Catch Your Breath Page 5

  Sean sat at the curb next to his bike.

  “Hey, you might want to move that into the garage for the night.”

  Sean looked over his shoulder. “Yeah, Moira already reminded me. I want to change the oil first.”

  “Hurry it up, then. We have a game to play.”

  The football game was the best part of the block party. It gave him a chance to play the game he loved. He’d played in high school, and probably could’ve in college if he had gone. After becoming a cop, he tried out for the police league and made it. For a very short season, he represented the boys in blue on the field.

  The remainder of the block party turned him into one big ball of stress. Kids ran around unsupervised because the parents were all drinking and having a good time. Parents were drinking, sometimes too much. Grills were on . . . there were too many things that could go wrong.

  He made his way to the O’Learys and did his level best to keep his eyes off Moira. When he reached Liam, they shook hands and Jimmy offered him money for food.

  “Put that away.”

  “Every year my brothers all come over here, eat your food, and drink your beer. Let me cover some of it.”

  “We always plan extra. It’s tradition. I don’t want your money.”

  Jimmy stood there feeling frustrated. Not paying for his share made him feel like a kid again. People never really knew how to react to him. They tried to be nice, but he saw the pity in their eyes. He was the boy whose mom had been killed, therefore, he and his brothers could do whatever they wanted. His past became a ticket to skate through life.

  And it made him nuts.

  He tucked his money away only because he knew Liam had refused out of friendship, not pity.

  “Hey, Jimmy,” someone called.

  When Jimmy turned to look, he saw a crowd had gathered behind them and he immediately knew it was football time. The O’Learys stood on one side, facing his brothers Tommy and Sean. Jimmy scanned the crowd. No Kevin? He never missed a block party.

  Liam covered the grill and slapped Jimmy’s back. “Let’s go. Time for the O’Learys to beat the O’Malleys.”

  “Shit. In your dreams.”

  They joined the crowd on opposing sides. As usual, Ryan O’Leary was captain, although Colin obviously offered direction. Jimmy took his spot in front of his brothers.

  Tommy said, “Kevin will be here in five.”

  Jimmy counted the O’Learys. They had added a bunch of new faces, but lucky for him, they were all women. “We’ll take Griffin.”

  “Griffin’s an O’Leary. You can’t have him,” Ryan said.

  “His last name’s Walker.”

  Ryan shook his head. “You try that every year. I brought him to the party, so I get to keep him.”

  True, Jimmy did try to get Griffin every year. He did it to annoy Ryan more than anything. They took turns grabbing up their old neighborhood friends until they had two teams.

  Then the entire crowd made its way down to the end of the block and the field where they played. Standing on the rough, dry grass was like coming home for Jimmy. This was where his father had first taught him to throw a football, and where he got his first tackle and his first kiss. Summer wouldn’t be summer without a football game on this field.

  The game they played wasn’t regulation anything. It was supposed to be touch football, but it often got out of hand. They didn’t call plays because most of the players wouldn’t have a clue as to what any of it meant. He took the spot as quarterback, hoping no one would notice.

  Of course, Moira opened her big mouth.

  “No way, Jimmy. Rules are, you can’t play quarterback. It’s cheating.”

  “I haven’t played quarterback since high school. I think we can erase that rule.”

  She shoved her hands on her hips, trying to look tough. “But you’re still playing football. You play for that special cop league. You’re a ringer and it’s not fair.”

  Her head tilted with attitude while she spoke, but she wasn’t really angry.

  He threw his hands up and took up a spot on the defense line. It made him a little crazy that they didn’t use positions. Everyone just stood on the line and either ran for the ball or ran to stop the opposing players. The lack of structure irritated him.

  The O’Learys won the coin toss. The ball was snapped and Moira came running through the line. She was easy enough to spot with her flaming hair, but no one else on his team seemed to notice. Some were breaking through to get at Colin, who played quarterback, and others were already piled up on the line.

