Can't Seem To Hide It

Watch out

Chapter 47:

The party after the game was loud, full of energy, and everything Paige needed to escape from the mess of her thoughts. The lights were dim, music thumping through the walls as her teammates laughed and danced around her. The atmosphere was infectious, and for a moment, Paige let herself forget about everything else—Jalen, the game, the memories—just for tonight.

Azzi was by her side the whole time, as usual. They'd been inseparable lately, their connection only growing stronger with each passing day. Azzi was a calming presence, steady and reliable, and Paige found comfort in that. But tonight, there was something different in the air between them. It wasn't tension exactly, but it was something close. Paige could feel it buzzing beneath the surface, like a conversation they hadn't had yet was waiting to be spoken.

Kk, dancing in the middle of the room, suddenly grabbed Paige's arm, pulling her into the circle with a grin. "Come on, Bueckers! You can't stand around all night!"

Paige chuckled, allowing herself to be dragged into the mix. The beat of the music pulsed through her, and she found herself swaying to it, letting her body relax for the first time all day. Azzi stood a few steps away, watching her with a small smile, but something in her eyes made Paige's heart skip.

The night carried on like this—dancing, laughing, a few too many drinks passed around. Paige could feel herself loosening up, the weight of the game and Jalen's presence slipping further away with each passing minute. But she also couldn't shake the feeling that Azzi was watching her, keeping a close eye, almost protective in the way she lingered nearby.

At some point, they found themselves outside, away from the noise and the crowd, standing under the quiet night sky. The cool breeze felt refreshing against Paige's warm skin, and she closed her eyes for a moment, letting it calm her.

Azzi leaned against the wall beside her, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on Paige. "You good?" she asked, her voice soft but tinged with something more.

Paige opened her eyes and nodded, though she wasn't sure if it was entirely true. "Yeah, just needed some air."

Azzi's brow furrowed slightly, like she wasn't buying it. "You've been acting weird all night."

Paige sighed, leaning back against the wall, her eyes flicking up to the stars. She knew Azzi wasn't going to let this go. "It's just... everything with Jalen. Seeing him again brought back a lot of stuff, you know?"

Azzi nodded, staying quiet for a moment before speaking again. "I get that. But, like I said, you're not that same girl anymore. He doesn't have to hold that space in your head."

Paige smiled softly. "You've always been good at reminding me of that."

Azzi stepped closer, the space between them shrinking. "That's because I see you for who you are now. And who you are is... pretty amazing, Paige."

Paige's heart skipped again, but this time it wasn't because of nerves or memories of the past. It was because of Azzi, standing there in the quiet, looking at her like she was the only person in the world. There had always been something between them—something unspoken, simmering just beneath the surface—and right now, it felt like it was rising to the surface, begging to be acknowledged.

"Azzi," Paige started, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Azzi didn't wait for her to finish. She stepped even closer, her hand gently cupping Paige's cheek, her thumb brushing lightly against her skin. "You don't have to say anything," Azzi murmured, her voice soft but full of certainty. "Just... let me."

Before Paige could even process what was happening, Azzi leaned in, her lips brushing against Paige's in a soft, tentative kiss. It was gentle at first, almost testing the waters, but when Paige didn't pull away—when she responded, her hand finding Azzi's waist—the kiss deepened, and everything else seemed to fall away.

For a moment, there was no game, no Jalen, no history—just the two of them, standing under the stars, finding something that had been there all along.

When they finally pulled apart, Paige felt breathless, her heart racing in a way it hadn't in a long time. She opened her eyes to find Azzi watching her closely, searching her face for any sign of hesitation or regret.

But there was none.

Paige smiled, her fingers still lingering on Azzi's waist. "I guess I needed that more than I realized."

Azzi chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind Paige's ear. "You're not the only one."

The sound of footsteps echoed from behind them, and they both turned to see Aubrey and Ice stumbling out of the party, laughing and clearly tipsy. Aubrey froze when she saw them, her eyes widening with exaggerated surprise.

"Ohhhh snap!" Aubrey yelled, pointing at them dramatically. "Did I just walk in on something?!"

Paige's face flushed, but she couldn't help but laugh, the tension from earlier melting away completely. Azzi, too, was grinning, her hand still resting on Paige's waist like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Ice, who was too busy trying to keep Aubrey from falling over, glanced between them and smirked. "Y'all could've at least told us you were sneaking off for a moment."

Paige rolled her eyes, still smiling. "It's not what it looks like."

Azzi raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "Actually, it kind of is."

Aubrey and Ice both burst into exaggerated laughter, clearly having too much fun with the situation. "Oooh, we're telling Kk!" Aubrey sing-songed, pulling Ice back toward the party.

As they disappeared back inside, Paige turned back to Azzi, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Well," Paige said, still trying to catch her breath. "That was unexpected."

Azzi shrugged, though her smile betrayed her nonchalance. "Maybe. Or maybe it's been a long time coming."

Paige couldn't argue with that. She felt lighter, freer, like she'd just stepped out from under a cloud she hadn't even realized was hanging over her.

"Yeah," she agreed, taking Azzi's hand. "Maybe it has."