a spot so deep inside me that I see stars, and her free hand circles my clit harshly. “Gonna come? You gonna fucking come on my cock?” She demands.

“Paige! Paige! Paige!” I scream out against my hand, my orgasm crashing through me, Paige’s hips still snapping against mine as she fucks me through it relentlessly. My hands claw at the sheets, claw at her back, surely leaving scratch marks, and she grinds her hips against mine slowly, working me through my climax. “Fuck,” Paige whispers. My body is limp, but satisfied, and I pull her down to me to kiss her lazily. “You better tell Zach as soon as we get back to Storrs,” she murmurs against my mouth. I groan, letting her slip her tongue into my mouth. “Tell him what?” I mumble.

You call her name, waiting for her confirmation. She’s the only one with a key, but saying her name and hearing her respond feels safe, like a habit you’ve formed without thinking. Silence. You lean back in your chair, letting your game screen idle as you peer through the small crack in your door.

You wait a moment, letting the silence of the apartment settle around you before it's broken by the unmistakable shuffle of her kicking off her shoes, the soft thud of her door and then steady beat of music seeping from her room.

You turning back to your desktop and unpausing your game. Your fingers move across the key‐ board, killing pixelated monsters and yet still, your mind crawls back to 20 minutes ago, when Paige walked in.

Were you supposed to knock on her door and ask if she was okay? Basic roommate etiquette would assume so, but it's not as though you and Paige were buddy-buddy. Sure, you'd chilled together a few times to catch up on Netflix's latest murder doc and yeah, she'd invited you to one or two of her teammate's afterparties (none of which you'd gone to, instead you offered polite decline that assured she really didn't need to ask you again).

At most, you and Paige were just in each other's orbit. Nothing more than two girls attending the same university who got placed together in an apartment just off-campus.

The clock ticks to 3:15, and finally, the music fades into silence. She’s probably asleep now. You tell yourself to focus on your game, but your gaze drifts to the wall, your thoughts lingering on her room just a few feet away. Honestly, you’re not sure why you’re still awake.

***

You’re unpacking your groceries when you notice her—Paige, sprawled out across the couch like she’s trying to disappear into it. Her hoodie is pulled low over her face, but you can still make out the outline of her eyes, locked on you the moment you glance in her direction.

"You good?" You ask, feeling the need to soften your voice - something in your body tells you to tread carefully.

She yawns, stretches, and when she speaks, her voice is thick with sleep—rougher than usual, like she hasn’t quite woken up. “Yeah, just a bit fucked up.”

There's something in her tone that gives you pause like she's daring you to dig deeper. You hesitate. It sounds bad to say, but you've always liked the unspoken agreement between you two - the comfortable distance, once again, like planets moving in the same orbit but never touching.

You take the bait. "What's up?"

She pushes herself up, so she's now resting on her elbows,  “Ari fucking broke up with me."

The two had seemed to be one of the few couples who could go the distance. In the few games you attended, you'd seen her girlfriend always present, aptly draped in a number 5 jersey titled 'Bueckers'. As far as college relationships went, it seemed like love.

"Oh." It's all you manage to say at first, unsure of how to respond. Were you supposed to hug her? 

Paige drops back onto the couch, covering her face with her hands. "Yeah, oh."

"And it's final?" You ask, "Cause, it's never really over, over. It's probably -"

"She blocked me," she cuts in, still deep within the recesses of her hoodie. "She probably blocked me the moment I left her place ... I've messaged her and called her but it goes straight to green or voice mail."

You nod, once again unsure of what to say next. You'd don't have to think because Paige drops in again. She had a one-of-a-kind skill of unknowingly being able to fill in silences.

"It's not like I cheated or she cheated," you hear the emotions flooding back into her voice - it's not sadness, well it probably is but it's wrapped up in anger and disbelief. "Which spins me because it's not like we were in a bad spot - okay yeah, I wouldn't respond sometimes, but that's normal, sometimes I'm genuinely tired from training!"

