Moriah was still out of town, so Courtney and Luke had invited him to hang out with them for an evening. The kids were with Courtney's parents, so Joel had been hesitant to accept the invitation, not wanting to intrude on his brother's time with his wife. However, as they'd continued to insist, they'd ended up meeting in the middle... the couple had gone to dinner alone before Joel had joined them for the second part of their evening.

"I didn't know you played volleyball, Coco," Joel said as they walked from their cars to the community center they were at. "I guess that's why Luke was constantly rushing off in the evenings when you were first dating?"

Courtney laughed. "He was certainly my most supportive fan... and most loyal customer at Journey."

Luke smiled. "I had a lot of shoes."

"So you played club?" Joel asked as he chuckled at his little brother.

Courtney nodded. "When it was out of season, and after I graduated high school."

"They have adult leagues, you know," he commented. "You could get back into it."

His sister-in-law laughed. "Oh, Joel. You and your childless existence. You're so cute." She was still smiling as she shook her head. "I think I'll stick to being a fan from now on and keep dragging my husband back to games just because I want to go."

"And I want to go anywhere you want to go," Luke replied, leaning down to kiss her on the top of the head.

Joel made a joking gagging sound as he got the door for the couple. "Alright, mates, go easy on that stuff. Don't forget you have a third wheel tonight."

They made their way to the gym and found seats just as the first set was starting. Joel had never watched much volleyball since it was a sport Luke had never played, so he was glad to have Courtney there to explain the rules to him.

As he got more used to what was happening on the court, he started to notice more about the girls who were playing... one in particular that was strangely familiar. He couldn't place it until he saw her looking at someone in the stands below them and followed her gaze to find a young man holding a baby on his lap.

Adira.

What were the chances?

They were nonexistent, and this could only be a God thing. He hadn't been able to get the girl off his mind since they'd met the day before and seeing her here tonight was a blinding confirmation that God really had brought her into his life for a reason.

He leaned over to Luke and indicated her. "You see #17?"

His little brother nodded.

"That's the girl I told you about, from church yesterday."

"The one with the baby brother?"

Joel was the one nodding this time, using the movement to indicate where Adira's brother was sitting with the young man.

Luke smiled a little when he saw the child before looking at his current caregiver more closely. "Who do you think is holding him? He looks like he's in college, or at least that age."

Joel shrugged a little. He was right... the boy did look several years older than Adira. "I couldn't tell you."

Like she was reading his mind, Courtney offered Joel an encouraging smile. "We'll try to catch her after the game, alright?" she asked.

He returned the expression gratefully. "Thanks."

"I'd like to meet her anyway," Luke added. "I know you really feel called to help her out, and I want to support you in that."

"You're the best, little brother," Joel told him with another small smile, then returned his eyes to the game.

What were the chances?

Though he'd never watched much volleyball before, he found himself quickly enjoying the game. The girls were talented, and the sets were close and well-matched. Adira's team won two before losing the third and pulling ahead near the middle of the fourth. He knew he was already biased, but she was one of the best players on her team... she was certainly playing the best tonight.

She jumped and knocked off a blow that delivered the ball straight to the court on the other side of the net, putting them four points ahead and closing in on game point. The other team had been struggling to return shots like that all night.

"Your girl is on fire tonight, Joel," Courtney commented as they got ready to serve again. "Those jumps are incredible."

Her brother-in-law just nodded, his eyes fixed on the volley that followed the serve. As Adira stepped to get the ball, then held back in favor of the teammate who was lunging for it, Courtney spoke up again.

"The other girl should've let her get that. It was bordering their areas, but she was way closer to it."

The other young woman got the ball over the net, but she went down in the process, and as it returned to her area, Adira dug to save it. Another girl picked it up with a bump over the net, continuing the volley, but Joel winced backwards slightly as the girl she'd saved it for shoved her hard as soon as they were both on their feet.

He glanced at Courtney, who's face was horrified, and saw her nod in approval when the ref called the young woman out for it. However, the moment had obviously blown the team's focus, and after the other team blocked Adira's rushed bump, the girl who'd shoved her wasn't in position to pick it back up, and the ball hit the floor.

Joel couldn't hear what that same girl said to Adira as she passed on her way to the bench, but whatever it was, it earned her another sharp whistle from the ref and whatever the yellow card he flashed meant.

"Is that like a penalty, Coco?"

The woman nodded. "Pretty much. They get one warning, but after two of them they're out for the rest of the game. Teams also have limits, though, so coaches usually take them out after one."

He nodded, his eyes fixed on the game as the opposing team served and began another fast-paced volley.

Adira's team quickly got their momentum back, and it wasn't long before they'd closed on game point and then won. Joel watched as Adira jogged over to the young man and her brother, quickly claiming baby Reagan, who'd watched her with quiet intensity the entire time she'd been playing.

He heard her talking to him, smiling as the child cooed in return, until another voice interrupted their little conversation. It was a woman, a man who was probably her husband by her side, approaching from where they'd been sitting just above Reagan and the boy watching him.

"Those legs have been busy doing more than that high jumping, haven't they?"

Immediately, Joel felt the smile disappear from his face. Why did people have to be so hateful?

The young man jumped to her defense as Joel locked eyes with his brother, shaking his head slowly. Luke's face displayed the same emotion he was feeling... utter disbelief that people could be so horrible to complete strangers.

