21

Angel Reese

By the time we finished getting ready, it was close to midnight. Jackie stood in front of her mirror, tugging at her shirt with a faint frown, while I adjusted my gold hoops and slicked the edges I'd missed.

"You good?" I asked, watching her reflection.

"Yeah," she said, flashing that soft grin. "Just making sure I don't look too much like somebody's bodyguard next to you."

I snorted, stepping closer and brushing a bit of lint off her shoulder. "You always look good. Stop playin'."

She gave me a once-over that lingered a little too long to be casual. "So do you."

By the time we hit Drai's rooftop, the music was pulsing through the floors — bass heavy, lights flashing off every crystal surface. The team had their own section overlooking the city, bottle service lined up, laughter spilling loud enough to compete with the DJ.

Jackie grabbed my hand without thinking, guiding me past security and up the velvet rope like she'd done it a hundred times. Heads turned. Some people recognized me, others probably just noticed how tall we both were.

As soon as we approached the section, A was the first to spot us. "Ayyye, Jackie made it!" she yelled over the music.

Chelsea, sitting next to her, raised a glass. "Finally! Thought you were ghosting us—"

Then she noticed me behind Jackie, and the words stalled right in her throat.

"Wait... is that—"

"Angel Reese," Kiah finished, eyes wide, leaning forward like she wasn't sure if it was real.

The whole crew froze for a second, their faces a perfect mix of surprise and "what the hell?"

Jackie just smirked, arm still low around my waist. "Don't question me," she said over the music, grin cocky and cool. "Just vibe."

It broke the tension instantly.

KB burst out laughing. "Ohhh okay, Jack! I see you now!"

Chelsea shook her head, still grinning. "Nah, that's wild. You really brought Angel Reese to Drai's like it's nothing."

I laughed, holding up my hands. "I'm just here to chill. Don't mind me."

"Say less," Chelsea said, passing me a glass. "Welcome to the fam for the night."

The rest of the evening moved easy — drinks flowing, music shifting between trap and old-school R&B. The team danced, joked, and made sure I never had an empty glass in my hand. Jackie stayed close, her arm brushing mine every few songs, her hand finding my lower back whenever someone passed too close.

There was no big announcement, no explanations — just good energy, laughter, and the kind of looks that said we know what this is, even if nobody else does yet.

By the time the lights started to dim around 2 a.m., Jackie leaned in close, her voice low in my ear. "You ready to dip?"

I nodded, feeling the buzz of the night still in my veins. "Yeah. Before my feet quit on me."

We said our goodbyes, hugs going around the group.

"Y'all be safe," Chelsea said with a smirk, wiggling her brows. "And wrap it up, alright?"

"Y'all childish," Jackie shot back, laughing as she draped an arm over my shoulders.

"Just sayin'!" KB added, cackling.

I shook my head, hiding my grin behind my hand as we walked off.

Outside, the Vegas air was warm and heavy, the Strip lights reflecting in Jackie's eyes. She opened the car door for me with that same lazy confidence that made my stomach flip.

As we pulled out of the garage, her hand found mine on the console, fingers lacing without a word. The city blurred by outside — gold and neon and chaos — but inside the car, it was quiet.

Just her.Just me.Just... vibin'.

⸻

By the time they made it back to Jackie's place, it was well past two. The city still hummed outside — the kind of late-night quiet that wasn't really quiet at all — but inside, it felt calm.

Jackie unlocked the door, holding it open for Angel, who stumbled in with a half-tired laugh. They were both still a little buzzed, makeup smudged from hours of dancing and laughing with her teammates.

"Remind me not to drink whatever A'ja had us on again," Angel said, kicking her heels off by the door.

Jackie grinned, tossing her keys on the counter. "That was your third shot of Casamigos, don't blame her."

"Peer pressure," Angel shot back, holding up her hands. "I'm a victim."

Jackie laughed, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."

They moved through the quiet house together, both still smiling but slowed down now — softer around the edges. Jackie stopped by her bedroom door and turned toward Angel. "You wanna shower first?"

Angel let out a deep sigh, running her fingers through her hair. "Only if you go with me," she teased, voice tired but playful, expecting Jackie to roll her eyes.

Instead, Jackie just looked at her — that steady, unreadable gaze that always managed to cut through the noise. "Alright," she said simply, grabbing a towel from the closet.

Angel blinked, caught off guard for a second before a small smile crept onto her lips. "You serious?"

Jackie's shrug was casual, but her eyes were gentle. "You said it first."

They slipped into the bathroom, steam already starting to fill the space as the shower warmed up. Neither of them rushed. Jackie reached in first, testing the temperature with her hand before stepping under the water. Angel followed quietly.

At first, there was just the sound of water. No words. No tension. Just that calm space they both seemed to crave. Angel tilted her head back, letting the water run over her face, exhaling the night out of her chest.

Jackie turned toward her, eyes soft. "You good?"

Angel nodded, voice barely a whisper. "Yeah. Just... needed to breathe."

Jackie stepped closer, resting a hand on her shoulder before pulling her in. Their bodies fit easily together, neither trying to make it more than it was — just warmth, closeness, understanding.

Angel let her forehead rest against Jackie's chest, breathing in the scent of her skin, the faint smell of body wash and something familiar she couldn't name. "Feels like the first time I've been still all week," she murmured.

"Guess we both needed that," Jackie replied quietly, one hand coming up to the back of Angel's neck. "You never stop moving."

Angel smiled against her. "You keep saying that like it's a bad thing."

Jackie chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "Not bad. Just... makes moments like this mean more."

They stayed like that for a while — just two people under warm water, saying nothing and saying everything at once. When they finally stepped out, the air felt lighter. Softer.

And for the first time, Angel wasn't thinking about the next move. She was just there — with her, in that small quiet of the night — exactly where she wanted to be.