11

Angel Reese

Angel woke up with her head pounding, mascara smudged, and an empty water bottle on the nightstand she didn't even remember drinking. Ray was curled up beside her, little knees jammed into Angel's ribs, snoring soft.

"Lord," Angel groaned, dragging herself upright. "This shit Gone kill me."

By the time the All-Star Game tipped off later that afternoon, though, she was back in form—braids laid, lashes set, adrenaline buzzing through her. The game itself was fun: highlight reels, big buckets, more laughs than pressure. She soaked it in, but as the night rolled back into another round of afterparties, Angel hesitated.

Ray was here with her. And though the whispers and flashing lights of the party life pulled at her, tonight she wanted something different. Something that felt like her.

Ray squealed when Angel told her the plan. "Pool? Really, Mommy? I get my floaties?"

"Yeah, baby. Pool night."

⸻

By 8 p.m., the hotel pool was mostly empty, the city lights glowing through the glass walls. Ray splashed in the shallow end, pink floaties tight on her arms, while Angel lounged on the edge with her feet in the water.

For the first time all weekend, it was quiet. Just the hum of the filters, Ray's laughter, and the soft buzz of her phone somewhere back on the chair.

Angel let her shoulders drop. No cameras. No flashing lights. Just her and her daughter.

"Catch me, Mommy!" Ray shouted, pushing off the steps.

Angel slid in, hands ready, laughing as she scooped her up. "I got you. Gio jump Ray Ray."

That's when she heard the sound of the door swinging open. Flip-flops on tile. A low voice, almost surprised.

"Didn't expect anybody down here."

Angel turned. Jackie Young stood near the chairs, towel slung over one shoulder, hair pulled back. She wore a black two-piece that looked more athletic than flashy, but somehow she still managed to draw the eye.

Ray gasped. "Jackie!"

Before Angel could even react, her daughter was paddling awkwardly across the shallow end, floaties squeaking, reaching out.

Jackie crouched down at the edge, eyebrows raised but smiling faintly. "Well, hey pretty girl. Fancy seeing you here."

Angel waded after Ray, heart tugging between irritation and amusement. "Ray, baby, don't just—"

But Ray was already reaching for Jackie's hand like they'd been best friends forever. Jackie helped her up onto the ledge, settling her like she'd done it a hundred times.

"Where's your manners?" Angel teased, hands on her hips as she pulled herself out of the pool. "You just going up to strangers now?"

Ray giggled, cheeks dimpling. "She my friend."

Jackie chuckled, eyes flicking to Angel. "Guess I don't get a choice then."

Angel grabbed a towel, squeezing water out of her braids, pretending she didn't notice the way Jackie's gaze lingered for just a second too long. I mean who wouldn't stare.

"Wasn't in the mood for the patries?" Jackie asked after a moment, nodding toward the quiet pool.

"Nah," Angel admitted, glancing at Ray, who was now humming to herself and kicking her feet. "Needed a break and some time with my girl."

Jackie nodded, sliding down onto the edge of the pool with her legs in the water. "Yeah. I get that."

For a beat, the only sound was Ray singing off-key to herself, her little voice echoing in the big space.

And for the first time since the chaos began, Angel realized how calm she felt—with Jackie sitting there beside her.

For a while, it was easy. Jackie dipped her feet in the pool, Angel leaned back on her towel, and Ray kept them entertained with her endless chatter. She splashed, sang, and told Jackie all about her "princess floaties" and how she was this close to learning how to swim by herself.

Jackie listened, really listened, nodding along, smiling faintly like every word mattered.

Eventually Ray tired herself out and climbed out, plopping down between them. Angel wrapped her in a fresh towel, drying her curls, while Jackie let Ray lean against her side.

It was quiet again when Jackie finally tilted her head, her voice careful."So... like, is she your sister or...?"

Angel blinked, then snorted before she could stop herself. "My sister?" She laughed, shaking her head. "Nah. That's my baby."

Jackie's brows lifted, genuine surprise flickering across her face. "Your... daughter?"

"Yeah," Angel said, her smile softening as she glanced down at Ray. "Arayah. She's mine."

