"A coach?" I repeat, staring down at Marco's upturned face. His brown eyes are wide, his expression hopeful.

He nods, his fingers fidgeting with his baseball glove as he starts to shift his eyes downward.

"When are practices?" I ask, trying to buy myself time to sort this out. The last thing I have time for right now is coaching a baseball team, but the way Marco looked when he asked me, as if he really wants me to say yes, has me mentally shuffling my schedule and realigning commitments to make this work.

"Tuesdays and Thursdays."

"From five to seven?"

He nods, his eyes trained on my face once more.

If I push my shift on Tuesdays and pick up a double shift on Mondays, I can do it. Oh hell, as if I could tell the kid no. I’ll just have to figure something out. "Okay." I palm his shoulder, crouching lower so we're nearly eye level. "Let me talk to Coach Anderson and if he's cool with it, of course I’ll help coach your baseball team."

"Really?" he breathes out, traces of astonishment in his voice.

This kid breaks my freaking heart sometimes. "Yeah, dude. It'll be cool."

His smile grows and he stops fidgeting. "All right. Thanks, Carter."

"Let me catch Anderson really quick, okay?"

"Okay."

I tap the top of his head, leaving him to hang out and talk with Denver and Jax, and turn toward the head coach, calling out to him as he stuffs helmets and bats into an equipment bag.

"Coach Anderson."

He turns toward me, standing straight as his eyes scan me over. "Yeah?"

"I'm Carter Kane. Marco's Big Brother."

His eyes cut to Marco before finding my face again. "I didn't know the kid had any family."

"Through the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program," I clarify.

"You're the guy who was in the accident with Taylor." His eyes narrow at me.

Shit. "Yes, sir. I was in the car."

Silence.

"I understand you need another coach to help out with the team for the start of Fall Ball." He starts to shake his head, but I continue, "Marco asked me if I would do it and—"

I turn back to look at Marco, standing by the fence, watching our interaction closely, Jax's hand resting on his shoulder. "I don't want to disappoint the kid. Plus, I used to play ball and could help with batting practice and work with your pitcher."

This stops him from outright refusing, and he watches my face intently for a moment before sighing. "I could use the help, and it’s a plus that you've got a baseball background. But I work with kids. I can't have a guy showing up drunk and—"

"Sir, I wasn't driving the car. I was the passenger. I wasn't drunk that night, and I passed the breathalyzer test. It was incredibly irresponsible of me and I know that, but I would never put the kids on this team in any type of jeopardy."

He narrows his eyes and studies me for a beat too long. Then he nods slowly, blowing out a breath, defeated. "You can be here for the practices?"

"Tuesday and Thursday from five to seven."

He nods, adding another helmet to the bag. "All right, let's give it a shot, then. I'll see you Tuesday, Kane."

"Sounds good. Thanks." I turn toward Marco and give him the thumbs up sign.

A bright smile splits his face, and he nearly hops up and down with excitement, tugging on the hand of the person beside him.

Who just happens to be Taylor.

Standing and chatting with my brothers.

Jax and Denver have formed a circle with Taylor, Marco, and Ria, and they are completely engrossed in whatever Taylor's saying. So much so that they don't even notice me approach.

"Hey, guys."

"Hi." Taylor turns, a soft pink blooming in her cheeks when she sees me.

"Guess what, Tay?" Marco bounces, still clinging to her fingers.

"What?"

"Carter's going to be my new baseball coach."

Taylor's eyes flick to me quickly, a hint of confusion present. "You are?"

"Yep." I nod, glancing back at Anderson. "Starting Tuesday night. For Fall Ball."

"It's going to be cool, right, Carter?" Marco looks up at me expectantly.

"It's gonna be the best, little man." I hold out my fist and he bumps it, letting go of Taylor.

"You know Carter used to be all-state?" Jax throws out, directing his question to Marco, but I know he said it because Taylor's standing here.

She looks at me again. "I didn't know that."

I shrug.

"That's awesome. You must have been really good," Marco exclaims.

Ria snickers and Denver glances at her, the left side of his mouth ticking up into an almost-smile.

"You think we have time for an ice cream before I have to be home?" Marco asks hesitantly, but I see the excitement sparking in his eyes.

"I think we can swing that."

"Sweet. Let me say goodbye to my friends." He runs off, calling out to his teammates.

"You girls want to join us?" Jax asks Taylor and Ria politely.

Ria glances at me, her expression a mixture of doubt and curiosity. "I've got to finish my homework, but you should go." She turns toward Taylor.

Taylor wraps her arm around Ria's elbow. "I better make sure Ria gets back okay, but thanks for the offer. It was really nice to meet you guys." She says to my brothers.

"Good to meet you," Denver says, his voice gruff and gravelly.

