26

Angel Reese

"Sit still, mama," Angel said, carefully parting Arayah's curls. "You movin' too much."

Arayah squirmed, swinging her little legs. "It hurt, Mommy!"

Angel smiled, loosening her grip. "It don't hurt. you just tender-headed like me."

On the vanity mirror, her phone was propped up on FaceTime. Her mom's face filled the top corner, laughing softly, while her younger brother Julian sat in the background eating cereal. Nyralie, her cousin who was basically her big sister, leaned in on the screen from her own apartment.

"She look so cute," Nyralie said. "Look at them little puffballs!"

Angel grinned. "She gon' be bald in a minute. Chopping this shit off before I lose my mind."

Arayah puffed out her cheeks in the camera. "No. Don't cut me mommy!"

They all laughed at the toddlers poor choice of words.

Then, out of nowhere, Angel asked, "Hey... y'all think it'd be bad if I took Ray with me to the Finals game tonight?"

That quieted the group instantly. Not judgment—just surprise.

"You mean to Vegas?" her mom asked, brows raising. "To see that girlfriend of yours?"

"Well she's not my girlfriend, but Yeah," Angel said, smoothing down the last braid. "They could win it all tonight, and I really wanna be there. I just don't know if it's... too much. For Ray, or—"

"Selfish?" Nyralie cut in. "Girl, you? You literally plan your day around that child's nap schedule. Ain't nothin' selfish about that."

Julian nodded, mouth full. "Yeah, and she gon' love it. It's basketball, not a club."

Their mom smiled knowingly. "Baby, the media already knows you a mom. You don't owe nobody an explanation. Long as y'all safe and you got security, go enjoy it. Let her see what her mama's world looks like."

Angel exhaled, tension melting from her shoulders. "You think so?"

"I know so," her mom said. "You done raised that little girl right. Go make some memories, Angel."

That was all she needed.

⸻

By late afternoon, Angel and Arayah were stepping off a flight in Vegas. Angel had on a cream-colored sweatsuit and her hair in a sleek bun, while Arayah wore a red Aces hoodie with Jackie's number 0 on it, tiny Jordans, and a bow that kept sliding off her braids.

When they arrived at Michelob Ultra, the arena buzzed with championship energy. The Aces were up 3–0 in the series — one win away from back-to-back titles. A'ja had already handled everything, so Angel and Ray were ushered straight into a lower-level suite.

Arayah's eyes went wide as the court lights flashed. "Mommy, look! Dey got the ball'!"

Angel smiled, leaning on the railing. "I see mama."

"Get The ball'," Arayah cheered proudly, clapping her little hands.

The first three quarters flew by in a blur of cheers and red confetti bursts waiting to explode. Jackie was locked in — fast, focused, and unstoppable. And when the final buzzer sounded with the score 92–81, it was over.

The Las Vegas Aces were champions again.

⸻

The court erupted into chaos — players hugging, confetti raining down, photographers everywhere. Angel stayed behind the tape barricade, Arayah resting her head on her shoulder, watching the team celebrate.

Jackie was weaving through the crowd, hugging teammates and looking for her younger sister Kayla in the sea of people. When she finally found her, A'ja leaned in and pointed toward the stands. "You got more people here for you."

Jackie frowned in confusion until she followed A'ja's gaze.

There they were — Angel and Arayah, standing just behind the rope. Angel lifted her free hand in a small wave, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.

Jackie's expression melted instantly. She jogged over, still in her championship tee and hat, as Angel joked, "Hi. I would hug you but I don't think I have clearance to come in, champ."

Jackie waved that off without hesitation. "Man, forget clearance—come here."

Security stepped aside as Jackie pulled both of them inside the barricade, wrapping Angel and Arayah up in a huge, tight hug that smelled like sweat, champagne, and joy.

"Congrats, Jack Jack," Angel said, her voice warm and proud. "I'm proud of you, honey."

"Jackie, you won!" Arayah squealed, her voice muffled against Jackie's shoulder.

