Collegestudent!paige x dadsgirlfriend!azzi, forbidden romance, cheating, age gap.
Warnings: light angst, very brief mentions of childhood trauma, sexual content
A/n: I guys!!! I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted a chapter so thank you all for your patience!!! This is the last chapter of the series and I hope to have the epilogue out next week! As always let me know your thoughts! (Also posting a fmfias snippet tonight and chapter Sunday) 🩷
Word count: 8k
Three months had passed since they told Peter about the affair, and while the grief had slowly quieted into a dull, lingering ache, the exhaustion of rebuilding their lives still hung heavily over both of them.
Paige was leaned back against the cushions, her frame relaxed as she mindlessly traced patterns on the back of Azzi’s hand. Azzi was shifted sideways, her eyes watching Paige with a soft, warm flutter of anticipation in her chest.
"Hey," Azzi murmured, her voice breaking the comfortable silence. "I have a surprise for you."
Paige blinked, her brow furrowing slightly in confusion. "A surprise? For what?"
Azzi smiled, a deep, comforting smile that completely filled her eyes, and reached over to gently cup Paige’s cheek. "We are going to Virginia next weekend."
Paige’s expression softened, the confusion instantly melting into surprise. "Virginia? To see your parents?"
"Yeah," Azzi said softly, letting her hand slide down to intertwine her fingers tightly with Paige's. "I talked to my mom this morning. I just... I thought it would be really nice for us to go stay with them for a little while. I think we just need to be in a place where we can be surrounded by family."
At the word family, Paige swallowed hard, her throat tightening with a familiar emotion. But this time, it wasn't the sting of rejection. It was the warmth of knowing exactly what was waiting for her in Virginia. Over the last three months, Azzi’s parents had been calling constantly, checking in, and making sure Paige knew she was completely loved and accepted as one of their own.
"My mom is so excited," Azzi continued, her voice tender as she rubbed her thumb over Paige’s knuckles. "And my dad wants to show you that project he’s working on in the garage. They miss you, Paige."
Paige let out a long, shaky breath, the tension that she had been holding in her shoulders for ninety days finally beginning to ease. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against Azzi’s shoulder as a sense of relief washed over her.
"Thank you," Paige whispered, her voice thick with gratitude. "Yeah. Let's go home."
—
The humidity of the Virginia air hit them the second they stepped out of the airport terminal.
Scanning the crowded pickup lane, Azzi’s face lit up. "There they are!"
Standing right by the curb were Tim and Katie. The moment Katie spotted them, her face broke into a massive, radiant smile, and she didn't even wait for them to pull their bags across the crosswalk. She hurried forward, bypassing the luggage entirely.
While Tim stepped in to wrap Azzi in a hug, Katie went straight for Paige.
Without a shred of hesitation, Katie reached up and pulled Paige down into a fierce, enveloping hug. She held on tight, her arms wrapped securely around Paige's shoulders, bringing a maternal warmth that Paige hadn't experienced in what felt like a lifetime.
"Oh, sweetheart," Katie murmured into her shoulder, squeezing her tightly before pulling back just enough to look up into Paige's face. She kept her hands resting warmly on Paige’s upper arms. "We are so, so happy you are here. I’ve been counting down the days."
Paige stood frozen for a fraction of a second, as she swallowed down the lump in her throat. The genuineness in Katie's voice was almost overwhelming.
"We love you so much," Katie said softly, her thumb brushing gently against Paige's arm, making sure the words sank in. "Welcome home."
Tim stepped over next, clapping a big, comforting hand on Paige’s shoulder with a warm grin. "Good to see you, kiddo. Let’s get these bags in the trunk so we can get you both fed."
Paige let out a shaky, emotional breath, a smile finally breaking across her face as she looked between Azzi's parents.
—
The café was bustling and warm, filled with the comforting chatter of a weekend lunch crowd and the rich aroma of fresh coffee. They sat at a corner table, empty plates pushed to the center after finishing their meals. For the first time in months, Paige actually looked relaxed, leaning back comfortably as she listened to Tim and Azzi debate the best spots to visit over the weekend.
Katie took a sip of her iced tea, a thoughtful smile playing on her lips before she leaned forward, her eyes bright with excitement.
"So, Paige, Azzi," Katie started, folding her hands on the table. "I was driving past the old Robert’s place yesterday; it’s a really beautiful craftsman house about five minutes down the road from us, and I saw they just put a For Sale sign in the yard. It has a gorgeous front porch, a huge backyard, and it’s completely updated."
Azzi blinked, her fork pausing halfway to her plate as a look of total confusion crossed her face. "Mom? Why are you telling us about a house for sale down the road from you?"
"Because it would be an absolutely perfect place for the two of you," Katie said naturally, her smile widening as she looked between them. "The neighborhood is wonderful, you'd be right around the corner from us, and honestly, you two should really take a drive by and check it out while you're here this weekend."
Azzi let out a breathless, disbelieving laugh, shaking her head. "Mom, what? We’re not moving to Virginia. We have a house already, our whole lives are in Minnesota, and Paige still has a full year left of school before she even graduates. She can't just pack up and leave."
Paige shifted slightly in her seat, her cheeks flushing a warm pink, surprised by the sudden direction of the conversation.
"And after she graduates, she has to get her master's degree," Azzi added, leaning back and gesturing toward Paige as if that settled the argument definitively. "Plus my job is amazing."
