Fighting for the love (of the game) - Chapter 14
Chapter 14: A declaration disguised as a competition
Pairing: Paige Bueckers x Azzi Fudd
Trope: Second chance
A/N:
So, I finally made it. We are going with the original angle. I think it will be pretty obvious why I hesitated to share it at first.
I would really appreciate any constructive feedback, even if I know most people have probably moved on from this story by now.
Word Count: 10k words
Masterlist
Azzi POV:
Azzi felt the cool press of glass against her palm a moment before Paige's arms wrapped around her waist.
The wine was cold, slick with condensation, but Paige was warm and soft and so close that Azzi could feel the steady beat of her heart through the thin cotton of her tank.
"You abandoned your post again," Azzi murmured, eyes on the chicken breast in front of her even as the knife hesitated in the air.
Paige's lips brushed her bare shoulder and any attempt at focus dissolved.
"I am doing more important things right now," Paige whispered, her words grazing against Azzi's ear in that lazy drawl that still made her weak.
Azzi rolled her eyes, but it was only for show.
The truth was, she didn't want Paige to stop. There was something about Paige hugging her like this that made everything in Azzi's world go quiet.
The warmth of her chest, the weight of her hands, the steady rhythm of her breathing syncing to hers. Paige had this way of fitting against her like she has always belonged there, like the space between them had never existed.
The music playing through the speaker was low, some soft R'n'B beat they both liked. Paige's hips started swaying slowly, pressing against Azzi’s just enough to make her sway along.
A small, teasing push against her made Azzi laugh under her breath, but the sound broke when one of Paige's hands spread wide over her stomach, palm flat, fingers brushing the thin fabric of her tank top.
The other hand slipped lower, tracing the waistband of the borrowed boxers Azzi had dragged on after her shower.
"Paige," Azzi started, meaning for it to sound like a warning, but it came out too soft and breathy to convince anyone, not even herself.
"Azz," Paige murmured back, her smile curved against her skin, her mouth moving slowly along the slope of Azzi's neck.
Her teeth grazed her collarbone, and a shiver rippled through Azzi, starting at the base of her spine.
God, it was ridiculous how easily Paige could do this to her. How one touch could make her whole body light up, how her chest felt too small for everything she was suddenly feeling.
Paige slipped the knife from her hand without saying a word. The protective gesture was automatic and it made Azzi feel hot all over again. Paige's arms tightened around her, making her feel safe in a way that no one else ever could.
"Let's not risk those talented fingers," Paige murmured, pressing another kiss just under Azzi’s ear.
Azzi felt herself melt back against her instinctively.
She had stopped fighting these moments weeks ago, stopped pretending she didn't love the way Paige felt against her.
And by now, it didn't feel like a battle between her brain and her heart anymore, it just felt right.
After months of distance and second-guessing every step, this had become their quiet ritual. Nights in each others' kitchen, cooking something half-decent, a small glass of wine on the counter, music humming in the background, and Paige's hands somewhere on her body, always.
"You are distracting me," it was supposed to sound like a complaint, but her head tipped to the side on instinct, giving Paige easier access to her neck.
"That's the point," Paige whispered, her lips curving against her skin. Then she started to hum softly, a little off-key, matching the rhythm of the song that played.
Love, never knew what I was missin'...
But I knew once we start kissin'...
I found, I found you...
The laugh that bubbled out of Azzi melted into a quiet moan when Paige's teeth grazed her neck again teasingly.
"You did not just serenade me while I am cutting up our dinner," Azzi said, trying to hold on to her composure, but it was hopeless.
She sounded too breathless and content to sound like a complaint.
It was absurd how something this small, Paige humming off-key in the kitchen on a random Thursday night, could make her feel so full.
"Don't even pretend you hate it," Paige teased. "You like me corny for you."
Azzi's clean hand found Paige's where it rested low on her stomach, their fingers lacing easily. It was still a bit scary how natural it felt again, like they had never lost this connection.
"You are lucky I do," she murmured.
"I know," Paige said, her voice warm and smug.
She pressed a kiss to her temple again, her thumbs drawing lazy circles under Azzi's ribs.
It wasn't even about seduction anymore, it was more about familiarity. Touches that came from knowing someone down to the smallest details and still making her feel brand new.
Azzi closed her eyes for a second, just breathing her in.
The scent of Paige's cologne mixed with the rosemary and lemon from the half-made chicken.
She could almost convince herself they had been doing this forever. This quiet, ordinary life that didn't need anything else to feel full.
A few weeks ago, she never would have allowed it. She would have found an excuse to pull away, told herself she didn't need the closeness.
But the walls between them had been slowly crumbling ever since Paige came back into her life, piece by piece, replaced by these soft, domestic moments that felt too good to question anymore.
Now she not only needed the closeness, she wanted it.
She wanted it every night, and most nights lately, she had it. Time spent doing nothing together after training, touches that were innocent until they weren't, Paige's smell surrounding her until Azzi forgot the rest of the world existed.
This week, she even caught herself thinking about it during a particularly hard practice. She kept thinking about how she just needed to push through and then she can come home, shower, slip into Paige's clothes, and find her waiting on the couch for her with a big smile.
It wasn't a fantasy anymore, it was their life again.
"I missed this," Azzi said quietly, the words tumbling out before she could stop them, not that she wanted to.
Paige froze for just a heartbeat, then tightened her arms around her, kissing her temple again. "Me too, baby."
The word baby sent something fluttering low in Azzi's stomach. Not because it was new, it has been slipping out of their mouth more and more often lately, but because it felt so sure, so effortless coming from her again.
The oven timer suddenly broke the spell with a sharp beep.
Paige groaned dramatically, burying her face in Azzi's shoulder. Azzi laughed, slipping out of her arms with a sigh.
She rinsed her hands under cool water, a droplet sliding beneath the band of the silver bracelet Paige had gifted her last week. A small, simple thing, but she caught herself touching it all the time, tracing the metal like proof that this was real, that they were rebuilding something solid again.
When she turned back, Paige was leaning against the counter, that familiar grin tugging at her mouth.
Azzi glanced at the small pile next to her.
"You only cut two zucchinis."
