Page 122 of Baseball and Shifters

“You’re right, Emerald. You deserve way better than us,” Derrick says, kissing my forehead.

“Oh! Look! It’s bumper cars!” Lucas says, ending the sweet moment, making me laugh before the tear that welled up with Derrick’s declaration can fall.

“Oh, yeah! Let’s do it!” Liam smiles. “As kids, we always got a thrill out of getting to ram into our siblings and not get in trouble.”

“Well, you won’t be ramming into me. I’ve never driven before, I’m pretty sure I’ll be causing all the ramming.”

All four guys smirk at me with heated eyes and I don’t understand the sudden need flooding the bond until Liam opens his mouth.

“You’re definitely the reason for any ramming we do, Shadow Girl. But you’re the one who gets rammed… Just last night we ram-”

“Okay! Shh!” I cut him off, waving my hand in his face. “I didn’t mean it likethat!”

“Oh, we know,” Maya chuckles.

“That’s what makes it so hilarious,” Aubree says.

“And disturbing. I don’t want to know about all yourramming,” Dallas adds.

“Okay, next person to say that word has to buy everyone lunch,” I declare.

“What word?” Lucas asks.

“Ram,” I snap before realizing my mistake.

“It’s okay, Emerald. I’ve got lunch for you,” Derrick shakes his head. “It’s not nice to trick our mate like that,” he scolds Lucas.

“Our mate can take a joke.” Lucas rolls his eyes before muttering, “just for that, I’m coming after you.”

We get in line for the bumper cars, the guys bantering back and forth as we wait.

“You sure you want that for the rest of your life?” Dallas asks as we stand back watching Liam put Lucas in a headlock.

My smile is as bright as the sun when I answer. “Never been more sure of anything in my life.”

“We’re so happy for you, Rach,” Aubree says, Maya and Dallas nodding their agreement.

“Thanks, guys. I still can’t believe this is all real sometimes. I’m finally free of my father. I have the best friends a girl could ever ask for, and the sweetest, funniest, most caring mates in the world. Add in passing all my finals and the guys in the tournament and days like this just feel like a dream.”

“It’s real,” Maya assures me with her hand on my shoulder.

I smile before the guy behind the gate starts letting people in and we’re set free to pick our cars. I really have no idea what to expect from this ride, but I guess the whole point is to hit the other cars. That shouldn’t be too hard.

I was wrong.

This is so hard. How do people even move?!

Every time I press the pedal, someone bumps into me, knocking my entire body around. Swear, I’m going to have whiplash after this.

“I’ve got you, Emerald!” Derrick calls as he slams into Lucas before he can slam into me again.

“My savior!” I swoon.

Bas cuts off Liam and I finally get enough space to move. I drive a few feet before crashing into Maya.

Okay so this is a lot more fun when I’m the one doing the hitting instead of being hit.

We drive around, bumping into each other and laughing until they shut the ride down and everyone grumbles before climbing out of their cars.

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