Page 27 of Under the Lights (The Big Boys of BRU #2)

Twenty One

Sierra

Whatever had happened to Ella during that godforsaken party, she flat-out refused to tell us. Which, considering Ella was a yapper, was highly unusual for her and therefore cause for some concern.

Though I was worried about Ella and certainly wasn’t going to let it go without trying to get to the bottom of it later, I was also glad for the distraction she’d provided.

Dom had somehow managed to break through my newly fortified defenses, something I couldn’t afford, especially not right now, and Ella turning up provided the perfect excuse to leave.

I needed to get away from him, to not feel his hot gaze on me … or the seductive heat unfurling deep within me, tempting the part of me that didn’t want to push him away.

Everything about him seemed to draw me in now, amplified by the close proximity in the cab of his truck. Not good . His big hand rested on my thigh in a silent claim, his thumb caressing my bare skin from time to time.

I chanced a quick glance at his profile. His jaw sported a short, neatly trimmed dark-red beard — controlled rather than rugged, yet it made you wonder what it would feel like to have it scrape against your skin.

His nose was slightly crooked, like it had been broken once and never properly set, but it only added to the brutal sort of charm he carried.

The sharp cheekbones, cast in shadow, and those hazel eyes — part green, part gold — seemed to flicker with restless energy.

Why did he have to be so freaking hot?

He lied to you. He lied to you. He lied to you. I chanted in my head, even as a little voice in the far corners sowed the first niggling of doubt by whispering, But did he really?

I wanted to shake my head to clear it, to get back to a point in time, where everything was in order. Where everything was the way it was supposed to be, and I wasn’t second-guessing myself or the people around me all the fucking time.

As soon as he pulled up in front of our building, I unbuckled, intending to haul ass out of here, but once again, he was one step ahead.

“Ella, give us a minute.”

His tone left no room for argument. But Ella poked her head through the gap between the two seats again and raised a challenging eyebrow, shooting me a questioning look.

Reluctantly, I nodded. As much as I hated it, I wanted to know what he had to say. Ella’s door shut firmly behind her, he looked at me with a soft smile.

“I know you’re gonna try to run, Goddess. And while I’m giving you a little head start, don’t think for one second that I’m not coming for you. I’ll always catch up with you.”

Quick as lightning, he leaned in, capturing my lips in a searing kiss. When he pulled back, he straightened up and shot me one of his wicked grins.

“Sleep tight, Darlin’. You know the drill by now.”

With a scoff, I shook my head and climbed out of his truck.

My thoughts were jumbled as I tried to come to terms with the fierce desire flaring up inside of me — the desire to stay. Fuck.

***

My phone went off on my nightstand, the display flashing in the semi-darkness of my room. Still half-asleep, I groped around blindly until my fingers finally closed around it.

Unknown number, but a familiar Colorado area code. With my curiosity piqued, I leaned up on one elbow and swiped the screen to accept the call.

“Hello?” I said sleepily, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Hey, Sierra? This is Coach Angevin from USA Volleyball here. Got a little surprise for you. There’s an opening in our upcoming training block, and we’ve decided to offer you a spot. You’ve been on our radar for a while, and we want to see if you’re ready for the big leagues.”

I almost choked on my own spit. “Wait … really? Are you serious?”

A chuckle sounded through the line. “Absolutely. Not everyone gets this call. It’s a short window, but if you’re ready to compete at the next level, I want you in. Can you be in Orlando next week?”

Next week? It was already Saturday! Phone still pressed to my ear, I scrambled out of bed, tripping over the edge of the plush, soft rug that had curled up in one corner again.

“Next week? Like, the day after tomorrow next week?”

Now I was in a full-on panic. Was this really happening?

“Yeah, it’s a quick turnaround, but we think you could be a great fit.” Coach Angevin confirmed, pausing for a moment, and then added, “If you perform well, there’s a chance we’ll extend you into a longer camp immediately after, so this could be a pretty big opportunity if you impress us.”

“A longer camp?” I echoed, breathlessly, a weird fluttery sensation forming in my stomach.

This was fucking huge . This was the kind of call you only get once, the kind of call I had been hoping for all summer.

“It could be another week or more. We’re bringing in a select group of players for that second phase, but the first one’s a good chance to make your mark. Are you in?” I heard some papers rustling.

In my head, Coach Angevin shuffled through an endless pile of candidates, ready to take my place at a moment’s notice should I fuck this up.

“Absolutely. I’ll make it happen.”

I stood rooted to the scuffed hardwood floor, staring at the string lights I had lazily left on above my headboard. Their dim amber glow made everything feel somehow more surreal.

My mind, though, was racing a thousand miles a minute.

“Excellent. We’re excited to have you on board. I’ll email you all the details. See you next week!”

“Thank you so much! I can’t wait.”

The line disconnected and the room fell silent, except for the distant hum of traffic outside the cracked window and the faint whir of the ceiling fan.

There were so many thoughts racing through my head at once, so many things to do, that I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed, even though I had absolutely no time to just stand around. I had to move.

As I was dragging clothes out of drawers, piling them neatly on my bed, I couldn’t help but think that this was probably exactly what I needed.

Some time away would help me get my head on straight. By the time I returned, Dom would be confronted with a flood of freshmen girls fawning over him. Win-win .

And I was definitely not running.

***

DOM: When I said I know you’re gonna run, I didn’t mean literally run to a whole ass different state

DOM: My bad, clearly I should’ve given better instructions

SIERRA: How did you get this number?