"Quality over quantity," Paige countered. "Besides, I poured you a perfect glass of wine. That's worth at least five zucchinis and a few kisses."
Azzi tilted her head, pretending to consider, though her lips were already twitching upward. "You get two minutes," she said finally, reaching for the wine Paige had poured for herself. She took a small sip, watching Paige's expression shift. "Then you finish our sides."
"Deal." Paige's grin softened into something warmer, her eyes flickering over Azzi's face before she closed the distance between them.
Her palm slid up Azzi's back, fingers spreading wide, tracing the familiar path of her spine before tilting her chin up.
The kiss that followed was supposed to be quick, but it deepened almost immediately, soft turning to hungry.
Paige's tongue brushed against hers, coaxing a small, helpless sound from Azzi's throat. She clutched at Paige's shoulders, her head spinning. She felt the strength there, so solid and familiar, and heat started to pool low in her stomach once again...
Then Paige broke the kiss.
The absence hit like cool air. Azzi blinked, breathing uneven, lips tingling. Paige was flushed too, pupils wide, her chest rising and falling.
They didn't need words to understand why she had stopped. They both knew their rule, they had agreed to take it slow, to rebuild the trust that they had lost.
But still, God, it hurt to stop.
Azzi pressed her lips together, trying to steady herself.
"You are…" she exhaled, shaky laugh catching in her throat, "…the worst sous chef I have ever had."
Paige grinned, voice rough. "Correction. The hottest sous chef you'll ever have."
"Yeah, that too," Azzi admitted, cheeks warm.
Paige chuckled, rubbing her neck before turning back to the cutting board.
The sight of her, barefoot, hair falling loose from her bun, humming as she sliced, made Azzi's chest tighten.
She had no idea how Paige managed to look that good doing something so ordinary seconds after she had just kissed her breathless.
Azzi moved closer, unable to stop herself.
Her hand slid down Paige's spine, slow and teasing fingers tracing every muscle there. Azzi smiled, then she turned Paige' chin and kissed her quick, confident, and a little smug.
Paige made a low sound that Azzi felt in her chest before her hand shot to Azzi's hip, holding on. But before Paige could really deepen the kiss, Azzi stepped back this time.
"Salt and lemon," she whispered, "Don't forget to season your zucchinis."
Paige exhaled a laugh, breathless.
"So bossy." She leaned in, pulling Azzi back for one last kiss, softer this time. "Go finish the chicken so I can finish this. Then we eat. Then…" Her smile turned slow. "…we can make out on the couch for the rest of the night."
Azzi laughed. "You assume I will let you eat first."
"I hope you don't," Paige murmured, not looking up as she kept slicing.
Azzi stood there for a moment longer, just taking her in.
The kitchen light caught the soft curve of Paige's easy smile. She was humming again under her breath like everything in the world was fine.
And maybe it was, Azzi realised. This was what happiness looked like for her now. Not the grand gestures or the perfect moments, but this.
The smell of lemon and garlic, the warmth of Paige's hand on her hip when she passed by, the teasing banter that filled the small space between songs.
It wasn't a dream anymore, it was their life.
She had fallen for Paige once in the chaos of their youth. And now she was falling for her all over again in the quiet moments of their adult life.
Over the way Paige hummed while she cooked, over how she always poured Azzi's wine first, over the easy routine they slipped into immediately after they stopped fighting it.
Azzi smiled to herself, knife in hand again, slicing the last of the chicken as Paige moved beside her.
Maybe this was what home really was, not a place, but a person.
Paige POV:
"Sit your pretty ass down and drink your wine," Paige said, the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth before she could stop it.
The words came out playful, but the warmth in her voice gave her away. She rolled her shoulders back, feeling the faint pull of tired muscles that hadn't relaxed all day.
Practice had been rough, her brand meetings even worse, but the second she walked through the door and found Azzi on her couch, barefoot in her boxers reading a book with her own bonnet already on, the exhaustion had melted from her body like it was never there.
She flicked a glance toward her now.
The overhead light emphasised her golden, smooth skin of her shoulders, and Paige had to look away before she started smiling like a fool again.
She reached out and tapped the rim of Azzi's glass until she took it obediently, laughing under her breath.
God, that laugh.
Paige would bottle it up if she could. That low, melodic sound always landed somewhere right behind her ribs.
"You did most of the cooking," she said, turning to place the cutting board into the sink. "I clean. That's the deal and you know it."
Azzi arched a brow, one corner of her mouth tugging upward. "Uh-huh. That's not what you said last time I made cottage dip for our movie night. I had to make and clean that alone."
That teasing edge was back after being gone for too long. Seeing that light in Azzi's eyes again did something to Paige in the last couple of weeks.
It felt like the missing puzzle pieces finding their way back home.
She leaned in to press a kiss to Azzi's cheek, a quick brush that still sent heat running up her neck, then turned to the water. Steam rose immediately, fogging the metal as she reached for the sponge.
"Do not even try me," Paige said, bumping her hip into Azzi's as she passed behind her. "I will body-check you away from this sink. I am buff enough to do it now."
Azzi's soft, amused sound came close to her. "You are ridiculous, P."
"Uh huh," Paige said, grinning as she scrubbed at a pan. "Ridiculously right. Now move, baby."
Azzi moved, but only far enough to sit on the high stool, her wine glass in hand. Paige heard the faint scrape of wood and the thud of bare feet finding the lower rung.
"Who is bossy now?" Azzi said into the rim of her glass, her voice amused.
"Come on, we both know you live it when I take charge," Paige shot back easily, reaching out with one damp hand to touch Azzi's lower back as she passed to grab the forgotten pan on the stove.
Azzi didn't deny it. She just smirked faintly, eyes following Paige's every movement like she was watching something that belonged to her.
Paige could feel it, that gaze and the quiet intensity of it. Even with her back turned, she felt stripped bare under it and it made her want to turn around and forget the dishes completely.
She tried to her focus on the task, but when she glanced sideways, the sight nearly undid her.
Azzi sat perched on the stool, one knee tucked under, tank top slipping just enough to show a line of soft, smooth skin above the waistband of Paige's boxers. A fey tiny strands of curls have fallen loose under the bonnet, framing her face.
