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As we hug up, I pat Katie’s back. “Yes, fucking yes. Back row, pass it to me, and let’s end them.”
And we do. By a landslide.
Asher and Dad are so loud as we clap hands with the other team. It excites me to no end that they fell back into their normal cheering groove. I was actually worried Asher would feel a bit awkward since he hasn’t seen my parents or hung with them in a long time, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. He’s family. He’ll always be family. No matter what I feel.
My team falls on the floor, locking arms as we snuggle close, our heads touching. “Great game, girls. Great hits, Angie and Lisha, badass volleys. I am proud of us. We are going to the top. I can feel it.” The girls agree with hoots and hollers before we let one another go to start patting the court. It sounds like one hell of a thunderstorm, and I love it. This is my favorite part of a win, the togetherness and bringing the storm of our power.
“We are!” I scream and they repeat. “Strong.” Again, they repeat after me, all of them grinning. “Fierce.” I wait as they yell it. “Talented!” Angie meets my gaze, and with her, we yell, “We are the Bellevue Bullies!”
When the whole gym yells it with us, I realize maybe that’s my favorite part. Our whole student body coming together for its sports team. I’m going to miss this. I can play club volleyball until my hips go out, but it won’t be anything like this, the specialness of being on a team and being a part of something great. This team is going places, and I will make that happen. I have to. I have to leave behind a legacy. I want to come back and be welcomed with open arms. Just how my dad is. How the Assassins begged him to work for him and be a part of their success. I want that.
As we walk toward Coach, I wrap my arm around Katie, holding her close. “I know I’m hard on you—”
“It’s because you want more from me. I’ll get there. I promise.”
I grin at her. She wasn’t our starter before the season began, but our senior left school to play for Team USA. I could have gone too, but I’d already pushed back school enough. My dad was pissed the first time I took a year off. He didn’t finish school; he depended on his talent, and he wants more for me. I really wanted to follow my talent, but I learned real quick that talent can be taken away with injury. I broke the shit out of my ankle, which ended my time with the club team and brought me home. I don’t want to chance it anymore. I need to finish.
I want to finish.
When I reach the bench for my water, Angie and Katie are looking up the bleachers. “That’s him.” I hear Angie say
.
I glance up to where she is pointing, and of course, it’s at Asher as he helps my mom gather her stuff. Jealousy eats at my soul as I bite the inside of my cheek. “Isn’t he beautiful?” Angie says.
Katie nods eagerly. “So fucking hot. You going to talk to him?”
“Hell yes, just waiting for him to come down.”
Horny bitches.
I move to head off Asher and my parents, hoping to get in the way of Angie since I’m a petty bitch apparently, but Coach stops me. “Allison, I can’t rave on your leadership any more. I’m so glad with my choice to make you captain.”
I want to scream. “Thanks, Coach.”
“I’m going to need your help with getting Katie where we need her. She’s our weak link.”
I nod in agreement and almost cut him off when Asher stops at the bottom of the bleachers with my parents. I even hear Angie say, “Here I go,” before she moves.
Damn it!
Coach keeps talking, but my gaze is stuck on where Angie and Asher are talking. Of course, she’s stunning and perfect with her grins and holding her hands like an innocent little sex bunny! Did she pull up her shorts so her ass hangs out? Asher obviously is attracted because he’s smirking at her. His eyes are dark, and his body language says he wants to do her. Angie is clearly two seconds from climbing him like a tree and humping his head.
Fucking fuck.
“What do you think?”
I meet his gaze, and I hope my face doesn’t reveal that I didn’t listen to a word Coach said. “I think we need to make her pass and not quit until she hits her target twenty times. That’s what they did with me with my sets. I think she needs to hit the weight room and the endurance room more than everyone else. A little longer each day. Pair her up with Nic ’cause Lord knows she needs to go too. She was sucking air the whole game, and that’s uncalled-for.”
He nods. “I agree. Really, I’m more than impressed with you, Allison.”
I smile. “Anytime, Coach. My parents are waiting, excuse me.”
He pats my back. “Great game.”
I send him a wide grin that instantly falls when I see Angie and Asher exchanging numbers. My mom watches with disdain swirling in her blue depths, while my dad grins like a proud father.
Damn it.
