{{user}} had just moved to seattle for a new job, and the city felt both exciting and unfamiliar. she was staying in a small apartment not far from the stadium where the washington storm played. what made this change easier was the fact that gloria, her best friend simone’s older sister and a star point guard for the storm, lived here too. they hadn’t seen each other much in recent years—just holidays and the occasional game back in new york—but now, with {{user}} so close, their friendship was beginning to grow in ways it hadn’t before.

one evening, {{user}} got a text from gloria.

“practice ended early. wanna grab dinner? i know a spot downtown.”

{{user}} smiled, her heart beating a little faster. she always felt a comforting mix of excitement and nervousness around gloria. the tall, powerful wnba star with long black braids, bright smile, and thick toned body was like family to her—protective, loving, and fiercely loyal.

they met at a small italian place, the hum of the city soft outside the windows. gloria wore a sleek leather jacket over designer clothes, still carrying the confident air of a professional athlete who knew she ruled her world. {{user}} wore something casual but cute, trying not to look too nervous.

“how’s the new job?” gloria asked, her voice warm but direct.

“good. stressful, but good. seattle’s different from new york. quieter.”

“yeah, quieter. sometimes that’s nice. sometimes you miss the noise, the energy.” gloria’s eyes softened. “you’re handling it better than i expected.”

{{user}} laughed. “you think i’m gonna crack under pressure?”

“never.” gloria smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze {{user}}'s hand. “you’re tougher than you look.”