The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the bedroom. Monica stirred beneath the covers, stretching out lazily and reaching across the bed—only to find Angel's side already empty and cool.
A faint noise from the bathroom caught her attention. A moment later, Angel emerged, already dressed in sleek black workout leggings and a fitted tank top that hugged her athletic frame. Her curls were pulled into a ponytail, and she was lacing up her sneakers with a focused energy.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Monica propped herself up on one elbow, her voice still thick with sleep. "You leavin' me already?"
Angel glanced over with a grin. "I told you last night—I've got that training session this morning with Lisa Leslie. Gotta get right before the season starts."
Monica let out a dramatic sigh, flopping back against the pillows. "I know, I know. My baby gotta stay the double-double queen... but I was kinda hopin' you'd skip today and stay here with me."
Angel crossed the room and leaned down to kiss Monica's forehead. "Tempting. Very tempting. But I gotta go. This season's important."
Monica wrapped her arms around Angel's waist, tugging her closer. " I'm proud of you. Go do your thing."
Angel smiled, touched by the sincerity in her wife's voice. "Thank you, baby. I'll be back before lunch. Want me to bring you a smoothie on the way back?"
Monica raised an eyebrow playfully. "If it comes with you shirtless and sweaty, absolutely."
Angel laughed, kissed her one more time, then grabbed her gym bag and headed out. Monica lay there a moment longer, smiling to herself before grabbing her phone. She scrolled through a few emails, then opened her notes app and jotted down a couple of lyric ideas that had popped into her head in the stillness of the morning.
Downstairs, the house was quiet. Laiyah was already off to school, and Serenity was still sound asleep in her room. The peace was rare, and Monica decided to take full advantage of it. She lit a candle, grabbed her journal, and settled in at the kitchen table, thinking about everything ahead—her music, her family, and Angel's upcoming season.
Even with their schedules about to get crazier, they were in sync. And that was all that mattered.
Angel stepped into the gym with her usual quiet confidence, the familiar scent of rubber floors, metal, and sweat hitting her all at once. Lisa, her longtime trainer and friend since her inaugural season with unrivaled, was already waiting near the weights, clipboard in hand and stopwatch around her neck.
"There she is," she said with a grin. "Back at it."
Angel smirked, pulling off her hoodie. "Let's not act like I haven't been putting in work. I've been training at home too."
Lisa raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? With Monica as your coach?"
Angel laughed. "She's a motivator. Different kind of workout, though."
