Songs for Cricket by Laine, E. (ebook reader .TXT) 📕

wide-eyed stare. “We’re just friends if you can call it that.”

“Are you not interested?”

I laughed out of nervousness. A part of me wanted to share my secret fantasy of me and Shepard together. But the truth was she had no loyalty to me. It would be mortifying if she ever mentioned my feelings to August not out of malice but as a conversation starter.

“Shepard is a walking advertisement for bug repellant. He has that stay away or risk getting bit in the ass written all over him.”

She giggled. “You’re funny.”

“Hardly. Let’s go find my brother and get this over with.”

I had started moving forward when she asked, “Get what over with?”

“Him seeing you, and hopefully before he’s introduced to your boyfriend.”

I didn’t bother to gauge her reaction. I moved through the growing crowd. The sun was setting, and more people were coming inside.

August and Shepard sat on the couch surrounded by giggling girls. One was whispering in Shepard’s ear, and another came around and planted herself in my brother’s lap.

I felt Emily beside me and glanced her way. Her jaw had clicked shut as had mine. I was about to tell her maybe another time when a lot of things happened at once.

Kevin showed up and pulled Emily back to his chest at the same time my brother looked up. Something tickled my neck, and I turned to find Billy’s face millimeters away from my own. So close, our lips brushed as I turned to face him. I gasped and pulled back.

Instantly, I glanced Shepard’s way, and his eyes were impassively on me.

My brother said something in the blonde’s ear, and she tumbled off his lap as he stood.

“Time to bounce,” he said loud enough to be heard over the music.

He came my way, and Shepard was right behind him. My brother was a react first and ask questions later kind of guy, impulsive; but even I had to admit, he was mostly well meaning. I glanced over to Kevin because I was afraid August was about to clock him.

Surprising me and anyone who knew him, he simply said, “Hey, Emily,” and took me by the arm, leading me to the door.

“Where are we going?”

“Home.” August all but growled the words and vibrated with anger. “I’ve had enough tonight, and we have practice in the morning.”

He called it practice, but for all intents and purposes, it was a tryout of sorts for those not recruited for the team. Shepard and my brothers had spots, but it wasn’t decided if they’d be benchwarmers or starters. The latter was likely. The team was in an upheaval with the recent departed seniors.

What they didn’t know was I planned to go with them. Though I’d played soccer all through high school, secretly I wanted to play football. I’d played with my brothers and Shep all my life, and believe me, they didn’t hold back. I could kick the hell out of a ball. I was near perfect every time. The only thing that had stopped me before was my father. He wasn’t here now. Besides, maybe for once in my life he would see me. If I made the team, he would have no choice but to acknowledge I was as good as some of the boys.

So maybe it was a good thing we were going home early. I needed to rest. Tomorrow would prove to be very interesting indeed.

5

finley

My alarm went off at an ungodly hour. I didn’t hit snooze. If I had a prayer’s chance at getting into the bathroom before the guys did, I had to go now.

Sharing would be a new experience. I had my own bathroom back at home. It was the only perk I’d gotten as my brothers shared a bathroom between their rooms. And Shep had also used that bathroom when he moved into our house after his parent’s disastrous breakup.

It was no wonder someone walked into the bathroom while I had a face full of soap in the shower. I’d mistakenly not locked the door.

“Get out!” I cried.

“Shit!”

I opened my mouth searching for air after hearing Shepard’s voice.

“Get out!” I yelled again, feeling the heat creep over my complete nakedness. The only towel was hanging outside the shower.

“Give me a minute,” he complained.

I worked on getting the soap out of my eyes because I didn’t think I’d completely pulled the curtain closed. Then I realized why he hadn’t left right away a moment too late.

The sound of the toilet flushing preceded the immediate shift in water temperature from hot to frigid.

A yelp left my throat as I hopped back hitting my back against the cool tiles. The couple of inches of curtain I’d left open gave me a view of Shep pulling up his shorts. I’d missed the view, but then our eyes connected, and my brain finally caught up, and I quickly pulled the curtain closed before his eyes ventured south.

“What the hell?” I groaned as August entered the bathroom. Though I couldn’t see him, he’d deduced what happened because he started laughing. “Priceless, you got her.”

“Yeah,” Shepard agreed.

But there was nervousness in his voice that August didn’t pick up. I heard back slapping and shouted for them to get out again. Thankfully, the door closed, and I was alone again.

When the water had warmed enough to tolerate, I quickly finished rinsing off and got out. I turned the lock and took another few minutes to catch my breath until August was back banging on the door.

“Hurry up. You aren’t the only one that needs the bathroom.”

I dried off and tightened the towel around me. I made a run for my room, knowing the next time I would bring my clothes and lock the door.

Looking cute was the least of my worries this morning. I pulled my damp hair into a ponytail and wore a loose shirt over a sports bra and shorts. The guys weren’t downstairs, so I ate a banana and yogurt while I waited.

Finn rolled into the room. “Morning.”

“Good morning