Daylight - Paige Bueckers

anything for you

June 12th, 2023

Alex's POV:

I've barely hung up the phone with Paige when the idea hits me. This is huge—she's cleared to play again. After months of watching her grind through physical therapy and rebuild her strength, she's finally back. It deserves more than just a casual hangout. It deserves a celebration. And I know just the group to make it happen.

I burst into the living room where Naomi and Cassie are lounging on the couch, half-watching some Netflix show. Maggie and Sarah are in the kitchen, making a snack out of whatever's left in the pantry. All four of them look up when I come in with a grin plastered on my face.

"We need to throw a party," I announce.

"For what?" Naomi asks, intrigued but cautious. "Another Taco Tuesday?"

"Nope," I say, shaking my head with excitement. "For Paige. She just got cleared to play basketball again today."

The room lights up. Cassie sits up straighter, Maggie turns away from the fridge, and Sarah's eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

"Are you serious?" Cassie asks. "That's amazing!"

"Exactly," I say, pacing a little as I start forming a plan in my head. "So, I'm thinking we invite the basketball girls over, decorate the house a bit, and celebrate. You know, something chill but fun."

"I'm down," Sarah says, a smile creeping onto her face. "We could totally pull that off."

Naomi nods, clearly on board. "We've got to make it basketball-themed, obviously. Maybe grab some decorations from that party store downtown."

"Basketball decorations?" Maggie says, rolling her eyes but grinning. "How do we even make that cute?"

Cassie jumps in, her voice full of confidence. "Leave it to me. I'll make it work. We'll do a mini-basketball hoop in the living room, streamers in UConn colors, and maybe some balloons shaped like basketballs."

"Perfect," I say, clapping my hands together. "Let's go all out."

Naomi and Maggie volunteer to handle the decorations, while Cassie starts making a list of snacks and drinks. Sarah says she'll get a cake from the bakery down the street, one with a basketball design.

I text the basketball girls, shooting off messages to Nika, Aubrey, Azzi, Ice, and KK. Paige, of course, has no idea what's happening—yet.

By the time the sun's starting to set, the house is fully transformed. Cassie and Sarah strung up blue and white streamers along the walls, while Maggie and Naomi taped little basketball cutouts to random spots all around the living room and kitchen. We've got a cooler full of drinks, chips and dip on the counter, and a mini-basketball hoop set up above the doorframe leading into the living room.

The cake arrives last, an impressive creation shaped like a basketball with "Welcome Back, Paige!" written across it in icing. I stand back, admiring our work with a proud smile.

"Alright," I say, glancing at the time. "They should be here soon."

My stomach flutters in that way it always does before Paige shows up. Even though we've been spending more and more time together lately, I can't help but feel a little giddy every time I'm about to see her.