Tim now leaned into the conversation with a calm, reassuring grin.
"Well, now hold on a second, Az," Tim said, his deep voice carrying a relaxed, no-nonsense warmth as he looked directly at Paige. "There are some great universities right around here. Paige can get her master's degree here just fine. And we all know you can easily get a job here. We'd love to have you both close by."
Katie nodded eagerly, leaning further across the table as she picked up right where Tim left off. "Exactly! There’s absolutely no reason for the two of you to stay all the way out in Minnesota. Not anymore."
Azzi stared at her mother, her jaw dropping slightly. She looked over at Paige, who was sitting quietly, her cheeks still flushed as she stared down at her hands, clearly overwhelmed by the sudden pressure of the conversation.
"Mom, stop, you're being ridiculous," Azzi said, her voice rising just enough to cut through her mother’s excitement. She shook her head, a stressed laugh escaping her lips. "This is moving way too quick. You're talking about us buying a house and changing states? Paige and I have only been together for six months!"
The table went quiet for a beat, the reality of the timeline hanging in the air.
Katie nodded understandingly, but the excited twinkle in her eye didn't fade as she leaned back in her chair.
"I know six months sounds fast, Azzi," Katie said softly, her tone shifting to a warm, completely non-pressuring reassurance. "I'm not saying you have to sign a lease or pack a moving truck tomorrow. I just think it wouldn't hurt to just take a drive by and check the house out while you're here. No strings attached. Just look at it."
Azzi sighed, a small, exasperated smile tugging at her lips as she looked over at Paige, expecting her to agree that her parents were getting a little ahead of themselves.
Instead, Paige shifted in her seat, her cheeks still a soft pink. She looked up from her hands, a tentative, quiet curiosity in her eyes.
"I mean... it wouldn't hurt to just look, babe." Paige said, her voice quiet but steady.
Azzi blinked, completely caught off guard. "Paige, really? You want to look at a house?"
"Just from the outside," Paige added with a shy, small smile, her shoulders relaxing a bit more. "Your mom's right, it doesn't hurt to just see it. Plus, I like craftsman houses."
Katie practically beamed, throwing her hands up in a small victory. "See? Paige is on my side. It's just a five-minute detour on the way back to the house, Azzi. I promise we won't make you talk to a realtor."
—
Tim pulled the car up to the curb, and the moment the house came into view, everyone fell quiet. It was absolutely stunning. The house had a deep, welcoming front porch with thick stone pillars, a freshly painted slate-blue exterior, and huge, wide windows that let the afternoon light pour in. A massive oak tree shaded the front yard, which was immaculate.
"Oh, wow," Paige murmured, her blue eyes wide as she leaned forward to look out the window. "It’s beautiful."
"See? What did I tell you?" Katie said triumphantly from the passenger seat.
As Tim idled the car, Azzi noticed a small sign planted near the mailbox: Open House Today 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. The front door was propped open, and a couple of people were chatting with a realtor just inside the foyer.
"Oh, look at that! It's an open house!" Katie gasped, her hand already reaching for her seatbelt. "We have to go inside."
"Mom, no way," Azzi protested immediately, reaching forward from the back seat to grab the headrest. "We said we were just driving by! We aren't going to go intrude on an open house when we aren't even buyers. That's embarrassing."
"It is not embarrassing, it's meant to be," Katie declared, already pushing her car door open with a grin. "Come on, Tim. Girls, out of the car. It wouldn't hurt to just walk through. Paige wants to see the inside, don't you, Paige?"
Paige bit her lip, looking at Azzi with a helpless, slightly amused shrug. "I mean... if it's already open, we wouldn't be bothering anyone."
Azzi let out a dramatic groan, burying her face in her hands, but she couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "You guys are ganging up on me."
"Always, honey," Tim chuckled, turning off the engine. "Let's go take a look."
Before Azzi could argue any further, Katie practically ushered them all out of the car and up the concrete walkway. Walking up the wide porch steps, the sense of safety and warmth only grew. As they stepped through the front door into the bright, open entryway, the rich hardwood floors and built-in bookshelves made the place feel less like a staged property and more like a real, living home.
They wandered deeper into the house, and with every room they stepped into, the place only grew more incredible. The main floor featured a completely open floor plan that made the layout feel massive yet extremely cozy. The living room flowed seamlessly into a huge kitchen that looked like something out of a magazine, complete with a massive quartz island, a commercial-grade stove, and row after row of white cabinetry.
"Look at this counter space," Katie pointed out, giving Paige a knowing nudge. "You would definitely have a lot of room for hosting"
They followed the hardwood hallway upstairs, to three spacious, sunlit bedrooms. But it was the master suite that completely took their breath away. The bedroom itself was huge, but the real showstoppers were further inside. Off to the left was a massive walk-in closet with custom shelving that had more than enough room for both of their wardrobes. And right next to it was the master bathroom.
It was, without a doubt, the nicest bathroom either Paige or Azzi had ever seen in person. It featured a double vanity, elegant gold hardware, a massive glass-enclosed rainfall shower, and a deep freestanding soaking tub tucked right beneath a large window that overlooked the backyard.
Azzi stood in the center of the bathroom, looking around at the marble and glass, before letting out a soft, defeated laugh. She shook her head, leaning closer to Paige so her parents wouldn't hear.