Jax leans forward and kisses her cheek, smooth as all hell. I'd smack him upside his head if I didn't know he was stupidly in love with Evie. "Great to meet you, Taylor. My girl and I are moving this weekend so if I don't see you again, I hope we get to see you when we're back for Christmas."

Jesus. What is wrong with my brother? Christmas is in four months. I haven't even taken Taylor on a real date. And I'm honestly not sure if Raf's will qualify as one either, given its vibe.

Red paints Taylor’s cheeks, and she ducks her head, embarrassed. Ria's eyes widen, and she works to hold in her laugh. Denver coughs to cover his chuckle. Marco jumps up and down. "I love Christmas! Can we hang out when you're back?"

"For sure, bro." Jax fist bumps Marco, and he slings an arm around his shoulders. "Now, let's go get some ice cream. Bet you didn't think you'd get three big brothers out of this deal, huh?" he asks Marco as they saunter off.

Ria's eyes soften at their exchange, and she offers me her first sincere smile. "Have fun at your boys’ out ice cream date."

Den snorts, and I wave her away.

Leaning forward, I brush a quick kiss against Taylor's cheek. "See you Friday."

She looks up at me, her blue eyes glistening. "I can't wait."

Friday night.

Date night.

That's laughable. I can't remember the last time I took a girl on an actual date. Not just a hookup with Lori or breakfast after spending a night together with a random girl from the night before. I'm not cruel. I feed them after.

But tonight, it's different.

Taylor is different.

I just wish we were going someplace else, like that new restaurant that opened up in the next town instead of Raf's. It's bizarre to me that Taylor would request going there, but I made her a promise and I intend to stand by it.

So Raf's it is. Sweaty, smoky Raf's with the smell of stale beer and peanuts and Lenny behind the bar.

I tug on a pair of dark jeans and pull a light grey Henley over my head, pushing the sleeves up on my forearms. Sliding into flip-flops, I spend more time than I'd ever admit styling my hair until it looks casual but not unkempt.

Grabbing my keys and wallet from my dresser, I pull my bedroom door closed behind me. I’m excited for tonight. Nervous as hell too.

"Ow, ow!" my sister calls out as I bound down the steps to our living room.

I flip her the bird and she laughs, another female chuckle joining in with hers. My head swings across the living room, landing on Sierra, Daisy's best friend and roommate from college.

"Sierra Grace." I announce, walking over to her and pulling her into a hug. In a lot of ways, she's like a third sister, after Evie. Mainly because Daisy and she have been inseparable for the last four years, and I spent too many hours listening to her drama over FaceTime in addition to my sister's.

"Hi Carter." She hugs me back, sniffing loudly. "You even smell good. A shower and cologne? This must be one lucky lady," she teases, her brown eyes amused.

"Shut it."

I turn toward my sister whose eyes are shining gleefully.

"What are you staring at?"

"This is the best."

"What is?" I grumble, starting to wish I lived on my own so I didn't have to deal with my siblings’ comments and teasing all the time.

"You. Actually getting bent out of shape over a girl. Who would have thought we'd see the day?"

"Not me," Denver remarks, pushing into the living room from the kitchen. He stops short the second he sees Sierra, his eyes cutting to Daisy sharply.

"Hey Den," she greets him, her hand lifting in a half-wave, her voice higher than it was a moment ago.

He nods at her, his eyes swinging between the three of us as if he's unsure whom to look at. "Have fun tonight," he says gruffly in my direction before turning and pushing back into the kitchen, the door swinging back and forth from his force.

"Weird," I say, grateful to get the attention off of me.

"I know, right?" Daisy agrees, watching the door to the kitchen as it finally stops moving and stays closed.

Sierra looks away, studying her hands.

“Seriously, is something up with you and my brother?” Daisy asks Sierra point blank and I bite the corner of my mouth to keep from laughing as Sierra’s olive complexion turns pink.

“I don’t think he likes me much.” Sierra finally answers.

Studying her, the way she wrings her hands, her eyes cutting to the kitchen door again has my Spidey sense tingling. Something is definitely up. But I can’t tell if that something is that Sierra has the hots for Denver, and vice-versa. Or if Den really does find her annoying.

"It doesn’t matter.” Sierra waves her hand, turning her attention back to me so she can get out of the hot seat. “So, you're taking her to Raf's?" She changes the subject, and Daisy laughs and the ribbing starts up all over again.

"I'm leaving." I hold my hands up. "Whatever you girls get into tonight, be safe."

They both roll their eyes and I chuckle, a stab of nostalgia for all the times I reminded them the same thing when they were at college. "See you later."

I pull the front door closed behind me and take the steps down to my driveway. Backing out slowly, I point the SUV in the direction of Taylor's house and swallow the jangle of nerves racing around in my chest.

Tonight's going to be different.

I can feel it.