overtime | clark & martin

forty-nine.

If there was one game that the Las Vegas Aces knew they couldn't lose, it was the game against the New York Liberty. The Aces had lost to the Liberty the previous season in the WNBA Finals. The series had been long and hard-fought and went to five games, but injuries and fatigue ultimately felled the Aces.

This season the Aces had made a vow not to lose to the Liberty.

"So, I have like the biggest basketball game of my career coming up," Jessica says as she looks at Maggie, while mindlessly picking at her nails, "It's against the New York Liberty. They kind of beat my team in the championship last year. Everyone's emphasizing the game."

"How do you feel about it?" Maggie asks.

"I don't know. I feel like I've proved myself in the league a little, but I also feel like this game defines whether or not I'm truly great or not," Jessica says.

"Jessica," Maggie says with a laugh, "You're a rookie. You don't need to be great. Give yourself some grace."

"I'm trying to," Jessica says, "It's just hard sometimes."

"We are our own biggest critic," Maggie states, "It's human nature. It's easier to tell you to be gentle on yourself but even I know it's difficult to put into practice. Do you have any family coming to the game?"

Jessica smiles and nods her head, "My sister and her husband are coming to Las Vegas. They're not coming to the game because this is a romantic getaway for them, but my niece Mina is coming. We're going to wear matching tunnel fits."

Maggie smiles, "That's cute. So your sister, what's your relationship like?"

"It's good," Jessica says nodding her head, "She's actually my stepsister but I don't have any other siblings and neither does Avery so we've kind of filled that place for each other. But yeah, we went to college together. Our parents got married while we were in school, and we've been in each other's life ever since. I was in her wedding. She will be in mine someday. That's my sister."

"I want you to think of the New York game differently," Maggie says, "It's not the biggest game of your career. It's not the game that determines if you're great or not. It is a game where you get to bring your niece to work with you. She gets to watch you do what you love and maybe she'll fall in love with it too."

Jessica takes in the words and she smiles as she looks at Maggie, "You're really good at this."

Maggie laughs, "I'd hope so. I've been doing it longer than you've been alive."

The day of the game, Avery and Cole drop Mina off at Jessica's apartment. Jessica was in the bathroom, braiding her hair back. Mina was standing on a stool, watching as Jessica braided her hair.

"I want a braid," Mina says.

"Yeah?" Jessica asks as she looks at Mina.

"Yes!" Mina exclaims.

"Okay, I'll braid your hair once I finish mine. And then we'll put on our matching outfits," Jessica says before kissing Mina on the cheek.

When Jessica finishes her braid, she stands behind Mina and braids her curly hair back. She watches Mina's expressions in the mirror, and she is beaming as Jessica braids her hair. When Jessica finishes it Mina stares at herself.

"Pretty!" Mina says as she reaches up and touches the braid.

"Yes you are," Jessica says as she rests her chin on Mina's head.

"Pretty like you, Jessie," Mina says as she reaches up and touches Jessica's cheek. Jessica juts her lips out as she takes Mina's little hand and kisses it before picking her up and helping her down from the stool.