"It's incredible," Azzi whispered, her voice laced with a bittersweet sigh. "But Paige, there is absolutely no way we could ever afford a place like this. Not right now. This is a dream house."
Paige remained silent, but inside, her heart was starting to race with a sudden, overwhelming excitement. She found herself mindlessly imagining their current couch sitting perfectly against the living room wall downstairs. She imagined Azzi making coffee at that massive kitchen island in the mornings. She imagined walking into this bedroom after a long day of classes, completely safe and settled.
For the first time since her dad had thrown her out, Paige wasn't just surviving the present; she was actively, beautifully imagining a future.
Katie stepped into the master bathroom, her eyes darting between Azzi’s skeptical expression and the quiet, distant look on Paige's face. A knowing smile spread across her face.
"Paige loves it," Katie stated flatly, folding her arms with a triumphant nod. "Just look at her face."
Azzi let out a sharp, breathless laugh, looking from her mom back to Paige, who suddenly looked like she’d been caught red-handed. Paige’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and she quickly looked down at the marble flooring.
"Yeah, Mom, obviously she loves it. Who wouldn’t?" Azzi said, her voice laced with a heavy dose of reality as she gestured vaguely to the luxury around them. "It's a gorgeous house. But unless you happen to have five hundred grand just lying around to drop on a house across the country, we're just window shopping."
She sighed, stepping closer to Paige and wrapping a comforting arm around her waist, trying to ground them both before her mother spun them completely out of orbit.
"We have to be realistic," Azzi added softly, looking up at Paige with a tender, apologetic smile. "We can't just buy a half million dollar house on a whim."
Katie didn’t even flinch at the price tag or the logic. Instead, she just waved her hand dismissively, her eyes bright with stubborn determination.
"Fine, so you don't buy a half million dollar house your first week here," Katie said, her tone completely unfazed as she turned and began walking back out into the master bedroom. "But that doesn't mean you stay in Minnesota. If a house is too much right now, we should just start looking at apartments around here instead. There are some beautiful complexes near our house, and we could go look at a few leasing offices this afternoon—"
"Okay, nope. We are leaving. Right now," Azzi interrupted, her voice tight with an affectionate but completely done exasperation.
She grabbed Paige by the hand, turning her away from the bathroom before her mother could manifest a moving truck right then and there. Paige let out a quiet, rumbling chuckle, her shoulders shaking slightly as she let Azzi pull her along.
"Mom, you are out of control," Azzi muttered, guiding Paige past her parents and heading straight for the stairs. "We came here for a relaxing weekend, not to uproot our entire lives before we’ve even unpacked our suitcases. Dad, grab your wife. We are going back to the car."
Tim just laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender as he followed them down the hallway. "Hey, don't look at me, Az. Once she gets a nesting idea in her head, there's no stopping her."
"I'm just looking out for my girls!" Katie called out down the stairs, entirely unbothered as she hurried to keep up with them. "It doesn't hurt to look at a few, Azzi!"
—
By the time Tim pulled the car back into the driveway of Azzi’s childhood home, the afternoon sun was beginning to dip, casting long, golden shadows across the lawn. The frantic energy of the house hunt had finally fizzled out, replaced by a comfortable, sleepy warmth.
They grabbed their bags from the trunk, and Azzi immediately took Paige’s hand, leading her through the front door and straight up the carpeted stairs, eager to escape any further apartment talk from her mother.
At the end of the upstairs hallway, Azzi stopped in front of a closed wooden door. She turned around, looking up at Paige with a deeply flush, warned expression on her face.
"Okay, before you open this, you have to promise me you won't make fun of me," Azzi warned, her voice dropping into a defensive, embarrassed whisper. "My mom hasn't changed a single thing since I left for college, and it is... a lot."
Paige grinned, her eyes sparking with immediate amusement. "I promise nothing, Az."
Azzi rolled her eyes, sighed dramatically, and turned the doorknob, pushing the door open.
The moment Paige stepped into the room, she froze, took in the scenery, and instantly burst out laughing. It wasn't just a chuckle; it was a full-body, breathless, wheezing laugh that made her shoulders shake violently.
The walls were painted a bright, aggressive turquoise, plastered with old posters of pop bands. But the absolute crown jewel of the room was hanging directly above the headboard of the double bed.
Spelled out in massive, glittering wooden block letters wrapped in neon tulle was her name A-Z-Z-I and each individual letter was painted a different, vibrant color of the rainbow.
"Oh my god," Paige gasped, clutching her stomach as she pointed a trembling finger at the wall, her voice cracking with pure hysteria. "Azzi, you are so gay! What is that!"
"Shut up!" Azzi cried, she let out a mortified laugh and reached over, playfully slapping Paige’s arm. "Rainbows were just trendy back then, I swear!"
"Right, trendy," Paige wheezed, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye as she stepped further into the room, looking at the glitter and neon. "Az, this is amazing. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She held her hands up in surrender, though she was still grinning from ear to ear. "I'm not making fun of you, I promise. The room just... it has so much character."
"You are terrible," Azzi muttered, though she couldn't help but smile as she closed the door behind them, the absolute joy in Paige's face making the embarrassment completely worth it.
The twin bed was a tight squeeze but neither of them minded. They lay tangled together, the ridiculous rainbow letters still gleaming under the bedroom light above their heads. Paige was on her back with Azzi curled securely against her side. Azzi’s head rested perfectly on Paige’s chest, listening to the steady, comforting rhythm of her heartbeat.
