Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

RIPLEY

A fter two grueling playoff matchups, the Anacondas have advanced to the championship series against the team from Miami. The Cougars are in the World Series. Philly is electric with excitement. There's already talk about joint victory parades and parties. I hope both teams are able to deliver.

The Cougars play a home game tonight, but we're down in Miami. We're tied at two games apiece in the best-of-five series. Tonight decides everything.

We're up by one run going into the last inning. We secured the first two outs quickly, one via strikeout and one on an amazing diving play by Bailey. I don't have my best stuff tonight. I'm distracted. I'm more than several weeks late for my period at this point, and I'm freaking out. I know I should take a test, but I can't seem to muster up the courage to do it. Uncertainty is better than what I imagine will be my reality .

I walk the next batter, which is fairly unusual for me. Arizona calls a timeout. She walks to the mound. "Everything good? Your rise stopped rising and your curve stopped curving two batters ago."

I sigh. "I know. I feel a little off."

"Are you okay, Rip? You don't seem yourself, and I don't mean the way you're pitching."

"I'm good. I'll get it together."

"It's only the final out in the championship game. Might be a good time to focus."

It's unusual for there to be tension between Arizona and me. I know she's just trying to push me to be my best though. I'd do the same for her.

Just then Coach Billie yells out, "Pound the zone, Ripley!"

Our tension immediately breaks. Arizona smiles at me and mouths, "Pound the zone."

I giggle. "I prefer to be pounded, but I'm on it."

She nods. "Let's finish this shit and go party our asses off. We're in the party capital of the world."

I punch the inside of my glove with authority. "We've got this."

She nods, heads back to home plate, and calls for a drop curve. I throw it dead-on accurate, and Arizona frames it nicely for strike one. Our dugout is going nuts, knowing we're one out away from paydirt. We can all smell victory.

She signals for a rise ball, and I throw it, but the batter doesn't bite, and it's called a ball. Arizona gives me the sign to throw the same pitch again. This time the batter swings and misses for strike two.

My adrenaline is kicked into high gear now. One more strike, and the championship is ours.

Arizona calls for a changeup. I wind up, throw the ball, and the batter swings. She's way ahead of it. She makes minimal contact off the end of her bat and the ball is slowly rolling toward me.

Shit.

I'm a good pitcher. A great pitcher. But I'm not exactly swift of foot. This batter is fast. She's probably going to beat it out for a hit.

But then, out of nowhere, Arizona appears, scoops the ball, turns her body, and fires a bullet to first base.

The next thirty seconds play out in slow motion.

It's a bang-bang play. All eyes turn to the umpire. After a brief moment of hesitation, he punches his fist, signaling the final out.

Arizona's eyes find mine. We both break into huge smiles as she runs and then jumps into my waiting arms, wrapping her legs around me. And then twenty teammates pile on top of us in celebration, causing us to fall to the ground.

Everyone is screaming and crying tears of pure joy.

I'm practically floating in the clouds. My first league championship, and I was able to do it with my best friends. It's such a bummer Quincy and Layton couldn't be here. I'm pretty sure they're playing this on the big screen in the Cougars' stadium. I imagine they're celebrating in their own way.

The next hour is nuts with the trophy presentation and champagne all over. Just in case I'm pregnant, I decide not to drink any. No one notices. We're all pouring it all over each other anyway.

Everyone is talking about partying on South Beach ahead of our morning flight back to Philly. When I get out of the shower, Arizona appears in tears.

I run over to her. "What's wrong? "

She swallows. "It's Layton. There was a collision at home plate tonight. It sounds like he broke his leg. He's in surgery right now."

I gasp. "Oh my god."

She nods. "Reagan Daulton is flying home in her private jet in an hour. I'm going with her. Sorry to miss the celebration."

"Don't worry about it. Go be with him. I'll get all your stuff from the hotel. We'll come by the hospital tomorrow when we get home."

She nods as I help her gather her belongings and see her off.

All I can think of right now is Quincy. This will devastate him. Despite Layton's relationship with Arizona, I've never seen Quincy this close with a teammate. I know Layton's pain will be his pain too. He's going to be emotional.

QUINCY

The mood in the locker room is somber. Layton's injury was horrific to watch. And they fucking kept playing it over and over again on the big screen. In slow motion. His leg snapping in half will haunt my nightmares for life.

No one is speaking the words, but we all know the reality. He'll never play again. Layton Lancaster, a man who will one day be in the Hall of Fame, a man who we all look up to, had his career cut short tonight. My heart is breaking for him.

We ended up losing the game, leaving us one away from elimination. I'll be pitching when we play again in two days. For now, I'm headed to the hospital with most of the guys on the team.

As soon as I pull out my phone from my locker, I see a text from Ripley.

Ripley: Are you okay?

Me: Not really. It was bad. We're headed to the hospital now. Congrats to you guys. They played the last out on the big screen. Everyone went crazy. I'm so proud of you.

Ripley: Thanks. Arizona is flying home with Reagan right now. I'll be home tomorrow.

I wish more than anything that she was here. I need her.

Me: Okay. See you then. Enjoy your celebration.

A few hours later, Layton is still unconscious from his surgery. Most of our teammates left, vowing to come back in the morning when he's awake. It's just Cheetah, Trey, Ezra, Tanner, and me. We're all half asleep in Layton's room when Arizona comes bursting through the door.

Tears immediately drip down her cheeks. I run to her and practically catch her before she collapses.

"He's going to be fine, Z. He's strong. The surgery went well."

