Chapter 27

The buzz inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse was electric-fans were filing into their seats, the air charged with anticipation for the showdown between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty. Caitlin Clark stood on the court, half-zoned out while stretching her calves, her ponytail swaying behind her as her eyes occasionally flicked up at the Liberty side warming up.

Earlier that evening, Caitlin had exchanged warm hellos and mutual good-lucks with Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. It was casual but respectful-the kind of interaction that spoke to competitive admiration. Breanna had pulled her into a brief hug, and Sabrina had offered her a teasing smirk.

“Try not to torch us too bad, Clark,” Sabrina had said.

Caitlin grinned. “Only if you promise not to rain threes on us all night.”

They laughed and went their separate ways, each team mentally locking in.

Now, back in her pregame routine, Caitlin was locked in again-well, almost. She was just lowering into a deep hamstring stretch when she heard Sydney’s voice carry across the court.

“Damn, Clark,” Syd whistled low. “Looks like you got a special guest tonight on the sidelines. And she looks hot in those navy blue pants and that white blouse, Clarky.”

Caitlin’s brow furrowed as her body instinctively stilled mid-stretch. The entire team turned to where Syd was staring, a few murmuring “whoa” under their breath.

She followed Syd’s gaze-

And then she saw her.

Sienna.

Standing on the sidelines like she was born to be there. Navy-blue pants hugging her curves, a pristine white blouse tucked in neatly, collar sharp, buttons catching the light. Her black heels added elegant inches to her already graceful frame, and her glossy blonde hair flowed over her shoulders, catching the glow of the court lights.

Caitlin stopped stretching entirely. Her breath caught halfway up her throat. The thud of her heartbeat was all she could hear now, drowning out the pre-game noise, the bouncing balls, the music. Her eyes locked on the journalist, drinking in every detail like a woman starved. Sienna was the most beautiful thing in the arena-no, the world-in that moment.

Her hand twitched at her sides, her fingers curling slightly. She wanted to take Sienna-wrap an arm around her waist, pull her close, hide her from the arena, from the hungry eyes she knew were scanning her like she was just another beautiful face. But Sienna wasn’t just beautiful. She was hers.

And Caitlin’s body practically buzzed with the need to claim what her heart already knew.

Lexie came up beside her, giggling as she nudged Caitlin’s arm. “Caitlin, I think you better go hide Sienna before Syd makes a move on her. Syd looks like she’s about to skip the dating phase and ask your future wife to marry her right now.”

Laughter broke out across the team like a tidal wave.

Sydney shrugged innocently, her grin wicked. “She’s right, Cait. If you don’t make a move on the journalist you’ve had a crush on for months,I’m going to propose to her right now. I’ll take her last name and everything.”

Caitlin’s jaw tensed. Her usually calm expression sharpened. She turned her head slowly and gave Syd a hard stare.

“Keep your eyes to yourself, Syd,” Caitlin said flatly, her voice dipped in warning. “I don’t wanna do anything stupid. You might be my senior, but that-” she jerked her head in Sienna’s direction, “-is my girl. So she’s mine.”

A chorus of “Ooooohs” echoed, along with some whistling and teasing from the rest of the team.

Aliyah and Kelsey both doubled over laughing.

“Damn, Clark. Say it with your whole chest!” Aliyah shouted.

Sydney raised her hands in mock surrender. “Hey now, relax. I’m not gonna go after your girl, Clark. No need to get your panties in a twist. Blondes aren’t even my type.” She winked. “But I can still appreciate a good one.”

Before Caitlin could answer, Coach Stephanie Whites’ voice rang loud across the court.

“Ladies! Get back to work-we’ve got a game to win!”

The team scattered back into their warmups, but Caitlin-she was only half with them.

Her focus was divided. Stolen.

She kept glancing toward Sienna, unable to help herself. Watching the way she bit her lip, writing something into her notepad. Her brows furrowed slightly as she reviewed her notes, her posture professional, yet there was a softness in the way she carried herself tonight.

Then, Sienna looked up.

And their eyes met.

Caitlin’s heart skipped. A literal pause in time.

Sienna smiled softly across the court, her eyes crinkling gently, and mouthed, “Good luck.”

Caitlin grinned in return and gave her a wink before turning away-chest still fluttering.

The game started. And it was war.

The Liberty were ruthless, suffocating on defense. Every time Caitlin had the ball, she felt the press. Double-teams. Elbows. Quick switches.

She still scored. Deep threes, fast breaks, one graceful floater after another.

But it wasn’t enough.

Fouls piled up. The Fever lost rhythm. Turnovers crept in.

And by the time the final buzzer rang, the scoreboard screamed it-90-88.

Liberty wins.

Caitlin stood near the baseline, catching her breath as she looked toward the sideline again.

Sienna stood there, her mic now in hand, waiting for the postgame interview to begin. She gave Caitlin a gentle smile and mouthed, “I’ll see you soon.”

It softened something inside her-just enough to keep her grounded.

Still, the locker room was a tomb.

No one spoke.

Caitlin sat with her elbows on her knees, face in her hands.

She was frustrated. Not angry-just empty.

Coach White’s voice cut through the silence. “Clark, you got a post game interview with ESPN’s Sienna Callaway. Go.”

Kelsey chimed in, a smirk in her voice. “Clark’s about to be interviewed by her wifey!”