DOM: Ella

DOM: Duh

DOM: Her passcode has been the same since middle school

SIERRA: Sorry, the number you’re trying to reach is currently enrolled in a ’detox from bad decisions’ program.

DOM: Damn

DOM: Guess I’m your favorite bad decision then

SIERRA: Goodbye.

I shoved my phone to the bottom of my duffel bag, then kicked open the door to my new summer housing. The place was … fine.

It was clean in the same way that a hospital room is clean: white walls, standard-issue furniture, and not a single fucking thing that showed any personality.

Kind of sterile. Definitely not home.

I dropped my bags by the bed and glanced around. There was no time to unpack — I had two hours before our first scrimmage. No distractions.

Definitely not from the six-foot-five hunk who was still texting me, acting like I hadn’t ghosted him on purpose.

***

DOM: It’s okay to miss me, you know

DOM: But I guess you can make even denial look good

SIERRA: What can I say, I was born this way. It’s one of my many talents.

DOM: Guess you don’t care that I miss you then?

No warmth at all spread through my chest as I stared down at the screen and took in his words.

Nope.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard a little too long before I typed back. I needed to shut this shit down, right the fuck now.

SIERRA: Guess I’m just cold and heartless. Tragic, really.

DOM: What’s tragic is just how much I know your pussy misses me

SIERRA: Goodbyeee

I threw the phone face down on my pillow and grabbed a towel.

I didn’t need to hear from him right now, especially since I was sweaty from drills and just one bad thought away from picturing his hands on my thighs instead of the massage gun I’d borrowed from a teammate.

My phone buzzed again, and despite knowing better, I couldn’t resist picking it back up, only to wish I hadn’t. A sickening sensation, buried deep in my stomach, as I took in the words.

UNKNOWN: You made your choice. Stay gone. Speak up, and you won’t just lose friends.

***

My phone buzzed, and I already knew who it was — him or Ella. Neither were exactly masters of subtlety. Somehow, though, I didn’t mind it as much as I used to.

Few people had ever stuck around long enough to care about what I was doing or where I wanted to go.

Maybe that’s why I kept a careful distance, not just from them, but from the people in my past, too. Trust didn’t come easily when you’ve learned to guard what little you have left.

DOM: U know you’re giving me blue balls over here, right?

DOM: Goddamn, your ass looks good in those shorts

SIERRA: Stop looking, then. Just keep on scrolling.

DOM: Trust me, even if I could, I wouldn’t

DOM: At this point, I’m basically living on your feed

SIERRA: So you’re stalking me now?

DOM: Stalking would mean I’m hiding

SIERRA: Yeah, subtlety isn’t your strong suit

DOM: Good thing I’m not trying to be subtle

SIERRA: …

DOM: Think of me when you’re rubbing that pretty little pussy tonight

A picture of Dom wearing nothing but boxers with the waistband pulled down low was staring back at me from the screen, his obscenely thick length outlined in the fabric.

I dropped the phone like it had singed my fingers, then cursed under my breath as it bounced onto the floor.

That motherfucker.

***

DOM: Just caught your beach pic. First time at the ocean, huh?

SIERRA: Didn’t think you’d remember that

DOM: How could I forget? You looked like you’d just discovered a whole new planet.

SIERRA: Maybe I did. Saltwater and sand hit different, I swear.

DOM: Bet you’re already scheming how to sneak back there.

SIERRA: More like trying not to get sand everywhere next time lol. Rookie move.

DOM: Hey, progress is progress. Soon you’ll be owning beach volleyball like a pro.

SIERRA: Let’s not get carried away. First I gotta survive this scrimmage.

DOM: I’m rooting for you … even if I’m the only one who remembers how totally wide-eyed you were.

SIERRA: That means more than you think. Thanks, Dom.

***

DOM: I’m so fucking proud of you

DOM: They would have been idiots to not invite you to the second camp

I was sitting on the narrow balcony of my apartment with my legs propped on the chipped metal railing. There was an ice pack balanced on my knee, leaking steadily onto the towel beneath it.

The Orlando heat hadn’t let up, even though the sun was setting and turning the sky a washed-out orange. Everything felt thick—the air, the humidity, and the day, which still clung to my skin like sweat I couldn’t rinse off.

My phone buzzed in my hand.

I didn’t expect the message to hit me like that — sharp and clean, straight to the chest. Even though my mind had told me not to care, it was as if my body had been waiting for it.

SIERRA: Thanks!

I typed fast, too fast. But I didn’t backspace.

DOM: Can’t wait until you’re back. I miss you.

I stared at his words. Too long. My fingers tightened around the phone.

The program had been everything I’d hoped it would be — intense, competitive, and full of girls who pushed me to level up every single day.

I was learning from some of the best coaches in the country, sleeping like the dead every night, and waking up sore, my muscles strained like I’d never played volleyball before.

Still … somewhere between the reps and the recovery, there were moments. Quiet ones.

Like now, sitting alone on the balcony with the cicadas humming in the trees, looking at the sky soft with early evening, where something about the silence felt off. Like I was waiting for a stupid text to pop up and make me roll my eyes.

And God help me, I kind of missed the way he always knew how to make me roll my damn eyes.

So maybe — maybe — I missed him, too.

I think.

A little.

Ugh. Whatever.

I tossed the phone onto the table beside me and took another sip of my protein shake, trying not to read the message again. And failing miserably.