For a long time, the only sound was the quiet hum of the house and their own relaxed breathing. The earlier laughter had settled into a deep, peaceful calm.
Paige mindlessly ran her fingers through Azzi’s hair, her eyes tracing the ceiling before drifting over to the window.
"Hey, Az?" Paige whispered, her voice incredibly soft in the quiet room.
"Yeah?" Azzi murmured, shifting slightly and tightening her arm across Paige’s stomach.
Paige swallowed, pausing for a beat as she gathered her thoughts. "I was thinking about what your mom said at lunch. And the house."
Azzi shifted her head up, resting her chin on Paige’s chest so she could look up into her face. "Don't tell me my mom actually brainwashed you. I thought we escaped her."
Paige let out a quiet chuckle, but her expression stayed gentle and serious. "No, she didn't brainwash me. But... I was thinking about it, and I really like the idea of moving here."
Azzi blinked, her eyes softening with surprise. She didn't interrupt, sensing the weight behind Paige's words.
"Not right now," Paige added quickly, looking down at Azzi to reassure her. "I know we can't just drop everything, and I want to finish my degree first. But eventually... down the road? I think I'd really love to live here."
She took a slow, deep breath, her chest rising and falling beneath Azzi.
"For the last three months, everything back home has just felt so... weird," Paige said softly, her voice thick with an honesty she hadn't quite been able to voice until now. "Everything just reminds me of what happened with my dad. But being here today? Walking through that house, and even just being in this room... it's the first time in a really long time that I’ve felt like I could actually breathe. Your family loves us, Az. And I think... I think I'd really like to make a life here with you when the time is right."
Azzi felt a sudden, overwhelming wave of emotion hit her throat. The lingering guilt she had carried for months; the quiet ache of feeling like she had ruined Paige's life, instantly began to melt away.
She pushed herself up, pressing a slow, tender kiss to Paige’s lips, then rested her forehead against Paige's.
"Okay," Azzi whispered, a beautiful, relieved smile breaking across her face as her voice trembled slightly. "Eventually. We'll finish school, we'll save up, and then we'll come home."
—
The next morning, the smell of coffee and bacon drifted up the stairs, a gentle wake-up call that made Paige shift comfortably against the pillows.
Azzi was already up, sitting on the edge of the twin bed with her wet hair wrapped in a towel, pulling a fresh sweater over her head. She looked back at Paige, a bright, excited energy in her eyes.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Azzi murmured, her voice full of affection. "Get up and get dressed. We have to be out of the house in an hour."
"An hour?" Paige asked, her voice rough from sleep. She pushed herself up onto her elbows. "Where are we going? I thought your mom was making breakfast."
"She is, but we're meeting someone right after," Azzi said, a nervous but excited smile playing on her lips. She leaned over, pressing a quick kiss to Paige's cheek. "We’re going to meet Colleen for coffee.“
The sleepy comfort instantly drained from Paige's face. Her brow furrowed, and she sat up completely, a sudden wave of anxiety tightening her chest.
"Colleen?" Paige repeated, her voice laced with immediate confusion and nerves. "Az, you never told me we were meeting your best friend. Why didn't you mention this yesterday?"
"Because I wanted to make sure she was actually free first, and she texted me back late last night," Azzi explained gently, reaching out to rub Paige’s arm, sensing the instant spike in her tension. "Don't be nervous, Paige. I’ve talked to her about you so much. She practically knows everything about us."
"That's exactly why I'm nervous," Paige muttered.
For the past three months, Paige had been in a bubble, dealing only with the fallout of her dad's rejection and the safe, familiar presence of Azzi and her parents. The idea of stepping outside of that bubble to meet the person who knew Azzi better than anyone else in the world felt incredibly daunting.
"What if she doesn't like me?" Paige asked quietly, looking up at Azzi with a vulnerable, guarded look in her eyes. "What if she thinks I'm... I don't know, too much?"
"Hey," Azzi said moving closer and taking both of Paige's hands in hers. "Colleen is going to absolutely love you. I promise. She’s been dying to meet you since the day I told her about you. She just wants to see us happy, Paige. You have absolutely nothing to worry about."
Paige let out a long, slow breath, trying to shake the knot in her stomach. She looked at Azzi’s reassuring smile, then down at their intertwined hands, forcing herself to nod.
"Okay," Paige whispered, her voice steadying. "Okay. Let me go get showered."
—
As they walked through the front door of the coffee shop, Paige’s heart was hammering against her ribs.
"Over there!" Azzi whispered, pointing to a corner table where a girl with bright eyes and a lively smile was already waving frantically at them.
The moment they reached the table, Colleen leaped out of her seat. She threw her arms around Azzi first, squealing in excitement, before turning right to Paige. Without a second of hesitation, Colleen reached up and wrapped Paige in a huge, enthusiastic hug.
"It is so incredibly good to finally meet you!" Colleen beamed, pulling back and looking up at Paige.
But instead of sitting down, Colleen stepped back a bit, her eyes scanning Paige from head to toe. Then, she slowly turned her head to look at Azzi, her jaw slightly dropped.
"Oh my god," Colleen said, completely deadpan but loud enough for a neighboring table to hear. "Azzi. She is so hot."
Paige’s jaw dropped in total shock, her entire face instantly flushing bright pink. She looked at Azzi, completely caught off guard.
