34. Emery
THIRTY-FOUR
EMERY
“Run!”
A surprised laugh tore out of me when the ball I’d just kicked went sailing across the yard, right over Otto’s head who was manning first base.
River was the one who’d shouted it, cheering me on from where he was already on third and was starting to sprint for home.
“Go, Miss Emery! You gotta run so super fast before Uncle Otto gets you!” Nolan jumped up and down to the side of me, up to kick next.
It finally knocked me out of the surprise, and I burst into action, propelling my legs as fast as they would go as Otto hustled after my ball that had landed on the far-right side of the yard.
Apparently, they were loose about the foul rules in this family because honestly, it’d been about the worst kick ever, but now that I was sprinting for first, I didn’t mind so much.
Because Kane was hollering at Otto, “Hurry, man! Pick up those boots and run! Em-Girl is about to leave you in the dust.”
It turned out, I did have the super fastest shoes at the party, and Otto had barely made it to the fence by the time I made it to first. So, I turned in the direction of second base.
Raven was there, bouncing on her toes and waving her arms overhead and shouting at Otto, “Come on, you sexy beast! Show me what you’ve got! Mama is ready and waiting, and she’ll reward you graciously later.”
From where he’d just crossed home base, River groaned like he’d suffered a mortal wound. “If you want me to take out your fastest team member, keep it up, Raven.”
“Just lighting a little fire under my man. It’s the exact kind of motivation he?—”
“My ears!” River covered them and dropped to his knees, and I nearly tripped because I could hardly stand with the laughter that was bubbling out of me.
The way they all taunted and teased and continually gave each other crap.
But in the sweetest of ways.
Their closeness distinct.
“Hey, what about me? I fought you told me I was really super fast?” Maci shouted from third, dancing on her little bare feet on the grass like she was about to suggest a race against Otto to prove herself.
“Right, what I meant to say was ‘your second fastest team member’,” River corrected.
“Good call, Uncle River!” she shouted back.
Joy all over her face, Raven stuck her hands out like she was going to physically stop me from making it to second. “Hurry, Otto!”
I barely touched the tip of my toe to the plastic base the second before she caught the ball out of the air.
“She’s safe,” Theo called, and I did my own little dance.
“Ah, a show boater, I see.” Amusement shook Kane’s head where he stood on the ‘mound’ that was another plastic plate.
“Just celebrating the little things in life,” I told him, feeling too free. The laughter still in my chest as Raven jostled her elbow into my side, totally playful like she was going to push me off.
“Don’t even try it, Auntie Raven!” Nolan sang from where he’d stepped up to kick. “No cheatin’. We gotta play fair and square.”
“Never would I dare,” she said, grinning over at me as she knocked my hip with hers .
Kane acted like he was winding the ball up, swinging his arm round and round, though he released it gently and sent it rolling in a perfect line toward Nolan.
Nolan ran forward and kicked it with all his might, which basically sent it right back to where Kane stood.
He went running, screeching with his hands over his head. Kane acted like he was going to throw it at him as hard as he’d done to River in the last inning, but he purposefully sent it over the top of his head and rolling across the yard.
Nolan threw his head back, his soft curls bouncing around him as he cracked up. “Missed me, Uncle Kane!”
“Ah dang! You’re just too fast for me.”
“That’s because I gotta leave you in the dust.”
“What? Leave me in the dust? That’s rude! And here I thought I was supposed to be your favorite uncle.”
Otto ran up, acting like he was going to block Nolan from getting to first, but stumbled to the side as if he’d tripped.
Nolan cackled as he stomped victoriously on the base.
Warmth spread.
A wild tugging at my chest.
All these fierce, brutal men who were so gentle with these kids.
I watched the whole thing go down as I jogged to third.
Third where my sweet, precious girl was still prancing on her feet as I made it to her base.
She wrapped those little arms around my thigh as she beamed up at me.
“Hi, Auntie Em,” she peeped.
I ran my palm down the back of her head, that tugging back in full force, my words thin as I whispered, “Are you having a good time?”
“I’m having the bestest time in my whole life. Fank you for bringing me here because I had a whole lotta people I’s supposed to meet.”
My chest squeezed. “I’m so happy you like it.”
“Are you ready for this?” Charleigh called as she moved up to kick.
“You’d better get ready, Auntie!” Maci screeched.
Charleigh kicked and sent it soaring, and I sprang into action again .
I hopped onto home base and threw my arms in the air. “Point for Team Nolan! That’s right, baby!”
“That was luck. I’ll be taking you down next time,” Kane heckled.
“Sure, sure,” I heckled back, unsure where the comfort and confidence was coming from.
River kicked next, and Kane snatched it out of the air high above his head.
“Out!” Theo called.
River grumbled, then muttered, “Show them how to do it, Emery,” since I was up next again.
I did a little taunting jig on the base, dipping low into a squat to stretch.
“Ah, she thinks she’s something special in those super-fast shoes, does she?” Kane ribbed.
I hiked a shoulder, sure I shouldn’t like the way those eyes raked over me.
But I did.
I liked it so much I was sure I was in horrible trouble.
Kane pitched the ball, it coming at me fast as it rolled across the lawn.
I kicked it high and bolted into a sprint the second it hit the air.
I was almost to first when I felt the quickening behind me.
The roll of the ground and the surge of energy.
Then those massive arms were wrapped around me, lifting me off my feet, my back plastered to his powerful chest as he spun me around.
“Kane!” I gasped, flailing in his hold.
Dizzy.
Dazed.
“No fair,” I wheezed.
No fair.
No fair.
Because his mouth was at my ear, and his words were dripping into my veins. “Yeah, she’s something special. So fucking special I can’t remember how to breathe.”