Always Been You | Jake Baker [2]

Chapter 13

Kim serves the volleyball to the Murtaughs who are quick to get it back over our side of the net, Henry hits it back but when Anne tries, she misses. 1-0

 Charlie spikes the ball and it hits Jimmy on the head before hitting the sand. 2-0

Calvin passes us the ball and Charlie quickly picks me up so I spike it down on the Murtaughs side. 3-0. Charlie excitedly runs around with me on his shoulders.

And that wins it for us.

 ______________

"Well, folks, for the first time since 1961, our Labour Day Cup has ended in a tie." Mike Romanow announces. "The Miller Family are going to be taking third place, and to determine second place, and our champion, the Bakers and the Murtaughs are gonna have a canoe race. From here to the State forest end of the park and back. Alright? And all family members must participate."

"Mike. Mike, uh..." Tom steps up to where Mike is standing. "I got a daughter who's due is a week. She-she can't do that. And Maddie's scared of canoes."

"Gee, Tom maybe you can work something out with Jimmy here, okay?" Mike suggests.

"Looks like you're gonna have to forfeit, Tom." Jimmy says.

"Jerkoff." I mumble.

Tom turns to look at us with a sad smile on his face before turning back to Mike and Jimmy. "Look, uh... uh, they can't do it. So... we're done. And... congratulations."

Jimmy smirks and shakes Tom's hand but gets cut off by Nora stepping forward. "Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah. I'm going, Dad." Nora chuckles and pokes Jimmy's chest. "You just pissed off a severely hormonal pregnant woman."

Nora turns to us and throws her arms in the air, "Let's do this!"

"Do I need to do this?" I ask, holding my hand up. "I mean, technically, I'm not a Baker, I'm a Quinn."

"And if you stand by that we'll have to revoke all the points you scored for the Bakers." Mike states.

"Well..." I shrug, but Jake covers my mouth with his hand.

"She'll do it. She's good to go." Jake assures. "She's a Baker, through and through."

I lick his hand and he pulls away grossed out and I scrunch my nose at him before walking off.

We all line up alongside each other as Tom passes us an oar each. When everyone has one we all get ready and sit in the canoe. I'm sitting in front of Bud and Nora with Jake next to me and Henry and Sarah in front of us. 

"On your marks!" Mike Romanow starts.

"Mur-taugh!" We all look at the Murtaughs.

"Get set!"

"Mur-taugh!" The move in sync and I raise and eyebrow at them.

The sound of a gun startles everyone and the old man in the wheelchair falls back into the lake causing me to laugh but everyone starts rushing to get a head of the Murtaughs as the race has started.

"Go Bakers!" I hear the old man cheer and I laugh harder.

"I love that guy." I giggle earning a laugh from Jake.

"Come on, put some muscle into it Bakers!" Kate encourages us and we start to catch up with the Murtaughs, eventually being head to head.

"Not this time, Murtaugh." Tom says smugly.

"That's what you think." The Murtaughs speed up and I feel water at the bottom of the canoe.

"Hey, I think we're taking on water!" Bud states.