But it was her eyes, calm and soft and a little possessive, that made Paige's chest tighten.
Jesus, help me keep my self control around her a little longer.
"You are staring" she muttered, turning back towards the last dirty items.
"You are hot, can't help it," Azzi said simply, swinging one foot until it nudged at Paige's hip.
Paige smirked. "Good to know the thirst is mutual."
Azzi laughed low and raspy. "You were also hot last night."
Paige tilted her head just enough to catch her expression. "Yeah?"
"Thirty-five points," Azzi murmured, like she was savouring the number.
Paige tried to play it cool while she dried her hands, but her grin betrayed her. "Well, I guess that happens when the teams can't just focus on me. They have gotta make sure the People's Princess is covered too."
Azzi groaned, burying her face in her hand before reaching out and catching Paige’s wrist to pull her closer. "Stop."
Paige let herself be tugged between Azzi's knees, hands braced on either side of her on the counter. "Sorry, can't hear you over the thousands of tweets calling you divine and perfect and a national treasure," she teased, leaning in closer. "And some of them calling me greedy for getting to go home with you."
Azzi's cheeks flushed, her eyes narrowing in mock annoyance. She shoved lightly at Paige's shoulder, but Paige caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
"You are insufferable," Azzi murmured, though her voice had gone soft.
"And yet," Paige said, pressing another kiss to her palm before sliding it gently against her cheek, "you keep looking at me like that."
The words hung open in the air.
Azzi set her glass down slowly, fingers brushing Paige's hair from her face gently. Paige leaned into it instinctively, every part of her craving Azzi's touch.
Her own hands slid to Azzi's thighs, thumbs drawing aimless circles against warm skin. "Does it bother you?" she asked quietly. "Us trending again. People assuming we are… us again."
Azzi didn't answer right away. She just watched her, thoughtful, her thumb tracing the line of Paige's cheekbone.
"I just..." Paige swallowed. "I don't want it to feel like something you are just tolerating. Like something you have to handle because of me. I remember Storrs... God, there were times I wanted to scream at people for the things they said about you, about us. But I couldn't. I had to act like it didn't matter, like you were just my teammate, my best friend. Meanwhile, people were tearing you apart online, and I couldn't even defend you without giving everything away." She exhaled, her voice shaking slightly. "I hated that. That I couldn't protect you, not the way I wanted to."
Azzi's eyes softened, but there was something steadier behind them now, something unshakable. Her hand slid into Paige's hair, guiding her forward until their foreheads touched. "It's not the same anymore," she said, her voice low but certain.
Paige felt something in her chest unclench, like she had been holding that specific weight since the day they left Connecticut. She closed her eyes, breathing her in, the faint sweetness of her shampoo, the warmth of her skin, and the quiet power in the way Azzi didn't flinch away from the conversation.
"I used to care," Azzi admitted, though there was no trace of shame in it. "About what people might say, about losing control of the story before we even got to live it. I was scared of being the one they came after. The one they will downplay as someone who only achieved everything due to her partner." Her thumb brushed along Paige's jaw, gentle but deliberate. "But I am not that girl anymore. People are going to talk no matter what we do. Let them. I am not hiding from anyone, and I am not letting fear decide how I behave around you."
Paige's throat tightened.
For so long, she hadn't dared to believe she would ever hear Azzi say something like that, not without hesitation, not with that calm certainty that she had now.
Paige thought about every meeting, every clause she had picked apart with her lawyers before signing her deal with the Sparks.
She had made sure there was no language that could ever be twisted into ammunition against them. No fine print, no leverage, nothing anyone could use as a threat if they ever ended up together again.
She was done letting anyone, fans, sponsors, the brand, dictate what they could be to each other.
"You sound pretty sure," Paige stated quietly.
Azzi nodded, slow and deliberate. "I am still figuring it out," she said. "But when I am ready, I am done hiding us."
That was it. The green light Paige had been waiting for.
She let out a shaky laugh, relief washing through her. Her hands slid higher, tracing the smooth line of Azzi's waist, and then she kissed her deep and slow with every ounce of restraint she had been holding onto for months.
Azzi met her right there, arms wrapping around Paige's neck, pulling her in until their breaths tangled. Their mouths moved together, familiar and new all at once.
When Paige finally pulled back, she kept her forehead pressed against Azzi's, her thumbs still stroking the curve of her hips. "I don't care what they say about us," she said quietly. "I don't care if the whole basketball world argues about us being together or not. As long as you are here with me."
Azzi's smile spread wide, soft and bright at the same time. "I am here with you."
Paige leaned back just enough to take Azzi in. The curve of her mouth, the quiet certainty in her expression, the ease that hadn't been there for so long.
It hit Paige again just how far they had come.
The distance, the silence, the heartbreak, all of it led back to this.
A kitchen filled with music, the smell of dinner, and Azzi sitting here, smiling like home.
"Finish your wine," Paige said, the smile tugging at her mouth. "Then I am going to wipe down this counter and kiss you until you forget your own name."
Azzi's lips curved into a grin. "In a minute," she said, tugging Paige closer. "Give me another teaser."
Paige let her hands find the edges of the tank and slide under, palms settling at Azzi's waist. She kissed her again, lingering just long enough to feel Azzi’s breath catch.
"I told you..." she murmured between kisses. "You like it when I tell you what to do."
Azzi laughed quiet and genuine, her voice brushing against Paige's mouth. "I like you in general, Paige."
The words landed somewhere deep in Paige's chest. She didn't say anything back, she just smiled, brushing her nose against Azzi's before kissing her again, slower this time, sealing the moment in silence.
She long realised she didn't need to hear the words out loud to know that Azzi was choosing her every single day now.
And more certain than ever, Paige believed they could build something lasting from the ruins.
This was her girl. Her home. And however long it took to build the rest, she wasn't going anywhere.
Azzi POV:
The late afternoon light stretched long and golden across the water, the waves rolling lazily toward the sand as Azzi walked the quiet stretch of sidewalk that bordered the beach at Playa del Rey.
