Page 68 of The Sweet Spot

“Sure, what about?” JB’s hesitant and I can imagine he’s looking at me on the phone.

“Everything.”

Even I can hear the frustration in his voice from here.

“What did Emma do now?”

I hear the patter of feet as the door shuts.

“Don't get me started—”

Tate doesn't finish his sentence.

“Oh,” he says, surprised. “I'm sorry... Was I interrupting a little moment?”

The way he says moment makes me smile. He thinks JB was in here masturbating. To be fair, he nearly was.

“No. No. Don't worry. I was, uh, just talking to Whit.”

“So I did interrupt something. I'm sorry.”

“Don't be.”

“Oh my—” I say when the screen suddenly moves. Instinctively, I pull my shirt up over my shoulder because I've got a feeling I know where this is going.

“See, she's still here.”

It's then that I'm suddenly face-to-face with Tate Sorenson. His dirty blond hair is wet from what I assume is a shower, and he's smiling brightly at the screen.

“Hi, Tate. It's nice to, uh, see you again.”

“Nice to see you again too?” It comes out as more of a question. “Congratulations on your win tonight. That was an awesome homer in the eighth,” I say, knowing any pretense that JB and I might continue where we left off is completely gone now.

Funnily enough, I think I'm okay with it. I like meeting JB's friends and seeing more of his personality shine through. Not that I'd tell him that. It would certainly make him think that I'm falling for him, and I can't have him knowing that just yet.

“Thanks,” Tate says, pulling JB into the frame. “But I can't take all the credit. JB's two RBIs helped.”

“Aw, bud.” JB pulls him in for a hug with a big, genuine smile on his face. That's one of the things I love about JB; he wears his heart on his sleeve.

Shit. Did I just say love?

I meant it figuratively speaking. I'm not in love with JB. It's way too soon for anything like that.

Tate clears his throat, pushing JB away jovially. “And congratulations on your U.S. Women's Open win, by the way. Watched the entire thing and think you're incredible.”

My lip turns up slightly.

“Oh, you watched it?”

Tate laughs and looks at JB, then back at the screen. “Oh, he hasn't told you? JB made us all watch it. At the time he said it was to support Larry and his daughter. We weren't told about his obsession with you until later.”

I crinkle my nose. “Obsession? That feels a little much.”

He shakes his head. “Oh, no. You have our catcher caught up. JB's been down bad for a while now.”

“Hey—” JB tries to start, but Tate elbows him.

“I'm just trying to say that I'm glad he finally got to shoot his shot. The dude's irresistible once you get to know him.”