  Jimmy dropped back and ran after Moira, glancing over his shoulder. Sure enough, the ball headed her way.

  He bore down on her and waited a half second. If she caught the ball, all he had to do was tag her, but he couldn’t figure out where to reach that wouldn’t get him slapped, so he decided to try for an interception. He turned to reach for the ball, but Moira switched gears and they collided.

  He saw it happening in slow motion but couldn’t stop, so he did the next best thing: he wrapped himself around her to protect her. They landed with a loud oomph.

  Jimmy pushed up on his elbows and looked into Moira’s eyes. They were still bright blue and smiling. His hand cradled the back of her head and her leg wedged between his. He was suddenly very uncomfortable. All of her soft places lined up where they shouldn’t be.

  Someone smacked his shoulder. “What the hell, O’Malley? This is supposed to be touch football.”

  He eased his hand out from under her head and shoved up to his knees. He looked at Ryan. “Yeah, well, I was trying to figure out where to touch her when she changed course.”

  Moira started to giggle and parts of her jiggled along, so he looked away. He stood and held his hand out to help her up.

  “I’m fine. Jimmy was a total gentleman and made sure to cushion my fall.” The syrupy sweetness in her voice made him want to forget being a gentleman.

  Kevin did it for him. “Some gentleman. I’d like to cushion your fall, sweetheart.”

  “Stop being an ass, Kevin,” she tossed out before brushing grass from the seat of her denim shorts.

  As everyone went back to the line of scrimmage, Jimmy took an extra minute to slow his breathing and regain control. He would let the O’Learys score ten touchdowns before he would lay another hand on Moira.

  An hour later they were all tired, but laughter filled the field. No one could agree on the score, so Jimmy and Ryan called it a tie. Moira decided she could live with that as long as she got away from Kevin. After the first play of the game, when Jimmy landed on top of her, Kevin had taken over guarding her. He taunted her nonstop until she finally stuck out a foot and tripped him.

  The O’Malleys of course called a penalty on her, not that they used any real rules, but she couldn’t argue. That man had been getting under her skin since the first grade. Every year they were in the same class and he always had the seat behind her. God forbid the teacher do something other than alphabetical order for the seating chart.

  It started with him tugging her pigtails in the first grade and it hadn’t stopped since.

  The group went back to their respective homes to throw the first round of food on the grills. Except for the O’Malleys. They joined her family. They were an odd mix. The O’Malleys were mostly younger than her siblings. Colin, Ryan, and Michael were all older than Jimmy. The entire O’Leary clan was older than Sean and Tommy, and Norah, who didn’t live in Chicago.

  But somehow, they always hung together. She guessed it was a little like having an extra extended family.

  With the help of Quinn, Indy, and Brianna, she got all of the salads brought outside in one trip. As they peeled back the plastic wrap, Quinn asked, “So what’s with Kevin O’Malley?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I watched the game. There’s something going on there.”

  Moira snickered. “Yeah, a massive case of annoyance. You know that kid in class who’s worse than the class clown
? He makes everyone laugh, but at the same time, he just makes you nuts?” She didn’t wait for a response from all of her new sisters. She was sure every class had a Kevin O’Malley. “That’s him.”

  Needing to avoid any questions that would lead to confessions, Moira checked her watch and called out to Liam, “Hey, do we have time for the water balloon toss before the food’s ready?”

  Liam nodded and waved with his tongs. She used the excuse of a water balloon toss to escape any further discussion of the O’Malleys. If they pressed, she would spill her guts about being in love with Jimmy for most of her life. She knew it was silly and probably wouldn’t really be considered love, especially since it was one-sided, but when she thought about Jimmy, she always thought she loved him.

  Moira lined up kids and adults alike for the water balloon toss. She grouped the kids and started their toss, which ended quickly. She handed out cheap prizes and then stood in line with the other adults. Their game offered no prizes, just bragging rights, which she’d held for more than a decade.