Azzi, entirely unfazed by her best friend's lack of a filter, just smirked and crossed her arms proudly. "I know. Trust me, I know."
Colleen turned back to Paige, offering an apologetic but hilarious shrug. "I'm sorry, Paige, I don't mean to objectify you. I’m just... really not used to Azzi dating someone attractive. This is a massive upgrade for her."
"Hey!" Azzi cried out, her voice rising in mock offense as she slapped Colleen's arm.
The sheer absurdity of the moment completely shattered Paige’s anxiety. A deep laugh bubbled up from her chest, her shoulders shaking. She glanced at Azzi, a mischievous, teasing smirk playing on her lips.
"Well," Paige said, her voice dripping with dry humor. "I must have gotten my looks from my mom, then."
Colleen immediately threw her head back and let out a loud, screeching bark of laughter, completely unfazed by the topic. She slapped her hand down on the table, wiping an instant tear from her eye as she pointed at Paige.
"Oh my god, yeah, because your dad was ugly as shit!" Colleen wheezed, entirely blunt as she fell back into her chair. "I am sorry, Paige, but I’ve seen pictures of him and I was literally questioning Azzi's sanity for months. You definitely got the good genes."
"Colleen!" Azzi gasped, completely mortified. "Shut up! Oh my god, you can't just say that!"
"I can and I did, because it's true," Colleen grinned, totally unbothered as she gestured for them to sit down.
Azzi groaned dramatically, burying her face in her hands as Paige chuckled, finally sliding into the booth beside her.
Once they had all sat down and ordered their drinks, the playful, easy dynamic between the three of them kept going. Azzi was still a little flustered, but she had settled into the booth, her hand resting comfortably on Paige’s thigh under the table.
"Okay, but seriously, Paige," Colleen started, a deeply playful, conspiratorial smirk spreading across her face. "Is it weird being with someone so old? Like, does she need to be in bed by nine PM?"
Azzi immediately shot her best friend a deadpan, unamused look, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Colleen, you can't even talk," Azzi countered, her voice laced with an affectionate but completely done attitude. "You are the exact same age as me."
"Yeah, but it's different," Colleen shot back instantly as she leaned back in her chair and pointed a finger at Azzi. "I’m not a cougar, Az. My husband is a year older the me."
Paige burst into a deep laugh, her shoulders shaking as her face flushed a warm pink. She glanced sideways at Azzi, who was looking at Colleen with a look of utter betrayal.
"Hey, don't look at me," Paige joked, her voice full of dry affection. "You do like to be in bed by eight thirty, Az."
"I hate both of you so much," Azzi groaned dramatically, burying her face in her hands as Colleen looked completely thrilled to have Paige firmly on her side.
A few minutes later, Paige pushed back from the booth with a soft smile. "I'll be right back, guys. I’m just going to use the restroom."
"Take your time, babe," Azzi said softly, watching Paige navigate through the crowded café toward the back hallway.
The moment the bathroom door clicked shut behind Paige, Colleen leaned all the way across the table, her playful smirk softening into something incredibly genuine.
"Oh my god, Az," Colleen whispered, her eyes bright. "She is so cute. I really like her."
A warm, prideful smile filled Azzi’s eyes, and she let out a soft sigh, leaning back against the cushion. "I know. She's amazing."
"No, I’m so serious," Colleen said, folding her hands on the table. "All of your ex-girlfriends gave me the ick. They were always so dramatic, or self-absorbed, or just... a mess. But Paige is just so sweet and really funny. I don't even blame you for cheating on Peter."
Azzi’s smile vanished instantly, her eyes widening in a mix of panic and mortification. She shot a frantic glance toward the bathroom hallway before glaring back at her best friend.
"Colleen, stop bringing that up!" Azzi hissed in a harsh, desperate whisper. "Seriously, shut up. We are not talking about that here."
"What? I'm on your side!" Colleen defended, holding her hands up in mock surrender, though her eyes were still dancing with amusement. "I'm just saying, looking at Paige versus looking at him? Best decision you've ever made."
"It's not funny," Azzi muttered, rubbing her temples as she kept a strict watch on the back hallway, her heart racing at the thought of Paige walking back out and overhearing them.
—
The living room table was entirely covered. Stacked on one side were textbooks and the final, bound pages of Paige’s senior thesis. On the other side sat a neat stack of thick cardstock envelopes; her graduation invitations.
Paige sat hunched over the table, her frame unusually rigid as she stared down at a single, unsealed envelope.
Azzi walked out of the kitchen, carrying two mugs of coffee. Sensing the silence in the room, she set the mugs down on the counter and quietly stepped up behind Paige. She rested her hands warmly on Paige’s shoulders, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her head.
"You okay?" Azzi murmured, her voice steady and grounding.
Paige swallowed hard, her throat tight. She didn't look up, her blue eyes locked onto the cursive font displaying the graduation date, time, and campus auditorium.
"I invited him," Paige whispered, her voice lower and rougher than usual.
Azzi shifted, sliding onto the chair beside her. She looked down at the table and immediately noticed the address written on the front of the envelope.
It was Peter’s address.
Azzi’s breath hitched slightly, her eyes softening with a mixture of protection and deep, aching empathy. She knew how much weight that address carried.
"Paige..." Azzi said softly, her hand moving to cover Paige's trembling fingers.