"Maybe she's stressed too and it's all a bit too much to deal with," You say.

She throws you a quick look, something between betrayal and you're not helping. It's fast, and she cools her features back to normal.

"- Not that I'm saying it's a good excuse," you counter, "But, it's something to consider. Did she actually say why?"

"Something about I'm not present. It's bullshit," she sighs.

You want to say something comforting, anything, but everything that comes to mind feels hollow. Besides, it's not like whatever you could say could put a bandage over a 2 year relationship ending.

She sits up again, her hoodie falling back to it's rightful face. She looks around the room, her eyes itching for something to distract her from whatever uncomfortable feelings she can feel rising. Her eyes fall on her set of keys, the original red fob you'd both received on move-in day had long been overtaken by numerous keychains and fabric bracelets - even a heart picture frame.

"Hey, do you want to do something?" She asks, "Get out of here for a bit?"

At the tip of your tongue is some vague excuse about how you really need to cook right now, but before it can come out, she speaks again.

"Please - I really need to step out for a bit." Her voice is soft, just about holding back a crack.

You're not a monster so of course, you nod and say sure. You don't ask where to until you're following her long strides down the hall and into the low-lit car park. The night feels colder than usual and your bare feet in slides feel anything but appropriate for the weather.

An orange glow from a stray streetlight casts a small tinge of light on her face as she unlocks the door to her car. "I was thinking of going to the outdoor court. You know, the one near the park? It's just a short drive. I could really use a change of scenery, and maybe shooting around would help clear my head .... that cool?"

"Yeah," you say, because what else could you say? "That’s cool."

How cliche you think - a basketball player needing to shoot hops to clear their head. 

The drive is quiet, the hum of the engine filling the space between you. Paige keeps her eyes on the road, and the tension in her shoulders is palpable. You can't help but think this is how she looks when she's on the bench, (playing the game in her mind, sizing up the opposition and just yearning to get back in).

Connecticut's lights blur past as you make your way out of the downtown area, the campus fading away as she turns into a quieter, more residential neighbourhood. The basketball court comes into view, illuminated by a few scattered streetlights and a single overhead light, casting a gentle glow over the cracked asphalt and faded court markings.

She pulls into the nearest parking bay, reversing in with ease, her arm draping over your headrest as she checks the mirror. It's then that you wonder how many times she's done this exact move with her ex. You imagine her ex sitting where you are now, lips fresh with a kiss and the seat shaped by her form.

A whole two years, you think. No wonder she was going stair-crazy.

You're now out of the car, rocking on the back of your feet as Paige gets her duffle bag out of the car. It's at that point when she finally asks you about your day.

You shrug, "It's been ight, nothing much to be fair. Just trying to get my head around ... we've got a new TA and the bitch marks hard as hell."

She chuckles in response, "Damn, tough one. You do something with economics, right?"

"Yeah, something about economics. Not my first choice but it's gonna do the job," you reply trailing behind her longer strides as she leads you both into the empty court.

"Economics. Get the job done?" she repeats with a playful scoff, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Can't tell if you're being humble or—"

"Not humble," you interject, "It's an ends to means."

She unzips her duffle bag and brings out her ball and bounces it a few times, the rhythmic thud echoing softly in the quiet night. "What's the end goal then?"

You're shrugging as you go to take your place on the edge of the court, watching as Paige moves around and seemingly becomes one with the court. (something about seeing her in her natural ele‐ ment) "Probably some cushy consulting job. I'm not gonna lie, I've got no idea but I've lowkey liked the subject all through school, it's just made sense to do it."

Paige dribbles the ball a few times, then takes a shot. The ball cuts through the air and swishes through the hoop. light work.

"I'm guessing you've always known what you wanted to do," you continue.

She nods, bounces the ball again, but this her feet and body moving across the court as though she's playing the last two minutes of a game. "Yup! It's always been basketball. From elementary, middle school and high school. Nothing but ball." she punctuates her last line with a throw.

