Page 102 of Taking the Pitch
I lift my hand, motioning to the women spread throughout the living room. “Ask the committee. They’re the ones who brought it up.”
“As long as it’s not before Kessler and Lucy’s wedding, I’m ready whenever you are, Shortcake. I’d hate to show up my big brother and make him cry like the baby he is.”
“Who the fuck are you calling a baby?” Kessler asks. He comes up behind Judd and puts him in a headlock before Judd can turn around.
“Here we go again,” Marlene mutters, taking a sip of wine as she watches her two sons act like teenagers. She stopped telling them to watch their mouths about twenty minutes into the day. Apparently, when all the boys get together, it’s a waste of breath.
“You’re both babies,” Garrett’s deep voice booms from the kitchen island where he’s currently standing with his arms crossed. His dark burgundy sweater is stretched around his thick muscles. The color makes his already mesmerizing eyes irresistible.
Kessler lets go of Judd and turns around, giving Garrett a mischievous grin. “Ready for our re-match, Seal Boy?”
Garrett’s lips curl up into a smile as he stares Kessler down. “You sure you can handle it, old man?”
Kessler scoffs. “You’re the same age as me, Dick Head.”
Judd tips his head back against the chair, chuckling. “Oh fuck, this is going to be good.”
I nudge him with my knee. “What is?”
“They challenged each other to a rematch to see who could last longer in the pond in Mom and Dad’s backyard.”
“Oh Jesus, not this again! You boys are going to catch hypothermia!” Marlene chastises them.
“It’ll be worth it,” Kessler and Garrett claim at the same time.
“Can I do it too?” Hudson asks, sitting up and finally tearing his eyes away from his video game.
“Uh…” Lucy says, looking from Hudson to Kessler.
Kessler shrugs. “I’m okay with it if your mom is.”
“Mom,pleasecan I? Dad’s doing it.”
Lucy’s face softens and a slight sheen forms over her eyes. “Yeah Hud, you can do it.”
“Yes!” Hudson yells, jumping up from the floor and fist pumping the air.
“Me too?” Kade asks, looking at Kara.
Kara bites the corner of her lip. “I don’t know, Kade. You’re not the best swimmer.”
Kade’s face falls and his shoulders droop.
“I’m sorry, Hun. I just–”
“I’ll watch him,” Garrett says.
Everyone looks from Kara, whose cheeks have tinged red, to Garrett, who’s holding her gaze. “It’s not that deep. He’ll be safe,” he reassures her.
Kade looks hopefully from his mom to Garrett and back again. “Please?”
Lucy places a hand over Kara’s. “He’ll be okay. Garrett won’t let anything happen to him, and Kessler will be in there too.”
Kara glances at her mom, who’s sitting quietly in a chair next to Marlene. Her mom also nods her head in agreement. The room is silent besides the occasional crackling of the wood from the fire. Closing her eyes briefly and taking a deep breath, Kara opens them and looks Garrett in the eyes. “Okay. I trust you.”
Kade and Hudson let out a whoop and race to the back door, leaving Kara and Garrett staring at each other for a few heartbeats before Garrett breaks eye contact and follows the boys out the door without another word.
“I’m gonna go grab some towels. You gonna watch your man win, Coach?” Kessler asks, winking at Lucy.
