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Jackie's POV | Seattle, Tuesday Night

There was always a weird rhythm to the first game back after All-Star. Bodies were sore, minds still a little heavy from the parties, the press, the chaos of it all. But once the anthem ended and the ball went up, none of that mattered.

Jackie moved in sync with A'ja on the first defensive possession, sliding into the gap as Jewell tried to cut baseline. Seattle was fast, sharp—no surprise after how they'd been rolling lately—but Vegas wasn't about to fold easy.

The ball zipped around, shot clock ticking down, Jackie's focus razor-sharp. But even as she read rotations, called out switches, her mind kept drifting back to that night.

The pool. The soft lamplight in Angel's hotel room. The weight of a toddler asleep against her chest like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Jackie tightened her jaw, snapping herself back as Loyd launched a three. Miss. Rebound. Break.

She sprinted the lane, and Chelsea hit her in stride for an easy finish. The crowd roared, but Jackie barely cracked a smile. She was too busy fighting off the image of Angel's laugh when she'd asked if Ray was her sister. The way Angel had explained herself—careful, protective, but with so much pride woven into every word.

On the bench during a timeout, Jackie wiped sweat from her forehead, stealing a quick glance at the scoreboard. Close game. Coach was barking orders, A'ja nodding, Kelsey chugging water. Jackie just leaned forward, elbows on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

And she thought: Why her?

Angel wasn't the first woman Jackie had ever noticed. Wasn't the first mom she'd seen balancing ball with life. But something about her... it was sticking.

The way she carried herself like she didn't need anybody, but still let Jackie help. The way Ray had just trusted her, no hesitation.

Jackie caught herself smiling at nothing, and Kelsey nudged her. "You good?"

"Yeah," Jackie said quickly, straightening up.

The horn blared. Back to the floor.

Seattle kept pressing, the game turned into a slugfest. Jackie locked in, chasing shooters off screens, driving hard to the rim. Each bucket, each stop, it was like she was burning off thoughts she wasn't ready to name.

By the final buzzer, Vegas had squeaked it out—barely. High fives, chest bumps, cameras flashing. Jackie did the routine, gave the media their quick quotes, then ducked out as soon as she could.

Later, back in the quiet of her hotel room, she stretched out on the bed, phone in hand. Instagram was full of highlights, recaps, postgame pics. But her thumb hovered over one name, one profile, longer than it should have.

Angel Reese.

She didn't press it. Not tonight. But the thought lingered, same as it had since All-Star.

Maybe it wasn't just the game that was pulling her focus these days.————Jackie stretched out on the couch in A'ja's living room, hair damp from her postgame shower, oversized hoodie draped over her frame. Her phone buzzed nonstop—notifications from the "all star dump" she finally posted. A mix of locker room candids, party shots, and the polished sponsor pics the PR team had been begging her to get up.

She scrolled through the comments half-distractedly until one stopped her cold.

Jackie blinked. Then laughed as she responded. Then—before she could stop it—smiled so wide her cheeks hurt.

angelreese5: hi jack jack. so you think shit sweet cause where our TIK TOK YOU PROMISED???↪️jackieyoung5 lmao next time 😂

"Ohhhh my God."

A'ja's voice came from across the room. She was sprawled out in her own chair with a glass of wine, side-eyeing Jackie. "Why you smiling like somebody just slid you a contract extension with ten extra zeroes?"

Jackie quickly locked her phone and shook her head. "Nothing. Just the comments, you know how people are."

"Uh-uh," A'ja sat up, grinning. "That wasn't no regular scroll-and-smile. That was a blush. I saw it."

Jackie groaned, covering her face with her hoodie sleeve. "You so damn nosy."

"Damn right," A'ja got up and plopped down beside her. "Now lemme see who got you cheesin' like that."

Before Jackie could protest, A'ja leaned over and caught a glimpse of the phone screen—Angel's name bold as day in the comments.

Her eyes widened. She gasped. "NAH. Stop playin' with me. Angel?!"

Jackie exhaled, cornered. "Yeah..."

"Girl." A'ja shook her head in disbelief, already laughing. "You really not gon' tell me nothin' else? Don't act shy now. Spill."

Jackie hesitated, weighing what she could say. Finally, she shrugged, keeping it simple. "We just... been talking a little. Hanging out during All-Star. Nothing crazy."

A'ja narrowed her eyes like she could see straight through her. "Mhm. And by 'hanging out' you mean what exactly?"

Jackie laughed nervously. "Conversations. Pool. Pizza. Chill stuff."

A'ja smirked. "Mmhm, I bet. So you like her?"

"I didn't say all that," Jackie muttered, avoiding her gaze.

"Your face said it for you," A'ja shot back, grinning.

There was a beat of silence, comfortable but heavy, before A'ja leaned back and sipped her wine. Then casually, almost too casually, she asked.

"So... you met baby girl yet?"

Jackie's head snapped toward her. "You know about her?"

A'ja smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Angel keeps her private, but we all respect that. She's a good mom."

Jackie chewed on that, thinking of Ray asleep in her lap, the weight of that tiny trust. She hadn't told A'ja about that night, but apparently, it wasn't a secret she even needed to keep.

"Yeah," Jackie said softly, after a pause. "I met her."

A'ja gave her a look—gentle, curious, but also that big-sis kind of protective. "Mmhm. Then I ain't gotta tell you twice—be careful with that one. Not just 'cause she Angel Reese, but 'cause she got more riding on her than most. You hear me?"

Jackie nodded, the weight of it hitting harder now. "Yeah. I hear you."

But even with the warning, that damn smile tugged at her lips again, and A'ja caught it instantly.

"Lord have mercy," A'ja muttered, shaking her head. "Jackie Young got a crush."

Jackie groaned, throwing a pillow at her.

"Shut uppp," she said as A'ja snickered.

"Crazy part is I didn't even know she did girls," she teased, making Jackie raise a brow.

"Interesting," she murmured, as wheels started to turn in her head.

Excuse all errorsAjah