Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

RIPLEY

I suppose I knew this moment was coming. I prayed to delay it, but it's always been inevitable. It's a force of nature that I'm powerless to stop.

It's time for a June St. James visit.

I love my mom, but she's a handful and lacks a filter. All my friends get a kick out of her, but it's not always easy having a mother like her. She and Kam together are like a nuclear explosion. One time in college, they both ended up dancing topless on a bar. That isn't even one of the top ten most humiliating moments with my mother.

She's taking an Uber from the airport to my apartment. At the expected time, there's a knock at our door. I see Arizona smile. She sings out, "It's tiiiiiiiime."

I take a breath. "Here we go. Let the madness begin."

I open the door to see my exquisite mother not looking like she just traveled all the way across the country. She looks like Nicole Kidman when she's walking the red carpet. Perfection. People have been saying that for years.

I smile. "Welcome to Philly, Mom."

She immediately drops her bags on the ground and envelops me in a big hug. "I've missed you. You look stunning. Philly agrees with you."

"Thanks, Mom. You look great, as always." I pull away. "Come in."

I close the door as she walks in and notices Arizona, immediately embracing her. "Ahh. I'm so happy you two are together again. It warms my heart." Mom steps back. "But you're not framing her rise ball like I taught you. Lift your body a drop more to create the illusion that it's landing in the middle of your chest."

Arizona smiles widely. "Yes, Coach June. Anything for you."

I playfully swat her arm. "Mom, leave her alone. She's the best player in the league."

Mom waves her hand dismissively. "Nonsense. You're both stars. Best battery in the history of the game. Reunited just in time to train for the Olympics. I'm so proud of you both."

Just then, our door flies open, and Kam is standing there with a huge smile. She jumps up and down with her hands in the air. "Mama June! Mama June!"

Mom laughs and holds her arms open. "Honey Boo Boo!"

They both laugh at the pop culture reference they've been using for a decade and hug.

Kam looks her up and down. "Fucking hell, June, I hope I'm half as hot as you when I grow up."

Mom shakes her head. "You don't have to worry…you'll never grow up."

Kam laughs. "That's true."

Mom looks behind her at the door. "Where's Chickadee? "

Kam raises an eyebrow. "Allegedly babysitting, but I think she's really just fucking the father. He's closer to your age than ours."

"Is he hot?"

Kam nods. "Yep."

"Good for Bailey." She turns to me. "I hope you're getting laid too."

Kam starts giggling, but I simply roll my eyes.

Arizona answers, "I think she is, but she won't talk about it."

Mom lifts an eyebrow. "Interesting." She gives me a look suggesting we'll discuss this later. "Where should I put my bags?"

Arizona answers, "In my room. I'll stay at my boyfriend's place while you're visiting. I put fresh sheets on for you this morning."

Mom smirks. "Thank you. Ah, yes, your boyfriend. I've seen your photos all over with that hunk of man meat. I've pinched the princess to his handsome face on more than one occasion."

Kam and Arizona start laughing hysterically. I shake my head. "You've been here for less than three minutes and you're already discussing your masturbation habits. That's a record, even for you, Mom."

She straightens her shoulders. "I have a rep to protect."

I grab one of her bags. "Let's get you settled."

Arizona kisses Mom's cheek. "It's good to have you here, June. I'm going to drop my stuff at Layton's. I'll see you guys at the ballpark."

We're all heading to a Cougars game tonight.

Kam shakes her head. "What she's really doing is blowing him before his game. That seems to be their M.O. "

Arizona simply winks as she leaves, followed shortly thereafter by Kam, leaving Mom and me alone.

After she gets settled in, we sit on the sofa. She rubs my leg. "Tell me what's going on with you."

I shrug. "Same old. Obviously, the team is doing great."

"You guys will win the whole thing, I have no doubt. You have a much better team behind you than you did in Houston."

I nod. "I definitely do. There's a comfort in throwing to Arizona and in having my college teammates at shortstop and second base."

"It shows in your pitching. And what about your love life?"

