CURVEBALL

<p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>RIPLEY</strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>I've loved my best friend's brother from the shadows since I was a kid...until I grew up and he finally noticed me. I promised him all my firsts and that's what I gave him.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>We both moved on but ended up in the same city years later with him playing professional baseball and me playing professional softball.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>I was in a huge bind and he helped me...by marrying me.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>It was our secret...until I messed things up.</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>QUINCY</strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>I vowed never to get married and have kids...until my sister's sexy best friend needed help.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>It wasn't all bad. A no-strings-attached marriage. A secret relationship.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>But she caught feelings so I did the only thing I could...I walked away.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Years later she's back in my life. The heat hasn't simmered but I still can't give her what she wants. Can I?</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>I'm starting to wonder if I want more...until she drops a bomb on me.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>The nine-month kind of bomb.</span></p><p><br></p>