overtime | clark & martin

sixty.

Jessica loved Los Angeles. She found the city to be loud and vibrant. Growing up in North Carolina she always dreamed of escaping to the West Coast, but after her years in Las Vegas, she'd felt she got most of her West Coast experience and was actually really glad that she hadn't signed the contract with the Sparks.

The only thing that would have drawn her to Los Angeles was Paige.

After their Rookie season, Jessica and Paige made amends and fell right back into the way their relationship was before feelings got involved. Whenever things became too much, Jessica and Paige were there for each other. 

Paige had been there when Jessica had gotten the news from the doctors that this would be her last season and it had been her and Azzi that she cried to. Caitlin had been there as well, but Jessica didn't feel that she could share such an intimate and life-changing detail with her. So for a while, Paige and Azzi were the only ones who knew.

"Paige!" Jessica exclaims as she embraces the blonde, "Congratulations on making the Olympic team!"

Paige snorts as she hugs Jessica back, "Congratulations on making the Olympic team as well."

Jessica laughs as she ends her embrace with Paige. After the Olympic tryout, everyone pretty much knew who made the team and who didn't. Jessica, Paige, Azzi, Angel, Caitlin, Aliyah, Cameron, and Rickea already had an idea since they were on previous Olympic teams. JuJu, Flau'jae, and Kiki were also on the Olympic team and the United States would be going for their 11th straight gold medal.

"Okay so the meeting is at three so I was thinking we can get lunch?" Paige says and Jessica nods her head. Paige drives them to a restaurant where they're going to get lunch and Jessica sits in the passenger seat looking out the window.

"I'm so glad not to be in Indiana," Jessica says as she looks over at Paige. Jessica finally felt like she could relax. No sympathetic looks from Caitlin and Kate. Also, she didn't have to address the uncomfortable topic that Caitlin had brought up at the bar.

Paige snorts, "You could have come here, but you chose Indiana."

"Kate chose Indiana," Jessica responds, "I was just being a good wife."

"Why did Kate pick Indiana?" Paige wonders.

"She wanted to play with Caitlin," Jessica says with a shrug. Paige looks over at Jessica and then back at the road with a laugh.

"Kate wanted to play with Caitlin?" Paige asks.

"Yes," Jessica answers.

Paige snorts, "Okay, and did you want to play with Caitlin? Honest answer only Jessica Renee."

Jessica sighs, "I wasn't opposed to it."

"Did you miss her?" Paige asks.

"Can't miss someone that's around constantly. We go on vacations. She's always there for the kids' birthdays."

"Yeah, but that's not really being in her presence," Paige says, "Playing together is different. You and I both know that."

Jessica sighs, "I don't know."

"Having regrets?" Paige asks.

Jessica's brows furrow, "Regrets about what?"

"Marrying Kate," Paige says.

"No," Jessica states, "I would never regret that. If I could go back in time and do things differently, I would pick her every time. But I do think we've hit a lull. And now that she knows about my knee situation, she's been treating me like a kicked puppy."