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I’m one of them now.
Early warmups were solid. I hit the ball with some extra muscle, and even though Coach kept pushing me to the middle, I slipped out and took a few outside sets too, just to show the contrast between Chelsea and me.
“You’re looking great out there. I wish it were you I was setting high and out today.” Kiera has been setting high and outside to me for six years. We played club together during high school, and she’s half the reason I committed to Tiff. We’re a killer combo, and it does ease the sting of being replaced a little knowing she’d rather I were out there instead of Chelsea.
“Thanks for saying that. It’s not easy.” I wince as we both head into the makeshift locker room to hydrate and cool down before the pre-game really begins.
“I can imagine. And with your dad here today.”
My slacks and the skin on my face suddenly feels heavy.
“Oh shit,” Kiera says. “You didn’t know? Did you not see the program?”
“Uh, no!” My wide eyes begin to scan the room in search of a loose copy. The last thing I want to do is ask a teammate for one and get more pity glares.
This cannot be happening!
Kiera saves me and pulls a copy from her bag. I turn my back to everyone and hunch over so I can flip to the page and read. I find the photo Cutter took quickly, and I probably would have been proud of it if I knew it was being published today, and if I knew what the story on me said. I don’t even remember getting an interview.
“The first part is all the same as usual. Your bio and background stuff. Read a couple of paragraphs down.” Kiera points over my shoulder and my eyes follow her guide.
Price was a lock to go top five in the first pro draft after her senior season, but an unfortunate shoulder injury left her sidelined for most of her junior year. Now, her future is hazy. It all comes down to one season.
Her dad, famous beach baller Bobby Price, knows a thing or two about working through injuries. His college career was cut short after a similar injury. But he says his daughter is built on the same foundation he was, and like him, she’ll fight her way back and dominate.
“Beach opened up a whole other world for me, and I’m not saying that’s where Laney is headed, but I know my daughter and I know her determination. She’ll be a force on whatever type of court she chooses,” the senior Price says. “I’ll see it firsthand at the opening game of the season. I can’t wait.”
“Well fucking hell!” I toss the program on the floor and drop my head in my hands, my temples pulsing with anger.
“I thought he said nice things,” Kiera utters behind me. She’s trying to make this better, but she’s the only player on this team that knows what bullshit that all is.
I pop my head up and twist to meet her eyes.
“He said he knows his daughter, Kiera. I bet if I quizzed him on the color of my eyes, he’d get it wrong while staring me in the face.” I shake my head and breathe out a heavy gush of air before glancing to the other side of the room where Chelsea is wrapping her ankles and retying her shoes.
“And he’s going to see me sit on the bench and cheer like a good sport. He’s missed countless games. I’ve asked him to show up so many times. He didn’t mention my injury in texts once, but he knows how I am going to overcome adversity. Kiera, I haven’t responded to him in years.”
“Maybe he won’t show,” she offers.
My shoulders drop as I consider that option. It’s likely. She’s right. I nod.
“You’re right. I’m probably worrying about nothing,” I say, turning my attention to adjusting my socks and pulling them up tight over my calves.
“Besides, you’re going to have so many fans out there because of the whole Caney-ship thing.” Kiera giggles, amused that I’m now some gimmick because of my housing situation with Cutter. I’ve tried to ignore the posts that Matt lit a fire under, but by the time I walked to campus today for the game, they were too numerous to ignore.
“Ugh, don’t remind me. It’s a nothing burger, the Cutter stuff. We’re stuck in the same house, and that’s all.” My lips literally burn from kissing him last night. In fact, they flare up right now like some Pavlovian liar test, which I, of course, fail.
“Girl, you don’t have to feed me anything. You’re living with the hottest guy on campus, and we all know it’s more than sharing a house.” She shoots me a knowing glare that literallysends bile up my esophagus. I don’t want to be some gossip topic. And I don’t want people knowing what Cutter and I are and aren’t.
“He sleeps on the couch,” I sigh out.
He slept there once.
“Okay. But all I’m saying is if that man were sleeping on my couch, I would have a damn hard time concentrating on sleep.” She titters then pulls her hair loose to reform her ponytail. “Maybe you should introduce me to yourhousemate.”
I roll my eyes and turn my attention to stretching out my already well-stretched arms. “Yeah, maybe I will then. Careful what you wish for.”
Kiera laughs off my offer and heads back to the hallway leading into the gym so we can make our entrance for the announcers. My eyes scan her body and the long silky blonde ponytail that sways as she jogs away. I bet Cutter would be into her. The thought makes my throat tighten so I look away and refocus my thoughts on my biggest problem. What if my dad shows up?
