Page 31 of One Pucking Destiny

Without another word, I step around him and join the group of guys gathered at the pool.

“Let’s pick teams,” Max says. He turns to me. “You in, Ari?”

“For what?”

“A game of volleyball,” Eddy answers. He looks younger than the rest of the guys and much scrawnier. In fact, compared to the muscled perfection that surrounds me, there’s definitely a “one of these things is not like the other” vibe going on. Yet even though he doesn’t play on the team, it’s clear he’s a valued member—just one of the guys. And I love that.

“Um. Sure.” My response is hesitant. Once again, I’m not much of a sporty girl, but I won’t announce that to the group. What I lack in athletic experience, I make up with in stubborn pride.

Plus, how hard can smacking around a ball really be?

Bash joins us, and we pick teams.

Cade, Iris, Beckett, and Eddy are on one team. Max, Jaden, Bash, and I are on the other. A group of people, including Logan, Gunner, and my mother, sits in the luxury lounge chairs that circle the pool. While Logan and Gunner chat, drink whiskey, and smoke cigars, my mom sprawls out with a glass of lemonade and a book.

The water in the pool feels heavenly. It’s the perfect temperature.

Bash comes over to my side. “Any questions, Ari? You’ve played before?” The challenge and innuendos from earlier have left his tone. I can tell he’s asking as a friend, no doubt reading my face, which is lined in confusion.

“If I told you that gym was my least favorite class, and I feigned a sprained ankle during our seventh-grade volleyball unit, would you judge me?”

He laughs, and the deep, beautiful sound causes me to smile.

“Not at all,” he says. “So you just watched others play?”

I scoff. “Hardly. I read theHunger Gamestrilogy.”

“So you’re a nerd?”

“Absolutely. I’m a big ole nerd. What do you think about me now?”

He absentmindedly chews on his bottom lip, assessing me with a look that heats my skin. “Honestly, I think it makes you even sexier. I love nerds.” He winks. “Hattie and I read those books in seventh grade, too.”

“So you’re smart and sporty. Just one of those guys who are perfect at everything?” I splash some water his way.

He grins, and it’s a devastatingly beautiful event. “Pretty much. Let me give you the quick rundown.” He proceeds to give me the SparkNotes version of the game, highlighting a couple of key rules I need to know. “Put your arms out.” He demonstrates what he means with his arms, and I imitate his form. “Good. Now, place that hand here and wrap your thumb around there.” I work to focus as he manipulates myarms into position. “You want to hit the ball here.” He places his finger on the inside of my wrist and rubs back and forth. “Because it’s flat and smooth.” He drags his finger along my skin, touching my hand. “If the ball hits here or here…” My heart hammers in my chest as he touches parts of my hand. “There’s a better chance of it flying out of bounds. So try to use the inside of your wrists. Okay?”

I nod, swallowing hard.

“Don’t stress. It’s just for fun.” He releases my hand.

As if on cue, Beckett calls out, “What’s the punishment for the losing team?”

“Just for fun?” I roll my eyes at Bash.

He grins. “Okay, so we get a little competitive around here.”

“Dish duty,” Jaden shouts.

Bash looks at his teammate. “We’ve paid for a cleaner to do that.”

“So? Dishes suck. It’s a good punishment.”

Beckett looks around at the players. “Do we have anything else besides a task we’ve hired someone else to do? Anything?”

A few more suggestions are thrown out, but they don’t have much merit, each idea dumber than the last.

“Okay, dish duty it is.” Beckett shrugs. “We’ll flip tosee who goes first. Babe,” he shouts across the pull. “Flip a coin!”

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