 "Wish that were me!" you say.

She looks over at you, the ball now finding itself passing from hand to hand. "You wanted to play ball?"

It's your turn to scoff, "No, I'm talking about the whole knowing what you wanted to do from the get go."

Paige pauses mid-dribble, her eyes narrowing playfully as she studies you. "Yeah, I get that. Not everyone figures it out early. But, you know, it's not like it's been easy. Just because I knew doesn't mean it wasn't a grind."

She takes another shot, and the ball glides through the net with a satisfying swish. As she retrieves it, she adds, "There's a lot of pressure, too. Once you say 'this is it,' everyone expects you to stick with it, no matter what."

You watch as she moves across the court, her pace slower now, more thoughtful. "I guess I just got lucky," she continues. "Or maybe I was stubborn. It's hard to tell sometimes."

"I guess that makes you one of the few," you say, leaning back against the fence, watching her with a mix of admiration and something else - something you can't quite put your finger on. Is this what her fans felt? It always spun you that she had fans. Fans. Would they be jealous right now? "Most people I know are still figuring it out, including me."

Paige stops dribbling and looks at you, her expression softening. "You've got time," she says, her voice losing some of its earlier intensity. "There's no rush to have it all figured out. Sometimes, the best things come when you least expect them."

She tosses the ball to you, and it lands in your hands with a gentle thud. You can feel the worn leather under your fingers, still warm from her grip. For a moment, you're both silent, the weight of her words hanging in the cool night air.

"Maybe," you say quietly, the ball feeling heavier and heavier in your hands. "But sometimes it feels like everyone else is racing ahead while I'm stuck at the start line."

"Play with me," she says, gesturing you over.

You look down at the ball and then back to her, "You're a D1 athlete. You're just gonna show me up plus I don't even know how to shoot."

"Come on, I'll teach you," There's a playful glint in her eyes. "It'll make me like five percent less sad."

You hesitate, but her enthusiasm is contagious. She hands the ball back to you and steps behind, lightly adjusting your stance. "Feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent," she instructs, her hands guiding yours on the ball. "Use your legs for power, wrist for control."

You try to follow her lead, feeling her breath close as she directs your movements. "And when you shoot, remember, follow through, like you're reaching into a cookie jar."

You chuckle at the analogy and take a shot. The ball bounces off the rim, and Paige claps. "Not bad. Let's go again."

Paige steps in front of you, her tone shifting slightly as she moves into coach mode. You can tell she's probably coached some little league somewhere here in Connecticut or wherever her home state was - she’d mentioned it numerous times but you’d forgotten. "Alright, keep your elbow in and focus on the backboard," she says, her hands demonstrating the movement. "And don't forget, it's all about the follow through."

You roll your eyes playfully. "Alright, coach. I got it."

"It's Coach P," She smirks, her eyes twinkling. "Just trying to make you a baller." You take another shot, and this time, the ball swishes through the net. Paige cheers, giving you a high five. "There it is! You're a natural."

"Light work" you say with a grin. It's anything but.

Paige bumps you lightly with her shoulder. "Not bad at all. But next time, we're working on your dribbling cause that shit was shocking."

***

Nights at the court, which you’d now come to know was actually called St Bernard’s Court, became routine much like when you’d call her name when she’d come back to the apartment.

You’d gotten used to settling into the passenger seat of her car, the familiar hum of the engine surrounding you as she drove, her hands gripping the wheel with that same steady determination. Conversations, once filled with awkward pauses and small talk, now flowed effortlessly. They were the kind of talks that never seemed to end - about everything and nothing, the mundane details of life at uni, complaints about bad food at the cafeteria, or her latest training session. It was simple.

Sometimes, she’d give up her dictator-like hold over the music and let your playlists take over, though more often than not, you let hers play on. You never minded; there was something comforting about the predictable beats of her curated selections. Her taste was always a little sharper, more nuanced than yours, and you found yourself adding some of songs to your liked list when you’d gotten back to the safety of your own room.

