I Always Wished

Chapter 9

***(Kai's POV)***

I knock on the girls' bunkroom door and clear my throat. "There's a member of the male species outside who'd like to speak with you all."

For a moment, all I hear is silence. Then the unmistakable giggles of a dozen teenage girls ring like long-unheard music in my ears, and several pairs of feet thump toward the door.

It opens just a crack to reveal one blue eye. "Can we help you?"

I prop a fist on my hip. "Well, it seems to me there's a perfectly good volleyball court in the backyard that hasn't been used since winter. It needed a little sprucing up, but I think it's ready now for a match or two. Anyone want to join me?" I toss the volleyball I found up in the air.

More giggling ensues from inside.

The door cracks open a little wider to reveal a gaggle of girls gathered in front of me.

"I feel outnumbered," I grin.

One of the older ones props her hands on her hips. "I don't know that any of us are huge volleyball fans."

I roll my eyes. "Oh, please. Skylor used to love volleyball – she played varsity her junior year of high school. She would've played her senior year, but she was running her dad's noodle business at that point."

Another girl shrugs. "Most of us are more into softball. Sorry."

My jaw practically drops. "So I just spent all morning – two hours – cleaning up your volleyball court for nothing?" I mean, seriously? No appreciation for that – no nothing?

The giggles erupt into full-blown laughter, and the girl who originally spoke holds up a finger. "Can you give us a moment?"

I nod dumbly as she shuts the door in my face, still flabbergasted that I just got totally rejected. Has Skylor seriously trained her girls to think that all guys are jerks they should completely avoid? It's not like I'm asking them out! I'm twenty-two, and they're, like, fifteen! Eesh!

"Just wait," Cassie says from beside me.

I swivel toward her. "Holy – how'd you get there so fast?"

She just laughs her gentle chuckle. "I'm here to join you and the others."

"For volleyball?" I frown. "None of the other girls want to play. It's like –,"

She shakes her head, smiling. "Just wait."

The door suddenly cracks open again, and the older girl pokes her head out. "Go get changed and meet us in the living room in ten minutes."

"But – I thought you didn't want to play?" I ask. "Or...is this some game in itself?"

She just rolls her eyes. "Go get changed into something you can get messy."

"All I have are my suit from last night and this stuff I borrowed from Cole." I look down at my oversized t-shirt and dad khakis and can't help but feel a little disappointed. The guy has no taste.

"We'll take care of that," she grins. "Go wait in your room. We'll have Mr. Cole lend you something else." She makes a shooing motion in my direction.

"O-kay," I nod slowly. "Sure. Whatever."

Cassie slips past me inside the room wordlessly.

"Go!" the older girl commands me.

Gosh, I've got to learn some names around here.

"Fine," I sigh, turning around and trudging away. "But I'm warning you, I'm well-trained in the art of the ninja and can probably figure out your plan before –,"