The first serve of Leo's first match back felt like a gunshot.
The ball left his hand, his palm connected, and the sound echoed through the gym—a sharp c***k that silenced the crowd for a single heartbeat. The left-handed float drifted, dipped, and died on the service line. The libero from the opposing team lunged, missed, and watched the ball spin to a stop.
Ace.
The Crestmont bench exploded. Leo landed on both feet. His knee held. His heart pounded. His hands were shaking.
Kai walked past him, a ghost of a smile on his face. "Welcome back."
Leo didn't answer. He couldn't. His throat was too tight.
The opposing team called a quick timeout. Their coach was already drawing up adjustments. Their players were staring at Leo like they'd seen a ghost.
Maybe they had. The short kid with t