She sobs, "He'll never play again."

"And if he doesn't, he'll be okay. He's had a long Hall of Fame career. He's one of the best to have ever played the game. "

She sniffles as she echoes my earlier sentiment. "My heart breaks for him."

I look into her eyes. I can see the pain in her.

"You truly love him, don't you?"

She stares into my eyes. "More than anything in this world."

The other guys briefly wake up. She kisses each on the cheek. When she gets to Cheetah, he sleepily smiles and mumbles, "Can I have an Australian kiss?"

She crosses her arms. "What's an Australian kiss?"

He smiles. "It's like a French kiss but down under."

She giggles. I punch him in the arm, but not too hard since I know he's just trying to make her feel better.

We hang around for a few hours until he wakes up. After a brief freak out by him over the fact that Arizona is missing her team's celebration, all of us except Arizona are kicked out.

I make my way home in the middle of the night feeling completely depressed about Layton and with an overwhelming feeling of loneliness.

When I step off the elevator, my breath catches. Ripley is sitting on the ground in front of my door with her head tilted at an awkward angle, fast asleep.

I get choked up as my eyes fill with tears. She came back early for me. How many times has this woman known what I needed before I did? One of the million reasons I don't deserve her.

I walk toward my door and notice a blanket covering her. A blanket I recognize from Blanche's couch. I also notice an empty plate of cookies. I smile, realizing that Blanche took care of her.

She blinks her eyes open, sleepily smiles, and breathes, "You're finally home."

I slide down my door, so I'm seated next to her. "I am. I just left the hospital. What are you doing here? You should be partying with your teammates in Miami."

She leans her head on my shoulder. "I figured you'd be emotional. Shortly after Arizona left for the airport, I did too. I needed to make sure you were okay."

I press my lips to her head, taking in her scent. "I'm better now that you're here."

Without any conversation, we both move our hands and intertwine our fingers.

She soothingly rubs her thumb over mine. "How's Layton?"

I blow out a breath. "He's living the nightmare of every ballplayer. Arizona seems to have a soothing influence over him though."

"How was she?"

"Upset when she arrived, but she got it together for him by the time he woke up. I'm starving. Are you hungry?"

She shrugs. "I suppose."

I stand and pull her up. "Come on. I'll feed you."

I grab her suitcase, and we walk inside straight to my kitchen. I open my refrigerator and she giggles at its contents. "Condiments, beer, pickles, and fresh strawberries? Tell me you're a bachelor without telling me you're a bachelor. Except for the fresh strawberries. That's odd."

"I always have fresh strawberries. They remind me of you."

I lift her onto the kitchen island. She screeches when I do. "Stop. You have to pitch in two days. You'll pull a muscle."

I roll my eyes as I retrieve the bowl of strawberries and situate myself between her legs. I grab a berry and start tracing her lips with it.

"Taste it. There's an Amish farmer's market a few blocks away. They have the best strawberries I've ever had in my life. I go there every week. And you know I cook, we've just been on the road and busy with the playoffs, so I haven't lately."

Her pink tongue slides out and licks around her lips. "Umm. Good."

"That's what you taste like to me." I feed it into her mouth. "Take a bite."

She does, and a little juice dribbles down her chin. I bend forward and slowly lick it off.

"Yum. Definitely what you taste like."

I run my hands up her thighs and move my lips slowly toward hers in case she wants to stop me. But she doesn't.

She threads her fingers through my hair and meets me halfway. Just before our lips meet, she breathes, "Will this feeling ever go away?"

I don't know if it means she wants it to go away or doesn't want it to go away. I'm not sure how I feel about it either, though June's words have been weighing heavy on me. For now, in this moment, I need her, and I think she needs me too.

Our lips meet. Like every time they do, it's a reminder of how incredible it feels to intimately connect with her like this. How soothing it is for me.

My late-night visit with her a few weeks ago was limited to kissing. I don't know if she'll allow more now, but she quickly answers that question, whispering, "Take what you need." It's barely audible, but I'm pretty sure she adds, "One last time."

"What I need is to devour every inch of you. "

She squirms on the island as she nods her head. I don't need to touch her to know she wants me every bit as much as I want her.

I make quick work of her shirt and bra, taking in her heavy tits. They suddenly seem bigger, fuller, but it must be my imagination.

I grab another strawberry and circle her nipples with it before lapping them with my tongue. "You taste so good."

She locks her ankles around my waist and rubs herself against my hardened cock. "I need you."

I know the feeling. Nodding my head in agreement, I gently push her back on the kitchen island. "Enjoy the ride, Shortcake."

About a minute after Ripley leaves in the morning, there's a knock at my door. I wonder if she forgot something. When I open it, I see Blanche.

I smile. "Good morning, Blanche." I look behind her and don't see Thor. "Where's my best buddy? I'll take him for a walk."

I assume she's going to crack a joke about my shirtless state, as she often does, but her face is serious right now. "Good morning. He's taking a nap. I spent some time with your friend last night. I heard her knocking very late and came out to see what the ruckus was about."

"I'm sorry about that. I was at the hospital with a friend, but I saw the blanket and cookies. Thanks for taking care of her while she waited. I'll grab your blanket and plate for you. "

She places her hand on my arm. "That's not why I'm here."

"Oh. Okay. What do you need?"

"To talk to you about that sweet girl. The one who loves you with every fiber of her being. The one who I know deep inside you love too. The one who you're going to lose if you don't wake up and smell the roses."