Sometimes, after an hour of shooting around, you’d both end up on the concrete, sitting against the low bleachers, legs stretched out before you, talking about whatever came to mind and letting the cold settle deep into your skin. But more often than not, the conversation would shift to her ex. It had become a quiet pattern: Paige would talk about her like it was a distant, painful memory she was still learning how to deal with.

She’d mention her in passing, her tone casual at first, as though it didn’t sting anymore.

It reminded you like she was just like any other girl despite the fame. Unable to resist feigning indifference to hurt - so you didn’t judge because you’d done it over and over.

“I don’t even know why she said that,” Paige would say, tossing the ball back into her hands, eyes focused on something far off. “I never meant to be distant. You know how it is; practice, school, games... life’s a lot.” She’d sigh, running a hand through her hair, shaking her head.

And then, almost like she couldn’t help herself, the bitterness would slip in. “She made it sound like I didn’t care at all,” Paige muttered, kicking the ball across the court. “Like it was all about me, me, me.” Her voice softened, the edges raw, the anger melting into something unspoken and lingering. “She didn’t even give me a chance to explain, to fix things. Not that it matters now.”

You listened. Not to solve anything, not to offer some platitude about how she’d be better off. You listened because, in those quiet moments, it felt like her words were a way of processing, a way to let the weight of everything settle into something less heavy.

Her ex wasn’t just a past relationship, not just a name you’d heard murmured in the back of conversations. She was a part of Paige’s present, even if it was an unwelcome one, lingering in the way Paige looked at the court sometimes, or the way she pulled away when you tried to get too close. Her ex was a shadow that loomed over your conversations, her absence filling the spaces that Paige didn’t want to admit she missed.

“You know, I thought she was the one,” Paige would often say with a dry laugh, picking at the fabric of her hoodie. “Stupid, huh?” She’d shake her head like it was all so ridiculous now. But the way she’d say it, softly, almost tenderly, like she was still trying to convince herself.

And then, just as quickly, she’d pull herself out of it, focusing on something else. “Anyway, I’m not thinking about her tonight,” she’d say, standing up and grabbing the ball.

At some point she’d move on. Stop needing the nights at the court and you’d be proud because your friend (it felt weird to call her a friend thinking about the times you’d dodged her invitations for connection, but things were different now) had moved on.

***

The nights eventually come to an end.

They’re stopped when you’re sitting in yours and Paige’s shared living room, letting the tv play in the background as you listlessly scroll on your phone.

The door to her room is closed but you can hear the familiar music playing through it. She emerges, her face flushed and eyes bright - frantic even.

“Yo ... Guess who just called me?” She announces, taking what felt like her first breath in hours.

You look up, the question hanging in the air between you. Your thumb hovers over your phone’s screen, trying to gauge her excitement.

Paige’s gaze is intense, a slight nervous energy vibrating beneath her words. She doesn’t wait for you to guess.

“Ari,” she says, her voice a little softer now, like she’s unsure what to feel about it. “She called me.” The words hit you unexpectedly, like a slow tide pulling at your feet. A small knot forms in your stomach, not because you’re unhappy for her, but because you weren’t prepared for this.

“Oh shit,” you manage to say, trying to push away the strange, unexpected sensation that’s fluttered inside you.

“She said sorry. She said she made a mistake. Fuck, I... I don’t know even know what think.”

You lean forward a little, trying to sound reassuring. “I mean, that’s a good sign, right? She’s reaching out.”

Paige exhales a short laugh, glancing down at her hands before looking back up at you. “I guess? But fuck, it just feels... messy.”

You nod, understanding the weight of her uncertainty. You’ve seen how much this relationship meant to her, and it’s clear she’s torn.

“You wanna talk about it?” you ask.

She shakes her head, a small smile creeping onto her face. “Not yet, I think. I just... I need to think. It’s all a bit much, you know?”

