soul ties-a paige bueckers story

SEVEN

PAIGE

I woke up the next morning to the first ring of my alarm, which is rare for me. Normally I'm hitting snooze about three or four times before Nika has to come drag my body out of bed full-force. However, I'd sprung up to get my phone before it woke up the beautiful girl sleeping next to me. Bryce. Undisturbed by the alarm, she was still curled into my side, her chest lightly rising and falling as she gently snored. Her hair fanned out over the pillow and across her face, her cheeks slightly flushed as she snuggled into the blankets and into my hoodie...she was perfect. "P?" Nika crept into my room, opening the door gently. She smiled as her eyes found Bryce, and I found myself smiling, too. Another unusual occurrence. I hate mornings. "I was just checking to make sure you're not in the deep sleep," she grinned. Her Croatian accent was always thicker in the morning. We joked that it wore off as she warmed up.

"I'm good," I nodded, trying to keep my voice low. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Coffee? Aubrey's brewing." I nodded my head, slowly untangling myself from my girlfriend and slipping on my slides. "Just a small."

"Got it." She disappeared into the darkness of the hallway again.

I rummaged through my drawers, pulling out the first shirt and shorts combo I could grab. I made sure to shut the bathroom door completely, so the light wouldn't disturb her, and pulled them on, wincing at the green shirt, pink short combo. That's what getting dressed in the dark does for you, I guess. I quickly brushed my teeth, threw my hair up in a bun, and laced up my shoes, making sure to give Bryce a quick kiss on her forehead before I left. "I'll be back soon," I promised her, even though I knew she wasn't listening.

Nika raised an eyebrow as I walked into the kitchen, where the other girls were waiting, ready to go. "Nice....outfit," she noted.

"You get dressed in the dark?" KK grinned. "Oh wait..." and everyone dissolved into laughter.

"Guys," I rolled my eyes. "Bryce is sleeping."

"This is the UConn women's basketball suite," Ice shoved me playfully. "We don't sleep in till whenever."

"C'mon, y'all, she's in her off-season," Nika laughed, making me think she was defending my honor. "Of course....her cardio is going to be going crazy, but just in unofficial practice."

"Oh my God," I let out the loudest laugh of them all. "We need to leave right now." As if on cue, Aubrey handed each of us our coffees, each in our matching Husky cups, and we set off for lift. "So, P, tell us everything," Azzi grabbed my arm and swung it. "You got a glow on this morning."

"I asked her to be with me," I said slowly. "But we're keeping it a low profile for right now." They all squealed, as I knew they would, and gave me supportive squeezes, but I shushed them quickly, afraid of who could hear us in the hall. "No one's up at this hour," KK cackled. "Be serious now, Paige."

"I know, I know." I owned my paranoia. "I'm just afraid the wrong people are gonna find out and it's gonna cause...."

"Negative attention," they all chorused in unison, referencing Geno's famed beginning of the season speech about posting and media training. "Your secret is safe with us," Azzi smiled, giving me my own bear hug. "I'm so happy for you, P."

"Thanks, Az." I relished in the comfort of my longest friend, who'd been by my side through everything, treating me as if nothing had changed. "I know I'm ready to take it public because she's the most amazing girl....I just want to give her time to ease into it, you know."

"Have you talked to Kelsey?" Nika asked. "She may be able to help."

"I don't really wanna make it like that kind of thing," I admitted. "I think I can keep this relationship entirely separate from what she's here about. And I'm not doin' nothin' wrong. I'm just doin' me."