  Her partner, Olivia, one of Maggie’s friends, lined up across from her. It rarely mattered who partnered with her. What she lacked in football skills, Moira more than made up for in skills for throwing a water balloon gently.

  Colin whistled to announce the start of the toss. After the first lob, the lines took a step back.

  Olivia asked, “When’s Maggie coming home?”

  “She was here at Christmas. Didn’t you see her?”

  “Yeah, but I thought she’d be back by now.”

  Moira shrugged as the balloon came back to her. Another step back, widening the gap between players. Balloons were dropped and handled too harshly. Women squealed as cold water splashed against them. It only took another ten minutes until they were down to the final three couples.

  Olivia released the balloon into a high arc as someone yelled, “Hey, Moira.”

  Moira looked next to Olivia and saw a second balloon in the air. This one coming like a line drive at her. What the hell?

  She tried to keep her eye on her balloon, but the other reached her first and smacked her on the chest, exploding with cold water. In the meantime, her balloon landed at her feet, soaking into her gym shoes.

  The cackling laugh sounding behind Olivia told her exactly who had thrown the balloon. Kevin. She was going to kill him. He ran down the block, laughing, so she took off after him. They neared his house and he whipped by Jimmy.

  Jimmy stood and stopped her progression. “Don’t you think a wet T-shirt contest is a little inappropriate?”

  She looked down at her chest and realized how exposed she was. Leave it to Jimmy to embarrass her. She clamped down on her jaw and held tight to her anger. “You think this was my idea? It was a water balloon toss that I haven’t lost for over ten years. If your stupid ass brother didn’t attack me with a water balloon, I would’ve won.”

  “Kevin did this?”

  “Doesn’t he always?”

  She plucked the material from her skin and allowed a calming breath to ease past her lips.

  Then Kevin made the mistake of yelling from his porch, “Looking good, Moira.”

  Her rage returned tenfold and she leaped for him, but got nowhere. Jimmy had swooped in and scooped her up by her waist. She scrambled like a cartoon character with her feet off the ground.

  He whispered in her ear. “Why don’t you go change? I’ll deal with Kevin.”

  She smacked his chest and he set her down, but didn’t allow enough room for her escape. “Change into what? Unlike you, I don’t live at home. I don’t have clothes here.”

  “Borrow something of Maggie’s.”

  She laughed. “Have you ever taken a look at my baby sister? There’s no way her shirt would fit me.”

  He sighed and his eyes darted everywhere but at her. Then he reached over his head and tugged his shirt off. Moira lost the ability to think. Whoever said Chicago cops carried a spare tire around the middle and ate nothing but doughnuts had never laid eyes on Jimmy. Lots of delectable muscle.

  The shirt landed on her shoulder.

  “Here. Lucky for you, I do live here and can get a new shirt.”

  Her brain came back online and she said, “Thanks.” He always took her off guard when he did something nice. She couldn’t quite read him and it annoyed the hell out of her.

  “Whatever. I’m sure your brothers don’t want everyone staring at you. I’m saving you some embarrassment.”

  And he was back. The Jimmy she was used to, treating her like the bothersome kid sister who needed to be protected.

  Jimmy watched as Moira’s expression changed. Her face fell and he felt like an ass. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but he never knew what to do with her. He spoke the truth. Her brothers would keel over if they saw her looking like that. She turned and headed toward her house.

  He turned to his. Kevin hovered in the doorway, just like he did whenever he stirred up trouble and expected to be hunted down.

  “Why are you always fucking with that poor girl?”

  “It’s fun. I like her mad.”

  Jimmy could relate. Moira was one hell of a spitfire. She always had been. Even when he’d had her off the ground and at a disadvantage, she kept kicking.

  “One day I’m gonna do just the right thing for her to get mad enough to throw herself at me.” He slapped Jimmy on the shoulder.

  “Dude, if you really think that’s a possibility, I failed at teaching you to read women.” Plus, it would only complicate his life if anything happened between Kevin and Moira. He had a hard enough time avoiding her. He went upstairs to grab a fresh shirt. When he came back down, Kevin was sitting on the steps. “You need to apologize to her.”

