The Strings Attached

Chapter 22 - Jace

Jace

The game is tied. Every time our girls seem to be leading by three or so points, the other team comes back strong. Everyone is on edge and their new coach knows what he's doing.

Every serve from the Seacoast team is powerful. It's their serve now and number thirty-two hits it over the net to the back corner. Loni dives for the ball, sliding across the ground, keeping it active. Hadley gets the set and Addison spikes it over.

But the team is quick to block.

Loni isn't even off the ground yet before she dives for the ball again.

Our same strategy is carried out. Addison spikes it over, but they block. Loni runs for it. So does Sienna. The two collide and bump the ball into the net. Hadley tries to keep it active, but it's too late, the ball hits the ground, the ref blows the whistle, and the people in the stands groan.

Fuck.

Another point for Seaside.

"Call the fucking ball," Loni snaps at Sienna who rolls her eyes and walks back to her position on the court.

Loni's checks are red, but not from the game. No, it's from the guy that sitting on the bleachers, winking at her. What a prick.

"Loni," I call to her, waving her over with my hand. She lets out an obvious sigh, trotting over to me. "Rachel, go in for Loni."

"What the hell?" Loni asks as Rachel runs onto the court.

"You are out for the rest of the game."

Her green eyes widen, full of rage. "Are you kidding me?"

The ref blows the whistle and the game picks up again. I watch the game even though Loni is standing right in front of me, practically blocking my entire view.

"Jace, what are you doing? I need to be out there. We will lose this game."

"You don't think the team will do fine without you?" I arch my brow.

She scoffs, glancing quickly over he shoulder. Addison spikes on the other team and they aren't able to block, giving us another point.

"You don't have the authority to pull me out of the game," she snarls, turning around and walking to the other side of the court to Coach Carr.

They only speak for a minute. I can't hear them. But from what it looks like, Loni does most of the talking while Coach Carr giggles at her phone. The only time coach looks away from her phone is to glance over at me and shrug.

When I blink, Loni is standing in front of me again. Steam is practically shooting out of her ears.

"You told coach I was injured?"

I nod, clicking my tongue. "I told her at practice your ankle seemed a little sore and that it might not be best for you to play tonight. She let me make the call."

"You are fucking up my game, Jace. What the hell is wrong with you? Why—" She looks over at the bleachers, then back at me. Her face is like a tomato and all of her freckles seem to burn away. "This is about him? You are trying to ruin my night again. Is this some kind of punishment?"

"Just looking out for you, babe," I shrug. "Now why don't you take a seat and uh, rest that ankle of yours."

There is fury in her eyes, but there's a twitch in the corners of her lips as if she likes this. She likes this game I'm playing with her. No matter how much she wants to hide her feelings behind her rage, she likes me. Especially when she nudges past me with her shoulder as if to say "game on."