A FEW days after the celebration, the gym at the LA Sparks' training facility was buzzing with the sound of basketballs bouncing, sneakers squeaking on the polished court, and the hum of excitement in the air. Jenessa and Paige stood at opposite ends of the court, stretching before the start of their first official practice with the team.

Jenessa's muscles felt tight, but the adrenaline was already kicking in. She could feel the energy of her teammates around her, the familiar anticipation building in her chest. This was it. The moment everything had been leading up to. She glanced over at Paige, who was chatting with Zia and Rae, her blonde hair tied low in a messy bun, looking every bit the confident point guard she was.

Jenessa shook out her legs, trying to loosen up as Coach Miller called the team together at center court. "Alright, ladies," Miller said, his voice cutting through the noise. "This is the real deal. We've got a lot to prove, and today's about setting the tone. We're here to work. Not just as individuals, but as a team. Got it?"

The team nodded in unison, the collective energy palpable. Jenessa exchanged a quick glance with Paige, her heart beating a little faster. They were in this together, and she could feel the chemistry already. It had always been there, even when they'd been miles apart, but now, it felt like it was finally coming full circle.

"Let's start with shooting drills," He continued. "Everyone pair up." Jenessa jogged over to the three-point line, where Kia and Cameron were already setting up. Kia gave her a quick nod, and they got into position. Across the court, Paige was with Dearica, the two of them chatting and laughing as they prepared to begin.

The sound of basketballs bouncing, the swish of the net, and the steady rhythm of feet pounding the floor filled the gym. Jenessa's focus was on the ball, her form perfect as she sank shot after shot. Kia was a solid teammate, quick on defense but also able to match Jenessa's speed. They exchanged a few quick passes before Jenessa lined up for another shot.

"Looking good out there, Jenessa," Kia called out, grinning as the ball swished through the net. Jenessa smirked, giving her a nod of thanks before grabbing the rebound. "Thanks. You too. Let's keep this up."

As they rotated through the drills, the intensity started to build. Each player brought their own fire to the court, and Jenessa could feel the competitive edge sharpening. Every pass, every move, every shot mattered. At one point, Jenessa found herself at the top of the key with the ball in her hands, staring down Rae, who was playing tight defense. She glanced over to Paige, who was positioned on the wing, her eyes already locked onto Jenessa.

It was a familiar feeling. Jenessa faked left, driving hard to the right, then pulled up for a quick jumper. The ball arced perfectly toward the hoop, and the net swished as Jenessa jogged back to the line. "Nice shot," Rae called out with a smirk, shaking her head. "You're quick."

Jenessa grinned. "Gotta keep you on your toes."

Meanwhile, Paige was working through her own drills, effortlessly navigating between defenders. Her eyes never left the court, always calculating her next move. She tossed a perfect pass to Dearica, who caught it mid-air and finished with a smooth layup.

"You two really are a thing," Rae commented, half-joking as she jogged back to her position, nodding toward Jenessa and Paige. "No way I'd want to be the one to guard you two on the floor." Jenessa laughed. "Try not to break too many ankles out there, Rae. We've got a season to play."

Paige jogged up to Jenessa, a sly grin on her face. "They're scared already."

Jenessa shot her a playful side-eye. "Don't jinx us."

"I'm just stating the facts." Paige winked, slapping Jenessa's ass as she jogged, receiving a glare in return. Then turned to see Coach Miller signaling them for a lineup change.

As practice continued, the tempo picked up. They moved into scrimmage drills, and Jenessa found herself running the floor with Paige. Their connection was undeniable. Paige would thread a perfect pass through traffic, and Jenessa would finish with precision. On defense, they communicated effortlessly, covering each other's backs like they had done a thousand times before.

By the end of practice, everyone was sweaty, out of breath, and more than ready for a break.

"Great work today, ladies," Miller called out as the players gathered around him. "That's the kind of intensity we need every day. We're a team now, every single one of you brings something to the table. Let's keep building on this." Jenessa wiped sweat from her forehead, a grin on her face as she looked at Paige. "That was good. Real good."

Paige flashed her a cocky smile. "Told you we were gonna kill it."

"We really are," Jenessa replied, feeling the connection between them deepen with every passing moment. "This is only the beginning."

As the team gathered their things and headed for the locker room, Jenessa felt an undeniable sense of belonging. They had come so far, and now, with every practice, they were becoming more than just a team. They were a force.

And Jenessa knew that with Paige by her side, nothing could stop them.

The soft hum of the city outside filtered through the curtains, but inside their apartment, it was quiet and peaceful. The bed was warm, the blankets tangled around their legs as Jenessa and Paige lay side by side, faces close enough that they could feel each other's breath. The glow of the streetlights outside barely touched the room.

