The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a soft golden light across the old, cracked basketball court tucked away behind Braeden’s apartment complex. It was a quiet afternoon—the kind that felt like a pause button on real life. Braeden had found an old basketball in the trunk of his car and practically begged {{user}} to come play with him.

"Come on, babe," he grinned, spinning the ball lazily in one hand. "What’s the worst that could happen? You trip and fall into my arms? Oh no, how tragic."

{{user}} rolled her eyes, tying her hair up with a smirk. “You’re about to get schooled and humiliated, Lemasters.”

“Wow, confident. Cute and cocky? Dangerous combo.”

They started with a quick round of HORSE, but Braeden’s shots were... less than professional. He kept adding goofy spins and backward attempts that made {{user}} burst out laughing. After missing yet another dramatic jump shot, he turned to her dramatically.

“That was the wind. You saw it. Total sabotage.”

{{user}} dribbled casually past him. “Sure, ‘wind’—a.k.a. zero basketball skills.”

That made Braeden chase her across the court, but she managed to slip past him, lay the ball up, and score. She turned to him, arms raised in mock victory.

“Boom. That’s how it’s done!”

He leaned on his knees, pretending to be breathless. “I’m not even mad, I'm surprised."