Page 2 of Strong Side

God bless the soul that is on the other side receiving my hits today.

1. Candy (feat. Trippie Redd) - MGK, Trippie Redd

2

Feel Invincible— I think?

Clayton

“Shit,” Jax grunts under his breath as he receives another one of Rocky’s hits. “I legitimately think my arms are going to bruise.”

1 It’s the first day back at practice after the holiday break, and we’re all warming up with a simple hitting and receivingdrill.

Actually, let me rephrase that.We’rewarming up and Rocky is hitting like his main goal is to send the volleyball through the gym floor.

Not that I blame him, really.

By the time we woke up this morning, the news about Aaron Sanders had spread like an STD at a frat party. Everyone knew about it, and no one was surprised. Aaron Sanders is and always has been a grade-A piece of shit. How he made it this far in life is one of life’s great mysteries. The only thing he had going for him was his volleyball skills, but even that was only going to get him so far. I don’t know when I felt worse for Rocky, honestly; when Sanders had to be his partner or now that he is left without him.

Rocky never wanted Sanders as a partner, but he wanted to win even more. That’s about the only thing he and I have in common. Winning the Division I championship for men’s doubles beach volleyball and making it to Team USA. I can practically feel that 2028 gold medal between my teeth. I know Rockwell Campos is talented. The man has more intuition for the game than anyone I’ve ever seen.

Not that I’d ever say that out loud.

His defense rivals Phil Dalhausser’s, his sets hit the mark with uncanny precision, and his side-out percentage is the highest on the team. I would have been hisdoubles partner in a heartbeat… if he wasn’t such a sanctimonious prick.

He walks around avoiding anyone and everything, constantly acting like he’s better than the rest of us because he grew up with less money, meaning he must have had a “harder” life. He seems to have it permanently ingrained in his brain that just because I grew up with money, I had it easy.

Little does he fucking know.

“Don’t be such a pansy-ass,” I jab at Jax as I get in my ready position, watching Coach Taylor set another ball to Rocky for an outside hit.

I watch in slow motion as Rocky takes his approach, swings his arms forward, jumps in the air, and twists his torso.

Line hit.

Rockwell Campos may be amazing, but I’m better. I’m Clay fucking Aldrich.

As his hand makes contact with the ball, I move to the line just in time to receive the pass.

God, I love practicing in the gym. It’s so much easier to move than on sand.

The ball hits my forearms, but I’m not prepared for the sheer force behind his hit, and it knocks me on my ass.

Rocky’s gaze locks with mine, and I don’t find a hint of remorse behind those green eyes. All that’s there is smug satisfaction and unrelenting anger.

Asshole.

Jax is laughing his ass off as he walks over to me and holds out his hand. “Who’s the pansy-ass?”

I grab his hand with more force than necessary. “Shut the hell up.”

Jackson Baker is my best friend and genuinely one of the best people I’ve ever met, but that doesn’t mean I won’t deck him in the face.

While the rest of the practice was just more drills, Rocky’s intensity didn’t waver, and by the time we headed to the weight room, we all made sure to give him a wide berth.

Coach Taylor doesn’t police when we hit the gym as long as we get it done. Most of us find it easier for muscle recovery to do it after practice, and it gives us time to fuck around and have some fun without Coach breathing down our necks. So, in typical Campos fashion…he avoids it at all costs. He usually lifts weights before practice, I’m assuming it’s so he doesn’t have to talk to anyone on the team, so I was slightly surprised when he followed us into the weight room. But if I had the day he was having, I’d have some extra aggression to work out too.

I don’t know what compels me to do so, but as everyone else shuffles into the weight room, I stop and pull Rocky to the side. I’m not oblivious, I know some of his story and how hard he worked to get here. If something or someone ruined my shot at the Olympics, I couldn’t even imagine the range of emotions I’d be feeling.

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