Page 17 of Curveball

She starts giggling.

I shake my head. “No. He’s not the right one.”

“Well then, I guess you’re graduating a virgin.”

“I suppose.”

“You have to admit what your mom did tonight wasepic.”

“Epically embarrassing, per always.”

“She means well, Rip. She just lacks the normal mom gene.”

“I know. Sometimes I’m the only adult in the house. I want a mom, not a friend or even a child that I often have to take care of. Ugh, and she’s such a slob. I can’t go to bed at night without cleaning the house and picking up her shit.”

Arizona smiles. “I love when you clean my room for me.”

“You’re a slob too. I’m moving from one slob to another.”

“I’m so excited for UCLA. We’re going to have the best four years.”

“I hope so. I’m ready to get away from June St. James and her bevy of Barneys. I want to meet new people.”

“Those twins from Florida seem nice. Kamryn was really funny on the phone. She’s definitely a party girl.”

I nod. “For sure. I’m glad we’re rooming with them.” I take a long breath. “Arizona?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll always be best friends, right?”

“Obviously. Why?”

“If I did something you didn’t approve of, you wouldn’t hate me forever, right?”

“Where is this coming from?” She gasps. “You’re not thinking of bailing on UCLA, are you?”

“No, of course not. I’m so excited. But, if I did bail, would you hate me?”

“I could never hate you. You’re family to me. I love you like a sister. But you’re not bailing, right?”

We both had a lot of offers from several colleges before landing on UCLA. Some pursued me a little harder and some pursued her a little harder. We chose UCLA, in part, because they equally wanted both of us.

“I promise, I’m not bailing.”

“Good. I’m not tired. Let’s watch a movie.”

She smiles as we both yell, “Top Gun,” at the same time and then giggle. We’ve watched it no less than a thousand times throughout the years.

The movie plays, and I watch her eyelids grow heavy. With Quincy right down the hallway, there’s no chance of me falling asleep.

I wait a few hours. Once I’m confident Arizona is in a deep slumber and everything is quiet in their parents’ bedroom, I quietly slip out of her room.

I tiptoe down the hallway and slowly open Quincy’s door. Despite the darkness, I can see him in his bed, on his back, wide awake. His blue eyes take me in as the blankets sit just below his waist. He’s not wearing a shirt and his hands are under his head. He’s the most gorgeous man in existence.

He’s bulked up since he was drafted two years ago. His biceps are bulging, and his abs don’t seem to have an ounce of fat. His sexy hair is messy, hanging over his forehead, and now he has chest hair too. Quincy Abbott is a god among men.

In his deep voice, he grumbles, “I knew you’d come to me. I could feel it in my bones.”

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