Laughter broke the silence. Caitlin flipped Kelsey off without looking back.

She walked out to the court again.

Back on the court, Caitlin approached as Sienna wrapped up her interview with Sabrina. The taller player thanked her and walked past Caitlin with a nod.

Caitlin stepped in beside Sienna. The journalist cleared her throat, trying to keep things professional, but Caitlin could see the flicker of emotion behind those emerald eyes.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Sienna said into the mic, her voice even and calm, “I’m here with the woman herself-Miss Caitlin Clark. Caitlin, how do you feel after tonight’s game?”

Caitlin offered a small, tired smile. “Well, Sienna, it was one tough game. The Liberty have such good players, and losing to them hurts. I actually thought the Fever had this game in the bag… but I guess not.

“And honestly? I’m feeling sad. But I know that if we keep working, we’ll get better. We’ve got the Mystics next-and maybe we’ll take that one. You never know. These things are unpredictable. Losing is a part of life… you can’t win all the time.”

Sienna nodded thoughtfully and asked a few more questions-player performance, team chemistry, strategy.

Caitlin answered them all, composed and open.

But behind every word, her eyes kept flicking to Sienna’s lips. Her hair. Her eyes.

She wanted to kiss her.

Right there.

Right now.

Finally, Sienna turned back to the camera. “Well, that’s all for today, folks. I’m Sienna Callaway from ESPN. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Caitlin.”

Caitlin gave a quiet nod, her lips softening.

The camera light turned off. Silence.

Caitlin stepped closer.

“Hi, Sunshine,” she whispered.

Sienna smiled, soft and real. “Hey, Cait.”

There were fans still watching from the lower seats, some pretending not to eavesdrop.

Caitlin wanted to wrap her arms around Sienna.

But not here. Not yet.

“Did you drive here, Sunshine?” Caitlin asked.

Sienna shook her head. “No. I came with TJ in the company car.”

Caitlin glanced at TJ, then back at her.

“Okay. I’ll drive you home. Just wait for me in the parking lot.”

Sienna nodded, and Caitlin turned to head back toward the locker room, adrenaline and yearning still coursing through her body.

—

The car was quiet. The streets of downtown Indy blurred past the windshield. Sienna sat in the passenger seat, her hand trailing across Caitlin’s palm, drawing soft, lazy circles.

She didn’t say anything. She was waiting.

When they reached their apartment complex, Caitlin put the car in park. Caitlin turned off the engine , but neither moved right away.

It was quiet.

Sienna was still holding Caitlin’s hand.

The silence wasn’t awkward. It was full-of meaning, of want, of everything that had built up between them.

Sienna turned first. Something in Caitlin’s silence stirred something deep in her chest. And without thinking too long, without giving herself the chance to chicken out-she climbed over the center console and settled onto Caitlin’s lap, her arms around her neck.

Caitlin exhaled sharply, stunned.

But her arms moved instinctively around Sienna’s waist, anchoring her there.

Her head dropped to Sienna’s shoulder, and she breathed her in-lavender shampoo and the faintest scent of vanilla.

The night, the loss, the pressure-it all weighed heavy on Caitlin. But this moment with Sienna? It lifted all of it.

Caitlin pulled back slowly. She stared at Sienna like she was trying to memorize her-every curve of her jaw, the slope of her nose, those eyes… emerald and blazing even in the dark.

Her fingers traced along Sienna’s cheek, jaw, lips.

“I shouldn’t want you this much,” Caitlin whispered. “Not after a loss. Not like this.”

Sienna’s breath hitched. “Then don’t think.”

Caitlin’s eyes flickered down to her lips. “Can I kiss you, Sunshine?”

Sienna’s eyes widened slightly-but she didn’t speak.

Caitlin shut her eyes for a second, trying to gain control of herself.

Then she groaned, frustrated, breathless. “Ah, fuck it.”

And then-

Her lips crashed into Sienna’s.

There was no hesitation. No gentleness. Just months of yearning, frustration, teasing, tension-all exploding in one kiss. Sienna gasped against her mouth, and Caitlin deepened it, her hand tangling in Sienna’s hair, pulling her closer.

Sienna moaned softly into Caitlin’s mouth, one hand threading into Caitlin’s hair as the other gripped her shoulder.

Their mouths moved like they’d waited a lifetime. Tongues tangled, breath hitching, hearts thundering in sync.

Caitlin kissed her like she’d waited years. Like this was the only way she could breathe again.

Sienna’s hips shifted against Caitlin’s lap, and Caitlin groaned into her mouth, the sound raw and desperate, heat building like a wildfire between them.

Sienna pulled back just a little, lips red and parted, eyes half-lidded.

Caitlin leaned in again, brushing their noses. “You’re mine, baby,” she murmured.

Sienna nodded, still dazed, voice barely above a whisper. “I know.”

The windows fogged. The world outside disappeared.

It was only them.

Caitlin and her sunshine.

Everything else could wait.

Authors Note :

Well hello my lovely readers this is for y’all anti slowburn lovers, yayyy they finally kissed I hope y’all enjoy this long chapter it was very hard to write, and damn CC couldn’t wait anymore lol and I miss seeing CC play. Anyways see y’all next chapter my lovesss.

XoXo V 💜💜💜