Chapter 9
9
Alice
At lunch, Ryan had been attentive. When he nuzzled into her neck, talking softly to her, his voice reverberated through her. It had been both fun and exciting, so she couldn’t help trying to see where his team were playing as she walked onto the court after lunch. It was pointless; the crowd was too big. She didn’t understand why she tried. She’d come this weekend to focus on volleyball and forget all about the male of the species. Only on Thursday, she’d announced to Grace and Lucy that she didn’t intend to give any new men too much head space. It was time to consider herself.
Despite the hurt that they were over, and that Tom had someone new, a massive part of her felt relieved. Now, she didn’t constantly need to think about what he wanted, what to eat, and where to go. For the past three years, she’d happily agreed to do whatever Tom said. She’d told herself it made her life easier.
Her problem now was whether she went out to eat with her club or with Ryan’s. Are you getting a bit ahead of yourself there? He hasn’t even asked you. This is only pretend, isn’t it? But if we are pretending, surely, we need to eat together.
Her captain’s voice broke her thoughts. “Alice, can you hit outside for this match?” Victoria held out the rotation slip.
“Me?”
“Yes. Well, start for this set, and we can look at it later.” Alice wasn’t sure why they always did what Victoria wanted when the coach wasn’t there. But as usual, she didn’t argue.
“Sure.”
Playing out of position meant she had to focus that bit harder. It kept her too busy working out where she needed to move on court to think about Ryan Fields. However, despite all her efforts, it wasn’t good enough for their captain.
“Can you try and concentrate on the game, Alice? Wherever your head is, we need it on this court.”
Grace patted her shoulder. “You’ve got this.”
They managed to win the match, and yet Alice couldn’t help thinking it was despite Victoria’s attempts to mix things up.
The team gathered on the side of the court. Lucy rubbed her hands together.
“Are you going to watch the men’s team play, or has Alice changed sides and is off to see the Sharks?” Alice took a breath to think about her reply. It was too late; Victoria had overheard.
“You aren’t leaving to play for Sharks of all people, are you?” Victoria sniped disapproval in every word.
Alice blushed. Images of Ryan ran through her head as she tried to find words.
“No, we’re not going anywhere.” Lucy laughed. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you there, Victoria.”
“I’m not scared,” she huffed.
“I was referring to all the kissing that keeps happening between our Alice and sexy Ryan.” Alice closed her eyes, blushing again.
“Ryan? As in that guy who follows Sam Shepherd around. Surely not. Why ever did you let Tom go? I don’t understand it. Tom is far more suitable.”
A stunned Alice opened and closed her mouth, yet no words came out. How do you answer all that? Grace, as always, came to her rescue.
“We’re going to watch the team we play last. Stuff all the men.” Grace linked her arm with Alice’s, and Lucy walked on the other side. They left Victoria with her hands on her hips, staring after them.
“Shit, I’m sorry Alice. I didn’t realise she was listening. I was only teasing.”
Still unable to find words, Alice leaned into Grace, who squeezed her arm.
“Don’t worry about it, Lucy. Alice understands. It is going to be a bit awkward for a while, not least because Tom is still part of this club and not the most sensitive person in the world.” Grace looked around to see who was listening. “Did you hear he tried to say Alice shouldn’t have come?” Alice glared at Grace.
“I’m sorry, Alice, people need to know. Just because you aren’t being all dramatic doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt watching him dancing around to that woman’s tune.”
“He’s a toad,” Lucy said with a scowl. “He made a pass at me at the Christmas party.” Alice gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
“He sent me a text to go out when you were at training camp last year,” Grace confessed.
“What? Why didn’t you …”
“He came around the next morning, saying I’d misunderstood; he just thought he was being a friend to me with you away. He claimed only to be doing it for you.”
“And you believed it?”
“I wasn’t sure, but I’ve watched him since then.”
“Could he have been seeing Christa before we broke up?”
“Stop worrying about that. Forget Tom.” Lucy urged. “If Randy Ryan was snogging me, I know I’d be enjoying it.”
“He’s just being kind,” Alice muttered quietly. Her head down, trying not to look right or left.
“I’m convinced he is only doing it to wind Tom up.” Alice stopped dead, and Grace had to stop, too.
“I’m sorry, Alice; I know I keep saying that. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Lucy took her other arm.
“Come on, Alice, let’s go see the Nottingham knights play before our last game. Sod the men. But for what it’s worth, I say, you kiss the face off that man. Enjoy it, even if it’s only for the weekend.”
They fell silent as they found their way to the court they wanted. If Alice hadn’t already had enough doubts about the real motives behind Ryan’s attention, now her friends had shared their doubts, too. Stop overthinking it. People keep telling you to enjoy yourself. I am enjoying it.
Alice tried to listen to what Grace and Lucy were saying about the team they still had to play. It didn’t work, though. It felt as if they both were talking a little too much to cover the awkwardness after the conversation about Ryan and the confessions her friends had shared.
“Do you think Vicki will want to do something different for this last game?”
“I have a feeling she’ll retreat back to the normal lineup.”
“I hope she isn’t going to be a pain about dinner this year.”
“What does that mean?”
“Oh, I forgot you usually eat with …”
“Tom, you can say his name. I won’t explode.”
“Maybe we need a code name for him that doesn’t give him any power.”
“The Sharks lads call him Tom Tit. It made me smile.”
“That’ll work when he isn’t in earshot.”
“Anyway, Victoria?”
“Well, she makes this huge fuss about us going out as a team, eating as a team …” Another reason she doesn’t like me then.
“Yes, but then she gets all fussy about what she will or won’t eat.”
“So, what do you do?”
