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Alec dug Tall’s hit out of the grass with a pass that sent Grace scrambling. She reached the ball just in time, sending a high set to the middle of the court for Alec to attack. He opted for the safe hit instead of a hard swing. Taller dug it easily, and his partner set him up nicely at the net for a kill.
Alec wasn’t pleased.
He met Grace backcourt, frustration evident in his features as he gestured at what she should have done. They were both in profile to Noah, and though he couldn’t hear their words, he could see the tension in her folded arms even as she smiled and nodded. Finally, Alec gave her a patronizing shoulder pat and they prepared to receive the serve. Grace passed the ball right to him. Instead of setting her up, he took the pass over himself with another subpar attack and stationed himself off the net to dig. Tall sent the ball sky-high, right in the middle of the net. Grace positioned her block well, but with springs for legs and a significant height advantage, Taller hit right over her, smashing the ball well in front of Alec’s defensive position.
This time as Alec coached his partner, Noah clearly heard Grace ask why he wasn’t blocking. He said something about needing to pass so he could hit before resuming his position. Grace stared after him, her fingers digging into her hips.
The group game distracted Noah momentarily when Jamie ended up in the seat next to him, but once she moved, he tuned back out—right in time to see Grace get a hard kill around Tall’s block. She whooped, and her opponent slapped her hand under the net.
Alec called for the ball and went back to serve, but Noah didn’t watch him. He had eyes only for Grace. She was quick. And strong. And... graceful. She never surrendered a ball, her long legs straining as she chased and kept it in play and then hustled back.
The volleyball was still going when the group game ended, Noah having participated not at all. Guilt drove him to pay attention as groups were arranged for the cleanup, keeping his back to the ongoing match, though hearing the players’ exclamations couldn’t be helped. It was difficult not to take Alec’s repeated criticisms of Grace personally. Noah had seen how they played. Alec’s ego was a burden heavier than his skill could carry, while Grace was a hardworking team player.
Working his way through the crowd, he forced himself away from the net, ending up in a group with Jamie and Chris discussing the Moab trip for next weekend.
“Are you going?” Noah asked Jamie.
“No,” she said with a nervous smile.
“Come on,” Chris said. “It’s going to be great!”
“I... don’t have a bike, and I’ve never been before.”
“You can always rent, and it won’t be that hard. You can totally walk the tough spots!” Chris went on and on, shooting down each of Jamie’s excuses as she grew more and more flustered.
“Moab might not be the best place to learn,” Noah interjected. “I’ve heard Slickrock can be brutal.”
Jamie threw him a grateful glance. “Maybe I should start with some beginner trails around here.”
“Sure,” Chris said, obviously disappointed.
“I’ve only been a few times myself,” Noah said. “I hope Slickrock doesn’t eat me alive.”
“Did you get a bike?” Chris asked.
“I’m borrowing my brother’s.” Ah, the guilt, borrowing Matt’s bike when he still couldn’t ride. “How long is the drive?”
This launched them into logistics of who was willing to drive and how many bikes they could carry, Jamie watching the conversation between the two men like a tennis match.
Noah picked out Grace’s voice behind him, though no one else took notice.
“You know I’m not a setter.” She sounded annoyed, her voice low.
“Neither am I, but you have to give the ball to the stronger hitter.”
“At the expense of the block.”
“The best defense is good offense.”
Footsteps approached, and Grace muttered, “Hard to have an offense when you can’t get a pass,” before addressing Noah’s group in an entirely different tone. “Hey, guys! Sorry I bailed. Who needs help?” Seeing there were plenty of people willing to collect the trash, she threw herself into wiping down tables with a chipper fury that melted the leadership stress from Tony’s face.
Alec took down his net.
Jamie invited Noah to help her at the children’s playground, filling the time with pediatrics anecdotes. By the time their area was clean, most of the people had left. Tony thanked everyone again for pitching in and headed for the parking lot.
Noah followed, patting his pockets to locate his keys as he reached his car.
“Noah?”
