She hikes a shoulder.
I’m surrounded by idiots.
As I expected, Landon scores on us, the ball smacking the floor just inside the boundary. Nowhere near me.
My hands ball into fists. Landon chuckles and lifts his chin. “Having fun, Morgan?”
I roll my eyes, feigning nonchalance. “You’re predictable.”
“Yet I still scored.”
I roll my lips between my teeth and focus on my team. “Spread out. Stop bunching up under the ball.”
One clean pass turns into a set. The ball smacks against my wrist, sailing high over the net. It drops between two of Landon’s players before they even see it coming.
Tied game.
My chest heaves, adrenaline slicing through my veins. This is what I love. What fuels me. Competition. Control. Winning.
It’s my turn to serve. I toss the ball high, step forward, and hit it hard. It rockets over the net, and I hold my breath as it travels to the other side.
Evan pops it up, giving Landon a chance to get under it.
“He’s gonna spike it!” I shout to my front line.
But I know he heard me, so he won’t be spiking it. I lunge toward Patrick, not trusting him or either of the girls beside him to see what’s coming.
Landon sends the ball all the way to the middle of our court, too high for the front line to reach.
“Mine!” I jump, and for a split second, everything slows.
There’s a gap on the left side of their court.
I punch the ball, my heart hammering in my throat as I watch it soar.
One of Landon’s teammates slides to get under it, but his sneakers stop him short. He reaches for the ball, and it grazes his fingertips, sending the ball sideways before it bounces out-of-bounds.
Point.
The whistle blows, and I pump my fist in the air. “Yes!”
The gym erupts in cheers, from students watching on the sidelines and my teammates. Even Rebecca is smiling.
We walk off the court and switch with the next group. I lower myself onto the floor and scoot back against the wall.
Evan takes the spot beside me, wiping his forehead with the back of his arm. “You had to make me sweat today.”
I flash him a grin. “You’re welcome.”
Landon slumps down on the other side of me, cheeks flushed. “You realize this doesn’t count towards our bet, right?”
I tap my temple. “It counts up here.”
He huffs out a laugh. “You’re insufferable.”
“And you lost.”
“Wait until the game this weekend.” He leans in, his sweaty hair flopping over his forehead. “Shame that I’m gonna wipe that beautiful smile right off your face.”
