Kate shrugged, obviously unimpressed. As I walked along the line, I corrected their form and offered pointers.
“Oh wow, Paige! That was amazing. Good work!”
Every time one of my girls experienced a success, even if it was just the tiniest improvement, my body flooded with genuine excitement. I knew from experience how important it was to be cheered for, so I tried my hardest to make them feel good about themselves and their efforts.
I blew my whistle to garner the girls’ attention. “Alright, let’s collect the balls, put them back in the cart, and then we’ll switch.”
A sharp, little finger poked right into my ribs, making me yelp in surprise.
“Coaaaach,” Valentina whined. “My shoes are cursed.”
“Did you anger a volleyball spirit or just forget to double-knot?” I arched my brows.
She threw her arms in the air, clearly at the end of her rope. “I don’t know! I just ran, and they attacked me!”
I nodded emphatically. “Classic shoelace ambush. You gotta stay ready.”
Dropping to my knees, I tied her laces, making sure to double-knot them this time.
“There you go.” I lifted my gaze to hers, warmth spreading through my chest as she met my smile with a genuine one of her own.
“Thanks, Coach Sierra,” she crowed, before running off again.
After the other group ran through the serving drill, I called the whole group over to me again.
“Alright, girls. Time to work on our setting-”
“Setting?” One of the youngest girls asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. “Like a tea party?”
Giggles erupted around us, and I had to bite back a smile.
“No, honey. Setting, as in passing the ball to one of your teammates so we can set up for an attack.”
“Oh!” She blushed, clearly embarrassed. Wanting to avoid anyone making fun of her unnecessarily, I continued with my explanation of the exercise we’d be running through.
They were chaos, absolute chaos. But it waspure. Unfiltered. And with everything crumbling around me, this was just the reminder I needed.
Watching them run through the setting drill from the sideline, I realized that this was the only place I’d felt completely at ease in the past couple of weeks.
Here, at least, it felt like I still mattered and made an impact.
I enjoyed the way they looked at me. Like I knew things. Like I was steady, someone they admired. If only they knew what my life really looked like these days…
Valentina waved wildly from across the gym. “Coach Sierra! Look, I got it over the net this time!”
With some effort, I managed to muster a big, genuine smile, even if it ached a little.
“You crushed it, Valentina. I’m so proud of you.”
Just as practice wrapped up, my phone, tucked into the waistband of my shorts, buzzed briefly against my hip. I had an idea who it might be. My jaw clenched as I tugged the device out from under my shirt and tossed it into my bag, not bothering to check it.
Unease tinged with fury had my stomach in knots, but I pushed it down and forced the smile to stay in place.
“Okay, girls! Come over here, please.”
As they formed a loose half-circle around me, I pulled a container out of my bag. Delighted squeals rang out as I opened it, and I grinned from ear to ear. I loved spoiling these girls.
“Listen up! I’ve got enough brownies here for everyone, so no squabbling. Each of you can grab one on your way out, okay?”
