Page 68 of On Her Team
I elbow him. He couldn’t lie? Or make up some story? Maybe something about me being captured by mermaids and how he didn’t have a chance to rescue me until this morning?
“Ms. Price? You can call me Nora.”
“Nora. It’s lovely to meet you.”
Mom motions us inside. “Why don’t you come in?”
“Gage needs to get to work.”
He grins. “I have some time.”
“Don’t you need to get to training? I don’t want you to get in any trouble.”
“I already messaged Coach and told him I’d be late due to a family situation.”
Family situation? This is my family. Not his.
“I like him,” Mom declares before I can think of another reason to ask him to leave. Doesn’t she understand? I need to push him away before my heart gets involved.
Being with Gage is a one-way street to heartbreak. He’s a landlubber,andhe’s a famous athlete. He won’t stick around.
Gage places a hand on my back and nudges me into the house. I frown at him and he smiles down at me as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“You don’t have to stay,” I hiss at him.
“I want to make sure everyone’s okay.”
“It’s not your job to protect us.”
He shrugs. “It’s my privilege.”
Dang the man. He has to say the exact right thing? Rude.
“Okay,” Mom says once we’re inside. “What happened?”
Otis crosses his arms over his chest. “Some kids were harassing Penelope. I made certain it won’t happen again.”
“Otis,” Penelope whines. “Stop embarrassing me. Everyone will be talking about me at the start of the school year. Poor little Penelope needs her big brother to save her.”
Otis throws his arms in the air. “What did you expect me to do? Let Vincent speak to you that way?”
Penelope’s face darkens until she’s bright red. “You embarrassed me.”
I step toward Penelope but Gage shackles my wrist to stop me. “May I?”
I want to tell him no. This isn’t any of his business. But the sincere look on his face stops me. Maybe he can get through to my siblings. The pirate knows I’ve never been able to. I motion for him to go ahead.
He kisses my forehead. “Thank you.”
“Penelope, do you mind if I wade in? Give my opinion.”
My heart melts at how he asks permission. He doesn’t simply shove his way into Penelope’s problems.
Penelope studies him for a moment. “Go ahead.”
“What Otis did wasn’t embarrassing. It’s what a big brother does to protect his sister.”
“I can handle things on my own.”
