overtime | clark & martin

fifty-one.

The first game after Jessica's return was against the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks were having a pretty good season despite not picking up any new players in the draft. They had focused on their core players and building their chemistry. They were much better this season with a healthy Cameron Brink and a much more experienced Rickea Jackson. Adding in the experience of Derica Hamby, Kia Nurse, and Zia Cooke, things were starting to click.

"Jessica and Kate, you are roommates," Becky says as she hands the two youngest players the keycard to their hotel room. Jessica takes the card and eyes it wearily.

"But I'm always with Jackie. You know, W, X, Y, and Z. W and Y are close to each other in the alphabet?" Jessica says. Jessica and Jackie used to always joke that if they got married their kids would hate them because they would be the last to graduate no matter whose last name they took.

Kate, who was sitting beside Jessica on the bus, tries not to feel insulted by Jessica's clear pleading to be roomed with Jackie.

"Well, I decided that I would like to see what W and M look like beside each other," Becky states, "You and Kate are rooming together."

"Okay," Jessica says softly. Becky heads off to the next pairing, giving them their hotel key.

"Sorry you don't get to room with Jackie," Kate apologizes.

"You don't need to apologize," Jessica says. She then realizes that she sounded like she was pleading with Becky to put her with Jackie when the truth was that she had been used to being Jackie's roommate because of the alphabet.

"I'm sorry," Jessica apologizes, "I wasn't complaining because I had to room with you. I would actually love to room with you. I just didn't want to make things...awkward."

"Why would they be awkward?" Kate asks.

Jessica leans close to Kate and whispers, "Because you've seen me naked."

Kate laughs and whispers, "Jackie's seen you naked too."

Jessica fakes a gasp, "No she hasn't!"

"You guys were together for a year. She's seen you naked. And if she hasn't well then, she's a saint or she should get checked into an asylum," Kate states.

Jessica can't help but blush at the comment, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Kate doesn't say anything, she simply smiles at Jessica, making her blush even more. 

"Fine she has," Jessica says as she looks away from Kate, "I sound like a cheap whore."

Kate laughs, "Oh my god Jess, there was like five years between when I saw you naked and when Jackie did."

"Stop talking about seeing me naked before Syd hears and then she'll start telling everyone we're dating again and then the W will launch an investigation because they love investigating the Aces and then Becky won't play us at the same time and then the internet will speculate, and it will be like Tobin Heath and Christen Press all over again except we previously dated, and it was public information."

"I like Tobin and Christen," Kate says with a small smile following Jessica's rant, "I think they're really cute together."

"They were my dream interview before I kind of quit interviewing people," Jessica says, "Like I wanted to ask them so many things. They are the CEOs of private but not a secret."

"Why did you quit the reporting stuff?" Kate asks, "I mean I know basketball started taking precedence, but I feel like you totally could have a side hustle. I miss journalism Jess."

"I miss it too," Jessica says, "I got to meet so many different people. Now I only see you every day."

Kate rolls her eyes playfully, "You know you like looking at my face."