I narrow my gaze at him. “Because I know she’s your sister. We take care of the team’s family on this team. Something you’d know nothing about.”
“Oh really? Why did it look personal then, huh?” he fires back, stepping toward me. “She’s off-limits. Don’t even bother.”
Teagan steps between us, putting one hand on each of our chests. “Ian, enough. I don’t even know him. Like he said, he was just being a good human and helping. And, even if I were interested in him, it’s none of your business.”
If the context were different, I might’ve laughed at her saying she doesn’t know me, because we’ve seen each other naked and are living together. The total opposite of not knowing someone.
“The fuck it isn’t. This—”
“Ian, the whole world is watching right now. Finish pitching the damn game,” I cut him off, noticing the slew of cameras and eyes on us.
He takes a look around, then takes off, jumping down from the dugout to return to the mound.
The announcer plays off the minor interruption, getting the crowd geared back toward baseball as I remain rooted in my spot.
“Q, get back down there. I’m fine, I swear,” she says quietly, so that no one else will hear. “Plus, if you stay up here any longer, Ian is going to get suspicious.”
My eyes dart between hers, warring with my need to protect her and our baby while trusting her that she’s okay.
Without a word, I give her a nod and retreat back to my spot in the dugout. Coach Tran keeps his eyes on the field as he walks over to me, stopping right beside me.
“You want to tell me what’s really going on there?”
My heart leaps into my throat at his question.
“Nothing. I knew she was Ian’s sister, and I stepped in to help. That’s all,” I say as I lean forward and rest my forearm on the railing, doing my best to sound bored and uninterested.
“Son, you’ve been paying her more attention than the game,” he points out, making it known I wasn’t subtle with my “crowd” gazes.
“She’s pretty,” I try, not wanting to deflect nor confirm anything. Coach Tran has a weird way of knowing everything, and I’d rather not lie to the guy when the secret will be out soon.
He hums, sounding amused. “Sure. Listen, all I need to know is that whatever is going on isn’t going to ruin our team dynamic. You and Ian already have enough bad blood as it is. Do not mess with my team, Q.”
This time, I stand up tall and face him head-on. “You have my word, Coach. Nothing is going to happen.”
Or at least, I hope not.
Chapter 31
Teagan
“Wanna tell me what happened back there?” Ian asks, his features harsh and skeptical.
It doesn’t faze me, though. I’ve been dealing with him my entire life. So I square my shoulders, and with an even tone, I reply, “What do you mean?”
“How do you know Laurent?”
“Who?”
“Quentin, the guy who defended you,” he explains.
“I just met the guy. He saw what happened and stepped in to help.”
I hate lying to my brother again and having to keep this pretense that I don’t know Quentin, but if Ian is this mad at me knowing Quentin, how will it be when I finally tell him the truth?
Ian stares at me as if he’s trying to see right through my brain and figure out what I’m really thinking. Then he releases a sigh and says, “I’m sorry I overreacted. I just don’t want anything to happen to you, you know?” he admits, then takes a deep breath, seeming to center himself. “Come out with the team tonight? We leave for back-to-back road trips and I won’t see you for two weeks.”
I lean closer, lowering my voice. “Did you forget I’m pregnant?”
