Page 122 of Leave Me Broken

“Any idea what you will do for your date?”

That lessens the weight of everything else. I smirk to my best friend. “A few.”

This is Payson’s first date. I want it to be memorable, and I also want to take advantage of the fact no one will know us and we can kiss in public. Sure, she looks young, but I’m confident no one will ask for her ID. She deserves a stress-free night for maybe the first time ever, and I can’t wait to give it to her.

“Any idea what your excuses are going to be? If Valerie finds out you’re both missing, she will probably call all reinforcements to find you.”

“Let her look. She won’t find us.”

We find the three girls exactly where I thought we might. Janelle tosses the ball up for Payson who drops her weight and bumps it exactly how she should. Pride blooms low in my chest, knowing she has only improved since I have started coaching her. It’s good to know I’m able to teach her more than how to ride my face. It’s a perfect bump to set. Ronni is ready but her hands are all unbalanced and she looks uncomfortable—awkward even. Probably why the set is barely high enough for Janelle to hit and not even in the right place.

Luca rolls his head my way. “That is the infamous Ronni, I take it?”

“Yes. She sucks at setting.”

Luca chuckles. “Yes, she does.” He slaps my back and we trek forward.

“Oh my word.” Payson gasps after Janelle’s spike hits the ground. “You really do suck, Ron.”

Janelle barks out a loud laugh and Ronni is quick to join. “I told you!”

“How did we ever go anywhere with you as our Setter?” The wonder in Payson’s voice causes Luca and I to chuckle. I have to say, I’m very curious about that as well.

But Ronni just shrugs. “I guess it helps when you have the best Libero ever.”

Luca chokes on his spit and the three girls whip around to face us. Payson’s eyes light up immediately.

“I wouldn’t say the best ever. I am the one who has been to the Olympics, remember?”

“I thought I was the one who got us there?”

Luca waves me away; he stops next to Payson and throws an arm over her shoulder. I lift a brow. “Everyone knows the Libero is the best player on the team. We just allow the Setters to believe it is them. Right, Pay?”

Payson nibbles on her lip, then nods. “Sorry, ba—Coach.” I love how her cheeks bloom a deep pink with the slip up. I got the feeling last night she did not fill her friend in on the relationship. I’m not sure why, but I guess she still hasn’t. That’s disappointing, as I was hoping to pull her away for a quickie. “He’s right.”

I cross my arms over my chest, challenging her. Lust burns deep in her bright green eyes, threatening to stiffen my dick.

“I have an idea!” Janelle cheers, far too excited about whatever is on her mind. “Us against you two. That will prove who is better, Payson or Coach Luca.”

Luca grins to me, then down to Payson. “What do you think, coniglietta?”

“I think it’s unfair.” She moves so she’s not under his arm anymore and she smiles. “You guys are so old. Out of practice.”

Oh, I’ll show her just how in practice we are.

Luca and I agree to let Ronni stay on their team even though that gives them an extra person, because honestly, I’m not sure how much she will help them. No offense to Ronni, I’m sure she’s great at modeling but volleyball isn’t her calling. I’m not even sure if she had stayed in Michigan and tried out for my team, she would have made it. In fact, I’m positive she wouldn’t have.

I’ve played volleyball for over half my life. I’ve been to the Olympics and played against the best players in the world; so, tell me why two—and a half girls are kicking our ass right now?

Sweat flows from every pore on my body. We’ve had to stop and towel the floor more than once because Luca is the same. That can be the only explanation as to why Luca misses Janelle’s spike and they get the winning point. We only played to ten and the game maybe lasted fifteen minutes, but it felt like a lifetime.

Luca falls to his back onto the floor. I bend at the waist, wondering if I’m going to throw up.

The girls cheer and celebrate, rubbing it in our face but neither of us care since we are trying not to die. I work out every single day, yet I’m sweating and breathing like I haven’t touched a gym in ten years. I don’t do cardio much outside fucking Payson, but still. Playing with two people differs from playing with six. Especially when Luca can’t hit a ball to save his bloody life. His bumps were perfect, my sets were more than perfect, but when it came to any spiking, he failed miserably. He hit the net more times than I could count, and the girls just continued playing even when he did because it was happening every time.

“Hey, Pay. You know what this means?”

“What’s that, Jay?”

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