"I know," Paige interrupted quietly, finally looking up. Her eyes were bright, swimming with a vulnerable, terrifying mix of hope and dread. "I know it’s stupid. I know he hasn't called, or texted, or tried to fix anything. But... I'm graduating, Az. I did it."
She let out a long, shaky breath, her chest rising and falling heavily.
"It’s a long shot," Paige whispered, her thumb tracing the edge of the envelope. "A part of me just... I need to know. If he chooses not to show up, then at least I’ll know I left the door open, and he was the one who walked away for good. But I have to send it."
Azzi stared at her, her heart swelling with an overwhelming amount of pride.
—
The morning sun poured through the bedroom window, catching the clean, crisp lines of the clothes laid out on the bed. Paige stood in front of the full-length mirror, her body shifting tensely as she smoothed down the fabric of her white polo shirt and adjusted the waistband of her matching white dress pants
Before the nerves could completely take over, the bedroom door clicked open.
Azzi stepped into the room, sensing the tension in Paige's shoulders, Azzi’s expression softened into pure devotion. She walked up quietly behind her, watching their reflection in the glass for a heartbeat before stepping closer.
Azzi wrapped her arms securely around Paige’s waist, leaning her weight against Paige's back. She tilted her head up, pressing a slow, warm, lingering kiss to the sensitive spot right beneath Paige’s ear, her hands flattening against Paige's stomach to ground her.
"Stop breathing so fast, beautiful," Azzi murmured, her voice a low, comforting vibration against Paige's skin. "It’s gonna be ok."
Paige let out a long, ragged exhale, her shoulders finally dropping an inch as she leaned back into Azzi’s embrace, her larger hands coming up to cover Azzi’s forearms.
"I am so, so proud of you, baby," Azzi whispered, looking up at her through the mirror, her eyes shining with an overwhelming amount of love. "You worked so hard for this. And you look absolutely stunning today. This white looks so good on you."
Paige managed a small, grateful smile, her cheeks flushing a soft pink at the compliments. She turned her head slightly to press a quick kiss to the side of Azzi's face, but as her eyes drifted back to the reflection of her outfit, the underlying anxiety crept right back into her expression.
The silence hung between them for a beat, the unspoken weight of the invitation lingering in the air.
"I hope he comes, Az," Paige whispered, her voice cracking slightly with raw, heartbreaking vulnerability. She stared at her own hands wrapped over Azzi's. "I know I shouldn't care. I know I have you, but... it's graduation. I just really hope he shows up."
The stadium was a sea of black gowns, flashing cameras, and a low, deafening roar of chatter from thousands of proud families packed into the stands. Down on the floor, sitting among rows of her peers, Paige sat with her frame hunched slightly forward, her hands tightly gripping the edges of her plastic chair.
Her eyes searched the crowded arena, scanning section after section, row after row.
Every time a tall man with a similar build to her father moved in the crowd, her heart leaped into her throat, only to crash violently back down when the stranger turned around.
Sitting a few rows back in the guest section, Azzi watched Paige’s head turn anxiously again and again. Azzi’s heart was absolutely breaking. She could see the hopeful tension in Paige’s shoulders from across the floor, and she desperately wished she could reach out and hold her.
"Paige Bueckers."
Paige stood up automatically, her legs feeling like jello as she joined the line moving toward the stage. As she walked up the steps, the blinding stage lights hit her. She took her diploma, shook the dean's hand, and turned to face the crowd for the announcer's pause.
In that split second, she didn't look at the cameras. She looked straight toward the back entrances, praying to see a familiar face walking through the doors late.
The doorway was completely empty. Peter wasn't there. He hadn't come.
A wave of grief slammed into Paige’s chest right there on the stage. She forced a tight, hollow smile for the flash of the university photographer, her jaw clenching so hard it ached to keep from sobbing openly in front of thousands of people. She walked down the steps on the opposite side of the stage, the cheers of the surrounding families sounding muffled and distant, as if she were underwater.
When the ceremony finally ended, the floor turned into a chaotic crush of graduates reuniting with their loved ones. Paige stood entirely still in the middle of the madness, clutching her diploma cover to her chest like a shield, looking devastatingly small against the crowd.
"Paige!"
Azzi’s voice cut through the noise. A second later, Azzi broke through the crowd, her eyes shining with a mixture of pride and sorrow for what Peter had done. She didn't say a word about him. She just wrapped her arms tightly around Paige’s waist, burying her face into Paige’s chest.
Paige let out a ragged, broken breath, her arms wrapping securely around Azzi, holding onto her like an anchor. A single tear finally escaped her eyes and tracked down her cheek.
"I'm so proud of you," Azzi whispered against her shirt, squeezing her tighter. "You did it, baby."
Paige swallowed the lump in her throat, looking over the top of Azzi’s head at the crowded stadium one last time.
—
The drive back from graduation had been entirely silent, by the time they walked through the front door of their home, the adrenaline of the ceremony had completely washed away, leaving Paige looking utterly exhausted and miserable.
She walked straight to the bedroom, her movements slow and robotic. She unzipped her graduation gown and let it slide off her shoulders onto the floor, standing in her white polo and dress pants as she stared blankly at the wall.
Azzi followed her in quietly. Seeing the hollow, defeated look in Paige's eyes broke her heart all over again. She didn't say a word; she just stepped up to Paige, gently unbuttoning the collar of the shirt. She helped Paige slide out of the clothes and guided her arms into a pair of soft, oversized pajama pants and a worn t-shirt. Paige let herself be handled, completely drained of any energy.
