Chapter 32

Caitlin’s Pov :

It’s been a few weeks since Sienna and I had our magical first date. And when I say magical, I mean the kind that replays in your head over and over again, like your favorite movie scene. These past few weeks have honestly been some of the best of my life.

Being with Sienna… it just makes everything better. She makes me feel safe. She makes me laugh without even trying. Just existing beside her brings this overwhelming sense of peace I never realized I was missing. Being with Sienna Callaway feels like watching the sunrise after a long, stormy night—it’s calm, warm, and quietly beautiful.

And just thinking about this morning brings a wide, goofy smile to my face.

—

Flashback to this morning.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The shrill sound of my alarm pierced through the stillness of the room. I groaned, eyes fluttering open as I reached out blindly to smack the alarm clock into silence. My hand met the button, and the beeping finally ceased. I exhaled slowly, running a tired hand down my face and preparing to sink right back into sleep.

But then I felt it—something warm, soft, and heavy draped across my body.

More like someone.

I looked down and there she was.

Sienna’s head rested on my chest, her arm wrapped securely around my waist, and her leg tossed lazily over mine, effectively trapping me in place. Her honey-blonde hair was a messy halo on the pillow, and the weight of her body against mine was… perfect. She was practically sprawled across me, and I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips.

I tried to move, just a little, but her grip tightened and a soft, sleepy whine left her lips. “Caiiittt… five more minutes, please,” she mumbled, her voice thick and raspy from sleep, pressing her cheek further into my chest.

God. I was so in love with this woman, it was ridiculous.

I chuckled quietly, leaning down to kiss the crown of her head, her strawberry and lavender scent wrapping around me like a second blanket. “Baby,” I whispered, fingers gently trailing up and down the bare skin of her back beneath her tank top. “We gotta get up. Don’t you have that article to write? The one about the Indiana Pacers?”

I had lift this morning, but part of me didn’t want to move either—not when she felt this good against me.

Sienna let out a soft sigh, then slowly blinked open those stunning emerald green eyes. My breath caught in my throat. No matter how many times I saw them, those eyes always did something to me. They were so full of life, so bright, so… her.

She smiled sleepily, dimples appearing on her cheeks like little parentheses.

“Hi baby,” she whispered, voice still coated in that tender morning haze.

“Morning, beautiful,” I murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. Morning breath or not, I didn’t care. I would kiss her every single second of the day if she let me.

“Mhm,” she hummed against my lips before pulling back slightly, “we really gotta get up, babe.”

I groaned dramatically, flopping my head back against the pillow. “Way to ruin the moment, Sunshine.”

Sienna giggled—God, that laugh—and rolled her eyes. “Hey, you’re the one who woke me up, Clark.”

I looked at her with a pout, full-on puppy eyes activated. “I regret it now. Let’s just stay in bed all day and skip work. You and me. Right here. I’ll even make waffles.”

She laughed again, finally untangling herself from me as she stretched, arms raised over her head, lifting the hem of her tank top ever so slightly and giving me a very distracting view.

My eyes trailed down her body—graceful and effortless even in the early morning—and I barely registered her turning over her shoulder to smirk at me.

“You wanna join me in the bathroom to brush our teeth together, Clark?” she asked with a playful glint in her eyes. “But rule is… you can’t shower with me yet, babe.”

I scrambled out of bed like I’d been summoned by God himself. “Let’s go, babe. But are you sure I can’t join you?” I teased with a grin. “I’ve heard that when two people who like—no, love—each other shower together, they save water. So really, it’s for the environment, Sunshine. Let’s save water.”

Sienna rolled her eyes, but her smirk stayed. “You’re impossible, Clark.”

I wrapped my arms around her waist, nuzzling into the crook of her neck and kissing her cheek. “Yet you still like me, babe,” I murmured, proud of myself.

