Chapter Ten

Jordyn Love pov

"Come on, A. We're gonna be late!" I called out as I wrestled with Deuce. The ESPYs were one of the biggest nights of the year, and of course, Miss Leo herself was taking forever to get ready.

"I'm coming!" she called back, her voice slightly muffled. "My boobs weren't cooperating, sorry!"

I glanced up as she stepped out of the bedroom, and it felt like everything around me just froze. A'ja was wearing this stunning, custom dress that looked like a deconstructed basketball net. The dress hugged her curves, shimmering under the lights, somehow capturing the perfect balance of elegance and edge.

"Damn," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. She smiled, her cheeks lifting with the confidence only she could pull off.

"Thank you, baby," she murmured, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.

I shook my head, still amazed, before grabbing the door handle and holding it open for her. We climbed into the black SUV waiting outside, the driver nodding as we settled in.

On the way to the venue, A'ja seemed surprisingly calm, though I knew she'd been buzzing with excitement all week. She was up for two awards tonight—BEST WNBA Player and Female Athlete of the Year. I had no doubt she'd win at least one, but watching her play it cool was endearing.

"You good, superstar?" I asked, nudging her shoulder.

"Superstar, huh?" She smirked, glancing over at me. "I don't know, Jordyn. There's some tough competition. But as long as I've got you cheering for me, I'm already winning."

I laughed, giving her hand a squeeze. "Smooth, Wilson."

As we arrived at the red carpet, the crowd's energy hit us in waves. People shouted, cameras flashed, and everything felt electric. A'ja took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, nodding towards the mass of reporters and photographers up ahead.

"Ready to give them a show?" she whispered, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

"Always," I grinned.

We stepped onto the carpet, and I could feel all eyes on us. Photographers shouted our names, calling out for us to look this way and that, their cameras clicking away furiously. A'ja was a vision, and I knew the internet was about to lose its mind when these photos hit the web. She wrapped her arm around my waist, pulling me close, her head leaning against mine for a few perfect shots.

I could hear murmurs from nearby fans, snippets of awe and admiration as they took in her bold dress and our chemistry. For a second, I almost forgot we were on the red carpet, surrounded by hundreds of people, because being with her felt like we were in our own world.

We moved down the carpet, stopping here and there to speak with interviewers. One reporter asked A'ja about her dress, and she explained the inspiration behind it, the basketball net motif symbolizing how intertwined the sport was with her life. Another asked how she felt about being up for two major awards tonight.

"You know, it's an honor just to be nominated," she said humbly, though her smile held a playful confidence. "But winning would be a little icing on the cake."

"And with this one by your side?" the interviewer asked, nodding to me with a grin.

A'ja laughed. "She makes everything better. Win or lose, I'm walking away happy tonight."

A few more photos later, we finally made it inside, finding our seats close to the front. A'ja was all smiles as she took in the atmosphere, her eyes scanning the room and landing on a few of her friends and fellow athletes. The night was only just beginning, and we already felt on top of the world.

The show kicked off, and as award after award was presented, we cheered for the winners, clapping until our hands were sore. The energy was infectious, and it felt like the entire sports world was there, celebrating each other. I leaned in close as they started announcing nominees for BEST WNBA Player.

A'ja sat up a little straighter, her hand reaching for mine under the table. I gave it a squeeze, feeling her pulse quicken. As the announcer read her name as the winner, a roar of applause erupted around us.

"YES!" I whispered, unable to contain my excitement as she stood up. She kissed my cheek and made her way up to the stage, her steps confident, her smile radiant. Watching her up there, accepting the award, pride filled every inch of me.

"Thank you to everyone who's supported me, my teammates, my family, and my fans," she said, her voice steady. "This journey wouldn't be possible without y'all. And of course, my girl Jordyn for always holding me down."

She glanced at me with a smile that made the crowd aww, and my cheeks turned a shade of red I couldn't hide. A'ja continued, "This isn't just for me, it's for all the girls out there dreaming of being right here one day."

The crowd burst into cheers, and she walked off the stage with her trophy, settling back beside me. I leaned over, whispering, "That was perfect. You're perfect."

