Dirty Curve

“Hi?” I trace every inch of his face. “You’re standing in front of me, on a private beach in Hawaii, and hi is what you say to me?”

He smiles, releases Bailey’s hand, and wraps his arm around my middle. He yanks me to him.

I want to push to my toes and kiss him.

I want to pass Bailey off to Bianca and disappear with him for a while.

I want to touch him, love him, keep him.

But worry swirls in my abdomen and it’s enough to keep my feet planted on the sand. “What are you doing here?”

A softness falls over him and his palm widens on my back. “I came for my girls.”

The ease in his eyes has me squinting, and then the most tender of smiles polishes his full lips.

“You don’t have to worry anymore, baby,” he promises, his tone warm and devout. “She’s all yours now.”

My lungs expand, stretching my ribcage to its max, and I subconsciously place my hand on Bailey’s back. “What?” I rasp.

“He relinquished his rights, all you have to do is file the papers, and it’s over.”

Moisture clouds my eyes; clogs my throat and I blink through the overwhelming emotions. “Show me.”

“It’s in my bag, but I swear to you, it’s legit. My agent had the papers drafted himself. All he had to do was sign.” A knowing smile tipping his lips.

“He just ... gave her up?”

“Yeah, baby, he did,” he whispers, understanding while it’s a thrilling moment, it’s also heartbreaking in a way I can’t quite explain.

Thomas signed. He gave up his daughter as if she were nothing.

She was never anything to him ... but she’s everything to me, and Tobias knows that.

“The marriage?”

His eyes flash. “Got those papers, too. You’re not his, never were, never will be.”

My muscles go lax, and I shuffle closer to him. “Tobias—”

“I finished out the season,” he interrupts, a seriousness overcoming him. “I did what I said I would, what I promised you, and then I did what I had to do.”

“You didn’t have to do anything for me.”

“Yes, I did.” His forehead falls to mine and he holds my eyes hostage. “You said in time, Tutor Girl. Well, time’s up.”

“Tobias.” My voice cracks, gratefulness and reproach overwhelming me. “The draft, it’s in five days.”

“You’ve been paying attention, huh?”

My features soften and he winks, jerking his chin.

Both Bianca and I turn, looking out over our shoulders.

A solid fifty feet away stands a large group of familiar faces, Echo, his parents and my brother among them, as well as a man in a black suit.

The moment they realize we’re staring, they scream and shout, throwing their hands into the air, making the three of us laugh.

My head snaps back to Tobias, who is already looking at me.

“The resort is giving us their conference room. Camera crew and my agent’s team will be here in a few days to set up.”

“But you’ve worked all your life for this. This is what you’ve always wanted, to step on that stage.”

“Wanted,” he stresses, tracing my lips with his thumb.

“This is a huge moment for you. Your career ...”

“My life.” His lips press gently onto Bailey’s temple. “My future.” He grabs Bailey’s hand once more. “My world.” Slowly, their palms fall to the place over his left pec, his eyes clear and focused on mine. “Nothing I could ever do and nowhere I could ever go will ever mean a damn thing if I don’t have my girls to come home to. I want you by my side when the call comes, and I want you there every day after that.”

“Tobias ...” My tears fall and he steps closer. You didn’t have to do this. I would have come to you.”

“I know, baby, and that’s the beauty of this. Of us. You want for me what I want for you, but we’ll talk about that later, ‘cause it’s been a long ass time, baby, and I’m gonna need you to kiss me now.” I chuckle, and he licks his lips, his brows jumping as he looks deep into my eyes. “From here, no matter what happens, we work through it together. It’s the three of us, now and forever.”

Blindly passing my drink over to Bianca, I wrap my hand around his neck and pull his lips to mine, but I tug back the second before they touch.

His chest rumbles and my grin stretches as I whisper, “No lie?”

And then he claims my mouth as his own. Again.

Months ago, I had no clue what to call the Playboy Pitcher, the hotshot athlete of Avix U.

But now I do and it’s my favorite label of all.

Mine.

THE END

q

Avix Inquirer: Breaking News!

Head coach of the Avix Sharks baseball team, Thomas Reid, resigned today after allegations arose claiming he went against NCAA rules. While what exactly he was accused of was not released to the press, our extremely credible source tells us he broke the compensation rule and was using department funds to put a smile on his players’ faces. Not only that, but he was also said to have slipped a little something into his players’ drinks in a twisted game of manipulation. Allegedly, of course. Considering he bowed out after the best season of his career, I’d say there’s no question to whether or not he’s guilty. That man should have known better than to PLAY the BOY like that.