"Come here, baby," Azzi whispered, pulling the covers back.
Paige crawled into the bed, her body instantly curling into a tight, defensive ball. Azzi climbed in right beside her, wrapping herself around Paige’s back, sliding one arm under her head and pulling Paige tight against her chest.
For a long time, the only sound was the quiet hum of the house. But then Paige’s shoulders began to tremble violently.
"I know it's my fault," Paige choked out, her voice raw and thick with a sudden rush of tears. She turned her head slightly into the pillow, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the sheets. "Him not coming... I know it's my fault, Az."
Azzi shifted, tightening her hold, her heart aching. "Paige, don't say that—"
"No, it is," Paige interrupted, a broken sob finally escaping her throat. "I'm the one who hurt him. We are the ones who had the affair behind his back. IHe has every right to hate me."
"But I still hoped," Paige whispered, her voice cracking completely. "I just... I still really hoped he would forgive me enough to just come and see me graduate. I just wanted my dad."
Azzi didn't try to argue with her, she just kissed the back of Paige's neck, letting her own tears spill over as she held the crying girl as tightly as she could.
Paige squeezed her eyes shut, her frame shuddering against the mattress as the tears kept coming, hot and fast. She gripped Azzi’s forearm; the one wrapped tightly around her chest, as if it were the only thing keeping her from breaking down completely.
"It’s just... it’s really hitting me right now," Paige choked out, her voice dropping into a raw, hollow whisper that made the room feel instantly colder. "I don’t have parents anymore, Az. I’m nobody’s kid."
The words cut straight into Azzi's chest. In all the months they had been together, Paige had never once spoken about her mother. It had always been a sacred, untouched wound.
"My mom... she’s in a prison," Paige whispered, her knuckles turning white against Azzi's skin. "Child endangerment, neglect, and possession of a controlled substance. I haven’t seen her since I was nine years old. The last memory I have of my mother is watching the police drag her out of a hotel room while she screamed at me that I was the reason her life was ruined."
A sharp gasp caught in Azzi’s throat, and a hot tear instantly spilled over her eyelashes, tracking down her cheek.
"I never wanted anyone to know how much it hurt me," Paige sobbed, her shoulders shaking violently. "I told myself I was okay with her being gone because I had him. He was my reward for surviving her."
She turned her head, burying her face into the pillow, her voice breaking into a ragged, desperate cry.
"And now I feel so fucking lost, Az."
Hearing the reality of Paige's childhood broke something deep inside Azzi. The tears poured freely from her eyes now, blurring her vision as a quiet, aching sob escaped her own lips.
Azzi she shifted her weight, climbing further over Paige until she could pull the taller girl entirely into her arms. She cradled Paige’s head against her chest, squeezing her with a desperate intensity, rocking her softly.
"I’m so sorry," Azzi wept, her voice thick with her own tears as she kissed the top of Paige's head over and over. "You are my whole world, baby. I'm right here, and I am never, ever going to leave you."
Paige shifted, turning around in Azzi’s arms until they were face to face. Her chest was still heaving, her cheeks damp with tears, but the raw vulnerability in her eyes had turned into something fierce and desperate. She reached up, her hands trembling as she cupped Azzi’s face, tracing the tears on Azzi’s cheeks with her thumbs before leaning in to press her lips firmly against hers.
The kiss started with the salty taste of their shared tears, but it quickly deepened into something consuming. It was a breathless, clinging reassurance. Paige pulled Azzi closer, her body molding perfectly against the older woman's as she slid her mouth down from Azzi’s lips, trailing hot, wet kisses down her jawline and burying her face into the crook of Azzi’s neck.
Azzi let out a soft, fractured gasp, her fingers instantly tangling into the back of Paige’s hair, holding her tight against her skin as Paige breathed her in.
"Azzi..." Paige murmured roughly, her voice breaking as she pulled back just enough to lock eyes with her in the dim light of the bedroom.
Azzi blinked through her tears, her eyes completely wide and focused on the younger girl.
"I love you so much," Paige whispered, her grip tightening on Azzi’s waist. "I don't want you to think I regret anything we did. I don't want you to think I'm sitting here wishing I could take it back."
Another hot tear trailed down Paige’s face, but her gaze never wavered.
"As much as it hurts right now... as much as I miss my dad, I would choose you," Paige sobbed softly, her lips brushing against Azzi’s forehead before she kissed her deeply again. "I would pick you over him a thousand times over. I’d lose him all over again just to have you. You're everything."
Paige didn’t give Azzi a chance to breathe, sealing their lips together again in a deep, bruising kiss that tasted of salt and devotion. The desperation from moments before transformed into heat. Keeping her mouth locked firmly against Azzi’s, Paige gripped the older woman’s hips with her hands, effortlessly guiding her up and back until Azzi was fully straddling her lap.
Azzi let out a muffled gasp into the kiss, her thighs instantly clamping tightly against Paige’s waist as she settled over her.
Paige tore her mouth away from Azzi’s lips, trailing a line of wet, frantic kisses down the line of her jaw before burying her face into the side of Azzi’s neck.
"Fuck, Azzi," Paige groaned out against her skin, her voice dropping into a whisper between biting kisses. "I need you so bad right now."
