Juniper’s phone vibrated with a message from Wren. She was thankful for the distraction.
How is it? Are you having a good time??
Juniper smiled as she typed back.
I’m having a great time. We’ve been mostly traveling around today, but I got to meet her best friend. He seems really genuine and funny. Sitting in the bleachers now waiting for them to play a basketball game.
Three dots flashed for a few seconds before a new message appeared.
That’s cute. You get to be all supportive girlfriend. I’m so happy you gave yourself permission to finally feel what you wanted to feel.
Juniper looked up to see an unbelievably gorgeous woman with a high ponytail of black micro braids in a matching pink spandex shorts and sports bra set walk onto the court. Tall, with long legs and a toned ass, she greeted Manny, and lingered near Rowan. The woman took the basketball curled under herleft arm and bounced it once, catching it with both hands, and passed it to Rowan. Rowan took it under her right arm.
She watched Rowan duck her head down to listen to something the woman whispered in her ear. Rowan quickly looked up, making eye contact with Juniper in the bleachers, as she shook her head and pointed toward her. Juniper’s heart stopped when she noticed she’d been caught staring at the interaction, but she didn’t break away. She watched the woman turn to face her, smile brightly, and wave as she mouthed ‘hi.’Juniper hoped she didn’t look too apprehensive as she waved back.
She looked back down at her phone and typed.
Other teammates are attractive.
More dots as she waited.
I’m confused. Like you want to fuck them?
More dots…
No nevermind, you think she’s fucked them. Juniper, get out of your damn head and have some fun.
More dots…
Send me pictures though.
Juniper rolled her eyes and responded.
So horny.
She put her phone away and watched the game. The score remained neck-and-neck until Manny was fouled in the last few seconds of the game. The fate of the game rested on a single shot.
It took Rowan two steps to cross over to Manny where he stood behind the free throw line. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and leaned into his ear to give a little pep talk, then squeezed his shoulder a few moments later before retaking her spot on the three-point line behind him. Manny rolled his neck and shook out his shoulders. Juniper wanted to laugh at how seriously they were all taking this game, but instead she scrunched up her nose when Rowan looked up at her and smiled at how happy she was. Juniper gave a thumbs up, and Rowan laughed, making Juniper laugh anyway. Her joywas infectious.
She got her phone back out and typed a new message to Wren.
She’s so in her element here. She’s happy at home, right? You’ve seen her laugh a lot and–
She deleted it and watched her very hot girlfriend’s team win their game.
The team was still cheering Manny on as she finished descending the bleachers. After Juniper joined in with the post-game celebrations, they both naturally separated from the group together as teammates began to filter their way out.
“Your teammates all seem like they’re a lot of fun.”
Rowan tipped her water bottle back to finish it. “They are. This was really great, Juniper. Thank you for letting me do this and sitting through it.”
“I didn’t just sit through it. I had a lot of fun. Your happiness makes me happy.”
Rowan looked at her pensively for a few moments. “Your happiness makes me happy too.”
“Okay.” She ran her fingers through her hair. For some reason, she felt uncharacteristically shy as she turned her face to the side. “You were talking to someone at the beginning you didn’t introduce me to.”
“Who, Nia? She asked if I moved back, and I told her that I was here with you for work.”
