“Sure,” I said, moving forwards toward the net and starting to float in the water. I fanned my arms for balance and then settled as Aiden and Olly hashed out the rules between them: first to score five would win; ball going out of the pool or past the equivalent marker on Aiden’s side counted as a foul and a reset; the ball had to pass from side to side instead of from teammate to teammate; and there was no going under the net for either team.
“Let’s play!” Olly announced. He hefted the ball into the air – an inflated, round ball that floated easily on the water. It was lightweight, perfect for batting easily over the net.
“Don’t we get to draw for who goes first?” Aiden asked, alarm flashing in his voice.
“Nope,” Olly said, then launched himself up in the air as far as he could and hit the ball over to Aiden’s side with speed and strength that made me think maybe I’d chosen the wrong time to get into the game.
Just like that, it was on. We took turns batting the ball over the net with open hands or clubbed fists, trying to send it to a place where the other team couldn’t reach it. I had to strain to get up as high as I could out of the water, hitting the ball back before it landed on our side and lost us a point. Never mind aiming it at anyone – I was just trying to hit it at all.
Brody arced out of the water to catch a hit from our side before it splashed down, his lean and fit body glistening as it caught the sun, and my mouth dropped open for just a second –
Before I realized the ball he had hit was coming straight over the net towardsme.
I scrambled to move, but too slowly. The ball hit the water right in front of my face, splashing chlorine into my eyes to add injury to insult. I cried out in alarm and frustration, smashing my hand down against the surface of the water to underline my failure.
“Come on, keep it going,” Olly said, clapping a wet hand on my back. If I was on land he probably would have sent me flying. “It’s only one point. We’re still in the game.”
I appreciated the sentiment. Obviously, he was used to encouraging his teammates. I just wasn’t sure my skill level was up to what was needed here.
I had no idea why I’d thought it was a good idea to get involved in sports with a group of football players, even if it was supposed to be a casual setting.
But Brody…
He seemed to be holding his own.
I punted the ball back over the net and watched Aiden bounce it back towards Olly, glad he wasn’t focusing on me now they could see I was the weak link. Olly hit it back towards Brody –
And Aiden jumped towards him, physically knocking Brody back out of the way so he could get the ball. My heart leaped into my mouth as Brody went down in a turmoil of thrashing limbs and water, Aiden swimming back to the center as if everything was fine. Brody resurfaced, pushing water out of his face. He looked shocked, staring after Aiden as if he wasn’t sure what had happened.
But I knew. I’d seen it.
Aiden did that on purpose, and it looked like it was about more than just getting the ball.
We played on, and inevitably the ball came back my way a few hits later. I wanted to test it. I wanted to be sure. I sent it towards Brody as best as I could, focusing on my aim.
Brody launched forward to get it –
At the same time as Aiden moved sideways, his shoulder connecting with Brody’s chest as he got the ball and swatted it back over the net, leaving Brody reeling backward and clutching his chest.
“Hey!” I shouted before I even knew what I was doing. “Cut it out!”
Everyone’s heads snapped toward me. I realized I was clenching my fists under the water. Aiden looked at me and laughed roughly like he thought he could just laugh it all off.
“Cut what off? Playing the game?”
I surged towards him in the water – pointless, since the net was still between us. “You body-checked him. I saw it. You did it on purpose.”
“I was trying to get the ball,” Aiden said. There was something way too casual about his attitude. He wasn’t hurt or shocked that I’d accused him of doing something like that.
He knew full well what he’d done.
“Let’s just play,” Olly called out. I knew he wanted to get rid of the drama and just have some fun.
I had a feeling it was going to be easier said than done.
The guy on our side with the ball – I’d forgotten everyone’s fucking names already – launched it back into play and we carried on. I was watching Aiden constantly. A couple of times he caught me looking and smirked.
Smirked.