The air smelled faintly of salt, sunscreen, and something sweet from a nearby café. Most of the families and surfers had already packed up, leaving the area quieter than usual.
Her hoodie hung loose, sleeves rolled over her palms. She adjusted one of her earbuds, Mack's voice buzzing warm in her ears.
"Okay, I land next Thursday around two," Mack said. "I will Uber straight to you, unless you are going to be fancy and pick me up in the Urus."
Azzi snorted, smiling despite herself. "That's not my car, Mack."
"You have been chauffeured around in it for weeks now, Az. I am sure you can convince your girl to pick me up with you."
Azzi laughed, shaking her head as her sneakers scuffed against the concrete. "You are impossible. But fine, I will see what I can do."
They went over flight times and logistics, how long Mack was actually staying with her, which games she will be able to catch, and which nights they might get to go out for dinner.
The conversation was easy, the way it always was with Mack, but inevitably, it drifted to Paige.
"So?" Mack asked, the teasing already in her tone. "How is our girl doing?"
Azzi's lips curved before she could help it. "She is… good. We are good. Really good, actually." She slowed her steps, eyes finding the line where the sunlight met the sea. "It feels like us again. We are back to joking, teasing, annoying each other...without that weight. Without feeling like every word might break something."
"That's huge, Az." Mack said softly. "You sound happy."
"I am," Azzi admitted, her chest tightening as she said it.
She felt it every time Paige stole her seat on the team bus just to press their shoulders together, or when she leaned in during drills to whisper something ridiculous that made Azzi laugh out loud in front of the entire team.
Paige was a thousand little things that built up into something Azzi could no longer pretend she wasn't in love with.
But even with that warmth spreading through her, there was something sitting underneath it, something restless. Mack must have heard it too, because her voice dropped.
"…There's a but, huh?"
Azzi groaned, tilting her head back and exhaling toward the setting sunset. "I am going insane."
Mack's laugh was instant and loud enough that Azzi had to lower the volume before it blew her eardrum. "Oh my God. Please tell me this is about what I think it is."
Azzi's face burned, heat crawling up her neck. "It has been months, okay?" she hissed, ducking her head like someone might overhear. "And more than a month, since that first kiss and that morning. How much longer am I supposed to..." She broke off, dragging a hand down her face.
"Azzi Fudd. Miss Composure herself. You are the one who can't handle a few weeks of no sex?" Mack's voice was gleeful.
"Shut up," Azzi muttered, laughing anyway.
"Come on, let me enjoy it! I know you will be back to your blissfully satisfied self in a matter of weeks." Mack teased, unbothered.
Azzi groaned again, pressing her hand over her mouth. "You don't get it, Mack. It's different now, it's so much worse than before... She doesn't just kiss me, she constantly teases me. She brushes my hair off my shoulder just to kiss my neck, or slides her hand under my hoodie when we are watching a movie and pretends it's just innocent cuddling. On the plane last week, she leaned in and said something that should have gotten us arrested if anyone else heard, and then sat back and started watching an episode of The Summer I turned pretty, like it was nothing."
"Oh, she knows exactly what she is doing to you," Mack said, laughing so hard Azzi could picture her doubled over.
Azzi smiled helplessly, but her body was buzzing just remembering it. The way Paige's voice had dropped, the warmth of her breath against her skin, the casual, dangerous ease of it.
The frustration wasn't just rooted in the teasing but in the fact that Paige waited, every time, like she was daring Azzi to be the one to say when.
Mack's voice softened, the teasing dimming. "So what's stopping you? Are you ready to give her what she has been asking for?"
Azzi stopped walking.
The question hit her suddenly. She stared at the horizon where the light was starting to dim into amber.
So what's stopping you?
Maybe… nothing. Maybe she really was ready.
She pulled her hood tighter around her face and let the words settle. Her steps slowed to a shuffle as she thought it through, not with fear this time, but with clarity.
She had been considering it, not lightly and not on a whim, but with the same care she gave to everything else in her life.
Ever since that morning when Paige drew the line and told her truth, the thought had not been far.
Three weeks ago, she was still watching her own heart, afraid that a quick yes would send everything cracking open.
Two weeks ago, she had stared at the ceiling after a win, her chest full of adrenaline and want, and wondered if readiness and love were finally the same thing.
But now… now she didn’t wonder.
She thought about Paige holding her after a nightmare, whispering sweet nothings until her breathing slowed. How Paige danced in the kitchen while flipping pancakes just yesterday morning.
The way she called her pet names like it was her right to do again. She thought about the softness of Paige's voice when she said, I will wait as long as you need, and the way she actually meant it.
The fear that once shadowed everything had slowly gone quiet before, as she just realised, it fully disappeared.
Now she wanted the weight of Paige's body pressed against hers with no hesitation, the heat of her hands, the kiss that started slow and did not have to stop when it deepened.
But she also wanted the quiet after, the safe feeling wrapped in each other's arms, the closeness, the way their breathing always slowed around each other.
She wanted all of it. She wanted Paige.
It was the work they had both done that made her feel ready for it all.
Paige had shown her that she learned how to stay. She had stopped running, from pressure, from the outside noise, from the parts of herself she used to hide behind.
And Azzi had stopped flinching at her own softness. She had learned to ask for what she needed, to reach for what she wanted, and to trust that being vulnerable again didn't mean she would be left behind.
And the world hadn't ended, it had only gotten better.
"I think I am ready," she said finally, the words quiet but sure.
There was a small pause before Mack answered, voice gentler now. "Then let her see that, Az. She has been waiting for you to say it."
Azzi kept walking, while letting herself imagine this moment with Paige.
She could almost picture her here, the way she would nudge her shoulder playfully or stop to point out a seagull stealing someone's fries. She would grin at her for no reason other than being near her, like she has been doing it since they were fifteen. And then Azzi would tell her.
Paige had waited long enough. And now, finally, Azzi was ready to meet her there.
She opened her mouth, ready to start fumbling through how she might bring it up with Paige when the sound of voices pulled her attention.
At first it was just noise, scattered and distant, but then it became clearer. The air was filled with loud cheers, shouts and claps.
That unmistakable ripple of energy that meant a crowd had found something worth watching.
