from student to adult, from college volleyball to the national team. But I’d already phased from coupled to single, and the resulting loneliness felt shaky and ungrounded. I brushed some tears off my cheeks. From solid to liquid.
I yawned and rubbed my bleary eyes. Then I looked at my phone and freaked out at the time. I’d frittered away the entire afternoon, and the lab report wasn’t even half done. I shut my laptop and flew into my bedroom to grab my keys. The report was due tomorrow, but I’d have to finish it later. Volleyball practice awaited.
My heart pounded when I walked into an empty locker room. I wasn’t that late, was I? I stripped off my street clothes and tugged on Spandex shorts, which felt a little looser than normal. I heard balls bouncing on the gym floor, and I prayed warm-up hadn’t already begun. As I leaned over to lace up my shoes over my ankle braces, one shoelace snapped. I looked at the frayed piece of string hanging limply in my hand and burst into tears.
“What’s your deal?”
I looked up to find Nina. Awesome . Our cool, blond setter was hardly the best teammate to provide emotional support.
“Just having one of those days,” I muttered as I unlaced two eyes so I could tie my shoe with the shorter lace.
Nina continued to stare while I threw a Highbanks T-shirt over my sports bra. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen you cry.”
“Yeah?” I sniffed. “Well, stick around. That’s all I do these days.” I headed for the door. “You coming?”
“Oh!” She jumped. “Forgot I came in to grab my playbook.” She lunged for the binder in her locker and jogged to the gym behind me.
“You’re leading warm-up today?” I asked over my shoulder. Coach made the team captains take on a leadership role during the winter months.
“Yep.” She came up next to me and set the binder down on the bleachers. “Get ready for a tough one today, Brooks.” She took off for the net.
I smiled as I stifled a groan. Not today . My fake smile vanished as Coach Holter marched toward me with narrowed eyes.
“You’re late, Madison.”
I glanced at the clock and saw one minute remaining until practice began. That meant I was fourteen minutes late by Coach’s standards. “Sorry.”
“You know, I don’t have to let you practice with us this winter. I’m doing you a favor.”
I nodded. I’d gotten this same speech last week when I stunk up the gym with my horrible play, but I wasn’t about to point out that he was repeating himself. Nina started the team on a warm-up jog around the gym, and Lucia kept glancing my direction.
“But I do want you here,” Coach said, and I noticed his hard gaze had softened a touch. “That is, if you play the way I know you’re capable of playing. And the past two weeks—after you missed a whole week of practice—hasn’t been it.”
“You’re right.” Thanks, Jaylon. Thanks for messing up volleyball, too.
“I’ve given you some leeway because of all you’ve done for our program.” He rubbed his jaw as he watched the team finish their jog and move to the center of the court. After a moment my teammates shuffled down the net, jumping to block every few feet.
“But if you want to keep practicing with us, and if you want a shot in hell at making Team USA, you have to be all in. No more showing up late. No more missing practice. I want you here—mind, body, and spirit.”
My stomach clenched. I didn’t know if I had it in me to give him what he wanted. Normally a speech like this would fire me up, but I hadn’t slept well last night, or the night before. All I wanted was to go home and take a nap.
“You’re still a leader on this team,” Coach said.
Nina’s screechy voice filled the gym. “You can do better than that, Kaitlyn!” I watched the short, black-haired defense specialist smirk at Nina before she executed a flawless roll—a sideways somersault that propelled her back on her feet after diving for the ball. Oh, no . Lucia
I yawned and rubbed my bleary eyes. Then I looked at my phone and freaked out at the time. I’d frittered away the entire afternoon, and the lab report wasn’t even half done. I shut my laptop and flew into my bedroom to grab my keys. The report was due tomorrow, but I’d have to finish it later. Volleyball practice awaited.
My heart pounded when I walked into an empty locker room. I wasn’t that late, was I? I stripped off my street clothes and tugged on Spandex shorts, which felt a little looser than normal. I heard balls bouncing on the gym floor, and I prayed warm-up hadn’t already begun. As I leaned over to lace up my shoes over my ankle braces, one shoelace snapped. I looked at the frayed piece of string hanging limply in my hand and burst into tears.
“What’s your deal?”
I looked up to find Nina. Awesome . Our cool, blond setter was hardly the best teammate to provide emotional support.
“Just having one of those days,” I muttered as I unlaced two eyes so I could tie my shoe with the shorter lace.
Nina continued to stare while I threw a Highbanks T-shirt over my sports bra. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen you cry.”
“Yeah?” I sniffed. “Well, stick around. That’s all I do these days.” I headed for the door. “You coming?”
“Oh!” She jumped. “Forgot I came in to grab my playbook.” She lunged for the binder in her locker and jogged to the gym behind me.
“You’re leading warm-up today?” I asked over my shoulder. Coach made the team captains take on a leadership role during the winter months.
“Yep.” She came up next to me and set the binder down on the bleachers. “Get ready for a tough one today, Brooks.” She took off for the net.
I smiled as I stifled a groan. Not today . My fake smile vanished as Coach Holter marched toward me with narrowed eyes.
“You’re late, Madison.”
I glanced at the clock and saw one minute remaining until practice began. That meant I was fourteen minutes late by Coach’s standards. “Sorry.”
“You know, I don’t have to let you practice with us this winter. I’m doing you a favor.”
I nodded. I’d gotten this same speech last week when I stunk up the gym with my horrible play, but I wasn’t about to point out that he was repeating himself. Nina started the team on a warm-up jog around the gym, and Lucia kept glancing my direction.
“But I do want you here,” Coach said, and I noticed his hard gaze had softened a touch. “That is, if you play the way I know you’re capable of playing. And the past two weeks—after you missed a whole week of practice—hasn’t been it.”
“You’re right.” Thanks, Jaylon. Thanks for messing up volleyball, too.
“I’ve given you some leeway because of all you’ve done for our program.” He rubbed his jaw as he watched the team finish their jog and move to the center of the court. After a moment my teammates shuffled down the net, jumping to block every few feet.
“But if you want to keep practicing with us, and if you want a shot in hell at making Team USA, you have to be all in. No more showing up late. No more missing practice. I want you here—mind, body, and spirit.”
My stomach clenched. I didn’t know if I had it in me to give him what he wanted. Normally a speech like this would fire me up, but I hadn’t slept well last night, or the night before. All I wanted was to go home and take a nap.
“You’re still a leader on this team,” Coach said.
Nina’s screechy voice filled the gym. “You can do better than that, Kaitlyn!” I watched the short, black-haired defense specialist smirk at Nina before she executed a flawless roll—a sideways somersault that propelled her back on her feet after diving for the ball. Oh, no . Lucia
Similar Books
