Page 35 of Play Along

“She’s related to Dean Cartwright,” I remind Kai of Kennedy’s stepbrother. “Their family always had money when we were growing up.”

Just another reason why I couldn’t stand the prick. While we were scraping by, trying to figure out a way to graduate high school without anyone realizing that Kai and I were on our own, I remember Dean showing up to the field every time we played against him, driving a new car, and decked out in the latest and most expensive baseball equipment.

Add that to the fact he’s a complete and utter nuisance and slept with every single girlfriend I ever had, it’s no wonder I’ve considered Kennedy’s stepbrother my longtime rival.

“Can we go chat outside?” I ask my brother.

All three of their attentions snap to my rarely serious tone, but Max just smiles over at me.

“Do you want to come outside too, Bug?” I take him from my soon-to-be sister-in-law.

“Yeah. Owside.”

The little man just turned two this weekend, and his vocabulary is slowly but surely getting there.

“Have you talked to my dad yet? He’s going to want to hear about this from you first.”

Miller’s question gives me pause.

Emmett Montgomery, Miller’s dad, is not only the field manager, which is essentially our head coach, but he’s also the closest thing I have to a father figure outside of Kai. He gives me shit and I give it right back. That’s how we communicate. You might not realize it if you were an outsider looking in, but Monty and I have a lot of love for each other.

“I’ll call him tomorrow,” I promise her.

With Max on my hip, I follow my older brother outside before putting my nephew down on the grass to play. We join him, sitting with our legs sprawled, when Kai hands over a beer I didn’t see him grab from the fridge.

“I have a feeling we’re both going to need this.” He clinks his bottle with mine.

“Do you think I fucked up?”

“In what context? Getting married or staying married?”

“Offering to keep this going for Kennedy’s job?”

Kai takes a swig. “I think things have a way of working out for you. They always have. It’s the happy-go-lucky thing and that goddamn smirk that gets you anything you want.”

My sometimes-grumpy brother hides his half smile behind the bottle, taking another sip.

He’s got a point. When we were younger and it was just the two of us trying to get through high school, college, and eventually, to the big leagues, I saw the toll it took on Kai. Life came at him a lot quicker than it should’ve for any fifteen-year-old and the responsibility of taking care not only of himself but also me was an obvious burden.

So, when he needed a pick-me-up, I learned how to be the one to make him laugh.

When we only had enough money to order one meal, I charmed the waitress into throwing in some extra fries for free.

When we couldn’t afford to take the bus, I made friends with the driver on our route, and he constantly snuck us on board.

I may not be the responsible brother, but I know how to use my strengths to my advantage. People like me. I know how to make others smile. So yeah, sometimes I joke around, but I keep a positive attitude towards life, and things have always found their way of working out.

“I um...” I clear my throat. “I was hoping I could get Mom’s ring from you.”

“Isaiah.”

“What? You’re not using it for Miller.”

“No, but...” He keeps his attention on his son, who’s running around the grass in front of us. “Look, you know I’ve been saving Mom’s wedding ring for you, but I had hoped you’d give it to someone you see yourself spending your life with. Not... whatever you and Kennedy are doing.”

“Just trust me on this, okay?”

“Isaiah,” he exhales. “Come on, brother. You treating Kennedy like she’s your real wife isn’t going to make her magically fall for you.”

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