She laughed softly, nudging me. "You saying that because I shouted you out, or because I just won Best WNBA Player?"

"Both," I replied, making her chuckle.

The next awards came and went, and soon it was time for the Female Athlete of the Year category. My hands tightened in my lap as they began announcing the nominees, showing highlight reels of each one. When they reached A'ja's name, my heart started racing again.

"And the ESPY for Female Athlete of the Year goes to... A'ja Wilson!"

I jumped up with the rest of the crowd, the thunderous applause filling the room. A'ja looked over at me, her eyes wide in shock before she burst into a smile. I pulled her into a quick hug, murmuring, "Go get your second trophy, superstar."

She made her way back to the stage, accepting the award with the grace and humility I loved so much about her.

"Wow, I'm honestly speechless right now," she began, her voice catching slightly. "This is... surreal. I've dreamed of nights like this since I was a kid. To be here, doing what I love, and being honored for it... it's everything. Thank you to everyone who's believed in me."

She glanced down at her trophy, then back up with a grin. "And a special shoutout to Jordyn, who's been my rock through it all."

The audience cheered louder, and I could feel the tears welling up as I clapped harder. The pride I felt watching her own the stage like that was indescribable. This was her night, her moment, and I was grateful just to be part of it.

When she returned to our table, I couldn't hold back. "Two ESPYs in one night? Okay, superstar!"

"Stop hyping me up," she laughed, clearly still processing it all.

The rest of the evening was filled with congratulations from her friends and teammates. A few familiar faces stopped by to say hello—Candace Parker hugged A'ja, whispering something to her that made her laugh, while Megan Rapinoe came by with Sue Bird, giving us both hugs and offering a toast to A'ja's wins.

We finally made our way back to the red carpet, posing for more photos. This time, there was a different kind of energy around us—one that buzzed with excitement and recognition. I could already see the headlines tomorrow: A'ja Wilson Takes Home Two ESPYs, Plus Her Heart.

Later, as we scrolled through our phones, we stumbled upon Twitter, where fans were buzzing about the evening. Pictures of us from the carpet had already gone viral, fans admiring A'ja's dress, our outfits, the chemistry that no camera could ignore. But as always, there was one out-of-pocket comment that caught our attention.

"Jordyn could have got some fine shyt for 200 million," someone had tweeted, as if money had anything to do with the love we shared.

"Unbelievable," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

A'ja shook her head, clearly amused. "You already know what time it is. Watch the fans eat them alive."

Sure enough, within minutes, responses started rolling in. Fans clocking tea immediately:    •    "A'ja not fine shii?!? Like A'ja M'V3 Wilson?!? Be so fr"    •    Not too much mf. Jordyn knows exactly what she's doing."    •    "Keep A'ja's name out your mouth unless you're showing respect."

I laughed as I read the comments out loud to A'ja, who was now grinning, an idea forming in her mind.

She pulled out her phone, quickly scrolling through our red carpet photos, and began crafting a post. I leaned over, curious to see what she was cooking up.

"What's the caption gonna be, Queen Petty?" I asked, smiling.

She turned the phone towards me, showing her final draft—a carousel of her photos from the night, each one better than the last, including a close up of her engagement ring.

Liked by j.young5 and 9,930 othersAja22wilson Some fine Shyt for 200 Million✨View all 30,305 comments J.young5 nahhh 😂Angelreese5 A'ja Riyadh 😍Jordylove Definitely🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️I burst out laughing, shaking my head. "Petty, but perfect."

She grinned, hitting "Post," and within seconds, her phone blew up with notifications, fans and friends alike hyping her up for the comeback.

We leaned back, looking out at the city lights through the hotel room window, her two ESPYs sitting on the table nearby. Of course! I'll pick up the story the morning after the ESPYs, where A'ja and Jordyn are enjoying some downtime together.

————

The next morning, the sunlight streamed softly through the hotel room's curtains, casting a warm glow across the bed. A'ja was still sound asleep beside me, sprawled out like she'd run a marathon. I couldn't help but smile, watching her breathe softly, her face relaxed, peaceful.

