Cleat Catcher (The Cleat Chaser Duet Book 2) by Celia Aaron, Sloane Howell

his hair and chuckled. “Why do I always miss the good stuff?”
    I nodded. “Mom decided she would invite Carter over for dinner at the same time I was bringing Braden to meet them.”
    “Mom.” Ben slung his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Come on, you know that wasn’t cool.”
    He’d always had a way with her. Maybe it was because he was the oldest or maybe because he was a boy, but Mom always caved when it came to Ben. Relief began to surge inside me just from knowing he was on my side.
    She pursed her lips. “Well, I just thought—”
    “You’re too smart for your own good.” He squeezed her again before going back to his salad. “So, if Carter and Braden were here together, of course there was some sort of a fight, right?”
    Despite Ben’s efforts, Mom seemed undeterred. “Braden isn’t the sort of man I pictured you with. He’s so, so angry. And he’s uneducated.”
    “He knows what he needs to know to succeed at baseball. That’s his career.” I shrugged.
    “But what will he do after his career is over?” My father’s eyes softened, and he put a hand on my upper arm. “He’s got what, five good years of baseball left, if that? His knees will go eventually. It happens to all catchers. Then what’s his plan? You’ve always been a hard worker, setting goals and knocking them down. Mom told me how you’re writing an article for Style and Substance now, already moving up. You have a bright future. We’re so proud of you. We just want to make sure you aren’t chaining yourself to someone who doesn’t share your work ethic.”
    I fidgeted in my seat. Braden and I had never talked about what his plans were after baseball. Did he have some sort of backup career? What would he do when the seasons were over? Dad withdrew his hand, and the room fell silent as the cook replaced our salad plates with the main course—prime rib, roasted vegetables, and baked potatoes.
    “He’ll find something else after baseball. We’ll figure it out together.” My voice had lost some of its strength, but I tried to sit a little taller to make up for it. “That’s how we do everything. Together.”
    Dad cut into his prime rib and made an “oomph” noise. Mom shifted in her seat, and I suspected she’d kicked him under the table.
    He began, “You know, I’m still involved in certain baseball circles.” He glanced at Mom but continued, “I was talking to a friend of the Ravens GM the other day after a round of golf at the club. He mentioned that Braden might be traded. Has he discussed that with you?”
    Mom couldn’t contain her triumphant smile. I’d wipe that right off for her.
    “We’ve discussed it. It’s one of the reasons he was so upset the other night. The trade talks were weighing on him. Maybe if you’d treated him like a person instead of some sort of insect you needed to brush away, he would have shared that information.” I was telling the truth, mostly. I didn’t mention that he hadn’t even told me until we were standing in the front yard and he was yelling at me. I winced at the memory. I’d resolved to forgive him for it, to try and forget it. But it still hurt all the same.
    Mom’s smile fell away, and at least I got a slice of satisfaction from dousing her smugness.
    “And that’s why he yelled—”
    “Wait.” Ben’s eyes narrowed. “He yelled at you?”
    “Just a little. Nothing crazy.”
    Mom’s smile was back.
    Ben pinched the bridge of his nose. “‘Just a little’? He’s lucky I don’t kick his ass! No guy yells at you, understand?”
    I stared at him. “You’re yelling right now.”
    “I’m your brother!” He clanged his fork on his plate. “I get to yell when you act like an idiot and let some guy walk all over you.”
    Ben was so even-keeled that his anger took me off guard.
    I needed him on my side. “It wasn’t like that. When you meet him, you’ll see. I promise, he’s never yelled before. It was just that one time.”
    “One time