Page 12 of Passed Ball

Her smile turns feral.

Dammit, he must be really hot.

"Say yes, please." She bounces on her knees. "I hate that you're alone."

I haven't been alone since the day I was born. "If I wanted to date, I would. It's not a priority for me."

And I certainly wouldn't use dating apps. Been there, done that. It's a swamp of men looking to hook up. Which would be fine if any of them showed even a bit of consideration for the women they were sleeping with. The algorithm only sends me guys who think the clit works like a doorbell. Press it once and someone comes.

"Make it one. You've never had a real boyfriend, and it's been a long time since you've even been on a date. It's just . . . tragic."

"Um . . . ouch. I've had a real boyfriend." Two, actually, my freshman year of college. Neither was serious, but I tried dating. All it did was take away from time I should've been studying. When it became clear that they couldn't handle not being my only focus, I cut them loose. Since then, it's only been casual dating and hook-ups. Both have left me unimpressed.

"This decade?" She deadpans.

My laugh sputters out. "Ten, you're relentless tonight. What's this about?"

"It's those sweatpants, they're making me mean. But seriously it's a Friday night, there's good dick out there, and you're here like a spinster instead of the hottie you are."

"Ten!"

"What? Everyone needs it."

I almost tell her I'm getting what I need. It's not like anyone's ever fucked me better than I can myself. Sure, there are things I miss, like the rough scrape of a man's hands against my hips, the look in his eye when he likes what he sees, the heat of a body against mine for post-sex snuggles. Companionship is nice, even if the sex is boring.

"No dating app, no professors," I say firmly.

"Whatever. You'll get bored when I move out."

"Are you trying to hurt me tonight?"

"Of course not." Tenley snuggles closer, her dark hair tickling my neck as she makes herself comfortable, setting her head on my shoulder. Then she shifts, turning those pleading green irises up at me.

They're a shade darker than mine and so much like her mother's. It's almost like Erica's with us when she looks at me like this. My beautiful sister-in-law was magnetic. Even as a child, I was drawn to her. Erica was part of our family from the first time she stepped foot on the vineyard.

She wouldhatethat I haven't dated or made any real friends outside of work since moving here.

A choked laugh comes out of me. "You remind me so much of her, you know. She'd be so proud of you--for a lot of things--but this would make her the most proud. You, meddling in my life, making sure I'm okay, that was her thing. She was always fussing over me, but she was nicer about it." It's hard to believe that Tenley is almost the same age Erica was when we lost her.

Her eyes twinkle, and she kisses my cheek.

"What am I going to do with you?" I inhale the scent of her strawberry shampoo, letting it momentarily take me back to when she was little enough to crawl into my lap for a bedtime story.

"You could find out if Xavier still needs a nanny for me? Please." She bats those thick brown lashes knowing damn well it's my weakness.

"And how am I supposed to do that? I don't even have his number." Not entirely true. I have access to it through Double Play, but I would never abuse my position like that.

"You're the smartest person I know. I'm sure you'll figure it out."

Fucking menace, using praise against me like I don't know exactly what she's doing.

"We'll see."

She pumps her fist silently.

"That wasn't a yes," I remind her, holding out the peanut butter.

"Coming from you, it's as good as one."

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