The ESPYs had been everything we'd imagined and more. Winning two awards in one night—Best WNBA Player and Female Athlete of the Year—was a huge deal, even for someone as iconic as A'ja. She'd kept her cool the whole evening, but the pride that lit up her face when she accepted her awards was something I'd never forget. And then, of course, the whole clap-back moment on Instagram? Pure gold.

I reached over to the nightstand, grabbing my phone to scroll through the aftermath on social media. Fans were still going crazy over her post. Comments flooded in with every kind of reaction, from heart emojis to more jokes, to teammates jumping in on the banter. A'ja had made her mark in more ways than one. I snapped a picture of her sleeping on my chest and posted it on my instant story.

Just then, A'ja stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she turned her head toward me, groggy but smiling. "Good morning," she murmured, reaching for my hand and giving it a soft squeeze.

"Morning, superstar," I replied, leaning over to kiss her on the forehead.

She chuckled, rubbing her eyes. "Superstar, huh? If only you'd seen me back in college, fighting off sleep during 8 a.m. classes."

"Oh, please, you know you've always had that 'it' factor," I teased, nudging her shoulder. "But last night? You crushed it, A."

She took a deep breath, sitting up slowly as she glanced around the room. "It feels... surreal, honestly. I mean, I dreamed of a night like that, but having you there with me made it feel real, you know?"

I wrapped my arms around her from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder. "You've earned every bit of it, A'ja. And seeing you own that stage? I'm just so proud of you."

We stayed like that for a while, the quiet of the morning wrapping around us. Eventually, the rumble of her stomach broke the silence, and we both laughed, realizing we hadn't eaten since the afterparty snacks.

"Room service?" I offered, reaching for the phone.

"Please. I'm starving," she replied, stretching out on the bed. As I dialed in our order, A'ja began scrolling through her phone, catching up on missed texts and notifications.

"Angel know how to raise my damn blood pressure," she muttered, showing me a string string of messages but the one that caught me off guard was the last one.

Mini me: I fucked her A. 🫣

"Who she fuck?" I said as I looked at A'ja she gasped before FaceTiming Angel. It almost rang all the way through before she finally answered,  standing what looked like on her patio. "Hey," she muttered."No not hey. What do you mean Ciara?" "Hold on A. She's still here...I'll call you once she leaves," she said as she moved her camera to the side and through the glass doors I could see the blonde ponytail, telling me all I needed to know. A'ja obliged and they hung up the phone. "I can't with that girl," she said with a laugh. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. I hopped up to get it, letting in the hotel staff with our breakfast. We set up on the little balcony outside, the city skyline stretching before us as we dug into waffles, eggs, and fruit.

"So, what's the plan for today?" I asked, watching as she piled syrup on her waffles.

She thought about it for a second. "Honestly? I just want to relax. No media, no events—just us." She looked up, grinning. "What about a spa day? We could both use it after last night."

I nodded eagerly. "You know I'll never say no to that."

After breakfast, we got ready for a quiet day of self-care, ditching the glam for sweats and slides. A few hours later, we were at the hotel's spa, getting the full treatment—massages, facials, and a soak in the hot tub. There was something about being here, away from everything, that made it all feel special. Just us, completely unplugged, enjoying each other's company.

As we relaxed, other hotel guests occasionally passed by, sneaking glances, but most were respectful enough to leave us in peace. A'ja laughed at one point, noticing a little girlwho kept peeking shyly from behind her mom. She waved, and the girl's face lit up like she'd just met her hero. Moments like that reminded me of how much of an impact A'ja had on people—not just fans but everyone who looked up to her.

After the spa, we wandered back to our room, feeling lighter and more relaxed than we had in weeks. As we settled back in, I noticed the awards sitting proudly on the dresser. A'ja caught my gaze and smiled, her hand reaching for mine.

"Thanks again for always being here for me. I appreciate you so much Jordy," she said softly, her eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and love.

I squeezed her hand, feeling my heart swell. "You don't have to thank me, A. I'm just glad to be here with you through it all."

Excuse all errorsAjah 🩷