The Alpha House

Chapter One

"Come on, girls, let's show some hustle out there!" I yelled, clapping my hands together while my eyes darted back and forth across the court. It was the first volleyball game for my team, the Alpharetta High School Raiders, and we were up against a pretty tough team from the neighboring Atlanta district.

Katie nailed her serve, and the ball sailed over the net and into the deep right corner of the other team's court. Their backrow player dove, missed it, and the point was ours.

"Yes, Katie!" I wasn't the only one cheering, as the stands lit up in applause and raucous yelling. I could see Katie's parents in the stands, clapping and beaming proudly.

We had a break after winning the first set, and the head coach, Coach Kim, brought the girls into a huddle. Wiping a stray curl away from my face, I went to fill up some of the girls' water bottles for the second set. I was one of the two assistant volleyball coaches for Alpharetta High, a job I'd taken to support myself while I began writing my first novel.

I had just graduated from Duke University last spring and broken my parents' hearts when I turned down several offers to play professional basketball abroad in the European league. My dad in particular had been extremely disappointed in me: he had raised me from a young age to be a highly-competitive athlete, and I had played basketball and volleyball since I was old enough to walk. Playing at Duke had been a dream come true, but when graduation came around, I had realized I had to honor my other dream, which was to become a famous author.

Moving to Alpharetta, Georgia instead of going back home to Virginia had been my way of getting a fresh start in a new town.

"Do I know you?"

A voice came out of nowhere behind my shoulder, and I jumped, spilling some of the water all over my black Nike shorts.

I turned around, ready to blow off whoever this man was so that I could get back inside in time for the second set.

But I stopped in my tracks when my eyes fell on the man standing behind me.

He was tall, almost a foot taller than me which was impressive given my above-average height of five foot seven. His dark hair was messy like he'd been running his hands through it, but it was his bright blue eyes that pinned me in place. They shone from his naturally-tan face like sunbeams, even though they looked clouded with confusion at the moment.

"Uh...I don't know. You do look kind of familiar. Do you work here?"

I scanned his impressively-muscular body, taking in the navy Nike shirt stretched across his broad shoulders and the black Nike joggers that clung to his strong thighs. I think I was almost salivating, and I had to stop myself from gaping openly at him.

To my surprise, he laughed. And the laugh spread across his face like sunlight cutting through a grey sky, illuminating his blue eyes and highlighting his sharp cheekbones and strong jawline. I definitely felt something tug in my lower abdomen.

"No, I don't work here. I was just watching the boys' basketball game down the hall, and..." He trailed off, the laughter fading from his face as he continued to study me. His subtle but languid Georgia accent told me that he had grown up here.

"I'm Jamie."

The sound of his name spread like a warm liquid through my chest.

"I'm Addison. Nice to meet you."

The Southern hospitality in me forced me to put my hand out to shake his, juggling the water bottles in my left arm as I outstretched my right. When our hands met, a warmth like I had never experienced began to course through my body. It was like a heavy blush, heating up my cheeks and spilling down my body. I felt the heat pool between my legs, and I blushed even deeper, if that was possible.