Page 81 of The Fake Out

She shook her head, and her black braid flicked over her shoulder. “You owe me nothing. I forgot how much I loved digging for the truth and exposing it. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.” With a pat to my arm, she wandered across the space and sat beside Beth.

On the field, Emerson was taunting the pitcher. Three strides from the base wasn’t much, but Em didn’t need much of a lead to beat a throw. Two pitches later, his squat deepened. This was it. He was ready to move. And the moment the pitcher released the ball, he took off.

My heart skipped at the sound of the ball smacking into the catcher’s glove. Emerson was two-thirds of the way to the base. It was going to be close.

I held my breath as he dove. His hand skimmed the top of bag only a second or two before the Declan Lowery’s glove swiped across his back.

A smile lit Emerson’s face, and I couldn’t help the one that flooded mine.

“He’s so good at that.” Isabella came to stand beside me. “Makes me nervous every time, though.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. My heart was still working its way back down from my throat. Where he found the nerve to take off on a wing and prayer was a mystery.

“He said we’re not supposed to say anything because of the whole Chris issue.” With a scoff, she rolled her green eyes. “And I kinda get it. I mean Andre”—she flicked her hand out the window at her brother—“would murder any of his friends in their sleep if I hooked up with them.”

She huffed hard, pushing her hair back from her face.

“He can hook up with girls without judgment, but somehow, I can’t do the same.” She snorted. “Whatever.”

“Brothers can be annoying.” I had too much firsthand experience to not throw that out there.

“Not Em.” She smiled down at where he was standing at third base. “He’s always just been there for us. I was little when he went to triple-A, and for a long time, I didn’t realize what a big deal it was. He was younger than I am now. Yet here I am, too scared to even go farther than Montclair, New Jersey, for school because I don’t want to leave my mom.” She laughed at herself, then schooled her expression and pulled in a big breath. “I understand it now. How much he did for us. And I’m really happy that when he talks about you, he smiles. Like really smiles.”

I wasn’t prepared for that statement, and it stole the breath from my lungs.

She rolled her eyes again. “It’s not that deep. You just make him happy, and that’s cool.”

“Oh.” I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet. “Thanks?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “It’s a good thing. So…” She glanced outside at her brother and sister. “Now that Vet isn’t here, what’s the deal with the lashes?”

I laughed, my heart feeling so light. Was there a person in this world who didn’t love the Knights? Because this family was the definition of perfectly imperfect.

The second the Uber pulled to a stop, I hopped out and took in the sight of the women on the sidewalk. Gi looked so damn good in the light dress that showed off the curve of her hips. I wanted to yank her into my arms and finally touch her. It had been literal days since I’d seen her.

We’d played at home twice last week, then we’d headed to DC for the weekend and New York for the Metros game after that. This was how life went for MLB players. We were constantly moving, and it wasn’t something I’d never minded until recently.

Because until recently, I was never leaving anyone important behind. Now, every time I left Gi asleep in my bed so I could head to the airport, I left a piece of myself behind.

“Hey.” She smiled shyly at me.

“Good game yesterday,” Mila said.

“Thanks.” I tipped my chin at the two bags on the sidewalk. “Just these?”

“Just?” Mila shook her head. “It’s a two-day trip, and she’s taking two full bags. And a jacket.”

“Hey, it’s three days, and don’t mock me.” Gi frowned. “I might need that coat. You never know if it’ll get cold at night.”

“It’s practically July,” Mila huffed.

She wasn’t wrong. The high for today was supposed to be ninety-eight, but Gianna should be comfortable, and if bringing along a coat made her happy, then I would lug it around.

I grabbed the bags and hefted them into the open trunk. “Mama and Tia Camilia love their AC, so you never know.”

Gi glared at me.

I didn’t bother trying not to smile. “Your chariot awaits, Mariposa.” I waved my hand toward the Tesla.

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