Sidelined by Mercy Celeste Page A

Not hard, but enough to double him over. “Why didn’t you tell me, Tracy? I wouldn’t have cared. You’re my brother, and I love you. It wouldn’t have made a difference.”
    “I don’t know—“ He tried to play off her comment but Levi moving rapidly through the crowd caught his attention. He was coming to Tracy’s rescue. Anger snapping in his eyes like gold lightning. Tracy shook his head, and Levi stopped, one eyebrow raised in question. Tracy stood up and mouthed the word sister . Levi nodded and returned to the crowd.
    “And that’s what I mean. That boy is gone on you. So much he was coming to kick my ass. And you didn’t even have the guts to tell me.” There were tears in her eyes. He pulled her close and held her.
    “I’m sorry, Brit. I didn’t think…okay, I didn’t know how to tell you.”
    “Do Mom and Dad know?”
    “Yeah, I sort of told them when I moved back home. I didn’t want the when are you getting married question to pop up. Or for them to find out by accident…don’t tell Rodney.” The horror of their very religious-minded brother and what he’d say suddenly became a nightmare.
    “I’m not stupid. Rodney is an asshole. And Cindy. I’ll let you figure out how to tell her.”
    “There’s nothing to tell. Really,” he added when she cocked her hip and placed her hand on it in that you’re in trouble now pose she did better than anyone. “We’re just messing around, Brit. It’s nothing.”
    “Yeah, well, the jealous eyes you’ve been giving him all night says it’s something. And I’ll tell you this, looking at those girls who think they might be underage candidates for all his money, you might better give him a tour of the property if you get my meaning.” Tracy followed her nod to the group of girls, all incoming seniors from one sport or another. A couple of them were looking at Levi as if they were sizing him up for a wedding ring.
    “Oh, fuck, what the hell is it with people in this town? If it were just the girls, it would be one thing, but damn, okay, this needs to be winding down anyway. It’s coming up on ten; some of these kids have curfews.”
    “We’ll get them sorted. Just take Levi home or somewhere else before the fireworks start.”
    “Shit, I forgot about the fireworks. They all pair off for that. Fuck. Okay. Gone.” He leaned over and kissed his sister. “See you at school Monday.”
    “Gah, don’t remind me that my summer is over.” She shoved him away laughing. “Go rescue your man. Oh my god, I did not just say that.”
    “You did. I heard you.” Tracy shoved her back. Gently. Then turned his attention to the girls and the hand on Levi’s arm that was drifting higher up his bicep. “Yo, Brody, move your ass and help me out, will you?” He shouted over the music, waving to get Levi’s attention.
    “Sure thing, boss.” Levi called back. He deftly extricated himself from the knot of girls and half jogged across the patio. “What’s up?” He leaned in and whispered. “Oh, thank you, thank you. That one chick seems to be on something, and what the fuck is in the water around here? I’ve met sophisticated man-sharks in my time but not a freakin' sixteen year old.”
    “Guess you don’t remember the girls we went to school with, then. It’s about the same near as I can tell. Grab that box, will you, and follow me out to the Jeep.” He hefted a cooler full of beers onto his hip and grabbed another cooler by the handle. “Be back in a bit, Brit.”
    “No rush, Tracy, just take care of that…thing…and see you after the fireworks.” His sister busied herself with cleaning up one of the tables and throwing away discarded paper plates.
    “There’s fireworks?” Levi followed him out to the Cherokee, the box of what looked like leftover food in his arms as he glanced skyward.
    “Yeah, Dad’s down setting it up. We shoot them off over the mill pond and everyone goes home afterward.” Tracy opened the tailgate and placed