The Other Game (The Perfect Game 4)

The producer turned to her. “As soon as we stop rolling. Otherwise your camera’s shutter clicking will filter into the sound bites.”

They pulled Jack into the living room, where there was more natural light, and interviewed him as we all waited for him in the kitchen, talking in hushed tones amongst ourselves about the team and the bonus.

Before we knew it, the camera crew and agents had cleared out, gone as quick as they’d come, and it was just the Carter family again. And Cassie, of course, but she felt like family to more than just me at this point. I could tell that Gran and Gramps really cared about her.

“I’d really love to take some family pictures of you all, if you don’t mind,” Cassie asked, and Gran’s face lit up. We’d never had them done before, and even I admitted that it was a great idea.

Cassie posed us out back under one of our big trees, smiling as she clicked away on her new camera. She organized us so she could take pictures of us alone, all together, and then separated us into groups like just me and Jack, and just Gran and Jack. I would have hated all the posing if it were anyone else asking us to do it, but Cassie made it bearable.

Gramps asked if he could take a photo of Jack and Cassie. I laughed, assuming it would come out blurry, or only Cassie’s head would be in it. But apparently, after some instruction from Cassie, he did pretty well.

“Can we get one more with Dean?” Cassie asked before waving me over. “I don’t have any pictures of the three of us. I really want one. Or twelve,” she called out to Gramps.

My heart warmed inside my chest. The way Cassie always tried to include me was exactly why I couldn’t help but think of her as family already. I was so thankful Jack had found her, and that she tolerated him.

“Thanks for including me, sis,” I said as we ended the shoot, dying to get out of these pants and into some shorts.

“You know I love you,” she said with a smile, and Jack glared at me.

“Back off, little brother. I might be gone in a few weeks, but I can still kick your ass,” he said with a playful snarl.

“Yeah? You and what army?” I said before he broke away from Cassie and chased me into the house.

Carter Brothers on the Road

Jack spent his last few days split between Cassie’s apartment and our house. As excited as he was to begin this chapter of his life, I sensed that a part of him hated leaving. Not only Cassie, but Gran and Gramps too. This house was all we’d known, and we’d never left. Neither of us even considered moving out when we got accepted at Fullton State, so for Jack, this would be his first time living away from home.

I sat on his bed while he packed a duffel bag full of clothes. “You all right?”

“It’s weird to be leaving.”

“I was just thinking that,” I admitted.

He stopped folding a shirt to glance up at me. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I mean, we’ve never lived away from home before.”

He sighed. “I know. You’ve gotta look out for Gran and Gramps, okay? They’re getting older, and I worry about them.”

I waved my hand. “Stop it. They’re not ninety. They’re fine, but I’m not going anywhere.”

“Except up north with me.”

“What?”

“I want you to drive up with me. I mean, if you want. The house looks awesome, and I want you with me when I move in and meet the guys.”

“You don’t want Cassie to take you?” I asked, assuming that he and Cassie had already planned to go up together. Even though Jack got drafted for the Arizona Diamondbacks, he was heading to their Single-A baseball team up in Northern California first. Before you got to the major leagues, you had to work your way through the farm system.

“No. I mean, of course I’d like her to take me, but she has her internship. Besides, I really think we need a brothers’ road trip before I leave.”

“You taking the Bronco?” Internally I shuddered at the thought of what a nightmare that vehicle would be for long distances.

“Yep.” When I groaned, he said, “Oh, come on. I want a car while I’m there. And how else am I going to take all my shit with me?”

Shaking my head with a chuckle, I said, “When do we leave?” and Jack grinned back. He knew I’d never turn down the opportunity to spend more time with him.

“Tomorrow morning. Go pack.” He waved a hand to shoo me off, but I hesitated.