Jackie laughed, kissing the top of her head. "I did, baby."

⸻

The trophy ceremony came next — lights flashing, cameras everywhere. Holly Rowe's voice echoed over the mic as the Aces took center court, confetti still falling like red rain.

"Back-to-back champions, y'all!"

The players lifted the trophy high, posing for pictures, champagne flying as cheers filled the arena. Angel stood to the side of the court holding Arayah, smiling as Jackie clinked bottles with A'ja and Sydney, laughter echoing across the floor.

Then came the interviews. Holly moved down the line, speaking with A'ja first, then Chelsea, and finally—Jackie.

Jackie's smile was radiant under the lights, but she was still catching her breath as Holly held the mic up.

"Jackie Young, you were phenomenal tonight. Twenty-four points, six assists, and some serious defensive stops. How does it feel to be a two-time WNBA champion?"

Jackie grinned. "It feels amazing. Just grateful for my teammates, coaches, everybody who made this possible. We fought hard all year."

Holly nodded. "You had quite the cheering section tonight too," she said, her tone dipping into that nosy Holly Rowe territory. "We saw Angel Reese here supporting you with, I'm assuming her daughter? how much does that mean to you?"

Jackie blinked, caught slightly off guard but smiling through it. "Uh—yeah," she said with a small laugh. "Angel's been... she's been great. We've grown really close over the past year, and she's always had my back. I appreciate her a lot. Means a lot that she came out."

"Beautiful," Holly said with a knowing smile. "Congratulations, champ."

Jackie nodded, laughing softly as the mic pulled away — but the camera didn't.

Because right before that interview, ESPN had already caught it. That hug — the one where Jackie buried her face in Angel's neck for just a beat too long, Arayah giggling between them, Angel's hand resting at the back of Jackie's head like it was second nature.

And by the time the Aces finished celebrating, the clip had already made its way online with captions like:

"Jackie and Angel 👀???""That's not just friendship energy.""Angel Reese and Jackie Young soft launch???"

Angel's phone buzzed nonstop as they left the arena, but she ignored it completely.

She just glanced at Jackie, who was holding Arayah's tiny hand as they walked through the tunnel, and smiled.

"Congrats again,," she said quietly.

Jackie smiled back. "Thanks for coming, Angel. Both of you."

"I'm gonna get her back and in bed, but I'm so proud of you. Go enjoy yourself okay?l Jackie nodded and gave her another hug before she was ushered off to do post game media.

Jackie Young

By the time the confetti stopped falling, Jackie felt like she was running on equal parts adrenaline and disbelief. Two-time WNBA champion. It hadn't even sunk in yet. Her voice was half gone from yelling; her body ached in places she didn't know could hurt; and yet she couldn't stop smiling.

The press conference room was warm under the lights. Championship banners framed the backdrop behind the table where she sat next to A'ja and Chelsea. Reporters packed the seats, camera flashes popping like fireworks every few seconds.

Jackie took a long sip of water, glancing at the front row where Aces staff were already posting highlights on social. Angel and Arayah had gone back to their hotel. Angel had texted her a quick message letting her know they made it in, and that baby girl was already knocked out before the door was opened.

That text alone had Jackie biting back a grin that she couldn't quite hide.

"Alright," A'ja said, sitting back with her usual championship glow. "Let's get this show started before we fall asleep up here."

Laughter rippled through the room.

The first few questions came easy — defensive strategy, adjustments against New York's pick-and-roll, how they handled the Liberty's spacing. Jackie answered like she always did: direct, thoughtful, professional.

Then came the softer stuff.

"Chelsea, what does it mean to go back-to-back, and this being your third ring?""It means we're nasty," Chelsea said with a grin, and the room cracked up.

"A'ja, you've got a dynasty brewing here. Any early plans for the parade?"A'ja smirked. "Y'all know I'mma show out. Vegas already know what it is. Last year I said four shots? But this year we going eight!."

Jackie just sat there, soaking it all in — the laughter, the lights, the fact that this was her life.

