“I’m not.” I said, bending down to grab another football.
“Then stop throwing is so damn hard.”
“I’m barely throwing it!”
Emmie stomped her foot and shot me a glare. “Tell that to my poor hands. I think I broke a nail.”
I shouldn’t have laughed, but it was oddly satisfying seeing Emmie be bad at something.
“Mateo!” she snapped.
I reined in my laughter. “Sorry, no more laughing.” I spun the football in my palm as Tucker bounded up beside her, a spare football hanging out of his mouth. Tucker has been right there to snatch up every one of Emmie’s failed catches. There was a pretty big pile off to the side where he put them.
“Okay, ready?”
Emmie nodded, bent her knees just a little, and glued her eyes to the ball in my hand. I barely cocked my arm back, learning the lesson from the first time when I set a spiral in her direction, only for her to yipe and dodge it as it flew in her toward her.
I gently threw the ball forward, barely snapping my wrist, as I sent it her way. It wasn’t a hard throw as it spun in the air and headed directly for her. Emmie put her hands out, eyes locked onto the ball, the tiniest peek of tongue sticking out.
I knew she’d catch it from just the pure look of concentration on her face—and the fact it was a perfect throw. I watched the ball sail through the air…right into her waiting arms. Just like I taught her, she instantly brought her arms to her chest to secure the ball so it wouldn’t fly out.
It took her a second to realize she caught it. Emmie stared at the ball and then back at me, a smile growing on her face until it took over entirely.
“I DID IT!” she yelled.
“Yes, you did.” I grinned right back, her own contagious. Beside her, Tucker barked as if he was just as excited for her.
“I know buddy! I caught it!”
I stood there, watching as my girl and my pup jumped around. Emmie playfully juked Tucker as he ran around her legs trying to get the football. She was perfect. Completely and utterly, perfect.
“I don’t think your dad can catch us, Tucker,” Emmie said loudly. Pure mischief on her face when she looked in my direction.
“What did you just say, firecracker?” I took a step forward.
“I said…you’re too slow,” she sang, already backing away. “And you’d have to catch me first.”
“Oh, you’re done for now.”
Emmie laughed and took off, Tucker barking as he bounded after her.
I gave her a two-second head start, just enough to make her think she had a chance, before I pushed off after her. Her laughter echoed around the room as she ran away from me, the football still in her hands.
“Mateo!” she called over her shoulder, breathless and laughing.
“Better run faster, firecracker,” I shot back.
She cut across the grass to try and throw me off, quick on her feet, but I was faster. I closed the distance in seconds, reaching out just as she tried to dodge away.
“Got you.”
Emmie squealed when I caught her around her waist, momentum carrying us another step before I lifted her clean off the ground. I spun her once, twice, her laughter spilling out as she clung to the football. Tucker barked and jumped, wanting in on the excitement.
“Put me down!”
“Not a chance.”
I slowed down but didn’t let go, keeping my arms banded around her middle, her feet dangling off the ground.
