Forty

It's funny how easy it is to forget everything else when you're around Paige. The world outside of this gym, this moment, fades into the background. When she's near, when we're near each other, there's this... pull. An energy between us that no one else can see. It's like we're in our own little universe, where nothing else matters except the way she makes me feel—like I'm seen, understood, and, most importantly, wanted.

I'd been standing there for a while, the basketball still in my hands, watching Paige shoot from the foul line with that intense focus she always has. The way she moves, the fluidity of her body, it's magnetic. The girl is practically gravitational.

When she looked up, her eyes meeting mine with that familiar, knowing smile, my heart fluttered in my chest. I'd been avoiding this moment for days, running from the tension that simmered between us every time we exchanged a glance. But now, standing here in the stillness of the gym, it felt like the time had come. No more hesitation. No more second-guessing. It was time to take a step forward.

"Need some company?" I asked, the words a little shakier than I'd like, but they were out before I could stop myself. I dropped my bag by the bleachers, making my way toward her.

She tossed me the ball like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Thought you'd never ask," Paige responded with a playful smirk, her voice low and warm. There was something about that tone, something that made the nerves in my stomach go haywire and yet... settled all at once.

The ball felt heavier than usual in my hands as I dribbled it once, then twice. It wasn't just the weight of the ball—it was the weight of what was about to happen.

"You know," Paige said as she pivoted on her heels, "I was just thinking about how long it's been since I've had someone to practice with who's not actually a coach or a teammate. It's nice." Her eyes flicked to mine again, and the glint of mischief there made the breath catch in my throat. "You up for a little challenge?"

I raised an eyebrow, a grin pulling at the corner of my lips. "Challenge? You know I don't back down."

"Oh, I'm sure you don't," she teased, moving further down the court. "So, let's see if you can beat me at free throws." Her voice carried the slightest bit of teasing confidence that made me wonder whether she was underestimating me or just trying to get a rise out of me. I wasn't about to let that slide.

"Is that a challenge, Bueckers?" I asked, dribbling the ball a little harder to show I was ready. "Or is that just you talking trash?"

She chuckled, adjusting her stance and bouncing the ball lightly against the hardwood. "Oh, it's a challenge. Unless, of course, you're scared?"

"Not even a little bit," I shot back, feeling my competitive side flare up. "I'm pretty sure you've met your match."

Paige's eyes sparkled as she set up to take the shot. There was a sense of playfulness to the moment, but underneath it, I could feel something else—something deeper. Like she was daring me to step into the space she had carved out for us.

She released the ball, the swish of it going through the hoop echoing in the empty gym. "First one's mine."

I rolled my eyes, even as a grin tugged at my lips. "Nice shot. But I'm not worried."

I took my turn, focusing on the ball, on the feel of it in my hands, the familiar rhythm of a free throw. I wasn't a pro like her, but I wasn't bad either. I sank it with ease.

"Okay," I said, tossing the ball back to her. "Now it's getting interesting."

We took turns shooting for a while, joking around and competing, but all the while, I couldn't help but notice the way she looked at me—how her eyes lingered just a little longer when we shared a glance. It was hard to ignore the weight of it. The unspoken words hanging in the air.

It felt almost... inevitable.

Finally, after a few more rounds, we both took a step back, the tension of the game still crackling between us.

"Not bad, Inds," Paige said, offering a small, genuine smile. "You're almost as good as me."

"Almost?" I scoffed, bouncing on my toes. "Let me have this win, would you? I'm just trying to keep my pride intact here."

Paige laughed softly, crossing her arms over her chest, her posture relaxed but still holding that magnetic aura. "Your pride's fine, trust me."

The moment hung there, just the two of us. I could feel my pulse quicken, the words I had been holding back for days now threatening to spill out of me.

"You know," I started, my voice quieter now, "I've been thinking a lot lately..."

Paige raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing the shift. "Oh, really? Should I be worried?"

I shook my head, chuckling softly at her teasing tone. "No, not at all. It's just... this thing between us. It's... a lot. And I've been avoiding it because I'm not sure what it means. What I want it to mean."

Her expression softened, and she stepped closer, a bit of seriousness replacing the playful edge in her voice. "Inds," she said, her eyes never leaving mine, "I'm not going anywhere. If you're worried about something changing between us, I get it. But... if you want something, ask for it. I'm here. Whatever it is you want."

I swallowed, my breath catching in my throat. What I wanted... was her. And there was no more denying it. I couldn't run from it anymore.

I took a step closer to her, my heart racing in my chest. The air between us was charged, like everything in me was pulled toward her. "I want you, Paige. I have for a while now. And I know we've been dancing around this... but I'm done running from it. If you feel the same... then maybe we should stop pretending like we don't."

For a long moment, she didn't speak. She just looked at me, her gaze piercing and intense, as if weighing my words, as if figuring out whether or not I was serious.

Then, slowly, she smiled. Not the playful grin from earlier, but something softer, something more... real. "I feel the same way, India."

And with that, something shifted. The tension that had been hanging in the air between us melted, and all that was left was the sound of our breathing and the thudding of my heart.

Without saying another word, she closed the gap between us, her hands coming to rest on my waist. My hands instinctively went to her shoulders, and for a split second, the whole world seemed to stop.

Then, she kissed me.

It wasn't rushed, nor was it slow—it was exactly what I needed. It was gentle, yet it felt like an explosion inside of me, like all the fear and confusion had melted away, leaving only this. Only us.

When she pulled back, her forehead resting gently against mine, I could barely breathe. But I wasn't scared anymore. I didn't need to be.

"We're not running from this anymore," she whispered, her voice hushed but confident.

"No. We're not," I murmured back, closing my eyes and letting myself finally relax into the moment.