Then, inevitably, it came.

A reporter a few rows back cleared his throat, voice careful but curious. "Jackie, I've got kind of a lighter one for you..."

A'ja leaned toward her mic, eyes twinkling. "Uh oh. Here it come."

The room chuckled, and the reporter continued.

"So, during that 'Dress Your Type' TikTok challenge your team did last month—"

Jackie's stomach dropped immediately. Oh Lord.

"—you wore a really feminine outfit. Dress, heels, the whole thing. And fans noticed your caption was 'ILBB2,' which stands for 'I love bad b words too.'"

Chelsea immediately started cackling, covering her mouth. A'ja just threw her head back in mock disbelief. "Not y'all bringing up TikTok after a championship game," she said, laughing.

The reporter tried not to laugh too. "Well, some fans also think the heels you wore look suspiciously similar to a pair Angel Reese had on a few weeks ago. Any, uh, connection there?"

The room erupted — laughter, murmurs, a few "ooohs."

Jackie could feel her face heat up like someone flipped a switch. She blinked hard, looking down for a second before laughing softly. "Man, y'all really dig deep, huh?"

Chelsea nudged her playfully. "Yeah, J, you got somethin' you wanna tell us?"

Jackie laughed again, this time burying her face in her hands for a beat. "Nah, y'all wild. That was just for fun. We were all doin' that challenge that week."

A'ja leaned toward the mic. "Jackie be in all our closets and pockets yall." She said trying to help her friend clean it up but it was too late.

The room cracked up again, cameras clicking rapidly. Jackie shook her head, grinning through her blush.

"What can I say," she teased with a laugh, before, sitting up straight, voice even but kind. "I'll just say this — I got a lotta respect for Angel. She's someone I care about, and she's supported me through a lot this season. But as far as anything else... y'all not gettin' that scoop tonight."

A collective "awww" filled the room.

Chelsea grinned. "You see how she slid right out that question like a pro? PR training paying off."

Jackie laughed, covering her face again. "Man, next question please."

⸻

After the conference wrapped, the three of them stood up, still laughing about it. As they walked offstage, A'ja bumped her shoulder playfully.

"You know that clip's already goin' viral, right?"

Jackie groaned. "Don't tell me that."

"Oh, I'm tellin' you," Chelsea added, pulling out her phone. "ESPN got the 'I love bad bitches too' headline already prepped. You better hope Angel don't clown you for it."

Jackie smiled to herself, trying to hide it. "She probably will."

And for some reason, that thought didn't scare her — it just made her chest feel warm.I⸻

The celebration had barely slowed down by the time Jackie finally slipped out of Michelob Ultra Arena. A'ja and Chelsea were still somewhere in the tunnels doing interviews, champagne had already been popped twice, and her phone hadn't stopped buzzing since that press conference clip hit the internet.

The "ILBB2" moment was everywhere. Memes. Tweets. Fan edits of her and Angel hugging courtside. A few WNBA gossip pages already trying to "soft launch" them like it was official.

Jackie didn't care, though. Not tonight.

All she wanted was to see Angel again.

She called her before even getting in her truck, ducking behind the team bus where it was quieter. It rang twice before Angel's voice came through, soft and sleepy-sounding.

"Hey, champ," she said, and Jackie could hear the smile in her voice.

Jackie exhaled. "You still up?"

"Barely. Ray's knocked out. You okay?"

"Yeah. Just... can't stop thinking about you," Jackie admitted. "You still at the hotel?"

"Mhm. We're at the Four Seasons, downtown. Why?"

Jackie grinned. "Because I'm on my way. You thought I was gonna win a championship and not come see my girls?"

Angel laughed quietly. "Jackie, it's past midnight—"

"Exactly. Perfect time for a victory lap."

She heard Angel's sigh, followed by a soft chuckle. "Fine. But you're waking up with a three-year-old climbing you if she catches you here in the morning."

"I'll take my chances," Jackie said, already heading for her truck.