Azzi slowed, head turning toward the beachside court just down the path. A small sea of people had gathered, bodies pressed tight against the chain-link fence, phones raised high, the hum of excitement rolling off them in waves.
Her stomach flipped with a sudden, absurd suspicion.
No way, it cannot be.
"What?" Mack asked through the line, but Azzi was already walking toward the commotion, weaving through the people, craning her neck until she found a clear line of sight. And then...
A laugh burst out of her, bright and helpless.
Of course it was Paige.
There she was, right in the middle of it, hair tied in a low bun, old UConn shorts clinging to her hips, complimented with a black sports bra. Sweat gleamed across her shoulders, shining like diamond every time she moved in the setting sun.
And God, did she move.
Paige was in full game-mode filled with that unmistakable flow that took over her body when the ball was in her hands.
She dribbled low between her legs, eyes never leaving her defender, a grin tugging at her mouth as she said something Azzi couldn't hear but could definitely imagine.
Then, one cross, one step, and she was gone, finishing at the rim so cleanly the crowd broke into loud cheers once again.
Her teammate, some tall guy in baggy basketball shorts, slapped her hand in celebration. The others cursed good-naturedly under their breath.
Azzi shook her head, pulling her phone from her pocket. "You have got to be kidding me," she muttered, switching on her camera so Mack could see.
The roar of Mack's laughter was immediate. "Oh my God. Of course she is out there cooking random dudes at the beach on a random ass Sunday evening. Please tell me she is trashtalking too."
Azzi looked up just in time to see Paige smirk at her defender, chin tilted, mouthing something too smug to be anything but trashtalk.
"She is definitely trashtalking," Azzi said dryly, though her lips were already twitching.
"She is so cocky, I love it," Mack laughed. "Go enjoy the show, Az. Call me later."
The line clicked off, and Azzi slipped her phone into her pocket, leaning forward against the fence.
God, Paige Bueckers was so fucking hot playing pickup on a random ass beachside court like it was a sold out arena.
Her body was all fluid motion, feet light, hands fast. The ball snapped from side to side like an extension of her arms. Every time it left her fingers, the net barely moved.
But it was the attitude that gave her this aura. The way she teased her opponent after draining a jumper, the way she smirked like the whole court was hers.
Paige carried herself like she owned the damn game.
Azzi's chest tightened and she could already feel the familiar tug of heat low in her stomach.
She had always loved Paige's gentleness, the soft touches, the sleepy mumbles in bed, the whispered you are safe with me in the dark, but this side of her was its own kind of beautiful. Raw, loud, and so confident.
The fire and arrogance she could back up every damn time.
It was the same energy that had drawn her in the first time they had ever played together, the spark that made her heart race even before she had known what it meant.
Mid-dribble, Paige's gaze flicked up and found hers through the fence instantly.
Paige winked, just a small, shameless reaction but it hit like a pulse straight through Azzi. Her breath caught halfway up her throat.
Paige's grin widened, and suddenly she started to play harder, faster, her crossovers became sharper, her jumper even smoother, and her trashtalk definitely louder.
And every time the ball hit the bottom of the net, she looked back at Azzi, like every point was hers.
Azzi's fingers curled tighter around the fence, her heartbeat drumming in her ears. She couldn't look away, couldn't even pretend she wasn't completely done.
She wanted to drag Paige off this court, out of this crowd, and kiss that stupid smirk right off her.
Because Paige Bueckers was hers. Because she was in love with her. Head over heels, with no hesitation left.
"C'mon, that's all you got?" Paige called out, stripping the ball clean at half court and grinning as she drove to the rim. "Too slow, man! You are giving me open lanes like it's Christmas morning in Minnesota!"
The crowd erupted as her jumper swished through. Paige cupped her hand to her mouth dramatically. "Somebody guard me, please!"
The place lost it.
People shouting, clapping, phones out, the energy electric. Paige thrived on it, her grin wild, her laughter echoing over the noise. She hit another jumper and another.
21–8. Game over.
The guys shook hands, good sports about it but clearly rattled. One of them, a tall, tanned blonde guy with too much confidence and not enough humility, laughed, trying to save face.
"Alright, respect," he said. "But I was still better from deep."
Paige bent forward, hands on her knees, laughing. "Better than me from deep?" She stood, shaking her head like she had heard the funniest thing all week. "I thought that's why you made me play so you could see that a girl is better than you. I just proved it. Dude, now I even believe I could point at a random person in this crowd and they would shoot better than you."
The reaction was instant gasps and laughter rippled around them.
The guy smirked, unwilling to let it go. "Bet on it, then."
Paige wiped sweat from her forehead with the back of her arm. "You wanna bet?"
"Yeah," he said, stepping forward. "Pick someone, anyone in this crowd. If they outshoot me, you win."
Paige's grin sharpened. "Heck yeah, fifty bucks. I am about to make easy money."
"Nah," he interrupted, his tone changing. "Make it actually interesting. You can ask whatever you want from me. But if I win…" He paused, dragging it out for effect. "…I get a date with you, Bueckers."
The crowd roared with laughter, oohs and whistles cutting through the air. Paige froze, smirk slipping, her weight shifting back.
"Uh… yeah, that's not..."
"What's wrong?" the guy said, spreading his arms. "You were all confident a second ago. Scared?"
Azzi felt her whole body tense.
She could see the flicker in Paige's eyes from her spot. It was irritation, not fear. She was trying to decide between walking away and burning this guy down completely.
Then Paige turned her head, and the noise around them dimmed. Her eyes found Azzi's through the crowd.
That look wasn't a question of pride, it was a question of trust.
What do you want me to do?
Azzi's pulse thundered. She could have mouthed don't bother. She could have let Paige walk away, be the bigger person. But something hot and certain rose in her chest.
Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was love. Maybe it was the part of her that finally wasn't afraid of being seen as Paige's anymore.
She gave the smallest shrug, the faintest tilt of her mouth. Her answer was clear.
Let's do it.
Paige's grin came back, dangerous and playful all at once. "Fine," she said, turning back to the guy. "You got yourself a deal. If you win, I will go on a date with you. If my chosen player wins, you will buy a Sparks season ticket for your sister next season. Deal?"
