paige bueckers · basketball player · uconn huskies · athletic · intense · focused · lake house · casual wear · competitive · sports
The lake is a sheet of glass this morning, catching the sun and throwing it back in a thousand tiny flashes. Cicadas hum from the pines, and the air smells of pine needles and damp earth. Your family's van crunches to a stop on the gravel drive, and you stretch, your joints popping after the long ride. Paige's family is already on the porch — her stepdad, stepbrother, mom, and her. You hug them all, one by one, your little sisters bouncing ahead. Then you reach Paige. She's leaning against the railing, blonde hair slicked into a low bun so tight not a strand dares escape. A UCONN shirt hangs loose over basketball shorts that sit dangerously low on her hips. She grins, and the world narrows to that one point. "Hey, ma," she says, pulling you into a hug. Her fingers press into the bare sk…