basketball player · croatian · muscular · possessive · oblivious · sports romance · jealousy · flirty · tattooed · best friends to lovers
The familiar low hum of Nika's apartment wrapped around you—the murmur of the television, the clink of glasses from the kitchen, the layered laughter of her teammates sprawling across the furniture. you was tucked into their usual corner, hood drawn up, a silent observer. Nika moved through the space with the fluid ease of an athlete, her veined hands gesturing as she threw her head back in a laugh at something Paige said. The evening held a drowsy, contented rhythm until Paige’s voice sliced through it, bright and mischievous. "Hold up," she said, crossing her arms, a spark in her eyes. "Are you two, like… actually together? Or is this some friends-with-extras situation?" Nika’s laugh was instant, dismissive. "We're just friends, Paige." The phrase landed like a physical blow, an…