Page 44 of Ruthless Court

“Women’s what?”

“Curling.”

He checks the screen.

“I don’t see that.”

“Our program was added this semester,” Piper says. “Club expansion.”

“This is for varsity athletes.”

Kenzie leans toward him and lowers her voice.

“We were told all sports with balls were included.”

I look toward the ocean and pretend I have never seen these women before.

The second volunteer looks exhausted.

“Just go in.”

Piper beams. “Thank you.”

He points at us.

“No causing trouble.”

“You won’t even know we’re here.”

That prediction lasts until we reach the bonfires.

Music pounds across the sand. String lights stretch between poles, glowing over coolers, food tables, and clusters of hot bodies.

Athletes are everywhere.

Tall men.

Taller women.

Muscular legs, broad shoulders, perfect ponytails.

The kind of bodies built through years of repetition and pain, now dressed like none of that effort occurred.

Piper grabs my arm.

“We made it.”

“You committed sports fraud.”

“Worth it.”

Jules spots the keg.

All three disappear before I can remind them I am their ride home.

I stand alone near the entrance for several seconds.

A cooler sits beside one of the tables. I reach for a hard seltzer, then remember the three drunk women I’m responsible for and swap it for plain sparkling water.