"Not much to report."

"You haven't started up with Quincy again, have you?"

She knows everything that went on in Houston besides the marriage. She assumed the team took care of my immigration status, and I've never corrected her.

I'm quiet.

"That's why Arizona knows you're getting laid but knows nothing else."

I blow out a breath. "I've tried to stay away—"

"But you can't because you're in love with him. You always have been."

I can only nod at the truth of her statement. Tears sting my eyes. "I wish I wasn't."

"How does he feel?"

"That's the thing. He's always pursuing me and being crazy possessive. He even interrupted a date I was on a few weeks ago. Literally pulled the guy away from me and scared him off."

"If you both love each other, why can't you be together?"

"I think he's embarrassed of me."

She shakes her head. "That's nonsense. You're beautiful, smart, talented, and kind. Just plain perfect. Any man would be lucky to have you. I can't imagine Quincy Abbott has ever said otherwise to you."

I sigh. "He hasn't, but we've always been a secret. He won't love me in public."

"Do you call him out on it?"

"I have. It's all very circular and confusing. In the end, we always get back to the fact that we want different things in life. I eventually want to get married and have kids. He wants neither."

"Ever?"

"That's what he says."

She squeezes my hand. "I don't want you to end up like me, baby. Brokenhearted and never over the man she loved."

I suck in a breath. She's never once mentioned anything like this to me.

My hands start trembling. "Was…was it my father?"

Tears start to fill her eyes before she slowly nods. There's something so impactful about knowing that she loved him. I've always assumed he was another nameless bedfellow. A random Barney. Knowing there was at least some amount of love is a burden off my shoulders that I didn't know ever existed until it was lifted.

"Will you tell me more about him? Please?"

She covers her mouth. "I don't know if I can."

"But I was conceived with love?"

She smiles as if she's remembering. "Yes, baby. So much damn love that I've never truly gotten over him, and it's been nearly thirty years."

"He didn't want me?"

"It wasn't like that. It was…complicated…tragic."

She looks like she wants to say more but instead jumps up and runs into the bathroom sobbing loudly .

I would give anything to know about my father and one day maybe even meet him. To understand why he isn't in my life. But this was a big first step for her. I don't want to push. Perhaps I'll gradually get more information one day soon.

"Fucking hell, the Cougars' coach is sexy as sin. Where have they been hiding him?"

My mother is practically drooling over Dutton Steel. I suppose she's right. He's sexy in an older man kind of way. He looks like Gabe Kapler but significantly more muscular and with much more hair.

Kam elbows Bailey. "He's your type, Bails. He's got old, saggy balls."

Bailey rolls her eyes. "Cut it out. No matter how old, they'd never be as saggy as Cheetah's, and he's only like thirty-one. That guy fricking swallowed two beach balls and they settled just south of his giant ding dong."

Mom raises an eyebrow and asks, "And you've all seen Cheetah's balls?"

We all giggle and nod. I confirm, "We have. It's a long story."

Mom smirks. "I've got one for you, ladies. Why are gingers' balls the most patriotic of them all?"

The four of us shrug.

"They're red, white, and blue."

We all burst out laughing, unable to control ourselves until the game begins and we start to get stares.

Quincy is on the mound for their first playoff game. I know this is his first career playoff start. His team in Houston never made it this far. Being the game-one starter is a big deal. A lot of faith is being put in him. He deserves this. It's been a long time coming.

I swear Layton spends half the game looking at Arizona. It's a good thing because Quincy has been doing his fair share of looking my way.

Mom notices. She leans over and whispers, "He doesn't look like a man who isn't interested. How long have you two been going at it?"

I mentally run the past few weeks in my mind until it occurs to me. We've had sex twice in the past month. Well, more than twice, but it was two occasions. The night he crashed my date was a few weeks before that. I haven't gotten my period since before that date. Oh my god.

My freakout is momentarily put on hold by the fact that Quincy throws a no-hit shutout. It's a rarity in the sport, especially in the playoffs. It's a huge accomplishment.

