Page 29 of Curveball

When I arrive back home from the game, I strip and take a long hot bath. I’m sitting there enjoying a glass of wine when there’s a loud knocking at my front door. Crap. Who’s at my door this late at night?

I quickly throw on my white silk robe and run to answer it.

Looking through the peephole, I notice that it’s Quincy. I wonder why he’s here. He hasn’t been here since our wedding day. We ran into each other a few times when Drew and Emily were dating, but he broke her heart and that’s in the past. It’s been a while.

I open the door, and he looks me up and down in my state of undress. I’m quickly realizing that a flimsy silk robe wasn’t the best thing to wear while answering the door.

I clutch the top closed as if that’ll be better at shielding me. “Quincy? What are you doing here?”

“I saw you at the game.”

He gives me a cocky smirk. He’s so handsome in jeans, a black T-shirt, and his backward hat with his curls spilling out.

I narrow my eyes at him. “There were probably forty thousand people there. You noticed me?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “What can I say? You stick out to me, Shortcake.”

My cheeks redden. I don’t know why him calling me that always makes my heart race. It’s a special term of endearment for me, and that fact does things to me.

“Is there something you need?”

He looks my body up and down while licking his lips before meeting my eyes. “I…umm…I’m just checking in on you. We haven’t spoken in a while.” He gives me a boyish grin. “Just trying to be a good husband.”

I let out a laugh as I open the door wider in invitation. “Husband of the year, please come in.”

He chuckles as he walks through the door, and I close it. We stand there a little awkwardly. I think we’re both a little tongue-tied as to how to behave or what to say to the other.

He slides his hands into his pockets and rocks on his feet a bit nervously. “How have you been?”

“I’m good. I’m working at the mall. I feel like a teenager doing that again, but I need the money, and the hours are flexible so I can still get in my workouts.”

His face falls. “I didn’t realize things were so tough. I can help you out.”

I shake my head. “Absolutely not.”

“Does my sister have a job?”

“She does a little modeling for a few upstart softball brands. I think it keeps her afloat. I wish being a softball player was half as lucrative as being a baseball player.”

He nods in understanding. “It should be. Maybe one day.”

I motion toward my sofa. “Have a seat. I’m going to throw on some clothing.”

He gently grabs my arm and pulls me toward the sofa. “No need.” He winks. “I prefer you this way.”

I sigh as I sit. “What are you really doing here? Do you want a divorce already? I’m game for that.”

He lets out a laugh. “No. Definitely not. I honestly just stopped by to check on you and maybe hang out. We’ve been friends most of our lives. Is it so crazy that I want to check in now and then?”

I’m considering his words when he grabs my legs and swivels me so that I have to lay down and my feet are on his lap. He immediately starts kneading them. “I know how much you like this.”

My eyes flutter and I think I let out a moan. “Oh god yes.”

He freezes. “If you moan like that, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”

I swallow hard. It’s been a long time for me, and no man’s touch has ever lit me up like his.

He continues rubbing. “How’s your mom?”

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