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Angel Reese POV

A week flew by before I even realized it — practices, media, mom duties, and FaceTiming Jackie every night until one of us fell asleep mid-sentence.

Right now, I was stretched out on Rickea's couch, half under a blanket, eating her snacks like I lived there.

"Bro, leave my Fruit Roll-Ups alone," she whined, snatching the box back.

"You bought the multipack for me, don't play," I shot back, kicking her foot.

She rolled her eyes and flopped down next to me.

"So," she started, drawing out the word dramatically, "where we goin' for our bestie-cation this year? We said Cabo last time."

I hummed. "Cabo sounds good. But what about Jamaica? Or Turks? Or—"

"My bank account said Cabo," she deadpanned.

I laughed. "Okay, Cabo it is."

We were scrolling through Airbnbs when my phone buzzed on my stomach.

Jackie:You free tonight? I wanna take you out.

I stared at the screen a little too long.

Rickea didn't even look up."Oh yeah, that's Jackie," she said casually. "Your whole face lit up like a damn Christmas tree."

"Shut up," I muttered, still smiling like an idiot.

"Text her back before you start sweating."

I threw a pillow at her before typing:

I'm free.

She replied instantly.

Good. I'm picking you up at 8. Dress nice, pretty.

My stomach flipped.

Rickea snatched my phone and gasped. "A DATE date?!"

"Rickeaaaa—"

"Aweeeee ny bestie about to have a romantic night with her girl," she sang, kicking her legs like a kid.

"She's not— it's not— girl shut up," I argued weakly.

"Uh huh. Get your ass up. We need hair done, nails done, outfit done. You not about to show up looking regular."

I blinked. "What's wrong with how I look now?"

She stared at me flatly. "Angel. Your hair is in a lopsided bun, your nails are grown out, and you're wearing my high school basketball shorts."

I looked down. "...These comfortable."

"Get up." She dragged me off the couch. "We movin'."

⸻

Three hours later...

Hair? Slayed.Nails? Fresh white set.Eyebrows? Tweezed to perfection.Nerves? A hot mess.

Rickea pushed me into another store. "You need and outfit that's fine have her wanting to put you through the mattress "

"You do too much," I laughed.

"And you need to be fucked. Next," she countered.

She started holding up dresses to my body, making exaggerated "mm" noises like a stylist on a reality show.

I was in the middle of rolling my eyes when a voice squealed behind me:

"—ANGEL REESE?!"

I turned around just in time to see a teenage girl nearly vibrate out of her shoes. Her mom was behind her, smiling like she'd seen this a thousand times.

"Oh my God oh my God oh my God— HI! Can I— can I please take a picture?!"

I smiled instantly. "Of course, baby. Come here."

She rushed over, practically shaking. "I love you so much, I watch all your games, and I saw you in Chicago last month, and—and—" She took a breath. "My friends are gonna DIE."

I laughed. "Be sure to them I said hey."

She handed her phone to her mom and stood next to me, trying not to burst.

We took a few pictures — regular smile, peace sign, then one where she asked, "Can we do the pose you did in that tunnel fit?"

I hit the pose. The girl nearly fainted.

When we finished, she hugged me tight. "You're like... my fave basketball player ever."

I squeezed her back. "You keep working hard, okay? Make me proud girl."

She nodded so fast her hair slapped her cheeks.

Her mom thanked me, and they walked off, the girl already texting the pictures like her life depended on it.

When I turned back around, Rickea was staring at me with a knowing smirk.

"What."

"Nothin'." She shrugged. "Just cute watching you be somebody's Michael Jordan."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop smiling. "Shut up."

She held up a new dress. "Okay. Try this one. Jackie's gonna pass out."

I grabbed it, cheeks warm.

Tonight was... real.And for the first time in a long time, I wasn't nervous because of fear.

I was nervous because I wanted it to go right. I put the dress on and immediately nodded.

"This the one for sure, Kea," I said, stepping out of the fitting room and smoothing my hands down the fabric.

Rickea's jaw literally dropped. "Oh. My. God."

I frowned. "What?"

"Angel... that woman is not making it past the first course. You look—" she waved a hand in a circle like she was conjuring the word— "edible."

I laughed, heat crawling up my neck. "It's just a dress."

"No," she corrected, grabbing my shoulders. "It's the dress. The one that's fine make me an auntie once again"

I swatted her hand away, trying not to smile too hard. "Girl, shut up."

"And turn around," she ordered, spinning her finger.

I rolled my eyes but did a slow circle for her. She whistled.

"Yep. Jackie Young is done for. Wrap it up, folks, she's finna be  in love."

I tossed a hanger at her. "Bro, please."

She dodged it, giggling. "Okay okay. Take it off so we can pay and go beat your face. Your lips dry."

"My lips are not dry."

She held up ChapStick from her bag like a doctor about to prescribe medication. "Pursing them don't make them moisturized. Come on."

I snatched it, laughing. "You annoying."

"Now hurry up. It's already six and you still gotta shower, do your makeup, and take a shot.'"

"Kea!"

"I'm just saying!"

⸻

By the time we got back to her apartment, my stomach was doing full gymnastics.

I showered quick, shaved what needed shaving, moisturized until I looked like a glazed donut, and came out wrapped in a towel to find Kea setting out two perfume bottles, a jewelry box, and my heels like she was prepping a bride.

I gave her a look. "You're dramatic."

"Baby, I'm a visionary," she said, placing her hands on her hips proudly. "Sit. Makeup time."

I did, letting her work—foundation, soft glam eyes, a glossy lip that made me stare at myself a little too long.

When I slipped the dress on again and stepped into the heels, it all hit at once.

This is a date.

A real date.

Jackie wants to take me out.

And I... want her to.

Rickea stood behind me, adjusting a curl over my shoulder. Our eyes met in the mirror.

"You look happy," she said quietly.

I swallowed. "I feel... good."

"Good." She squeezed my arms. "You deserve somebody soft on you. Somebody who actually tries."

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed on the counter.

Jackie:Here. Take your time, pretty.

I swear my heart stopped.

Rickea shrieked. "She's outside?! Angel! GO!"

"I'm not even— my shoes—"

"I got the shoes," she said, stuffing them into my hands. "Grab your bag!"

I slid into my heels, grabbed my small purse, took one last look in the mirror—

—and froze.

""You sure you're good with Rayah?"

"Angel don't piss me off. I can watch my niece while she SLEEPS," she said making me giggle.

Excited. Nervous. Glowing.

Yeah... tonight was real.

I exhaled and nodded at myself.

"Ok," I whispered, more to my racing heart than anything. "Let's go."

I headed for the door, and Rickea yelled behind me, "DON'T DO NOTHING I WOULDN'T DO— WHICH AIN'T MUCH!"

"BYE, KEA," I screamed back, laughing.

Then I stepped outside.

And there she was. Jackie Young. Leaned against her car, dressed up too, eyes roaming over me slow—

—and damn near losing her breath.

"Angel..." she murmured, standing straighter.

Yeah. This date was about to change something.

I could feel it.

Excuse all errors

Yall idk what Wattpad got going on but my uploads aren't uploading right 😭

Ajah