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CHAPTER 23

“Are you sure you should be back so soon?” DJ asked before Aspen even got out of the car.

“Um… Hi to you, too, DJ,” Aspen replied and climbed out. “Also, it’s been two weeks. The doctor said I was good to go. Everything’s fine. And I feel good. He said he wouldn’t have even called it a sprain.”

“Then, why did it swell so much?” DJ asked.

“Because Aspen reaggravated it,” Kendra replied for her.

DJ looked across the car in the beach parking lot and saw Kendra there. She returned her attention to Aspen.

“Kendra’s here?”

“Hi, DJ,” Kendra said. “I’ll get the balls out of the trunk.”

“Kendra’s here, and she’s getting the balls out of your trunk?” DJ asked.

“She’s been gone for over a week on some big-time basketball and soccer trip and just got back last night. She came over, and we hung out, but I told her today was my first day back, and I asked if she wanted to come play with us,” Aspen replied in a near-whisper so Kendra wouldn’t hear.

“We have to focus, Aspen. We missed the last tournament and the one this weekend, too. We have to get back in it.”

“I know. She doesn’t have to play. I just…”

“You missed her,” DJ finished for her, leaning in.

“Yeah… And she knows just about everything about the game. You saw how her strategy helped us win against Sweden.”

“I know. And it did.”

“Got ‘em,” Kendra said, walking around the car. “And if you’re worried about me getting in the way, DJ, I won’t. I can just watch or even go home, if Aspen lets me drive her car. I can get a ride if–”

“Kendra?” Aspen spoke.

“Yeah?”

“It’s fine,” she told her with a smile. “DJ just wasn’t expecting you to be here because I didn’t tell her in advance, but we’re good. Right, DJ?”

“Right. I’m glad you’re here, actually. You can help keep this one in line.” She pointed at Aspen.

“What? Why do I need to be kept in line?”

“Because you need to take it easy today. It’s your first day back,” Kendra replied. “And you act like she listens to me.” She looked at DJ.

“She does. If you hadn’t insisted that she not even move until the doctor officially cleared her yesterday, she would’ve been up and around her house, if not warming up in the backyard.”

“Hey, I’m right here,” Aspen said. “And no, I wouldn’t have. I behaved.”

“You did mention being a little stir-crazy and that you thought about going outside to just toss the ball around a little,” Kendra pointed out.

“Aspen!” DJ scolded.

“What? I didn’t do it,” she said with a little laugh as Kendra leaned into her side.

“Because she told you not to,” DJ argued and pointed at Kendra. “Can we get started now? I think we should go slow, get you back into it, and if you’re hurting at all, we stop.”

“Okay. Fine. I’m in agreement,” Aspen said and went to take the bag of balls from Kendra.

“No, I’ve got these.” DJ took them instead.