soul ties-a paige bueckers story

TWELVE

AN: Sorry for the delay, everyone! My family was moving so now I'm a West Coast gallll PB to the Valkyries I hopeeeeeee!

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PAIGE

With a minute left to go in the last quarter, Villanova was trailing us 51-71, and I was able to breathe, knowing we were in a good position to lock down and get the job done. Geno was going to say that was 51 points too many, but I knew we'd all played well. I was getting great contact on my shots, the flow of the game had been exactly what we'd expected, and we were setting up screens that were both effective and proactive. This has to be the year, I thought, as I watched Nika down a bucket, the net swishing as effortlessly as her hair did when she tossed it over her shoulder. This feels different. It wasn't just because I was playing again...I knew that there was something in the air. It was only the second game, but I felt it. It felt like a natty year.

Bryce and I had made eye contact routinely throughout the game, with my eyes drifting to the sidelines just enough to get myself in trouble with Coach, but it was worth it in the end. The way we didn't even have to speak to know exactly what the other needed: an encouraging nod, just to say I'm okay, or You got this. It made me feel whole. For most of the game, she watched with a worried expression on her face and her arms tightly crossed, seemingly holding her breath. But there were moments I caught her at ease, jumping up and clapping, or offering me a million-dollar smile after I sank a bucket and pointed at her.

The clock ran out, and the XL Center lit up with noise and lights as Villanova tailed it off the court. Relief coursed through my veins as I trotted over to Coach, who patted me on the back of the head. "Feel good out there?" he asked, and I nodded. "Looked it. Need to get you back to shooting from deep, though," his voice was gruff as I rolled my eyes. "And before you give me the speech that no guards shoot from there, I'm gonna tell you I don't care. My guard does." He offered me one of his sarcastic grins, and I shook my head again as Azzi handed me my water bottle. "Nice work, kid. Media in 10, so get up there so we can be out of here quickly. I've gotta be home for dinner. Kathy's got steaks on the grill."

We broke the team huddle and I quickly hit the front row of fans for autographs and pictures, before I jogged out to the hallway. Bryce was waiting there, her face aglow under the stadium lights. "There's people," she giggled as I instantly swept her up into a bear hug. "Don't you have adoring fans to get to?"

"I did," I grinned, pecking her on the lips. "So here I am."

"I missed you out there," she whispered. "But you looked so good."

"I'd be lying if I told you I was just thinking about hoopin'," I admitted. She blushed, wrapping her arms around my neck. "How do you feel?"

"Better now," I nuzzled my nose against hers. "Promise."

"Do you have to go to media?" her voice was a slight whine, but light enough that I knew she was kidding. "You could just run away with me."

"I'll be quick," I pressed a kiss to the top of her head and gave her one final squeeze. "You can head back to my room, if you want. I'll give you my card."

"Okay," she nodded. "You want dinner?"

"Dessert, maybe," I winked at her as Nika appeared at the end of the hallway to drag me down to the press conference. "I trust you. Whatever you get, get me one too."

"Careful, Bueckers. You could pay for that," she grinned, a mischievous glint to her eyes.

"I'll take my chances," I laughed.

Nika shook her head in amusement as she linked arms with me. "I've never seen you down so bad. You must really care about this one."

"Yeah," I nodded. "I do."