Azzi whimpered loudly, her fingers clawing desperately into Paige’s shoulders as Paige’s hands slid under her pajamas, her palms hot and rough against the bare skin of Azzi's thighs.
"You're my fucking world," Paige murmured roughly, her lips brushing the shell of Azzi’s ear before she bit down gently on her earlobe. "Tell me you're mine. Let me feel how much you want me."
"I'm yours, baby, always," Azzi’s fingers tightened in Paige’s hair, gently but firmly pulling Paige’s head back until their eyes locked.
"Let me take care of you tonight, baby," Azzi whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she smoothed Paige's messy hair back from her forehead.
Paige let out a shaky, trembling breath, the last remnants of her defense completely melting under Azzi's gaze. She nodded slowly, her frame going beautifully compliant beneath the older woman.
Azzi smiled softly, leaning down to press a tender, lingering kiss to Paige’s lips before she reached down to grip the hem of Paige’s worn t-shirt. She guided Paige to lift her arms, sliding the fabric up and over her head, tossing it onto the floor.
Azzi’s hands settled flat against Paige’s bare skin, her palms smoothing over her collarbones and down her chest, tracing the line of her ribs. Paige shivered at the contact, a low groan escaping her throat.
"So beautiful for me," Azzi murmured, leaning down to seal their lips together again.
This time, the kiss was slow, deep, and dripping with agonizingly sweet reverence. Azzi poured all of her love into the slide of their mouths, her tongue tangling softly with Paige's as she rocked her hips gently against Paige's lap.
"Take your pants off for me, baby," Azzi whispered, her voice a breathless, tender command as she smoothed her hands down Paige's bare ribs. "Let me see you."
Paige lifted her hips slightly off the mattress, her hands hooking into the waistband of her soft pajama pants and boxers pulling them down her legs in one smooth motion, kicking them completely off the edge of the bed.
The moment she was done, Azzi shifted her position completely. Instead of staying up on Paige's lap, she slid her knees down the mattress, moving between Paige’s bare legs. Paige instinctively opened up for her, her thighs parting wide to welcome her in.
Azzi crawled forward slowly, she dropped lower, her eyes locked onto Paige's face as she slid her hands up the insides of Paige's thighs. She firmly gripped the soft skin, spreading her open as she brought her face right between Paige’s legs.
Paige let out a low, ragged groan, her head slamming back against the pillow as her fingers instantly clawed into the sheets, completely helpless as Azzi leaned down to take care of her.
Azzi pressed her face fully into Paige’s heat, her tongue parting her slick skin with a deep, confident stroke.
A loud, broken gasp ripped from the back of Paige’s throat, her hips giving a violent, involuntary jolt upward. Her hands flew blindly above her head, her fingers clawing desperately into the mattress as Azzi held her down, her thumbs pressing firmly into the creases of Paige’s thighs to keep her steady.
Azzi swirled her tongue with an intense, hungry pace, her breathing turning hot and ragged against Paige’s skin. She hummed deeply against her, the vibration sending an electric shockwave straight up Paige’s spine.
"Oh god, Az—please," Paige cried out, her voice loud and completely undone.
The grief and exhaustion that had weighed Paige down all evening completely evaporated, replaced by a blinding, overwhelming rush of pleasure. She couldn't keep her lower body still; she was entirely at the mercy of Azzi’s mouth. Azzi kept up the pace, never slowing down, pushing Paige closer and closer to the edge.
Azzi sucked harder, her tongue working in a fast, flattening rhythm that pushed Paige right over the edge.
Paige’s thighs locked tight against Azzi’s head, her hips rolling in a frantic circle as she openly sobbed, entirely consumed by the blinding rush of pleasure.
A loud, choked scream tore from her throat as a massive, blinding orgasm shattered through her core. Her hips jerked violently, riding out the trembling waves of the release before she finally collapsed back into the pillows, completely undone and breathing frantically.
Azzi crawled back up the mattress, her eyes shining with adoration. She slid under the covers, and Paige immediately reached for her, pulling Azzi’s l tightly against her bare chest.
Azzi rested her head right over Paige's heart, wrapping her arm securely around Paige’s waist. They cuddled close, their breathing slowly synchronizing in the dark as the lingering ghosts of the day finally faded away completely.
Azzi lifted her head slightly, looking up at the girl who had risked everything, lost everything, and still chosen to love her. She leaned up, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Paige's jaw.
"Thank you for choosing me," Azzi whispered softly against her skin.
—
(I have a new fic idea for after fmfias and I’m super excited about it) 🩷
I hope every single person that didn’t vote for Azzi gets strapped(not in a good way) to a medieval torture table and receives a continuous stream of goose shit that falls on their face while peanut butter is smeared onto their bare feet and dogs are brought in to lick off said peanut butter.
Good morninggggg everyone, it’s game day!! May there be a repeat of last Liberty game, may Azzi Fudd show everyone why she still in the running for ROTY and break a 3PM record, may Paige provide BTA before we get to the point of being down 15, may Jess get a triple double, and may Arike just like stay out the way and pass the ball. Amen🙂↕️
Despite what the general public says…Azzi is ROTY. Yes it’s OM’s to lose CURRENTLY but one thing about Azzi Fudd…she gonna prove a doubter wrong every single time. Watch this space 👀
Also I don’t care if you don’t agree, argue with your mother about it.
