Page 63 of Curveball
I open my mouth to tell her, to spill my own tea. But Ben, bless him, chooses now to appear and ask if we need anything else. We still have half our appetizers because, damn, that’s a lot of fried food, but we order another round. We’re both going to need a rideshare to get home.
“Alejandro’s never going to stop. Not unless he knows there’s absolutely no way I can ever get back with Alex.”
“Ooh, is this where we use the shovel?” she growls with narrowed eyes, but she’s joking. I’m pretty sure she’s joking. I chuckle, regardless. It is kind of funny.
“It’s an idea, Pree. But Max has one, too. Idea, I mean. Not a shovel.” Though, knowing him, he wouldn’t be opposed.
Priya leans forward, all interest.
“Do tell.”
“He said he’ll marry me.”
She flops back in her seat, again, scowling.
“Well, that’s not romantic at all.”
The sip I took while I waited for her to reply snorts out through my nose.Gross.
“Not amarriagemarriage,” I say as I wipe my whiskey snot off the table. “More like, an engagement of convenience?—”
“Like in historical romance novels?”
I shrug. “Sure, but whatever. I almost turned him down, but?—”
“Youwhat?”she nearly shouts, and I shush her. “Your knight in white baseball pants offers you a get-out-of-jail-free card from your evil ex-father-in-law, you don’t turn him down! My friend, this is not how Cinderella acts when she’s offered the key to the castle.”
I burst into laughter so loud, it’s impossible not to arouse curiosity from the table next to us. I grimace and snap my mouth shut, but my chest is still quaking.
“Tell me, is he no good in the sack? Because if that’s the case, then yeah, I can see why you’d pass, but?—”
“Priya, please!” I cut in. I’m back to chuckling, but this girl is tipsy and getting loud with it. “We haven’t made it all the way naked,” I admit in a lowered voice. And now that I’ve told her this much, I want to tell her everything.
“Not yet, you mean.” Her smile is smug, if a little crooked. She’s got this all figured out in her befuddled mind. I’m about to rock it, though.
“I think I might love him.”
I have no illusions that our arrangement will be as simple as this, but drunk Pree is not ready for the gory details.
“Oh, Palmer! You’re going to be so happy, I just know it,” Pree squeals with drunken delight. She’s totally focused on the idea of me finding my happily ever after, and once again, we’re dodging impatient glares from our neighbors.
I’min the final stages of preparing for bed, still a little buzzed, but totally relaxed, when my phone buzzes and a message comes through. I dive to answer. It could be Max, calling me after his game. After the night, and the conversation, I had tonight, I really want to talk to him.
It’s Alejandro, though, and I nearly don’t open the app. It’s a little alarming that he’s calling this late, though it’s never stopped him before. Regardless, it’s definitely not the way I want to end this day.
West Coast Connection: I spoke with my son this evening. He is happy that you will be moving back to him in California. He will be a father again. I will call you tomorrow on the FaceTime.
The man is not only delusional, but now, he’s sharing his bogus reality with anyone who will listen. He can come at me all he wants, but I’m not transplanting my son to California. I am not getting mixed up with Alex again; not now, or anytime in the future of ever. And for now, Alejandro Lopez is done taking over my thoughts.
Chapter 21
Max
I’m settled in at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and the sports news app open on my phone when Nat bounds down the back stairs.
“Hey, bug. You have everything packed for your trip?”
“It’s all set out, Daddy. I still have the rest of the day to finish, but I may need to buy another suitcase.” She twirls her way to the coffee maker and pours herself a cup, then dances back to sit beside me. “Only one more day of tutoring, then it’s seven whole days at the beach. Nothing but sun, sand, and cute boys in board shorts.” She lets out one of those feminine dreamy sighs, and then laughs when I scowl at her.
