Page 248 of Well Played

Alice immediately became aware of Ryan and his friends cheering on the sideline. Knowing he stood there supporting her meant the world when only yesterday she felt so alone. As she walked back to serve, she could feel him there for her as adrenaline coursed through her veins. With the end of the match within reach, she needed to focus. Alice served high on their tallest player, pushing her backwards. As a result, she struggled to get her hands on the ball, winning them the point,

The Vikings needed this win. On her next serve, the wind picked up, blowing into her face. Tom and the rest of the men’s team joined those cheering, and the number of people watching continued to grow as other matches finished. The tension in the crowd and the team was palpable.

Victoria grabbed her arm as she walked back and hissed, “Don’t mess this up!”

Alice took a deep, steadying breath; she spotted Ryan standing on the sideline. He winked, smiled, and he lifted his chin. Alice got the message, and she lifted her chin in response.I can’t control all of these other people, but I can control myself. I’m here this weekend to enjoy it and to play my best.

Alice produced a couple of punishing serves before the other team could respond. Her shoulder began to ache, but with the end of the day in sight, she pushed on. Now in the backcourt, she focused on defence until Lucy set a pipe ball for her. The bumpy ground rocked her take-off, but she recovered to hit the ball deep to the corner, clinching this final match.

With play over, she needed the toilet. Still trying to make sense of everything buzzing in her head, Alice tumbled out of the makeshift bathroom and collided with a scowling Christa.

“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?”

“Me?” Her eyes opened wide.What have I done?

“Yes, you. Throwing yourself at Ryan Fields. Well, you’re wasting your energy. He’s only looking for a good time. I mean, I realise he can show a girl a really magical night.” Christa's knowing smile made Alice feel sick. “But a girl like you, you want ‘the one’, settling down and all that. You won’t find that with Mr Fields. The way you tried to tie Tom down won’t work with him.”

“Me? Trying to tie Tom down?” Alice felt even more confused.

“You know, never letting him out; everything had to be your way. I’m just saying it’s not going to work with Ryan.” Alice laughed; what could she say? “The guy is besotted with a woman he can’t have. Some ‘fabulous volleyball player’, ‘an angel’. A girl he met at cadet camp … years ago. So, you might have your eyes on all his money, but you don’t stand a chance.”

“His money? Ryan’s just a builder,” Alice blurted.

“He works for his father.” Christa insisted.

“Who’s a builder.”

“His father owns the business, and believe me, it’s a big business. You didn’t know?”

“I knew about you …” she whispered, looking for a sense of pride.

“He told you?”

“Ryan and I have been friends for a long time.” Alice found a smile. “Since our first cadet camp,” she sighed before standing up straighter and looking hard at Christa. “Look, we’ve never met. You’re here with the man I was living with up until a few weeks ago. So, excuse me if I get on with my life.”

“I’m trying to give you a heads up about the guy you’re with. Girl to girl.”

“In which case, I should introduce you to the girls Tom hit on whilst we were together.”

“Well, that’s no surprise.” Christa sneered. “You can’t believe I’ll have the same issues.” Alice shrank, and bile built up in her stomach.Chin up.

“I couldn’t say. Maybe I should ask Ryan,” snapped Alice, shocked at the words coming out of her own mouth. Christa’s fists shook at her side as she stormed off.Ryan certainly knows her better than he said. Am I an idiot, or are all men like this?

“What was that about?” Lucy asked. Alice didn’t know where to start until she saw the scowl on Grace’s face and decided not to bother.

“She wasn’t happy when I offered to introduce her to you guys.”

Alice needed to find Ryan and ask him some questions. She hoped the answer could be found in his arms. It took her a few minutes to discover him in a heated discussion with Sam.

“What the hell are you doing with Alice? Are you trying to cause more heartbreak?”

“Give it a rest, Sam! I know what I’m doing.”

Alice’s stomach twisted, and her hands still shaking from talking to Christa; she tried to move closer to hear precisely what they were saying. What made Sam so mad with Ryan? Playing games with her and annoying Tom was the sort of thing that Alice expected to appeal to Sam Shepherd. She no longer needed to worry about who to eat with. Tom had kept her apart from the team. She wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

“Let me save you the worry, Sam. Ryan, thank you, I won’t trouble you anymore.”

She ran off to catch up with Lucy and Jasmine. Ryan turned to watch her go.

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