The room goes silent, save for the faint hum of the TV in the background.

For a moment, you sit in the quiet, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. And maybe it’s just you, or maybe it’s just the way Paige is looking at you now, but you sense that something has shifted—ever so slightly, but undeniably.

You’re still not sure what that means yet, or if it means anything at all. But for now, you don’t push.

She sighs and falls back onto the couch, closing her eyes. “I’ll figure it out,” she says softly, more to herself than to you but you know she’s already made her choice. 

You lean back, turning your attention back to your phone, but there’s an odd feeling in your chest that refuses to settle. For a moment, you wonder what would have happened if things had gone differently, if she’d never gotten that call. But before you can think too much about it, Paige shifts beside you, her presence pulling you back down to earth.

“Thanks,” she says quietly.

You smile, almost relieved that the tension has eased, even if only for now. “Anytime.”

The night stretches on, the air between you both comfortable again. And yet, you can’t help but wonder why you feel torn. Why aren’t you bubbling with happiness, like how you’d reacted when Zen had called you in senior year to say she and Trevor had gotten back together.

Eventually, you leave the couch, muttering an excuse about needing to get back to studying.

 Ari comes back into the fold of life at yours and Paige’s apartment like she’d never left.

The songs that used to fill Paige’s room—those soft, sad, contemplative ones—shift back to some‐ thing lighter, more upbeat. Her shoes reappear, scattered carelessly by the door, mingling with Paige’s own, like they always belonged together. And just like that, you go back to being good roommates.

That doesn’t hurt. It’s respectful - because who’d let their girlfriend spend nights at the basketball court together? It makes sense.

It only hurts when you come back to the apartment and see them on the couch. The lights dimmed, a fluffy blanket over their legs and a Christmas movie playing.

The first time it happens, you’re awkward. Painfully awkward. Your body not knowing how to react for the first time to something you’d seen countless times before.

You hesitate in the doorway, suddenly unsure of how to move, unsure of what to say. The air between the three of you feels thicker, heavier than it ever has before. You wish you could say something light, make a joke.

They don’t even notice at first - Paige’s attention is wholly focused on the TV screen, her hand absentmindedly brushing through her girlfriend’s hair. You feel like you’re not even supposed to be here, even though it’s your apartment too.

Eventually, though, Paige looks up, her eyes meeting yours, and for a second, the warmth in them falters. She smiles, but it’s tight, apologetic.

“Hey,” she says, her voice a little too bright, a little too forced. “You’re back. We were just watching this cheesy Christmas movie. Wanna join?”

The offer is there, hanging in the air between you, but the tension is palpable. You force a smile, shaking your head quickly.

“Nah, it’s fine,” your voice comes out more strained than you’d intended. “I was just coming in to ... grab something.”

You spend the rest of the night at Zen’s.

“So bitch, what the hell is up with you?” Zen asks. her gaze sharp as she watches you.

You blink, focusing back on her, the buzz of the rosé clouding your thoughts. “Nothing, I’m fine,” you reply, maybe a little too quickly.

“Sure ... sure you are,” she says with a knowing look, before taking a long sip from her glass, then a pause. “Dude, you’ve literally been distracted all night. Moping around everywhere.”

You hesitate, a little caught off guard. You’ve told Zen about Paige, from the odd first meeting to playing basketball together and to the events which took place hours ago.

“You sure you’re okay with them... back together?” Zen continues, her voice quieter, but there’s a softness to it now. She’s not trying to push, just letting the question sit there.

The idea that maybe everyone sees what you’re trying to hide - maybe even Paige  - that part makes you feel sick.

You take another sip of your wine, the sweet sharpness of it doing nothing to dull the growing ache in your chest.

“Yeah,” you say again, but it’s not convincing. Not to Zen. Not to yourself.

Zen’s eyes soften, and for a moment, she doesn’t look at you like she’s waiting for a response. She looks at you like she already knows the answer. You know it. Damn.

***