"Let's do it, baby!" Shouted the guy and accepted Paige's outstretched arm.
The crowd cheered but Paige was already moving, already feeding off the spark Azzi had just handed her.
She spun on her heel and strode out of the fenced court. The crowd instinctively gave her room, phones up, anticipation buzzing in the air, waiting for Paige to choice her shooter.
Paige's smirk was subtle on her face until she stopped right in front of Azzi.
"Hi," Paige said, a little smug, still a little breathless from running.
Azzi smirked back, pulse racing so fast she could feel it in her ears. "Hi."
"Would you mind defending my honour?" Paige asked, tilting her head, eyes flickering with that teasing glint that always managed to undo her.
It would have been easy to just nod, to step forward and play along. But Azzi wasn't here to play easy, not tonight.
Not after weeks of Paige testing her patience with wondering hands and teasing smiles and whispered promises, after all the nights of almosts that always stopped just shy of what they both wanted.
The heat rose in Azzi's chest, heady and sure.
For once, she didn't want to stay small and hidden. She didn't want to shrink behind Paige's swagger, she wanted to meet it.
Maybe even one-up it.
"I can do that," she said, keeping her tone cool. Then she tipped her head, lowering her voice so that only Paige would hear the edge of intent in it. "But I have got one condition."
Paige's brows drew together, intrigued. "Condition?"
Azzi's mouth curved slowly. She could feel her pulse pounding against her skin, that dizzy mix of adrenaline and clarity.
Mack's voice echoed faintly in her head.
So what's stopping you?
And this time, the answer wasn't hesitant. It was solid, settled deep in her chest.
She had spent weeks teetering on the edge of it, wondering when the moment would come to stop hiding, stop pretending she needed more time.
Every though instinct screamed to keep it safe, to keep it between them, she did not care about the rest of the world anymore.
This was the moment. No more half steps, no more waiting for perfect.
Azzi was ready to be all in and she wanted Paige to know that right in this moment.
So she leaned forward, her voice dropping low but steady, meant for Paige alone even if the whole crowd heard it.
"Same bet," Azzi said, smirk cutting slow and sharp. "When I win… I get that date with you."
The sound that followed her words cracked through the court. The whole crowd went feral in an instant, feeding off the charge that surged between them.
For a split second, Azzi's heart nearly stopped. The noise and the attention would have made her retreat a year ago, but not anymore.
She held Paige's gaze, breathing through the rush in her chest until it steadied into something fierce.
This wasn't just a game, this was Azzi choosing and declaring her choice.
Paige's eyes went wide, the shock flashing quick and raw across her face.
Her mouth parted like she needed a second to believe Azzi had actually said it out loud, in front of everyone. Then her lips twitched, slow and disbelieving, before curving into the kind of grin that had always ruined Azzi.
Azzi's stomach flipped.
"Well?" she said, pushing it just a little further, her brow arching, every ounce of challenge laced with heat. "Are you all in?"
Paige laughed, short and breathless, shaking her head like she couldn't decide if she had lost her mind or won the lottery.
Then she straightened, smirk deepening, her cheeks popping out of her face like little red apples. Her gaze held steady on Azzi's, every word she spoke low enough to hum down her spine.
"I am so all in."
The onlookers hollered, taking it as banter. But Azzi barely heard any of it.
Because when Paige's palm slid against hers, the touch wasn't for them, it was only for Azzi. Paige's hand was warm and a little shaky, her thumb brushing over Azzi's knuckles like she was asking the question again silently.
Are you sure?
Azzi squeezed back firmly, her eyes never leaving Paige's.
Yes, I am sure.
Paige's eyes flickered, and for a split second, the facade cracked. Behind the grin was something much more raw. Relief, disbelief, a flicker of hope that looked like it had been waiting a long time.
Azzi felt it hit her chest. This wasn't a game anymore and she wasn't just about to win a bet.
She was finally claiming what was already hers.
Paige POV:
Paige had to physically remind herself not to look like a complete idiot in front of the crowd.
Keep it cool, keep it nonchalant, don’t look like someone whose entire nervous system had just short-circuited from happiness.
But inside, she was a gooner.
Every part of her was screaming, heart beating against her ribs so hard it felt like she might actually combust right there on the middle of the court.
She wanted to call the whole thing off. Wanted to laugh, throw her hands up, and tell everyone to pack it in. She wanted to yank her phone out of the waistband of her shorts, Venmo that smug guy enough money to take any woman out to a luxurious date, just to leave them alone in this exact moment.
And above it all, she just wanted to grab Azzi's hand, and drag her straight home just to ask.
Did you mean it? Please tell me you meant it.
Because four nights ago, in her kitchen, Azzi had leaned against the counter, glass of wine in hand, her eyes soft, and said quietly, I am still figuring it out, but when I am ready, I don't want to hide us anymore.
Paige had smiled then, nodded, tucked those words somewhere deep inside her chest. She had promised herself she wouldn't push. She would wait as long as it took.
She had been prepared to wait weeks, months, forever if she had to.
But just now, Azzi had just said it out loud clear as a day.
When I win… I get that date with you.
Not mumbled shyly, not tucked between walls or whispered into a pillow after midnight. She said it out loud, chin up, voice steady, in front of fifty strangers with phones pointed and cameras rolling.
Paige couldn't breathe from excitement.
Maybe half the people watching didn't even realise who Azzi was just yet, but the second those clips hit the internet, everyone would. The WNBA would, the fans would, the entire basketball world would.
By the time they got home, it would be everywhere and Azzi had willingly chosen that because she was sure of what she wanted now.
It hit Paige so hard she almost laughed.
She had spent months holding her breath, trying not to hope too loudly, and suddenly that hope was standing right in front of her with a basketball and a smirk, daring the world to look.
Her chest felt like it might actually split open.
Because she had fought for this, for the game, for the love.
For Azzi.
For every inch of the long road back to this exact second. For the patience, the quiet faith, the long nights of wondering if Azzi still believed in them the way she did.
And now here she was, Azzi, beautiful and flushed under the sunlight, standing her ground in front of everyone like she was saying.
