Page 49 of Betting on the Best Friend
Not sure that had the effect Sydney thought it might.
Alton serves again and we end up in a rally, going back and forth about five times before Sydney hits it past Ruby, giving us a side out and making it our turn to serve.
While we set up, Alton goes to talk to Ruby, his head low, face intent. Her lips are pursed, her eyes narrowed. She’s irritated as she walks to her box.
“Up to the kitchen when they serve,” Alton calls.
Ruby doesn’t move for a second, but her chest rises with a slow breath before she straightens and jogs forward.
I serve, Alton returns it, another rally happens, and this time, Sydney scores on Alton.
“Ha,” she says.
He shakes his head and doesn’t say anything.
Sydney’s eyes turn to slits before she looks over at me and mouths,I’m taking him down.
Her next serve forces Alton to scramble and return it from an awkward angle, sending it into the net.
“Nice, Sydney,” Ruby calls.
“Thanks. I think I’m getting it translated from tennis,” Sydney answers. Her next serve drops right in front of Alton, forcing another awkward hit, and he sends it into the net again.
He gives a frustrated grunt.
“It’s okay,” Ruby says. “You’re still doing it better than I could.”
Sydney's next serve starts a rally, and when Ruby sends the ball into the net on the fifth shot, she straightens, grinning.
“We did good that time,” she says.
“Ruby,” Alton snaps, and his sharp tone gets everyone’s attention. “You gave them another point. Head in the game.”
“You gave us two, bro,” I point out. “Calm down.”
He shakes his head and walks back to wait for the next serve.
I shoot Ruby a look that asks if she’s okay. She rolls her eyes and nods.
“Let’s do this,” she says, clapping her hands.
The next rally goes well until I return the ball too hard and it arcs toward their baseline. Ruby runs for it, and Alton yells, “Let it go!” But she stretches and tries to get her paddle under it. She does but it deflects the ball into the fence behind them.
“That would have been out,” Alton says, his face red and sweaty. “Didn’t you hear me yell at you?”
That’s it. I head toward the net. “We all heard you yell at her.”
He ignores me, glaring at Ruby, and as I step over the net, he’s not letting it go. “This isn’t a hard sport, but you have to pay attention.”
I stop between them and put a hand on Alton’s chest with enough pressure to make him take a step back. “Get out of her face.”
I haven’t looked at Ruby yet, because if I don’t like what I see in her expression, I might punch another person in the face for the first time.
Alton moves my hand. “We’re fine. Just some in-game intensity.”
I risk a look at her. If this was Niles, she’d be smoothing this over, trying to cajole him into a different mood. But when I meet her eyes, she nods at me.
“Game over,” she says.
