Sirens ~Nika Mühl

Chapter 24

2 years later...

The evening Virginia sun dipped low, casting a mix of soft pinks and deep oranges across the summer sky. Paige and Azzi had chosen a small, intimate wedding on Azzi's grandparents' property, a sprawling estate in Virginia. All of their closest family and friends would stay there while the main events of the wedding took place.

Cue of course, was no stranger to the property, she still knew it like the back of her hands. Every nook and cranny still ingrained in her bones, filled with the weight of memories. It's where she had spent summers growing up. She still had her room there, it was hard for her not to get teary eyed when she saw the familiar space untouched, frozen in time. The New York Knicks poster on the wall, the mini basketball hoop on the door, the various pictures of Azzi, Cue, Jose, and Jon as well as the ones of her and her mom.

It was all there, completely untouched.

Nika had teased her about it 'looking like a teenage boy's room', making Cue grin sheepishly.

The two of them had been living together for the past two years in Seattle. Cue had quickly become a star as an FBI investigator, her sharp wit and quick instincts made her a force to be reckoned with. Nika, who had struggled through a disappointing rookie season, had since found her stride and blossomed into one of the best and brightest young point guards in the WNBA. Their lives were busy, their careers demanding, but the bond between them only deepened with time.

Now, Cue was seated in a wooden lawn chair, in a circle with Katie, Tim, Azzi, and Jose. They all laughed and reminisced, sharing stories of Cue's youth, before the world had a chance to harden her edges.

"I swear Cue, you used to whoop Azzi's ass in everything. Basketball, soccer, shit even board games. The amount of times she came crying to me is crazy," Tim bellowed, his laughter filling the warm evening air.

Azzi rolled her eyes, but Cue nodded vigorously, a wide grin splitting her face. "That's what I'm saying, she's still in denial about it after all these years."

Azzi shot back, her voice rising, "Cue, shut the hell up. Last time we played 1v1, I beat you, 11-9."

Jose, let out an over exaggerated "Ohh shit," from his side of the circle. Clearly, he was used to being in the middle, he'd instigated their arguments his whole life.

"Yea that's because you're a professional basketball player," Cue retorted, as if the fact was obvious to anyone with eyes. "You play against pros every single day. Meanwhile my main competition are the bums at 24 Hour Fitness. Besides, if you want to count our all time matchups, I'm definitely winning that series.

Azzi had gotten drafted by the Golden State Valkyries the year prior, while Paige had gotten drafted by the Sparks, both of them were elated to even be playing in the same state, even if it meant being on different teams.

Azzi made a face, narrowing her eyes as she snapped, "We aren't discussing all time matchups dumbass, we're talking about three days ago when I beat you fair and square."

Their voices grew louder and louder, drawing the attention of the others scattered throughout the backyard, but neither seemed to care. They were too busy worrying about who would win this argument.

"Girls," Katie said tersely, hand over her forehead, weary of their antics. "For the love of God that's enough. I forgot how easy it is for you two to break out into full fledged arguments."

Cue chuckled, knowing her aunt Katie was always the one to step in when things got too heated. Everyone else just egged them on, finding their bickering entertaining.

Cue's attention was suddenly pulled away by the sound of familiar footsteps, her heart skipping a beat as Nika appeared. She whirled around, eyes lighting up at the sight of her girlfriend.