Twenty Three

The morning of the big game arrived like an electric storm, crackling with anticipation. The air felt thick with the weight of expectations—every step, every pass, every shot was going to count today. I could feel it in my bones.

The gym buzzed with the usual pre-game energy as players laced up their shoes, coaches ran over last-minute strategies, and staff members scurried around making sure everything was in its place. But amidst the chaos, I found myself locked in my own head.

I couldn't stop thinking about her. Paige.

The night before, I'd tossed and turned, replaying the last few days in my mind. That lingering touch on my shoulder. Her eyes meeting mine across the court. The soft, almost too-innocent, messages that made my heart beat just a little faster. There was something in the way she looked at me, something I couldn't explain but couldn't ignore.

I'd convinced myself it was just the intensity of the season. After all, we were on the brink of something huge. But even as I told myself that, I knew deep down I was lying. This wasn't just about basketball.

And the worst part? She probably didn't feel the same way.

I was still replaying those thoughts as I walked into the locker room, ready to start my usual routine before the game. I wasn't exactly part of the team in the traditional sense, but I was just as involved in every step of the process. As the team's photographer, I was right there with them, every dribble, every dunk, every pass—and most importantly, I was always there to capture their raw moments.

"Inds, you good?" Nika asked, looking me up and down as I grabbed my gear from the bench. Her eyes were narrowed with concern, and it was clear that something was off. She knew me too well.

"Yeah, just... you know, the usual pre-game jitters," I said, trying to pass it off as nothing. But my tone betrayed me, and she knew it.

She raised an eyebrow, then smiled softly. "You're lying. What's going on?"

Before I could dodge the question, Paige walked in, her presence like a wave that made everything else feel smaller. She was wearing her game face, as always, but there was something in the way she caught my eye as she entered that made my stomach flip.

"Are you two conspiring again?" Paige's voice broke through the tension, the usual teasing lilt in it. But there was something more, something I couldn't quite place.

Nika looked between us, a knowing smirk spreading across her face. "Nah, just checking in on our girl here. You know, making sure she doesn't faint from excitement."

I shot Nika a glare, but the smirk never left her face. Meanwhile, Paige just stood there, leaning against the doorframe like she owned the place, her eyes never fully leaving mine.

I knew the usual banter was what I needed to break the tension, so I forced a smile. "You think I'm nervous for this game? I'm just waiting to see you do your thing out there."

Paige's lips twitched upward at that, and she stepped further into the room, the atmosphere shifting ever so slightly. "You better be ready to capture every moment," she teased, the challenge in her voice unmistakable.

"I'll be ready," I replied, doing my best to keep it light, but my heart was doing flips in my chest. The fact that she was so close to me, so effortless in her confidence, made it almost impossible to concentrate.

She leaned down, her face close enough to mine that I could smell the faintest trace of her perfume—something fresh, like rain, mixed with the unmistakable scent of sweat and determination. "I expect nothing less, India," she murmured, her breath warm against my ear.

I didn't know if it was intentional, but the way she said my name, like it was something more, made my entire body shiver. It was enough to make me question everything I had convinced myself of up to that point.

Nika, sensing the moment and enjoying my discomfort, nudged me with her elbow. "Alright, alright. We should probably get moving before Coach sends out the hounds."

I nodded, trying to shake off the feeling that was starting to settle in my chest. But as I stood there, looking at Paige, something inside me told me that today, everything would change.

The game started with a flurry of activity, the sound of basketballs hitting the court blending with the cheers from the stands. The energy was infectious, and my camera clicked away at the speed of the game. Every play was captured in a split second, the motion frozen in time. But even as I snapped photo after photo, my eyes kept drifting to Paige.

She was in her element, the dominant force she always was. Every time she moved, every time she made a play, the crowd went wild. It was impossible not to be impressed by her. But there was more to her than just her talent. It was the way she held herself, the leadership she exuded, the way she connected with the team. Even Nika, who was always teasing her, showed a level of respect for Paige that was almost reverent.

But in the middle of all that chaos, there was her—looking over at me.

It happened again in the second quarter. Paige broke away from her defender, the ball in her hands, and made a smooth drive toward the basket. But as she approached, she turned her head slightly and glanced in my direction.

And there it was again. That look.

It was almost like she was asking me something with her eyes, something unspoken. My heart hammered in my chest as I snapped a quick series of photos, trying to focus on the game instead of the way my mind was spiraling.

Does she feel it too?

Before I could even begin to process the question, the game was back in full swing, and Paige was charging down the court again. I didn't have time to dwell on it. The team needed me. The game needed me.

The final buzzer sounded, and the gym erupted in cheers. UConn had won—by a landslide. The players were laughing, celebrating, as Coach clapped them on the back. But despite the victory, I felt like I was stuck in a haze. The rush of the game was there, but all I could focus on was the unspoken connection I had with Paige.

As the team gathered in the center of the court, Nika slapped me on the back, jolting me from my thoughts. "You okay, Inds?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement.

"I'm fine," I said, though I wasn't sure who I was trying to convince.

"Uh-huh," Nika said, her smirk growing. "I think I saw that little moment between you and P out there."

I froze. "What moment?"

"Don't play dumb with me," Nika said, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "I saw you two looking at each other like you were the only people in the room."

I couldn't help but feel my cheeks flush. "It wasn't like that."

Nika raised an eyebrow. "Sure, sure." She winked at me, clearly enjoying the discomfort she was causing.

I didn't have a chance to respond before Paige was walking toward us, her victorious grin lighting up her face. "Good work out there, India," she said, her voice warm and genuine. "You captured some great moments today."

"Thanks," I said, trying to keep my tone steady, even though my heart was racing again.

"You know, you're kind of hard to miss," she added, her voice lowering just slightly. "You've been on my mind a lot today."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. Did she just—?

I swallowed hard. "You've... been thinking about me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Paige's gaze softened, and she stepped closer, her presence enveloping me. "Yeah, I have. More than I'd like to admit."

Nika, sensing the tension between us, grinned and backed away, leaving the two of us standing in the middle of the court.

"I'm... I'm not sure what this is, Paige," I said, my voice thick with uncertainty. "But I need to know—are we on the same page?"

Paige's eyes softened, and she reached out, her hand brushing against mine before she squeezed it gently. "I think we are. But I'm willing to find out if you are."

And just like that, everything changed.