Page 118 of Leave Me Broken

“I have no clue.”

The doors far across the gym open and a huge group of . . . guys trail in.

I did notice the lack of boy teams this year, but I assumed none signed up. I guess they did. I don’t understand this weird entrance, though. They’re just male volleyball players yet everyone is acting like they are royalty.

“The hosts of this year’s Week of Pink are so excited to introduce the top three male teams from last season. The first team here”—she gestures to the guys walking behind us—“Traveled all the way from Greece and took second place against the next team who joined us from Russia.”

Wow, Greece and Russia and the next team is from Brazil, they came in third. Amazing. I guess that is worth a dramatic entrance. I didn’t keep up on last season or anything but I skimmed an article about how good Russia was doing.

I glance behind me expecting to see Ash but come face-to-chest with the guys from the Russian team. The couple behind me grin and one wiggles his fingers at me. The other one lets his eyes drift down my body before zeroing on my ass. His blond eyebrows inch up his forehead.

Huffing, I turn back to the front but it doesn’t make the feeling of a bunch of guys checking me out go away. It’s flattering, I guess, but I don’t enjoy the attention.

“Oh my God. They are so hot.” Janelle sits on the floor next to me while I adjust my brace. My knee is giving me more problems. All morning it’s been a constant ache in the back of my mind.

“I like their accents.”

“Which ones?”

I grin at my best friend. “All of them.”

She laughs along and teases me about my obsession with accents. It’s not an obsession, I just enjoy a good accent.

“Did you guys hear?” Mika falls next to Janelle. “Tomorrow there is going to be some kind of mixer for the players. It’s going to be in the same room as dinner yesterday and we are meant to dress up and mingle.”

“That’s sounds terrible.”

Mika rolls her lips between her teeth and shifts. “Mhm. The thing is . . . It’s just for the players because . . . the coaches are having their own mixer in the penthouse apartment.”

My stomach free falls straight to my ass. “You’re joking.”

“I figured you didn’t know. I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you before it was announced.”

Groaning, I rub my palms into my eyes. I didn’t tell Mika everything but her and Monica overheard us talking about Valerie and wanted to know what we were talking about, so I filled them in with the basics. She is Ash’s ex and thinks we are fucking.

“Jay, you better find someone to fuck, to at least make the night worth it for one of us.”

“One? Pshh. I want at least one of each, then I can decide who gets doubles.”

At least Janelle will make what sounds like the worst night, interesting. Plus Ronni might come. That will definitely be interesting.

“Have you heard about tomorrow?”

I’m in line for lunch when Ash walks up to me and mutters those words.

“Yep,” I say keeping my head forward. “Should be miserable.”

He grumbles, “I am not happy with the thought of you being in a room full of boys.”

I snort at the image of just that; me in a room filled with nothing but guys, and Ash on the outside ripping his hair out.

“I’m not laughing.” He drops his voice to a whisper and hisses, “babygirl.”

“You think I am?” I shoot a look over my shoulder at him. “You’re going to be in a hotel room—with your ex. Probably other stupidly pretty women too.”

His head falls forward and he pinches the bridge of his nose. His brown hair is on the messy side, and I can tell he’s been running his hands through it repeatedly—probably from stress. I’ve noticed he does that a lot now that his hair is longer. “I cannot wait until you are legal, Payson. None of this pretending, lying, and sneaking bullshit. You can come to parties with me, and I with you, where no one can do anything about it.”

“Me too,” I tell him softly. “I really don’t want to go.”

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