We walked to the bathroom together, brushing our teeth side by side, bumping shoulders, sharing silly grins in the mirror. She looked good even with toothpaste foam on her lips. We giggled through mouthfuls of mint, exchanged lazy forehead kisses between rinses, and when we sat down for breakfast—waffles and coffee—we couldn’t stop kissing between bites.

It was one of those quiet mornings that you don’t realize you’ll miss until it’s over.

After breakfast, I called Rob, my bodyguard, to drive both of us to work. He didn’t even blink when I told him to drop Sienna off first.

As we pulled up in front of the ESPN building, Sienna unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the handle, but I caught her wrist gently, pulling her toward me.

“Wait,” I whispered.

She turned with a questioning smile just as I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her tight, burying my face into her neck and inhaling her scent—strawberries and lavender and home.

I kissed her softly, brushing my lips over hers, then whispered against her mouth, “Be safe today, Sunshine. I’ll come pick you up after practice.”

Her smile was soft, genuine, eyes warm. She leaned in and pressed one last kiss to my lips. “I will, baby. Have fun at practice.” She turned to Rob. “Bye, Rob.”

“Goodbye, Miss Callaway,” he replied politely.

I watched her walk inside, heart tugging in my chest. I already missed her.

—

“You’ve got that look again.”

I blinked, startled out of my daze by a familiar voice—low, teasing, and entirely too knowing.

Sophie.

I turned and found her grinning at me like the cat that caught the canary. She was holding a basketball under one arm, blonde hair tied up in a messy ponytail, her cheeks pink from warm-ups.

“Who’s got you smiling like a teenager with a crush, Caity?” she teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

Before I could answer, another voice joined in.

“Probably the blonde journalist she’s been obsessed with for months,” Lexie said, striding up beside Sophie, smirk firmly in place. “I still can’t believe she hasn’t introduced us to Sienna Callaway. The betrayal stings, Clark. I feel personally victimized.”

I groaned, rolling my eyes. “You’re so dramatic, Lex.”

She gasped, placing a hand over her heart. “Dramatic? Me? I might be dramatic, but I’m right. Why haven’t you introduced us to your girlfriend yet?”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck as the heat started to rise there.

“Yet,” Sophie chimed in with a mischievous glint in her eye.

“Hey guys, what are we talking about?” Aliyah asked as she and Makayla walked over.

“Oh, nothing,” Sophie said innocently, then added, “Just that Caitlin’s been hiding her girlfriend from us.”

Aliyah raised an eyebrow. “Cait… when are you going to introduce us? We genuinely want to meet her. I promise we won’t embarrass you.”

Aliyah always had this big sister energy. She could tease you but make you feel safe at the same time.

I sighed, defeated, running a hand down my face. “Fine. You win. I’ll introduce her soon. Maybe at the next team dinner.”

Lexie squealed and did a tiny bounce like she’d just won the lottery.

Aliyah grinned, throwing a sweaty arm around my shoulder. “We promise not to embarrass you, Clarky.”

I made a face and shoved her gently. “Ew. You stink. Go shower, Boston.”

Aliyah bumped her hip against mine, smirking. “You stink more, lovergirl. I don’t know how the wifey survives.”

I glared at her playfully. “Oh, it’s on, Boston.”

Her eyes widened in mock fear before she started running. I didn’t hesitate—I bolted after her, chasing her around the court like we were kids at recess. Coach yelled at us to stop acting like children, but that only made everyone laugh harder.

Lexie, Sophie, Makayla—everyone joined in the chaos.

This team? They’re my family.

And between the teasing, the laughter, and the way my heart tugged at the thought of Sienna Callaway… I realized something.

I’ve never felt this full.

Authors Note :

Hey loves, how are y’all, sorry for the late update I didn’t know what to write. Anyways ik it was all-star weekend but I’m not there yet, I’m just going wherever the wind takes me. Also enjoy their happiness while it lasts thinking of shaking things up a little 😏…. Anyways enjoy this I love y’all so much, until next time my loves.

P.s. The Core Four Reunited 🥹🖤💛

XoXo V 💜💜💜