“We do the same as this club has been doing for years. We go to a huge Chinese banquet place like almost every other team. It’s one of my favourite parts of this weekend.”
“What? You don’t come for the fabulous spa facilities?” All three girls collapsed into giggles, rolling in the grass. It was exactly what they needed to break the tension from all the talk about Alice’s love life. The familiar scent of freshly cut grass eased her into believing that life could be normal again.
The time for their last match came all too soon. A hold-up getting their match started made it the final game to finish.
Victoria came gushing over.
“Alice, go back to your normal spot. Lucy, you can set. I want everyone trying in this game.” Lucy looked at Alice and shook her head. As she picked up a ball to warm up with, she whispered to Alice.
“She’s seen Rob Green is watching, and rumour has it he is taking over the National Squad in September. Victoria won’t want to miss this opportunity.”
Alice didn’t care about being selected; she was just pleased she could relax and focus on her game. Simply to be back on the other side of the court, which felt more natural and where she could enjoy the flow of play.
Watching this team play earlier meant Lucy knew which strategies would help her hitters. She was finding Alice with a fast ball, allowing her to really show her ability. They needed five more points to finish the day at the top of the table. Lucy put up a reverse set that Alice connected with, hitting the ground an inch inside the corner. She felt in control for every moment of her attack.
Alice immediately became aware of Ryan and his friends cheering on the sideline. Knowing he stood there supporting her meant the world when only yesterday she felt so alone. As she walked back to serve, she could feel him there for her as adrenaline coursed through her veins. With the end of the match within reach, she needed to focus. Alice served high on their tallest player, pushing her backwards. As a result, she struggled to get her hands on the ball, winning them the point,
The Vikings needed this win. On her next serve, the wind picked up, blowing into her face. Tom and the rest of the men’s team joined those cheering, and the number of people watching continued to grow as other matches finished. The tension in the crowd and the team was palpable.
Victoria grabbed her arm as she walked back and hissed, “Don’t mess this up!”
Alice took a deep, steadying breath; she spotted Ryan standing on the sideline. He winked, smiled, and he lifted his chin. Alice got the message, and she lifted her chin in response. I can’t control all of these other people, but I can control myself. I’m here this weekend to enjoy it and to play my best.
Alice produced a couple of punishing serves before the other team could respond. Her shoulder began to ache, but with the end of the day in sight, she pushed on. Now in the backcourt, she focused on defence until Lucy set a pipe ball for her. The bumpy ground rocked her take-off, but she recovered to hit the ball deep to the corner, clinching this final match.
With play over, she needed the toilet. Still trying to make sense of everything buzzing in her head, Alice tumbled out of the makeshift bathroom and collided with a scowling Christa.
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?”
“Me?” Her eyes opened wide. What have I done?
“Yes, you. Throwing yourself at Ryan Fields. Well, you’re wasting your energy. He’s only looking for a good time. I mean, I realise he can show a girl a really magical night.” Christa's knowing smile made Alice feel sick. “But a girl like you, you want ‘the one’, settling down and all that. You won’t find that with Mr Fields. The way you tried to tie Tom down won’t work with him.”
“Me? Trying to tie Tom down?” Alice felt even more confused.
“You know, never letting him out; everything had to be your way. I’m just saying it’s not going to work with Ryan.” Alice laughed; what could she say? “The guy is besotted with a woman he can’t have. Some ‘fabulous volleyball player’, ‘an angel’. A girl he met at cadet camp … years ago. So, you might have your eyes on all his money, but you don’t stand a chance.”
“His money? Ryan’s just a builder,” Alice blurted.
“He works for his father.” Christa insisted.
“Who’s a builder.”
“His father owns the business, and believe me, it’s a big business. You didn’t know?”
“I knew about you …” she whispered, looking for a sense of pride.
“He told you?”
“Ryan and I have been friends for a long time.” Alice found a smile. “Since our first cadet camp,” she sighed before standing up straighter and looking hard at Christa. “Look, we’ve never met. You’re here with the man I was living with up until a few weeks ago. So, excuse me if I get on with my life.”
“I’m trying to give you a heads up about the guy you’re with. Girl to girl.”
“In which case, I should introduce you to the girls Tom hit on whilst we were together.”
“Well, that’s no surprise.” Christa sneered. “You can’t believe I’ll have the same issues.” Alice shrank, and bile built up in her stomach. Chin up.
“I couldn’t say. Maybe I should ask Ryan,” snapped Alice, shocked at the words coming out of her own mouth. Christa’s fists shook at her side as she stormed off. Ryan certainly knows her better than he said. Am I an idiot, or are all men like this?
“What was that about?” Lucy asked. Alice didn’t know where to start until she saw the scowl on Grace’s face and decided not to bother.
“She wasn’t happy when I offered to introduce her to you guys.”
Alice needed to find Ryan and ask him some questions. She hoped the answer could be found in his arms. It took her a few minutes to discover him in a heated discussion with Sam.
“What the hell are you doing with Alice? Are you trying to cause more heartbreak?”
“Give it a rest, Sam! I know what I’m doing.”
Alice’s stomach twisted, and her hands still shaking from talking to Christa; she tried to move closer to hear precisely what they were saying. What made Sam so mad with Ryan? Playing games with her and annoying Tom was the sort of thing that Alice expected to appeal to Sam Shepherd. She no longer needed to worry about who to eat with. Tom had kept her apart from the team. She wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
“Let me save you the worry, Sam. Ryan, thank you, I won’t trouble you anymore.”
She ran off to catch up with Lucy and Jasmine. Ryan turned to watch her go.
“Alice! Wait!” She didn’t stop, and he didn’t chase.