Page 3 of Curveball

Layton sighs. “Seriously? Have you seen how slow I am these days? I’ll be last to everything.”

Cheetah shrugs. “Sorry, man. You know the rules.”

Layton thinks for a moment and then gives us a hopeful smile. “It’s a proven fact that cuddling can relieve physical pain.”

Aww. He misses Arizona. The guys said he’s been miserable all week since she left. He won’t even leave his penthouse. This is his first time venturing out.

I smile at him. “I like that one. It’s sweet. Have you spoken with Arizona today?”

His face falls. “Yep. I got to watch Butch grope her via FaceTime for my benefit for what feels like the hundredth day in a row.”

They replaced Layton on the shoot with Butch McVey, the most popular baseball player in the world. He’s attractive, and photos are leaking every day of them in bathing suits with his hands all over Arizona. I’m sure it’s hard for Layton to have to see that online each morning when he wakes up.

I take his hand and squeeze it. “It’s not like she’s enjoying it. She loves you and misses you.”

She’s just as miserable as him. She tried desperately to get out of this contract, not wanting to go without Layton. But the company wouldn’t budge.

He lets out a long breath. “I hope so. This whole thing is fucked. I should have paid her way out of the contract.”

Suddenly, we hear, “Hey, Layton.” I recognize that ear-piercing voice. It’s the whorebag from the bathroom who mentioned wanting to go home with Layton.

He rolls his eyes as he looks up at her and grits out, “Hi, Delta. Long time, no see. How are you?”

She bats her long, dark, fake as fuck eyelashes at him. “I’m well. I hear you’re on the market again. We should hang out.”

Layton shakes his head. “You heard wrong.”

She holds out her phone for him. He stares at it with disgust before practically throwing it at her. “It’s just a photo shoot. They’re playing it up for the cameras. It’s their job.”

The slut won’t take the hint that she’s unwanted. “It doesn’t look like an act to me. There have been photos of them on dates too.”

I’ve had enough of this bitch encroaching on my best friend’s man. I straighten my back and cross my arms. “He’s not interested. Hit the road. No skanks welcome here.”

She snaps her head toward me and looks me up and down. “What are you going to do, fat ass? Sit on m…”

Before she can finish spewing her nastiness, Quincy jumps out of his seat and gets right into the woman’s face. “If you ever talk to her like that again, it will be the last words you utter.”

Her eyes practically pop out of her fake eyelashes in fear.

Quincy then enlists the owner and has the woman thrown out of the bar.

Ezra tugs on Quincy’s shirt. “Have a seat, Q. Relax, big bear.”

Everyone at the table has shocked looks on their faces. They’ve never seen this side of Quincy. I have. Many times.

They know Quincy Abbott as the laid back, West Coast, happy guy. I know the animal within. My cheeks flush justthinking about what that animal is capable of doing to my body.

He sits back down next to me and looks at me with a tenderness that threatens to break me in half. “Are you okay?”

I give my best brave face. “I’m fine. It doesn’t bother me. I’ve had comments like that my whole life. I’m used to it.”

He lovingly rubs my face and I nearly moan. “It’s not fine. No one should talk to you like that. You’re beautiful. You’re perfect.”

My heart sinks. Him saying that to me in front of people is a big deal. Why now? Why does it have to be on the day that I realized I’ll never have him?

I need to put an end to this. I lean in and whisper to him, “Don’t touch me. We’re over.”

His face turns from caring to angry as he stands and nearly pulls my arm out of the socket. “I need to talk to you. Now!”

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