Jenessa rested her head on Paige's chest, listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. It was a feeling she'd come to cherish, the comforting sound that made everything else fade into the background. Paige's hand gently brushed through Jenessa's hair, her fingers moving slowly, almost like she was savoring the quiet moments.

"You know," Paige said softly, her voice laced with an almost dreamy quality, "I've been thinking about our future." Jenessa lifted her head just enough to meet her gaze. "Yeah?" she asked, her voice thick with affection. "What about it?"

Paige's blue eyes were warm, her lips curling up into a small, thoughtful smile. "I don't know. Everything just feels so right. Like this is how it's supposed to be." Jenessa's heart fluttered, and she leaned in to kiss her lightly on the lips. "You're not just saying that because of how good we played today, are you?"

Paige chuckled, brushing a loose strand of hair from Jenessa's face. "Maybe a little. But it's more than that. I've been thinking about us, about the future. And I really want to build it with you." The sincerity in Paige's voice hit Jenessa like a wave. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, a soft, deep pull. "I want that too. I want all of it. Us. Together."

Paige shifted slightly, propping herself up on her elbow so she could look down at Jenessa with that glint in her eyes that always made Jenessa's heart skip. "So you think we could actually make this work? The whole marriage thing?" Jenessa smiled, resting her hand on Paige's chest, feeling her heart race in time with her own. "I think we've been through enough to know we can make it work. We're not perfect, but we're perfect for each other."

Paige's expression softened, her eyes locking onto Jenessa's. "Yeah. I guess we are."

There was a brief, comfortable silence between them, just the sound of their breathing and the distant noise of the city outside. But the weight of the conversation hung in the air, and it felt like it had been building for a long time.

Jenessa turned slightly, shifting to face Paige, her hand resting against the smooth curve of her cheek. "I've thought about it too. Marriage. Us, building a life together. I don't know if it's traditional or what people expect, but I want to be with you forever. And if that means saying 'I do,' then that's what I'm gonna do." Paige's hand moved to gently hold Jenessa's, the warmth of her touch grounding Jenessa in the moment. "You know, I never really thought I'd be the type of person who wanted all that. But, with you? I think I could be. I want that with you. I want it all."

Jenessa's smile deepened, her heart swelling with a mixture of love and certainty. "Then we'll do it. We'll get married. One day. When we're ready." Paige grinned, leaning in to press a kiss to Jenessa's forehead. "I'm all in. Whenever, however you want. I'm with you, Jenessa." They lay there for a moment, wrapped in the quiet peace of the night, but Jenessa couldn't help but let her mind wander, thinking about what else the future might hold.

"Kids," she murmured, her voice almost hesitant, as if testing the waters.

Paige's hand tightened around hers, and she looked at Jenessa with a raised eyebrow, clearly intrigued but waiting for her to continue. "What about kids?"

Jenessa hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. "I don't know, just thinking. Do you want them? I mean, we've talked about everything else, but I guess we never really talked about that." Paige's eyes softened as she considered it. She thought for a moment, tapping her finger gently on the back of Jenessa's hand. "I guess I do. I've always imagined having a family, even though I didn't know what that looked like until now. And with you, I can actually picture it, kids, a house, all of it."

Jenessa smiled, her heart fluttering at the thought. "Yeah. Me too. I always wanted to have a family. A little team of our own, you know? A few kids, maybe." Paige chuckled softly. "A few, huh? I like the sound of that. A little team to run around and play basketball with. They'll be crazy."

Jenessa laughed, imagining their future children, probably with the same fiery competitive spirit they both had. "Definitely. They'll be hard to beat. We'll have them dunking before they can walk." Paige smiled, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. "You know, I'll be the one teaching them how to dribble."

Jenessa snorted. "Sure, sure. But we both know who's going to be the one showing them how to shoot."

"Oh, I don't think so," Paige teased. "They'll need to learn from the best. You know who that is." Jenessa rolled her eyes, but there was a love in her expression that couldn't be hidden. "We'll make it work. However we do it. We'll have the life we've always wanted, P. Together." Paige kissed her again, slow and gentle, their lips lingering. "Together."

And as they pulled back, lying close once more, Jenessa shook her head at the way Paige was looking at her with a smirk, her eyes filled with lust. "Don't start." Jenessa snorted, shoving Paige. "Start with what?" Paige gasped innocently, holding her hand over her heart. "Start with that!" Jenessa accused. pointing at the blonde's face.

"Quit looking at me with those eyes."

DENNY'S CORNER

ok i feel empty now

thank you to everyone who has supported

me throughout this book

maybeeee ill make a sequel

cuz i KNOW im gonna miss these two

much love, denny

pb & j out ❤️