⸻

By the time she reached the Four Seasons, the city lights had settled into a sleepy shimmer. Jackie used a hoodie and cap to slide in unnoticed, texting Angel once she reached her floor. The door cracked open seconds later, and Angel appeared — oversized T-shirt, bonnet on, no makeup.

Jackie smiled. "Now that's my favorite version of you."

Angel rolled her eyes but smiled too. "Come in, before somebody sees you."

The suite was cozy — soft lighting, half-empty pizza box on the table, one little shoe by the couch. From the corner room came the faint hum of a sound machine.

"She's out cold," Angel whispered, closing the door behind her. "I booked the two-bedroom suite this time, thank God. Means I get to actually stretch my legs tonight."

Jackie chuckled, setting her bag down. "Guess that means I get to stay?"

Angel shrugged with a teasing grin. "I didn't say that."

Jackie stepped closer, her voice dropping. "You didn't say no, either."

Angel tried to look unfazed, but her lips curved up despite herself. "You hungry? We still got some pizza left."

"Only if you're eating too," Jackie said, following her to the small dining area.

They sat side by side, eating cold slices and talking quietly — about the game, the chaos online, how wild it was seeing Angel and Arayah courtside.

"She really screamed 'Jackie you won!' like she'd been on the roster," Angel said, laughing softly.

"She is on the roster," Jackie said, wiping her hands. "She's the heart of it."

Angel went quiet for a second, looking at her. The air shifted just a bit.

"...you really mean that?"

Jackie nodded. "I mean both of you."

Something unspoken hung there — gratitude, affection, maybe something deeper neither of them had the courage to name yet.

Angel broke the moment with a small laugh. "Okay, champ. Come on. Let's get ready for bed before you start sayin' something that makes me blush."

Jackie grinned, following her into the room across the hall.

Angel handed her a clean T-shirt and some shorts, then turned to go grab her own pajamas — but before she could, Jackie gently caught her wrist.

"Hey," Jackie said softly. Angel turned. Jackie leaned in, slow enough for Angel to pull away if she wanted — but she didn't. Their lips met, soft and warm, the kind of kiss that wasn't rushed or hungry, just real. It felt like the culmination of every quiet moment between them that hadn't needed words.

When they finally pulled apart, Angel's eyes fluttered open. "You realize you still smell like champagne, right?" Jackie grinned.

"Guess I'll need another shower." Angel's eyes darkened a little, the playfulness in her smile giving way to something a bit more electric. She traced her thumb over the curve of Jackie's jaw.

"I was kinda hoping you'd say that," she murmured, her voice a low, teasing rasp.

Jackie felt a rush of heat that had nothing to do with the night's excitement.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, really." Angel didn't back away, instead stepping in closer, her arms snaking around Jackie's waist. "You think you can just show up here looking fine as fuck and not expect a proper welcome?"

Jackie laughed, leaning down to meet Angel's lips again, this time with a little more purpose. The comfort was there, dissolving the last barrier of awkwardness. She didn't have to wonder what Angel wanted; the simple, firm press of Angel's body against hers was all the answer she needed.

They broke apart only long enough for Angel to take Jackie's hand and lead her to the bathroom. The air already felt thicker, charged with a beautiful inevitability.

"You go first," Angel whispered, turning the water on. "Unless... you want company?" The question was simple, but the look in her eyes was anything but. It was an invitation to a new level of closeness.Jackie's smile was soft, genuine.

She wasn't chasing a trophy anymore; she was standing right in front of the prize. "I'll be quick ," she promised, running a gentle hand down Angel's hip. "Keep the bed warm for me, yea?."

Angel's breath hitched—a tiny, wonderful sound. She gave a quick, hungry kiss before slipping out the door, her hips swaying a little more deliberately than they had a minute ago.

When Jackie finally emerged—freshly showered, wearing the oversized loaner shirt and shorts—Angel was sitting on the edge of the bed. She had changed into a pair of silk pajama shorts and an almost-too-small tank top that made Jackie momentarily forget how to walk.