Jackie looked between them, like she was trying to line up the puzzle pieces. "Oh I didn't know..."

"Most people don't," Angel cut in, her voice quieter now. "I keep it that way on purpose. I just want her to live like a regular little girl, you know? Not always attached to my name, not... caught up in all the noise." She exhaled, brushing a curl off Ray's forehead. "She deserves that."

Jackie nodded slowly, her expression shifting from surprise to something heavier—respect. "That's... honestly, that's smart. Protecting her like that."

Angel shrugged, but her chest warmed at the words. "Gotta do what I can. World's crazy enough."

The conversation slipped from there into easier things—favorite food spots in their hometowns, what shows they half-watched on Netflix, the kind of music they put on when they were alone. Angel found herself laughing more than she expected, realizing how much Jackie could carry a conversation without ever making it about herself.

Time blurred. The pool deck emptied, and Ray's chatter got quieter and quieter until finally, she curled up right in Jackie's lap, thumb in her mouth, sound asleep.

Angel glanced at her phone. 10:27 p.m.

"Damn," she muttered, tugging her braids back. "Didn't even realize we'd been sitting here that long."

Jackie shifted carefully, looking down at Ray with a small, almost protective smile. "Guess she made herself comfortable."

Angel's gaze lingered, something unspoken hanging in the air. Seeing her daughter tucked against Jackie like that—safe, unbothered—it hit her in a way she wasn't ready to name.

But she didn't stop it either.

Angel carefully slid her bag onto her shoulder and reached over for Ray. But the little girl stirred, curling deeper into Jackie's lap with a sleepy whine. Jackie froze, one hand hovering in midair like she wasn't sure if she should move.

Angel huffed a soft laugh. "Guess she picked her spot."

Jackie glanced up. "You want me to carry her? I don't mind."

For half a second, Angel considered saying no—just out of habit, out of instinct to do everything herself. But Ray was knocked out cold, heavy as a sack of flour when she slept. And the way Jackie held her, gentle but steady, didn't set off a single alarm in Angel's chest.

"...Alright," Angel said finally, voice softer than she meant. "If you're sure."

Jackie rose smoothly, sliding an arm under Ray and standing with her balanced against her shoulder. Ray didn't even stir. Just mumbled something incoherent and went right back to snoring.

Angel wrapped her towel tighter around herself and fell into step beside Jackie as they left the pool deck. The hallways were quiet, the only sounds their footsteps and the hum of the elevator.

Inside, Jackie shifted Ray slightly, her hand supporting the back of the toddler's head like second nature. Angel noticed the detail, the ease of it, and something tugged in her chest.

"She's lighter than I expected," Jackie murmured, breaking the silence.

Angel smirked. "Don't let her fool you. She's a whole workout when she's wide awake."

Jackie chuckled. "I believe it."

The elevator doors opened, and A'ja's words from last night flickered in Angel's mind—about Jackie always spending her money, about the two of them being trouble together. Angel found herself biting back a smile as they stepped out into the hall.

When they reached her door, Jackie shifted Ray carefully, lowering her just enough so Angel could slide her keycard in. The light blinked green, and they slipped inside.

Angel led the way to the bedroom, pulling back the comforter so Jackie could lay Ray down. The toddler sighed, rolled onto her side, and was out again instantly.

For a long second, Jackie just stood there, watching her. Angel noticed the way her shoulders softened, like she was letting the moment sink in.

"Thanks," Angel said quietly, breaking the spell. "For, you know... helping out. Twice now."

Jackie looked over at her, eyes unreadable but warm. "It's nothing. She's cool. You're... cool."

Angel snorted. "Don't gas me up. You don't even know me like that."

Jackie's mouth twitched into a smirk. "I'm getting there, though."

Angel rolled her eyes, but she didn't fight the smile tugging at her lips.

As Jackie stepped back toward the door, Angel's chest tightened with something unfamiliar. She wasn't sure if it was gratitude, attraction, or just the weight of someone else finally sharing a piece of her world.

"Goodnight, Angel," Jackie said simply.

"Night, Jackie."

The door clicked shut behind her, but the feeling lingered.

Excuse all errorsAjah