Read Play Safe (Make the Play #1) for Free Online Page B

that.
    But Emmy does. She’s lived in this world – my world – her whole life. And she’s cool with it. More than cool with it. She likes it. Even though she doesn’t play herself, she gets it. And I know she would play if she could. In fact, she tried when she was younger. Several years in a row she played rec softball. Honestly, she wasn’t half-bad. But then she got pelted with the ball at the end of her last season, and that was the end of that. Every time the ball came near her after that she flinched. Couldn’t get past it. I’ve seen that happen to guys before too. Luckily I’ve never been scared of the ball. I’ve been beaned more times than I can count, but when a ball comes at me I stand my ground. Hell, I challenge the chump to hit me. It’s why I’m a good catcher. Cal has often joked that our bodies are made of steel. He’s not scared of taking a hit either.
    “I know Emmy and Josh got in a fight. Is that the real reason you took her home?” Cal pins me with a questioning look.
    Looking down, I nod. Cold wind whisks over me. Pulling my catcher’s mask further over my forehead, I glance up at the sky. The clouds are still threatening rain, but have yet to deliver.
    “Why didn’t you tell me that, man?”
    I shrug. “She asked me not to.”
    “Since when do you take orders from my little sister?”
    “I don’t. I just figured it was none of my business, you know?”
    “If that were true, you wouldn’t have brought her home,” he says, and I feel exposed. My excuses are pretty flimsy. I need to step up my game if I want to keep up this ruse. My stomach twists. Man, I hate this . “And anything having to do with Emmy is your business because it’s my business. I thought we were in this together, man.”
    “She’s not my sister.” I bristle.
    “Like hell she’s not,” he snaps. “You’re part of our family, bro. You know that.”
    I do know that. Ever since Mom and I moved back to town the Fishers have been there for us. Even when this whole town treated my mom like a pariah, the Fishers defended her, invited her to dinners, and helped her fix up the house and shop. Mostly because Cal’s mom, Maise, and my mom have been best friends since childhood. And, truthfully, I’ve always loved feeling like part of their family. If I can’t get a handle on this thing with Emmy I’ll risk losing that. All I’ve ever wanted was a family – a place to be accepted. There’s no way I can let what I have with the Fishers go. What the hell is wrong with me? “Yeah, I know.” Agitated, I rub the back of my neck with my free hand.
    Emmy’s lips.
    Emmy’s hands.
    Emmy’s face.
    It’s all I can think about, but I have to stop. If not, I’ll ruin everything.
    Cal eyes me funny. “What’s going on, man? You’ve been keyed up ever since Saturday night. Did something happen between you and Emmy?”
    “No,” I burst out. His head cocks to the side. Dude, I need to calm down. I yank off the catcher’s mask and run a hand over my head. Air escapes through my lips. “I just don’t think Emmy needs anymore brothers. She’s made it pretty clear that one is enough for her.”
    Cal chuckles. “Yeah, that’s probably true. And she has been carrying a pretty big chip on her shoulder lately. But she’ll thank us for having her back one day, bro. You’ll see.”
    I don’t buy it, but I nod anyway as I place the catcher’s mask back on.
    “So you’re back with the old ball and chain, huh?” Chase’s voice carries on the breeze.
    My head snaps up in his direction. He’s talking with Josh.
    “We were never broken up, bro,” Josh says.
    “That’s not how it looked at the party,” Chase says with a wink.
    It feels like someone is sitting on my chest, and I fight to catch my breath.
    “Screw you,” Josh retorts, but a small smile plays on his lips. I know what that look is about, and it makes me want to shove my fist in his face.
    I ball my hands at my sides. “She’s back with that