Page 10 of Curveball

“I have no idea if, when, and by whom I’ll get drafted. I hope I don’t let you down.”

Her face softens. “Not a chance. My fucking brother is about to become a major leaguer. You’re living both our dreams. I wish there was pro softball so I could play after college.”

“I think there will be someday soon.”

Ripley nods in agreement. “My mom thinks so too. She said there’s a lot of chatter about it in the softball world.”

While Ripley’s mother is a little nutty—well, a lot nutty—she does coach at the high school and coachesArizona and Ripley’s club team. They travel all over in the summer playing against the best teams in the country. They’re both undoubtedly going to get college scholarships for softball.

I smile. “See, it’s going to happen. Plus, the two of you are shoo-ins for the Olympic team one day. I have no doubt.”

They have been talking about being in the Olympics together for as long as I can remember. Crazily enough, it’s not unrealistic. They’re among the top players in the country for their age.

The front door opens and a tall guy with short, dark hair walks in like he owns the place. He looks my sister up and down as he makes a beeline straight for her and kisses her. Hard.

I grab him by the shirt, pull him off her, and shove him into the wall. “Who the fuck are you? Keep your hands off her.”

Arizona slaps my hand. “Cut it out, caveman. This is my boyfriend, Noah.”

I scowl at Noah. “How old are you?” He looks like a grown man.

With a fucking smug look on his face, he responds, “Eighteen.”

I turn to Arizona. “He’s too old for you. And he’s a dipshit.” Looking back at him, I growl, “Get the fuck out of my house.”

Arizona grabs his hand and pulls him toward the kitchen. “Ignore him, babe. Come help me put the beer on ice.”

I shout after them, “Beer? You’re sixteen.”

She shouts back, “Did you drink beer at sixteen?”

Hmm. She’s got me there.

Ripley gives me a small smile. “Noah isn’t a bad guy. He worships the ground she walks on. They practically run the school. They were the prom king and queen.”

“Prom queen? She was only a sophomore this year.”

Ripley raises an eyebrow. “She looks like a model and is the most popular girl at the school. You must know that.”

I run my hands through my hair. “When did my sister grow up so much? I can’t believe she’s dating a grown man.”

Ripley lets out a laugh. “We’re growing up. Like it or not.”

I nod as I unashamedly move my eyes up and down her body again. “You look good, Shortcake.”

Her cheeks redden and she bites her lip. “Thank you.”

And then it occurs to me. Does she have a boyfriend? And why does the thought of that make me…angry?

“Do…do you have a boyfriend too?”

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t.”

I mumble. “Good.”

We’re both silent, staring at each other. She bites her lip again, and I feel it in my cock. I suddenly want to bite that lip too. It’s red and full and…Ah, stop it. It’s Ripley. Arizona’s ever-present sidekick. I bandaged her knee when she fell off a bike, and I took her to her first father-daughter dance.

She fidgets with the bottom of her shirt. “Congrats on your success. I’m happy for you, Quincy. You deserve it.”

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