Page 31 of Curveball

"Mommy, bwaid?" Hadley turned her head to look back at me, clearly over this process taking so long.

"Not yet, Hady girl, Mommy's trying. These hair ties are so tiny, they keep slipping. Can we just wear a ponytail or headband today?" I waited with bated breath, hoping she would agree to one of my suggestions. Hadley was at the wonderful age of tantrums. I’m talking, full-on meltdowns if she didn't get her way…. we were working on it.

She sighed. "Hayban." I sent a quick thank you up to Jesus and grabbed her Elsa headband off her dresser.

My little brother Nolan was coming over to babysit Hadley while I went to dinner with Ryan. Ryan and I had been out a few more times for coffee and for lunch. I felt like things were progressing, so I was excited for tonight.

Nolan was twenty-three years old and the fraternal twin of my other little brother, Nate. The twins were wildly talented and completely obnoxious about it. Nolan was a professional reiner and horse trainer. Reining was a Western riding discipline designed to showcase a horse's athleticism through precise, pre-set, high-speed patterns that include circles, spins, and sliding stops. Nate was a first baseman in his second year in the MLB—he played for the Chicago Cobras. Both were completely wrapped around my daughter’s finger and great uncles.

Once I got Hadley's hair how she wanted it, I picked her up and carried her into the kitchen. I set her on the island's counter and then turned toward the fridge to grab the ingredients I needed. "Do you want to help Mommy make Uncle No's favorite cookies before he gets here?"

Nolan accepted payment in the form of cookies.

When Hadley had first started talking, she couldn't quite say Nol or Nolan, so she settled on calling him Uncle No. Nate became Uncle Na. She had no issues saying their names now, but she refused to change what she called them. In the King family, what Hadley wanted, Hadley got. Aria and Grayson got off easier; Aria was Auntie A, and Grayson was Uncle G.

I began creating the dough for the salted dark chocolate cookies my brother was obsessed with. My hidden talent was baking. It was a stress reliever for me, and my siblings tended to reap the rewards. Hadley was helping me shape the dough into little balls to place on the cookie sheets when a knock, followed by my brother's voice, echoed down the hall from the front door. "Farr? Princess Hady?

"Here, Uncle No!" Hadley shouted. Nolan appeared in the doorway, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his cookies being placed into the oven.

"For me?!" He placed his hand against his chest in shock, as if I didn't always make him cookies when he babysat for me.

I rolled my eyes. "Nah, they're for the neighbor."

Hadley began giggling. "They for you, Uncle No!" My brother reached over and started tickling her until she couldn't breathe.

"Oh, are they, silly girl? Did you help your mama?" Nolan picked her up, slinging her onto his hip.

"Yes! I help Mommy." Hadley smiled proudly.

"Good girl. Now go find a movie for us to watch while I chat with your mom for a minute." He placed Hadley on her feet, and she scurried off into the living room. Nolan turned toward me. "So big dinner date tonight, huh?" He reached over to the bowl that had the dough in it and dragged his finger up the side before putting the leftover cookie dough into his mouth. He groaned. "So fucking good."

I swatted his hand away when he went for round two, "You're an animal." I placed the bowl in the sink and turned the water on to rinse it out. "Yeah, Ryan's taking me to dinner tonight."

"Things going well then? I feel like you’ve been out with the guy several times now." Nolan straightened to his full six-foot-one height and leaned his hip against the counter.

I nodded, continuing to clean up the kitchen. "Yeah, I'd say so. I really like him; we have a lot in common and always have fun."

"Good to hear, I'm happy you're getting back out there."

I smiled. "Thanks. Okay, so I just need to go fix my hair, and then he should be here shortly. I'll be home by ten or eleven, I'll text you. You know the bedtime routine with Hadley."

Nolan laughed. "Farr, just stay out as long as you want, I'll crash in your guest room. I was planning on just staying over anyway. I've been up since five this morning with the horses, so I'll probably just crash after I put Hadley to bed."

I smiled and wrapped my arms around his waist. "Thank you, little bro. I love you, you're the best."

Nolan gave me a squeeze back. "No problem, but make sure you tell Nate that."

I shoved him against the counter as I made my way to my bedroom to finish getting ready. Nolan's laughter followed me down the hall.

"You look incredible," Ryan leaned over and whispered against my ear as I sat down in the chair he pulled out for me, sending a shiver down my spine. He looked pretty incredible himself. He wore dark jeans, cowboy boots, and a crisp white button-up that clung deliciously to his biceps and chest. His shirt sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing strong, muscular forearms.

"Thank you," I replied shyly. I’d never known how to take a compliment well.

"You know, we could have gone to some place in Forest Park. I feel like you're always driving out to Primrose Hill for me."

Ryan flashed his perfectly charming smile. "I don't mind, it's only a twenty-minute drive. Plus, I love McCullen's; they have the best steak." He winked, sending another little thrill through my body.

I was very attracted to Ryan, but deep in the back of my mind, I was waiting for more of a spark. A yearning, a deep need, a craving. I thought maybe if we moved into the physical stage of dating, that part would follow. I hoped tonight would prove that.