  “Hell no.”

  “You’re being an asshole.” Not much better than Jimmy had been. Taking a page from his own book, Jimmy headed across the street to find Moira.

  It was easy enough; her red hair acted like a beacon. The shirt he’d given her should’ve swallowed her body because he dwarfed her, but she did one of those girl things where she tied it in a knot at her waist. A sliver of white skin peeked out where the shirt met her shorts. Her expression appeared only slightly guarded when she saw him. He wondered how she managed to be a reporter when she wore her every thought and emotion for the world to see.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “For what? You didn’t throw the balloon. Tell Kevin to watch his back.”

  He couldn’t stop the smile knowing she was plotting revenge against his brother. “What I said to you came out wrong. I was an ass.”

  Her hands settled against her heart. “Be still. Did I hear right? Did an O’Malley not only apologize, but actually admit to being an ass?”

  “I do know how to apologize. Your brothers would’ve been pissed to see you looking like that, but you have nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s just . . .”

  She squinted up at him. “What?”

  “Nothing.” He turned and walked over to the grill where Liam was pulling off burgers. “Need some help?”

  “Nope. I’m good. Help yourself.” Liam placed the last cheeseburger on the platter.

  Before Liam had the chance to set it down, Jimmy grabbed two buns and burgers. Liam’s burgers would disappear quickly. Jimmy glanced over at Kevin, who still stood on the porch. He picked up a burger and waved it at his brother. Served him right for not apologizing.

  Moira caught his wave and glared at Kevin. Jimmy skirted to the other side of the table. He loaded his plate with salad and fruit and a handful of chips. Then he went back to his lawn chair in the middle of the block where he could watch all the action. He’d gotten a text from Gabby saying she’d be there soon.

  He normally didn’t invite people to the block party the way most families did, but Gabby had overheard him talking to Liam about it, so he felt he had to. She was always bugging him about meeting his family anyway. He sank his teeth into the first bite of the burger and he got another text.

&
nbsp; Where the hell am I supposed to park?

  Wherever you can find a spot.

  Smartass.

  And that’s why he liked partnering with Gabby. She was a straight shooter.

  Tommy and Sean set up a couple of chairs on the lawn in front of the house and yelled for their dad to come out to eat. Jimmy had no idea what his dad had been doing in the house all day. He’d invited him to come watch the football game, but Dad didn’t want to. At the same time his dad decided to make an appearance, Gabby strode down the block.

  Jimmy figured it would take all of three minutes for Gabby to realize why he never asked her to socialize with his family. He waved her over and she sat on the curb. “You can have my chair. I can get another from my garage.”

  “Nah. I’m fine.” She looked up and down the block. “So who’s who?”

  He gestured directly across from where they sat. “That’s my house. My dad and two of my brothers, Tommy and Sean, are right there. Kevin is hiding somewhere.” He pointed down to the O’Learys’ house. “The O’Learys live there.”

  Gabby snorted. “The O’Malleys and the O’Learys? What is this, Little Ireland?”

  He shrugged. “The neighborhood’s pretty Irish, but there are other people. The Schultz family lives down there, the Polks live two doors down, and the Fosters are on the corner.”

  “Yeah, a real melting pot.”

  “Whatever. You’ve met Liam. His family owns O’Leary’s Pub, and they have a keg if you want a beer. And if you want one of Liam’s burgers, you better move fast.”

  “I ate already. I just wanted to come and hang out for a while. Maybe talk strategy.”

  Another reason to like Gabby. She didn’t mind talking shop on her off time. She was damn near the perfect woman. Too bad she was a cop and he wasn’t the least bit interested in her.

  “What are we going to do about getting you a wife?”

  “Looking to get married, Jimmy?” Moira said as she sat beside Gabby.

  Beer almost spewed from his lips. “Thanks to you, I’m looking for someone to pretend.”