Page 129 of Curveball

I catch Ripley mumble to herself, “Me too.”

I smile down at her, and she widens her eyes as if she didn’t intend to say that out loud.

Reagan Daulton interrupts, “As someone whose husband has a beard, I can tell you that the ride is worth the price of admission.”

Reagan is basically the boss of almost everyone here. We don’t normally see that side of her, though she’s always been friendly and casual around us.

The girls all completely and obviously check out her husband, Carter. Reagan gives a knowing smile.

Everyone then spends the next twenty minutes oohing and ahhing over Kaya. I look around. Arizona did a nice job enhancing the natural beauty of my backyard, and Ripley seems happy. That makes me happy.

I lean over to Collin. “Thanks again, man. This placeis amazing. And sorry about the last-minute changes. I did them for Ripley.”

He smiles. “I know. I get it.” He stares at Jade. “The right woman is worth making a few changes for, right?” He winks at her, and she gives him the universal sign for a blow job.

He laughs.

“I think you’re right. Now if I could only get that woman on board, it would be great.”

He slaps my back. “The great ones are worth fighting for. Trust me, I know. Be patient.”

I nod. “That’s the plan.”

We sit around all afternoon talking, laughing, and drinking. A few people swim, including Cheetah and Kam who don’t keep their hands off each other. I wonder what’s gone on between them while I was gone. They’ve never been this outwardly affectionate.

Everyone has a lot of questions for Reagan and Carter. They’re obviously the team owners, but they also own one of the biggest companies in the world, Daulton Holdings. They hear pitches for new business all day long, and everyone seems amused by that.

Kam asks, “What’s the craziest business anyone has ever pitched?”

Reagan and Carter look at each other and smile before she turns back. “Secondhand sex toys. It may actually be the dumbest idea ever created. Carter and I couldn’t keep straight faces throughout the entire meeting.”

Carter nods in agreement. “The two guys who pitched us honestly thought there was a huge market of women wanting to save ten bucks by having a vibrator inside them that’s already been inside another woman.”

Kam shrugs. “People do it with dicks, why not vibrators too?”

Arizona giggles. “I bet you could come up with some good names for that. MaybeBuzzed Again.Secondhand Hand.”

Cheetah’s eyes light up. Here we go. “Vintage Vibrations,Recycled Rectum,Play It Again Plugs.” He looks at Reagan. “Out of curiosity, what was the name of the company?”

She smirks. “That’s the best part. Both of their first names were Richard. The company was namedDouble Dicks.”

I smile. It’s fun to be around this crew again. I’ve missed them.

At some point, the party naturally splits into men and women. I see the girls all laughing in the far corner. I’m holding Kaya, who has a bottle in her mouth.

Trey nods my way as his own child sleeps on him. “Fatherhood looks good on you, Q.”

I smile. “Thanks. I can’t believe how much I love this little thing.”

Cheetah sips his drink. “There was always some tension between you and Ripley, but I don’t think any of us realized exactly what was happening.”

I sigh. “Yep, I was an asshole.”

Cheetah lets out a laugh. “No news there. Are you two together?”

I shake my head. “She doesn’t want any part of me right now, but I’m breaking her down. One day soon, she’ll be mine again. For good.”

RIPLEY

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