"Better?" Angel asked, patting the spot next to her.Jackie came over and sat down, leaning in to inhale the familiar, wonderful scent of Angel's shampoo. "Perfect." She reached out, her hand settling right in the dip of Angel's waist. It was a casual gesture that felt profoundly intimate.

Angel leaned into the touch, her eyelids fluttering shut. "I'm glad you came."

"Me too." Jackie tilted Angel's chin up, their eyes locking. The intensity of the last two hours—the sneaking in, the whispered conversation, the shared silence—had worn down their inhibitions.Jackie's fingers drifted up, gently pulling the bonnet from Angel's head, letting her curls spill over her shoulders. Angel sighed at the freedom, her hand immediately covering Jackie's where it rested on her waist. She gave it a subtle squeeze, a silent confirmation of everything they were feeling.

The kiss that followed was no longer soft or tentative; it was a slow, deep exploration. Angel slipped her hands underneath Jackie's borrowed shirt, her cool fingers running up Jackie's back, tracing the muscles left tense from the game. Jackie responded by shifting closer, pressing Angel back against the pillows.

The easy familiarity of their hands, their mouths, their bodies finding a rhythm was the real victory of the night. There was no rush, no pressure to perform. This wasn't about a fleeting moment; it was about unraveling each other piece by piece. Jackie's fingers finally dipped just below Angel's waistband, before pulling away from the kiss and looking back to the woman before her for permission.

"Oh god. Yes please!" She begged and that was all Ajckie needed to hear as she reconnected their lips c letting her hands wander further. She gently stroked Angel ontop of the thin fabric of her panties, feeling them dampen more with each stroke. That dude nothing but turn Jackie on even more. She'd barely touched her for real and yet she was soaking.

Her fingers eventually slid the Panties aside and dipped into her while still maintaining. Steady rhythm on her clit. This sent Angel to space. Her head tossed back as she let out to e mist perfect, feather like koans in Jackie's ears.

"Like that mama?" Jackie whispered as Angel panted and nodded fast.

"Ohh please. Please, I'm finna cum," and that only motivated Jackie to go harder. Her fingers curled against angel's g-spot with every thrust until the younger woman. Reached out the pull her back for another kiss, as she gripped the biceps of her lover. And with one last stroke her legs began to shake and she creamed all lover Jackie's hand. Jackie helped her ride her irgasm out before playing her fingers up and sucking them.

The taste made her borderline turn feral. She knew from this lint on she was indeed with the woman that is Angel Ciara Reese. But what she did next took that obsession to the next level. Angel reached out to grab Jackie's wrist, and cleaned the rest of her orgasm from her fingers. Her lips wrapped around Jackie's fingers did nothing to contain the lady boner she had. This woman was not only kind, and sweet, and checked off everything box possible. She was also freaky as fuck.

Angel pulled back just enough to gasp out a breath. "You're so perfect. ," she whispered, her voice rough, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "You know that, right?"

Jackie looked down at her, the adoration clear in her own eyes. "Me? That's all you baby,."

Angel didn't say anything more. She just pulled Jackie back down, her lips moving to Jackie's neck, her touch a searing, gentle reminder that this quiet connection was the most precious thing either of them had. Every touch was a silent promise; every kiss a new layer of comfort.

They lay tangled in the middle of the bed, the noise of the city a distant hum. Jackie's hand was now resting lightly on the delicate curve of Angel's hip, and Angel was curled against her, her face tucked into Jackie's neck, their breaths mingling. The television played softly, forgotten.

Angel hummed quietly, the corners of her lips lifting. "Good night, champ."

Within minutes, she was asleep. Jackie stayed awake a little longer, watching the city glow through the window—a gold halo over Las Vegas.

For the first time in months, she didn't feel like she was chasing anything. She already had what she wanted—right here, wrapped up in her arms, feeling the true peace that only came from falling deeper into someone else.

Excuse all errors Ajah