Rosa’s head whipped in her direction, shock written on her face.
“I’m not kidding. There’s a picture and everything.”
The ground felt unsteady beneath Eliana’s feet. She’d read about that in Asher’s grandpa’s secret files, but Asher had thrown them away while she was sick.
The women’s whispers got low enough that unless she made herself more obvious, she couldn’t hear them. She pulled sunscreen out of her bag and slathered it over her face and arms. What if…? No. It had to be a coincidence.
Polly split all the players into two teams. “Paxton, Sean, Aaron, Avery, Essie, and Eliana, you’re all on team A. Don, Cameron, Walt, Kate, Ty, Cocoa, and Chad, you’re on team B. All seven can be on the sand at the same time. We’ll play until fifteen points, best of three.” She looked hard at them. “Play nice.”
Sean, who Grandma whispered was a Navy Seal, folded his muscular arms. “Why did you look at me when you said that? Gramps is the one you have to watch out for.”
“Me?” Don linked arms with Cameron. “I’ve got my buddy Cam to keep me in line,” but the gleam in his eye said he loved a good challenge. Cam grinned up at Don adoringly.
“No one can keep Don in line,” Avery said under her breath. “I’m Walt’s granddaughter,” she told Eliana. “You must be Winnie’s.”
“I am.” Eliana rubbed her hands together, already excited as she took in her team. They could definitely sweep this match.
Asher tossed a volleyball in and stepped to the side to ref. “Team A, you get first serve.”
The sun beat down on them, and Eliana quickly had a layer of sweat over her sunscreen as she pulled her hand back to serve the ball over the net. It flew right past Walt, and Don dove to hit it but missed. She didn’t hold back her satisfied smile as her team all came close to give her high fives.
“Game on!” Sean whooped.
It didn’t take long to get into the zone of playing and forget everything but the game. Bump, set, spike. Her team got into a good rhythm, and she loved to be right by the net, spiking the ball into the sand on the other side. She also loved the friendly banter between everyone. Paxton loved teasing his grandma Polly, their self-appointed coach, by pretending he didn’t know where to stand. Sean put equal energy into flirting with the grandmas as he did playing—and still managed to make almost half their teams points.
Don helped Cam serve the ball, and everyone cheered for him. Eliana lunged to the ground to hit it, sliding into the sand, but missed it. Cam cheered loudest of all as she rolled onto her back. Sean held out a hand to help her stand.
“Thanks,” she said, brushing sand from her clothes.
“Your brother has a mean serve,” Sean said, his grin spreading across his face.
“He’ll tell you, he’s a man of mystery.”
She walked back to her position, catching glances with Asher who was watching her closely. Her stomach swooped as their gazes met, but she hurriedly looked away.Keep your head in the game.
Aaron and Cocoa were maybe the cutest couple she’d ever met—and that wasn’t something she noticed as a rule. They were the kindest players of the whole bunch, both of them encouraging their teams and each other. She hadn’t had this much fun playing a game in … she couldn’t even remember. Everyone at the Palms was so friendly, and they included her as if they’d known her forever.
Halfway through the first set, Mom collected Cameron to make him drink water and sit in the shade, but he cheered the loudest of all for everyone who got a point, everyone who fell, everyone who looked his way. She found herself looking his way often, feeling the uncontainable grin on her face.
Her team won their two sets—more than won, they’d crushed the other team. She high-fived her teammates and went to grab her day pack. Asher approached her with an amused raise to his brow.
“What?” she asked. She pulled her tank top away from her stomach to fan some air in next to her skin.
“I didn’t realize I was rooming with someone who is so competitive.” He leaned close enough for his words to blow against her ear. Despite the heat, shivers rolled down her arms.
“I just gave it my all.”
“I especially liked when you trash-talked Don, and when you spiked the ball so hard on him he tripped over himself trying to get it.”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “Don can take it. After I called him old man, he upped his game and it finally got good out there.”
He barked out a laugh.
Don came over to give her a high five, out of breath. He used the towel around his neck to swipe at his sweat. “Good game,” he said. “I want you on my team next time.”
“Same,” she said. “Your serve was the best one out there by far.”
Don smirked. “Are you doing the obstacle course?”