Courtney was frowning as well. "Poor girl," she sighed. "She probably gets that everywhere she goes."

"She was certainly getting the silent version at church yesterday," Joel replied wearily.

Luke exhaled slowly. "I don't understand how people can do that."

Adira's friend ended the exchange with the now-fuming couple and reclaimed Reagan so that she could follow after her teammates. Joel heard him mention waiting for her in the hall, and as he got up with the baby on his hip, pushing his stroller in front of him, the three of them rose as well to lowkey follow him out.

The pair went a little down the hallway to wait, so Joel stopped just a little to the side of the gym doorway and asked Luke a casual question to pass the time... and more importantly make this less weird.

It wasn't long before he heard light footsteps down the hall and looked up to see Adira walking their way, now dressed in a cheerleading uniform for Hillsboro High School. He smiled a little... she was a volleyball player like Coco and a cheerleader like Mo.

As she got closer, they locked eyes, and her brow knit in confusion. He immediately noticed that the area around one of her eyes was red, with a trickle of blood running down that cheek, but he didn't have time to stop and focus on it, so he stepped forward, offering her a smile and spreading his hands a little.

"So we meet again."

She nodded uncertainly, a little nervousness on her face. "Uh... yeah. What... what are you doing here?"

Joel turned to gesture to Luke and Courtney, who stepped forward with smiles of their own. "My wife is out of town and my brother and sister in-law felt so bad for little lonely me that they invited me to third-wheel their night out. Reminds me of when I had to chaperone while they were still dating."

Luke shoved his shoulder hard. "That literally never happened," he groaned through the grin he couldn't hold back. "And if you keep repeating it, you're going to start a rumor."

He didn't wait for Joel to argue before he offered Adira his hand. "I'm Luke."

"Adira," she returned, shaking it hesitantly, then doing the same as Courtney offered hers.

"Adira, I'm Courtney," the woman greeted her. "I used to play club, so I make Luke take mt to the games every once in a while, for old time's sake. You did incredible out there."

The girl managed a small, tense smile. "Um... thanks. But it was the entire team. The ball just came my way a lot."

"You're too humble," Courtney laughed. "But I can tell you're for the team. Tell them all good job out there."

Adira nodded, then glanced past Luke for a moment. Joel followed her gaze to see the young man, still holding Reagan, approaching.

"My best friend's throwing a party and she didn't invite me?" he joked. "I'm hurt, truly."

Adira rolled her eyes, but a smile was pulling at her lips. "Shut up, dork." She turned to the rest of them while instinctively holding out her arms and reclaiming the baby he was holding. "This is my best friend, Ray and my little brother Reagan. Ray, this is Joel, who I met at church yesterday, and his brother and sister-in-law, Luke and Courtney."

They all shook hands with him before he smirked at his best friend. "Wow, you went to church? This is a miracle!"

"Shut up!" she moaned. "It's not my fault!"

"I know," he confirmed with a more serious smile. "I'm kidding." That smile disappeared like a light as he truly looked at her face for the first time since he'd come over. "What the heck happened to you, الصغير?"

A little fear entered her eyes, something Joel could see under the confusion she was forcing into them. "What do you mean what happened to me?"

"Your face is red and bleeding, Adira," he told her plainly. "So, don't give me that."

"Oh, that." She glanced away a second with a laugh that was obviously forced. "I hit my head on an open locker. I swear to God I'm such an idiot sometimes."

Ray opened his mouth, probably to argue, but she cut him off.

"Well, I should really get going. I have to cheer a wrestling match tonight." She nodded to Luke and Courtney, then raised her free hand in Joel's direction, though she avoided meeting his eyes. "Nice to meet you, and nice to see you again."

Luke and Courtney chorused their agreement and Joel smiled at her once more. "Hang in there."

Then, the girl turned away hurriedly and walked down the hallway, claiming the stroller and pushing it ahead of her on a beeline towards the door.

Obviously, her friend was still less than satisfied with the explanation she'd just given him. He bid them farewell distractedly before rushing after her, and it wasn't long before both of them had disappeared outside.

They stood in silence for a long moment after they were gone. Joel was glad she had to friend to question her more about her face, because it had been pretty clear she'd been lying to some extent or another. He had a sinking suspicion that reality had something to do with her unruly teammate.

"You're right, Joel," Luke's voice was soft as it finally broke the quiet. "She needs help. I don't know how I know... I just do."

Joel nodded slowly. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that."

"You too have such big hearts." Courtney's smile was a little sad as she looked back in the direction Adira had disappeared. "Just keep trusting God to use them."

Luke leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Wise words from a wise woman. We'll keep praying, alright, Joel? I know God will bring her back across our paths one way or another."

Joel exhaled slowly before nodding in agreement. "Right. I hope so." He focused back on them, managing a small smile. "I'm more grateful than every that you invited me along now. Can I thank you by buying us all some ice cream?"

"Not a bad idea," Luke agreed thoughtfully. "Get it from the store, go back to the house to Netflx and chill?"

"That sounds like my kind of night," Courtney said with a smile. "Are you up for the drive out, Joel?"

"As long as crashing on your couch isn't completely out of the question," he chuckled.

Luke smiled. "You know it never is. Let's make it happen."

Gah that chapter was rough. My apologies, and please let me know if you have any constructive criticism to make it better. And as always, thank you so much for reading.