Page 50 of On Her Team
“Why are you boring?” Mila shouts her question at Penelope.
“Stop embarrassing me,” Otis hisses.
“Mermaid, save me from embarrassed teenagers,” I mutter.
“I’ll save you,” Gage says as he joins us.
My stomach flutters as excitement fills me. I wasn’t expecting to see the football player today.Friends.I remind my stomach. Gage and I are friends. Nothing more.
“You’re obviously busy.” Chloe wags her eyebrows. “We’ll see you later.”
“Talk about ovaries exploding,” Nova mutters as she wanders off with Chloe and the other women.
“You have the wrong idea,” I holler after them.
Sophia glances back at me over her shoulder. “Sure, we do.” She winks before waving goodbye.
“Hey, songbird.” Gage kisses my cheek once my boss and her friends are out of sight.
“Are you my sister’s boyfriend?” Otis asks and heat explodes on my face.
“Otis,” I hiss. “None of your business.”
He puffs out his chest. “You’re my sister. It’s my business if you’re dating someone.”
Gage ruffles his hair. “Good for you. Looking out for your sister. How would you feel if we were dating?”
“Gage,” I rumble. “We’re not dating.”
He shrugs as if it doesn’t matter one way or another. As if he hasn’t been pushing me for a date since the second we met. “Doesn’t hurt to check how your brother would feel about it.”
“He’d probably be happy since he’s obsessed with football and you play football,” Penelope says.
“Enough!” I slash a hand through the air. “Gage and I aren’t dating, making the question mute.”
“Why not?”
I groan at Otis’s question. “None of your business.”
“It is my business if he’s pressuring you to date him and you don’t want to.”
Gage nods. “I like this kid.”
I slap his chest. “Don’t encourage him.”
“It’s good he’s protective of you.”
I throw my arms in the air. “Smugglers save me from protective men!”
Gage wraps his arm around my shoulders and hauls me near. “Pretend all you want, but I know the truth.”
I have no response since he’s right. I am happy Otis is acting protective. I don’t want him sticking his nose in my love life, but it’s good if he’s protective of his younger sisters. Penelope can handle herself, but Mila is going to need someone to protect her. Scratch that. The world will need protection from Mila.
A whistle blows and Lana, the mayor of Smuggler’s Rest, climbs onto a picnic table.
“Listen up, mermaids, smugglers, and people who are here because someone promised drinks afterward. Welcome to theAnnual Mermaid Lagoon Races!
For our visitors, yes, this is a real competition. Yes, the tails are mandatory. And no, we do not accept responsibility for cramping, glitter inhalation, or bruised egos.
