Kai Slade, a talented and ambitious young professional, lands the coveted role of media director for the UConn women's basketball team. As she immerses herself in the fast-paced world of sports media, Kai finds herself drawn to the team's star playe...
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The locker room hums with pre-game energy as players move around, lacing up shoes, adjusting jerseys, and preparing themselves mentally. But in the corner, Kai and Paige are in their own little world, sharing a moment that feels calm and steady amid the buzz. Thirty minutes until tip-off against Notre Dame, and Kai has her fingers in Paige's hair, braiding with the kind of care that only comes from knowing exactly how sensitive Paige's scalp is.
Kai stands behind her, gently gathering strands and combing her fingers through. "You good?" she murmurs, keeping her voice low.
Paige nods, her back straight but shoulders softening a little under Kai's touch. "Yeah," she whispers, though there's a wince as Kai starts the first section. "Just... you know. Be careful."
Kai lets out a small laugh. "Always am. I don't need you storming the court with a bruised ego and a sore scalp."
Paige grins, eyes crinkling as she catches Kai's reflection in the locker room mirror. "You're already the best photographer and hairdresser I've ever had—don't tell Kayla." Her tone is teasing, but there's a warmth in her eyes as she looks at Kai.
"Good thing," Kai replies, her hands moving slowly and precisely. She starts with a gentle grip, braiding down and checking in with Paige as she goes. "Don't know what you'd do if I called it quits on this part."
Paige laughs, but she closes her eyes as if to relax, leaning slightly into Kai's hands. "Probably just make you promise to never quit."
Kai feels a warmth bubble up in her chest, and she smiles to herself, focusing on making each section smooth and secure. She leans closer, whispering just above Paige's ear, "Never crossed my mind to quit on you." Kai softly bites Paige's earlobe before getting back to braiding.
A quiet, comfortable silence falls between them. Kai's fingers move expertly down the braid, occasionally pausing to check Paige's face for any signs of discomfort, slowing down anytime she senses a wince—though she would purposefully tug on her hair to hear her little whimpers. Paige's jaw relaxes little by little, her shoulders easing, as she seems to draw comfort from the familiar, gentle motion.
When she finishes the braid, Kai secures it with a band and smooths her hand over Paige's hair one last time. She stands back, catching Paige's reflection in the mirror. "Ready?"
Paige nods, her eyes meeting Kai's in the mirror, a softness there even in the midst of game-day adrenaline. "Thanks, Kai."
Kai smiles, giving her a gentle nudge on the shoulder. "Go show them what you got, Bueckers."
Kai kept close to the baseline, camera in hand, feeling the tension on the court rise with every minute. UConn came out strong, with Aaliyah leading the charge in the paint, pulling down rebounds and nailing a few midrange jumpers. Kai focused her lens on Aaliyah's fierce expression as she hustled downcourt after sinking another shot, her focus helping keep UConn within reach. Paige was working hard, but her shots just weren't falling. Kai caught the frustration flickering across her face with each miss, thinking, "Come on, Paige,"
In the second quarter, things started to shift as Notre Dame's freshman guard Hannah Hidalgo caught fire. She was relentless, cutting through UConn's defense like it was nothing, hitting contested layups and a few deep shots that had the crowd groaning. Kai cursed under her breath as Hidalgo banked in a three right at the halftime buzzer. The arena fell into a tense hush as Notre Dame celebrated their lead. Paige was visibly rattled, but Kai couldn't help but admire how she kept her head up, pushing herself to stay focused.
As the second half started, UConn came out with a renewed sense of urgency. Paige got hit with a tough foul in the third quarter that had the crowd on their feet, protesting what seemed like a questionable call. Kai winced, catching the strain on Paige's face as she headed to the line, trying to shake it off. Paige hit her free throws, but as the quarter went on, the fouls began piling up on UConn, stalling their momentum. Aaliyah got called for a charge when it looked like she'd been tripped, and Kai found herself muttering, "You've got to be kidding me!" She didn't usually get this worked up during games, but tonight was different.
Despite the calls, UConn didn't back down. Aaliyah put up a few more buckets, trying to rally her team back, and Paige fought through double-teams, landing a couple of tough midrange shots that had the fans cheering. But Hidalgo answered every time, weaving through defenders, hitting a mix of floaters and jumpers that seemed to sap the energy out of the Huskies.
By the fourth quarter, the scoreboard wasn't looking good, and Kai could feel the frustration settling over the UConn bench. Paige drove into the lane, only to get called for another foul that had Coach fuming on the sidelines. Kai caught Paige's expression—a mix of anger and determination—as she tried to brush it off, refusing to let the game slip without a fight. Aaliyah kept battling down low, scrapping for every rebound, every loose ball. But when Hidalgo nailed a dagger three-pointer with three minutes to go, the crowd started filing toward the exits, sensing the game was out of reach.
Kai watched as Paige and her teammates fought until the final buzzer, even as Notre Dame celebrated their 82-67 upset. Lowering her camera, Kai felt a mix of pride and disappointment.
After the game, Kai watched as Paige stormed down the hallway, frustration radiating from her. Kai approached her cautiously, hoping to offer support, but Paige spun around, her anger boiling over.
"This is your fault! I couldn't focus because I kept looking at you on the sidelines!" Paige shouted, her voice echoing off the walls.
"Me? How is that fair? I'm just doing my job!" Kai shot back, bewildered. "I can't control how you play! You're the one who needs to own your performance."
Paige shook her head, the heat of the moment making it hard for her to think clearly. "You were supposed to be my rock, and instead, I felt distracted! I needed you to be more present, not just a camera."
Kai felt her frustration spike. "I'm not your crutch, Paige! I'm there to capture your journey, not to babysit you! It's your responsibility to focus on the game."
"Maybe if you weren't standing there looking so good, I wouldn't have lost my concentration!" Paige yelled, her face flushed.
Kai's heart raced. "That's ridiculous! You think I'm the reason we lost? You're an incredible player—don't diminish your own skills because of me!"
Paige's anger flickered for a moment as she processed Kai's words. "I just wanted to win! I felt like I let everyone down, especially you."
"I'm here for you, no matter what. But you have to take some accountability," Kai replied, her tone softer now.
Paige crossed her arms, uncertainty creeping in. "I get that. I just hate losing, and I don't want it to affect us."
Kai stepped closer, seeing the vulnerability beneath Paige's anger. "We'll figure this out together. Just don't put the blame on me when you know it's not right."
Paige nods, looking around before pressing a quick kiss to Kai's lips, "I'm sorry, ma."
