Page 158 of Curveball

“It’s a big milestone, and she’s ahead of the curve. Definitely a little athlete.” He holds his nose to hers and in his softest voice, coos, “Are you going to be a pitcher like your mommy? She’s the best in the world. I want you to be just like her when you grow up. We’re going to sit and watch Mommy at the Olympics in a few years.”

I moan. “Ahh. Pressure. What if I don’t make the team?”

He gives me an incredulous look. “You and Arizonawill be the starting battery in the gold medal game. Mark my words. I have zero doubts. I can’t wait to watch.”

“You’ll be in season during the Olympics.”

“They’ll either give me a leave of absence or I’ll retire, but there’s zero chance of me missing that. You two have been talking about it for nearly twenty-five years. Nothing and no one will keep me away.”

He smiles as if talking of retirement is no big deal.

“You’re just hitting your stride. I’m not letting you retire.”

“Priorities change. I won’t be my father.”

I start to talk but he holds up his hands. “I get it. He was doing what he thought was best. Blah, blah, blah. It’s still not the kind of family man I want to be. I’ve spoken with Layton. We may have a few ideas on companies we’d like to invest in. Things that will better secure our financial future without necessitating me being on the road as much once I retire.” He rubs his nose with Kaya’s again. “I don’t want to miss any milestones for our little prodigy.”

“Prodigy? She shits herself and rolls. Let’s hold off on the prodigy talk.”

He chuckles as he covers Kaya’s ears. “Drown out the negativity, princess. You’re a prodigy, just like your mommy.”

Kaya then proceeds to grab his beard again and pulls on it for dear life.

Quincy left for the ballpark,and I’m in the kitchen feeding Kaya when Mom returns home. I lift an eyebrow. “Hmm, those look a lot like the clothes you were wearing when you left last night.”

A small smile finds her lips. It’s a different kind of smile for her. It’s almost shy. Very unlike June St. James.

“Oh, Mom, you really like him, don’t you?”

She blushes. I’ve never once in my life seen her blush over a man.

She sits down at the table. “I suppose I have to admit that I do. He’s just so…incredible. He’s sweet, smart, attentive—”

“And sexy as all hell.”

She nods enthusiastically. “God, yes. So sexy. He makes me lose my mind. He’s very alpha in bed. And he has this finale move where he—”

I hold my hands up. “Okay, okay. Enough. I don’t need to hear that.”

She giggles.

“Did you two go out or straight to his house for the main event?”

“We had one drink at that Screwballs place we went to with you last year.”

“Oh, I think Quincy was there with the guys. Did you see him?”

“No, I didn’t see him or his crew, but we were only there for a short while. We were…anxious to get back to his place.”

“That’s odd. I think they went there right after the game.”

She shrugs and then bites her lip nervously.

“Is something else on your mind, Mom?”

“You’re thinking of settling down in Philly permanently, right?”

“I haven’t thought past this season, but I suppose things are headed in that direction.”

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