AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Go ahead, Coco,” Miles says, his voice quiet, but we all hear him.
“Okay.” Coco is enjoying her power way too much. I chalk it up to growing up an only child. Had she grown up with us, she would have been used to bossing around three younger brothers, but she didn’t. So, she’s getting it all in now. “We need to split up our girl power, so Meredith, you’re with Jude.”
“Got it,” she says, jogging over to where Jude stands. There’s a giddy smile on her face, and I can’t help but remember how this whole thing came about. I mean, we’ve played every sport you can think of as brothers. But this organized game, this team sport, is for Meredith. For number eighteen.
“Levi, you’re with Alice.”
Is she splitting me from Meredith on purpose? Or just putting the strongest brother with the little girl?
“Owen,” Coco says, unable to hide the grin on her face. “You’re with Jude and Mer.”
Grr. She’s doing this on purpose. Why are she and Miles so hell-bent on seeing Owen and Meredith together? The same age does not make a couple compatible.
“Miles you’re with Alice.”
We’re separating on this field just like high school gym class.
“What about me?” Cooper asks, standing in the blank space between our two teams.
She gives a one-shoulder shrug. “I guess you’re benched.”
Coop laughs, then presses his palms together. “Come on coach. You know where to put me.”
“Fine. Alice, do you want him?”
“Is he any good?” my niece asks. Normally, Alice is anti-anything boyish, and she would definitely call football boyish. But she’s rolling with it today. Maybe it’s being called captain that’s got her so willing to play.
“Am I any good?” Cooper charges her and Alice squeals, racing circles around us.
Coop chases after her, letting her get in a couple of laps before he scoops her up. “I’m only the best Bailey brother to play the game.”
“Hey,” Owen says—though he’s grinning. “We all played in high school. I’m pretty sure Miles had more completed passes than you, Coop.”
“Did not!”
Alice sighs loud and giggly, laying like a limp rag in Cooper’s arms. “We’ll take him.”
“All right!” Coco claps her hands. “Game on.”
We huddle up—each team on their own side of the field.
“All right team,” Cooper says, taking charge. “While our sister didn’t mean to, she has stacked our team. Miles and I were all-state. Levi was first team. And,” he bounces his brows, “we’ve got Alice!”
Alice dances in the center of our huddle, pumping her fists in the air. I grin, it’s hard not to grin at Alice. Everything about her speaks goodness. I lift my gaze to our competitors, like us, they’re huddled up. Owen’s arm drapes around Meredith’s shoulders, while her arm rests about his waist.
My head goes clammy and fog clouds any sane judgment I know is up in that brain of mine. My gut churns, disliking the sight of that huddle. In fact, I’m pretty sure Ihatethe sight of it. For the first time in my twenty-nine years of life, I think I could punch my nicest brother. And I’m not even sure what he’s done to deserve it.
“I’m covering Owen,” I say, interrupting whatever it is Coop was just telling Alice. “Alice, you take Meredith.” I won’t be having one of my brothers do that job. “You two get Jude.”
“He’ll be their quarterback,” Miles says.
“Yep.”
Alice slaps us all a high-five and then we line up.
The down begins and Jude steps back. He looks for Owen, but I’ve got him. Miles and Coop charge Jude and he throws—to Meredith. Alice is currently doing cartwheels. In her defense, she’s doing themnextto Meredith.
Meredith’s arms stretch out, and we all watch as if this were a scene in slow motion. Jude, Miles, and Coop are on the ground and I’ve got Owen in a headlock.
