The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,26

guy, but I’ve never subscribed to any of that females-are-weaker B.S. My brothers can be annoying and way too over-protective, but they’re the best.” Emmy narrowed her eyes. “If you hurt Archer, you’ll have me to answer to. Understand?”

“Yes,” I said after she was done. It was so refreshing to see a sister standing up for her big brother that I had to smile. “But you’ve got nothing to worry about. At least not from me. I like Archer.” Probably more than I should, I added mentally. “I don’t want to hurt him, Emmy. I don’t want anything from him.”

She nodded as she searched my face. “I believe you…but I don’t think you know what you want.”

Truer words had never been spoken, I thought.

“Just know, you’d be lucky to have him,” she added before walking away.

Actually, on second thought, those were the truest words ever spoken.

Too bad I wasn’t brave—or stupid—enough to try my luck where Archer was concerned.

Honor’s hands in my hair, her lips sliding against mine, the feel of her as she moved in my lap. I remembered it all like it was yesterday. And yeah, I couldn’t stop thinking about that either. How surprised she was to see me at her house, her smile from the other day—and the look of distress that crossed her face before she turned me down cold.

“O’Brien, get your head in the game!”

Bear’s shout pulled me right back to the practice field.

Which was where my focus should’ve been in the first place.

Heat raced up my neck as I looked around at my team. All eyes were on me, but I had no idea what had already been said. Had we been discussing defensive strategy? Offensive? The lineup? How important it was to not make stupid mistakes like the one Declan made on the other play by bobbling the ball on what should’ve been a perfectly easy grounder? I tried to keep my comment as vague as possible.

“Guys, we can’t afford to make any errors,” I said, pulling my cap lower. “Like Coach says, perfection is impossible, but that’s what we’re shooting for. Our first game is next week. Let’s practice like champions.”

Bear nodded to me, and my brothers all looked amused.

“You heard your Captain,” he said. “Get back to work.”

“Nice save,” Chase mumbled next to me as we all dispersed.

“Thanks,” I said, handing him the ball and then walking behind the plate.

Parker Graves was doing practice swings just outside the batter’s box. “Okay, so who is she?” he said.

“Who’s who?” I asked.

“The girl in your head.”

As Honor’s face flashed across my mind, I cleared my throat. “Man, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Think I do,” he said, digging his cleats into the dirt, turning once in a circle like he did before every at bat. “Only one thing distracts a guy like that, and it’s a female. So, what’s her name?”

I just shook my head and pulled down my mask before dropping into a squat.

“Fine,” Graves said, assuming his stance. “Don’t tell me. Just know this: once you let a girl in, it’s hard to get ‘em out of your thoughts.”

“Maybe you should concentrate more on your swing,” I said. “Probably get more hits that way.”

“Just trying to be friendly, Captain,” he laughed. “The others aren’t going to take it so easy on you.”

And he was right.

Graves hit a pop fly to left field that was caught, no problem. Automatic out. Next up to bat was T.J. Perez, a sophomore who seemed to a have a love of women that rivaled even Baylor’s. Actually, the two liked to hang out a lot.

“So, I hear you’ve got your eye on someone,” T.J. said as he stepped up to the plate.

I frowned behind my mask. “And who’d you hear that from?”

“From your loudmouth brother. Who do you think?”

I cursed underneath my breath.

“She pretty?” he said, throwing me a grin. “Baylor said she was. Rejection always hurts worse when they’re pretty.”

“And you would know, wouldn’t you Perez?” I said and got down into position.

“Hey, I’m on your side, Captain. Bros before hoes, am I right?”

God bless Chase for striking out that fool.

Hunter Bly came up next and just said, “T.J. told me. Sorry man, her loss.”

He got on base with a single down the middle, but I couldn’t even be mad about it. Did everyone know Honor had turned me down?

Chase struck out the next batter, and I went to the dugout, stripping out of my catcher’s gear as we changed up positions.