We're on the field after the game, and Quincy is beaming. I'm so happy to see him like this. All of the newscasters are interviewing him. It's his moment in the sun. He deserves it.

He turns his head and notices me. Giving me a huge smile, he motions for me to come to him. I'm a little surprised, but I walk over.

He throws his arm around me. The newscaster looks a bit shocked. She nods toward me. "Ripley St. James. Did…umm…you enjoy the game?"

I smile. "Of course I did. Quincy threw the best game of his career. I'm so happy for him."

"Oh, are you two…friends?"

Before I can answer, Quincy does. "She's been Arizona's best friend since they were little kids. Of course we're friends. She was like a second sister to me growing up."

The newscaster nods in realization. I hold back the tears. That fucking hurt. For the briefest of moments, I foolishly thought he was going to admit to something more.

He continues, "I can't wait for their playoffs to start tomorrow. Ripley is the best pitcher in the league. In the world. They're going to win the whole thing. I'm stoked we're off tomorrow so we can go to the game."

I fake smile at the compliment before turning to see Layton pawing at Arizona, loving her publicly without any shame. My heart breaks just a little more knowing I'll never have that with Quincy.

The reporter walks away, and he looks down at me. "Are you okay?"

I swallow back my tears and give a small smile. "I'm fine."

He looks over my head and chuckles. "Your mom is flirting with Dutton Steel."

I turn and see that he's right. Oh hell.

She eventually walks over to us and kisses Quincy on the cheek. "Congratulations. You threw a gem."

He grins. "Thank you, June. It felt great."

She looks at me with a big smile. "I met Dutton. What a doll. I told him about that place Screwballs you mentioned we're going to. He's planning to join us."

I muster yet another fake smile knowing how my mother will shamelessly flirt all night. "Sounds good."

We all walk into Screwballs together to a loud sea of cheers. The guys are all on cloud nine .

Technically Cheetah was last to walk in and Layton immediately calls him out on it.

Mom leans over. "They still play that silly game?"

I nod. "Yep. All the time."

Cheetah smiles. "I've been waiting to bust this one out. The names of the states utilize twenty-five of the twenty-six letters in the alphabet. Anyone care to guess which poor letter was left out?"

I can see everyone running the states through their minds. After a few silent moments, Cheetah happily says, "I'll give you a hint. He threw the first no-hitter in Cougars playoff history tonight."

We all smile and universally shout, "Q!"

Cheetah nods just as our pitchers of beer arrive. Once we all pour our beers, we hold them up. Cheetah toasts, "To Long Quail Quincy for making history."

Quincy spits out his beer at that name.

Mom asks, "What's with the nickname?"

Cheetah raises an eyebrow. "L.Q. squared? That fucker has the longest quail I've ever seen. I hope he finds a girl who likes it deep."

It takes everything I have not to spit out my own beer. Mom notices and smirks.

Cheetah smiles. "Some women need it like a wide receiver." He side-eyes me as he says it.

Kam narrows her eyes in contemplation. "How is that?"

"Long and deep."

Mom bursts out laughing. "You're funny, Cheetah. I like you."

He winks at her. "And I like you, June."

Dutton places his arm around Mom and looks at her with pure heat. "I like you too, June."

She smiles at him. Arizona looks at me and silently shakes in laughter. She knows my mom is about to sleep with the famous Dutton Steel. She mouths, "Barney."

I nod.

Everyone is chatting when Layton's phone starts buzzing on the table. He glances down at it and then raises an eyebrow while looking at Cheetah. "Dude, you're calling me right now."

He pulls his phone out of his front pocket. "Ah, shit. Sorry. I keep doing that."

Layton asks, "What? Butt dialing?"

Cheetah smiles. "No, dick dialing."

Layton pinches his eyebrows together. "What's that?"

"When your dick is so big that it dials people from your pocket."

Mom leans over to Kam while staring at Cheetah. "You've tapped that, right?"

Kam smiles. "I sure have."

"Good girl."

Yep, June St. James is in the house.