I am here and ready for it all.
It wasn't just about teaching s lesson to some random misogynistic guy at the beach. Paige knew that look in Azzi's eyes.
It wasn't a competition for her, this was her declaration towards Paige.
Paige swallowed hard, throat dry, adrenaline burning like fire in her veins. Every instinct screamed to cross the court, to pull Azzi in, to press her lips to hers right there before another second passed.
To tell her, you have no idea how long I have been waiting for this.
But instead, she forced herself to stay put, hands on her hips, trying to look relaxed while the guy took his warmup shots.
He made three of five. Big deal. The crowd cheered, feeding his confidence. Paige didn't even blink.
Then Azzi stepped up for her warmup shots, catching the ball with that clean, effortless motion that Paige knew by heart.
She missed the first shot. Then the second. The crowd began to murmur, laughter bubbling at the edges. By the third, the guy was grinning again, slapping his friend's hand like it was already over.
Still, Paige didn’t move, dind't panic. Because she knew.
She had seen it a thousand times before, the way Azzi's jaw tightened when she decided she was done playing around, that micro-shift in her shoulders when she locked into focus.
The quiet storm before the takeover.
The poor guy had no clue what was coming. He thought he had a chance. But Paige knew she was about to watch her girl light the court on fire.
And it wasn't just pride pulsing through her chest now, it was awe and relief and desire. Love so fierce she wasn't sure what to do with herself.
She had fought for this, for Azzi's trust, for their happiness, for their peace, for the right to stand here and watch her shine again.
And now, as Azzi straightened, eyes cutting sharp toward the rim, a slow smirk pulling at her lips, Paige could barely breathe.
Because it was really happening.
And this time, Paige didn't have to watch it from the back of the room, hidden away. She got to stand here and watch her win for her.
Azzi POV:
The ball bounced hard against the pavement before the guy caught it spinning it lazily in his hands like he was auditioning for an ad.
"Alright, let's do this," he said, puffing his chest out. The grin he threw her way was condescending enough to almost make her laugh. "Don't be too nervous, sweetheart. No one is expecting you to win this."
Azzi tilted her head, gave him a sugary smile, and clasped her hands behind her back like she also didn't believe she could. "Yeah, I guess. I just want to have fun and try my best," she murmured.
She glanced across the court and found Paige immediately.
A sharp, wolfish grin greeted her back. Paige's arms were folded across her chest, but her entire body was thrumming with energy. She wasn't worried, not even the slightest, she knew.
To be fair, they both did. He had no chance against a locked in Azzi Fudd.
The guy started from the corner. His first shot clanged against the back iron, the second bricked off the side, and the third rattled before spinning out. The crowd groaned, a few people laughing under their breath.
Paige smirked openly, leaning back against the fence, clearly enjoying the show.
The guy finally found some rhythm, managed to hit a few, enough to salvage his pride. He lifted his arms, milking the crowd's half-hearted cheers as if mediocrity deserved applause.
By the time he was done, he had scraped together fourteen out of twenty-five. He grinned like it was a done deal.
He wiped sweat from his forehead, breathless but cocky. "Not bad for a bad back," he said, tossing the ball lazily toward her. "Your turn, sweetheart."
Azzi caught it, palming it with ease. The weight felt right in her palm, like it belonged there. She turned it slowly, letting her fingers feel the grooves, letting herself sink into the feeling of competition.
She looked over at Paige again. Paige winked, eyes bright and daring. Azzi’s lips curved.
That tiny exchange was all she needed.
She walked to the corner slow and measured, rolling her shoulders once before letting the ball spin off her fingertips. Knees bent, breath even.
The release was perfect.
Swish.
The crowd reacted instantly, low oooohs rippling through the air. Paige was already moving, catching the rebound without taking her eyes off Azzi and bouncing it back in one fluid motion, like they had rehearsed it a thousand times.
Azzi rose again. Swish.
Paige's grin widened. The third fell even cleaner, her wrist snapping down effortlessly. Swish.
By the fourth and fifth, the noise had grown even more. Phones lifted higher, voices overlapping.
"Holy shit."
"Who is she?"
Paige ignored the crowd entirely, laser-focused, rebounding and feeding her like clockwork. She didn't have to call out, her eyes and her hands said everything.
I have got you.
Wing. Swish. Swish. Swish.
"Yo, she is not missing!" someone yelled.
Eight, nine, ten. All clean.
By now, the chant had started, faint at first, then louder.
"Azzi! Azzi! Azzi!"
The guy's smirk faltered, his hands finding his hips. "Who the fuck is Azzi Fudd?" he asked, loud enough for Azzi to catch it.
Azzi laughed under her breath, caught the ball from Paige, but didn't answer. She just rose up from the top of the arc. Swish.
Every motion was perfect, every shot an echo of years of repetition and love for the game. Her release was something that coaches put in film sessions to show the kids what shooting should look like.
The ball kissed nothing but net every time, the rim staying silent as if it didn't dare challenge her this time around.
Fifteen for fifteen.
People were on their feet, shouting, clapping, and jumping like they were watching Curry winning a 3pt contest at an All-Star weekend.
The noise didn't touch her, she was somewhere else entirely, locked in, at peace. Paige kept feeding her, every rebound a perfect pass.
"Buckets!" Paige shouted between passes. Swish. "Cash!" Swish. "Look at that release!" Swish.
Twenty for twenty.
Azzi couldn't fight her smile now. It was impossible not to feel the excitement. The guy was done pretending. His mouth hung open, hands on his knees, shaking his head in disbelief.
Swish. Swish. Swish. Swish.
Azzi met Paige's eyes once more, and smirked.
"Game over," Paige shouted, laughing as she grabbed the last rebound. Azzi set her feet one last time.
Swish.
Twenty-five for twenty-five.
The place exploded. The chant was deafening now, her name echoing across the court. Azzi lowered her arms slowly, chest rising steady and calm. She didn’t need to celebrate.
Her game had said everything for her.
Not Paige though. Paige didn’t hesitate, she was already sprinting across the court, laughing so hard it sounded wild, uncontained. She wrapped her arms around Azzi’s waist, lifted her clear off the ground, and spun her in a full circle.
