Curveball- Strike Zone Series Book two

Chapter One

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Chapter 1

Nate

      The drive to our parents house isn't a long one.  They live about two hours inland from the coast. It's close enough for them to come to a game when they want, but far enough away they don't just show up without warning us. Being as we're all responsible adults and we keep our private lives out of the press, our parents keep most comments to phone calls.

      After our pit stop, Molly moved to the far back of the large SUV, reading a book she's been gushing over. Some football love story she said that was just released in paperback. She hasn't put it down and swears she's passing it to Kayleigh for the ride home. My sister is a sucker for books and romance. Always has been. Her belief that love conquers all gets her hurt. It's why she got her heart broken years ago and why I protect her now. No player will ever hurt my sister.

     Dillon is driving, a large bottle of water and his favorite road trip snack of Molly's homemade trail mix in his lap. He takes a handful of nuts and dried berries, dumping some in his mouth and chews. He frowns then opens his hand looking at the mix.

     "Hey Mol, where's the M&M's?" I chuckled, just hearing the kid inside my big brother whining about not getting his candy fix.

      "No chocolate for you! You're still on your season diet, remember?" Molly says without looking up. "Kayleigh, you want some chocolate, hun?"

     "No, thank you." Kayleigh replies. It doesn't go unnoticed that she hasn't eaten or drunk anything since we got in the car. I don't want her feeling like this. I'll share anything I've got with her.

       "I'll take some! Thanks." I scoop out a big handful and take a few in my mouth, before I pop a few in Kayleigh's.

     I watch the smirk on Molly's face come slowly when our big brother's eyes dart to the rear mirror. I know if he wasn't driving he would be spinning in his seat to wrestle her for the big bag of M&M's she neglected to share with him.

      I chuckle and continue with reading my statement that Matt sent me. It was a really hard conversation with my coach and the owner of the team, but I think this will finally cut the tie with Carla and I can be free to date Kayleigh. I want to date her. That's part of why I insisted she come with us. The other reason why I brought her was I didn't know how much Carla had learned about Kayleigh and I didn't want to leave her here alone, in case Carla went looking for her.

     "Is that from Legal?" Molly pokes her head over my shoulder and tries to read what I have. My sister is so nosy! "Nate, why is Matt McConnell involved? Did you switch management? Does Dad know? What did you do?"

      "After we get there, I'll explain everything. I just want to only explain it once." I tell her softly then see Dillon's eyes meet mine in the mirror. They're both worried about me. I haven't been myself in a while.

      An hour later into the drive, Kayleigh is leaning against the window, sound asleep. We ended up leaving later than planned so the guys didn't miss practice. Now it's late afternoon and poor Kayleigh has crashed. I need to adjust her before she has the worst neck cramp when she wakes up.

     Gently, I unhook her seatbelt and slide her to the middle seat then hook her belt again. Leaning her against my side, with my arm around her, Kayleigh snuggles into my chest with a soft sigh. I smile down at her, before kissing her forehead. I look up just in time to see Reese smirking at me. He knows this is only one of the recent changes in my life.

      "What? Her neck was all bent. It hurts waking up that way, you know that." I don't even like the way I'm defending myself. I grimace, knowing that isn't why I moved her. "I've gotten used to her like this." That's better. I'm not admitting anything but I like to hold her.