Page 16 of Curveball

Her face falls. “That’s lazy, Ripley. You should always be working on things. Never be content. Fastballs won’t work for you at UCLA next year.”

She’s right. I know she is. If there’s one thing in this world my mother knows, it’s softball, especially pitching. She might have been a bit unconventional as a caregiver, but as a coach, she’s the best. “Okay, Mom.”

“Don’t fuck around. Stay in the zone. No free rides.”

“I got it.”

We head out onto the field, and I take the mound. The first two pitches I throw are called balls. Shit. Nothing drives my mother nuts more than me falling behind in a count.

I hear her yell, “Pound the zone, Ripley.”

Even behind her catcher’s mask, I see Arizona smile. My mom has been saying,pound the zone, for as long as I can remember. The second we were old enough to understand the double entendre, Arizona and I began giggling every time she said it. It’s our running joke.

I smile back at her, which relaxes me enough to get the job done. Nine pitches later, we win the state championship.Again.

I’m excited, I truly am, but I can’t get my mind off my dream man sitting in the stands. I won’t have another opportunity like tonight. I’m not letting it go to waste. I’ve already got a plan forming in my mind.

When the team celebration on the field dies down, the fans come to embrace us. Jack, who’s a linebacker on the school football team, engulfs me in a huge hug. “You were great, babe.” He kisses my cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”

I give him a small smile of gratitude as I look at Quincy, who seems to be scowling at us. Jack notices my line of sight. With his arm still wrapped around me, he smiles. “Wow. Quincy Abbott. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Quincy runs his fingers through his sexy scruff without giving Jack so much as a hint of a smile. “And who are you?”

“I’m Jack. Ripley’s boyfriend.”

I see Quincy’s jaw tic. Is he jealous? I love that. I snuggle a little more into Jack just to see how Quincy reacts. Seeing his fists balling gives me the last bit of courage I need to push my plan forward. There’s something electric between us. I know he feels it too.

Arizona shoves Quincy’s arm. “You were the last fan to arrive at the game. You know what that means.”

He scrunches his nose and then smiles. “I came all this way and you’re making me play our silly game?”

“Absolutely. You know the rules.”

“Hmm. Let me think. Ooh, I’ve got one for you. Flamingos aren’t born pink. They’re born gray and white.” He stares at me with nothing but intensity in his eyes. “Their beauty slowly develops over time until they turn into one of the most stunning creatures on earth. Clearly, they’re worth the wait.”

Despite the warm, California summer night, I get chills all over my body. I look around to see if anyone else realizes that he was talking to me. They don’t. Everyone seems to contemplate what he said.

Arizona shrugs. “That’s a good one. I’ve never heard it before.”

I see my mother walking over to our group. Oh hell. This is guaranteed to be embarrassing.

She smiles. “Quincy, how wonderful to see you.”

He kisses her cheek. “You as well, June. You look great.”

That’s true. My mother is undoubtedly a beautiful woman. People say we look alike, but I don’t see it. I have her hair color, her height, and some of her facial features, but she’s way skinnier than I am. She tells me that I get my larger size frommy father, but I’ve never met him, and I’m not convinced she even knows who he is. Considering the number of men she beds, I can’t imagine her having a clue who my real father is. Anytime I broach the subject, she attempts to divert the topic. I’ve stopped trying.

I barely remember our time in Canada. My earliest memories are from the time I met Arizona and Quincy when I was in kindergarten. The day I promised Quincy all my firsts.

“Thank you.” She turns to Jack and hands him something. “If you’re going to tear off my daughter’s maiden tag tonight, make sure you wrap it before you tap it.”

Oh. My. God. She just handed my boyfriend a condom. In public.

Arizona bursts out into her unique snort-laugh. Jack looks like he wants to crawl into a hole. Quincy looks like he’s going to murder someone.

A few hours later,Arizona and I are in her room, lying in her bed. I blow out a long breath. “I broke up with Jack at the party tonight.”

She snaps her head to me. “What? When you guys disappeared, I thought you were having sex. I wanted to ask you about it.” She grins. “I wanted to know if you used the condom your mother handed him at the game torip off your maiden tag.”

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