"The winner of the bet!" Paige yelled, voice cracking with pride.
The crowd was still screaming her name, but none of it mattered. There was only Paige.
Paige's laugh, Paige's hands still holding her, Paige's eyes so full of belief it almost knocked her over.
Azzi had never been so sure of anything in her life.
Paige finally set her down, but didn't let her go. Her hands stayed on Azzi's waist as they turned toward the guy.
"Told you I could point at a random person in the crowd," Paige called, smiling from ear to ear. "Unlucky for you, I picked the best shooter in the world."
Azzi felt her face flush, the heat crawling down her neck. Paige looked back down at her, the teasing fading into something softer. Her grin melted into awe. "My shooter," she murmured, barely audible under the roar.
Azzi shook her head, smiling despite herself. "You are impossible," she whispered back.
Paige's lips curved, certain and light. "Impossible and yours."
"That you are too," Azzi laughed, covering her face, her cheeks aching from smiling so hard. And for once, there was no hesitation, no shadow of what ifs.
Paige POV:
Paige had heard a lot of things that made her heart race before, crowd roars, announcers calling her name, winning the Natty, but nothing, nothing in the world sounded as good as Azzi saying, that you are too.
It took everything in Paige not to drag Azzi straight off that court after that. But they stayed, Paige forced herself to.
Before saying goodbye to the guy, Paige surprised even herself by offering to cover the guy's sister's season ticket if he bought one for himself. It was not out of pity, but because he had taken the loss with more grace than she had expected. The moment he realised who he had been playing against, his grin had turned sheepish, his hand extended in genuine respect.
And then the crowd came closer. Phones, sharpies, jerseys, even scraps of paper were shoved forward for signatures. Paige signed automatically, but her focus never really left Azzi.
She couldn't look away from her.
Azzi knelt to pose with a kid holding a pink basketball, she blushed when someone told her she had just witnessed greatness. She thanked every single fan for the support and welcome she has received as a rookie on the team.
Paige felt the pride roll through her.
This was her girl, sweet, kind, gorgeous and lethal with a ball in her hands. Paige was falling more and more in love if that was even possible at this stage.
When the crowd finally began to scatter, Paige leaned in close, her breath brushing Azzi's ear.
"Can I take you home, babe?"
Azzi turned, her eyes glinting like she had been waiting for that question. "Please," she said softly, the smile on her mouth doing something fatal to Paige's composure.
Paige nearly kissed her right there.
The second the car doors shut, Paige reached for her hand, threading their fingers tight. She brought it to her lips and kissed it once, then again and again, letting every ounce of adoration she felt show as she looked at her girl.
Azzi bit her lip, cheeks flushed, and smiled back at her with that shy curve that made Paige want to laugh and groan all at once.
"You can't go back to being shy now," Paige teased, voice low as her thumb traced over Azzi's knuckles, "not after giving me the hottest performance I have ever seen."
Azzi tried to duck her head, hiding a grin, but Paige caught it anyway.
They didn't talk much while driving. Paige kept that hand in hers, pressing kiss after kiss against her knuckles at stoplights, between turns, whenever she thought she might burst if she didn't.
And every time she looked over, Azzi was already looking back, the same disbelieving smile tugging at her lips.
By the time they reached Azzi's apartment, Paige was hanging by a thread.
The door had barely clicked shut before she gave up on her restraint. She turned, crowding Azzi back against it, her hands finding her waist and her mouth crashing into hers with a hunger she couldn't hold off a second longer.
Azzi gasped, the sound swallowed instantly by Paige's kiss, her lips parting to welcome her.
Paige kissed her hard, deep, almost rough, but every drag of her lips was threaded with love. Her thumbs pressed into Azzi's hips, while her tongue swept against hers, coaxing every sound she had been craving to hear.
She whispered into her mouth between kisses, the words tumbling hot and reverent. "You are so amazing," kiss. "So fucking hot," kiss. "You saved my ass out there,"kiss. "Saved me from going on a date with that idiot."
Azzi laughed breathlessly, tugging at her shoulders to pull her closer, her words spilling soft and sure against Paige's lips. "I couldn't let anyone else take you on a date, P. You said it yourself, you are mine."
Paige nearly saw stars. The sound of mine in Azzi's voice sent her brain short-circuiting.
Her chest squeezed so tight it felt like her knees might give out, but she only kissed her again, slower this time, her tongue sweeping deep, claiming her, the sound in her throat nothing short of desperate.
When she finally pulled back, foreheads pressed together, both of them gasping, Paige managed a hoarse laugh. "Let me take you on that date tonight," she whispered, her voice raw and desperate.
Azzi shook her head, curls brushing Paige's cheek, her smirk both soft and wicked. "Nope," she breathed, living a kiss at Paige's lips. "I am taking you on that date. That was the deal."
Paige groaned, pouting openly. "Come on, baby."
Azzi only laughed, caught her bottom lip between hers and kissed the pout right off her mouth, smiling into it. She pulled back just enough to whisper, "Next week. When Mack is gone."
Paige pulled back, outrage flashing across her face. "Next week?! You want me to wait a full week?!"
Azzi giggled, slipping her arms around Paige's neck, her nose brushing against Paige's jaw before she nuzzled into the warm spot at her neck. "Fine," she whispered, her smile curving against her skin. "Wednesday. After we get back from Atlanta."
Paige sighed dramatically but folded instantly. She kissed the top of Azzi's curls, muttering, "Wednesday it is." Then she pulled back just enough to search her face. Her voice trembling just a little, as she whispered, "I got it right though, didn't I? This… us?"
Azzi's answer came in a form of a touch at first, her palm cupping Paige's cheek, thumb tracing slow over her skin before she nodded. The adoration written clear in her eyes as she smiled.
"You got it right, baby."
Paige kissed her again, letting it say everything she couldn't until Wednesday.
And in that kiss, in the way Azzi's hands held her like she never meant to let go, Paige finally understood something she had only dared to hope until now.
She had just won Azzi Fudd back and she was not planning to let her go ever again.
Bonus:
