Page 75 of Stolen Bases

“That’s how long it took me to fall in love with Emery. The two-and-a-half-hour flight from Portland to Los Angeles.”

“Aww,” Emery’s soft voice interrupts us.

“Did I wake you?” Mason asks.

“Who’s on the phone?”

“Cam.”

“Is he okay?”

I can’t take listening to their conversation while I sit here stretching and freaking out about how fast my feelings for Talia have consumed me. “At least put me on speaker if you’re going to talk about me like I’m not here.”

Emery’s voice sounds clearer. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

“No. Why does everyone keep asking that?”

“It’s three in the morning.” Emery yawns. “People only call at this hour if something bad has happened.”

“Something happened all right,” Mason interjects. “Cam fell in love.”

“What? With whom? Tell me. Oh no, Chris is going to be so sad.”

I bark a laugh. Emery’s younger brother, Chris, is the funniest guy I have ever met. That dude has no problem speaking his mind or living his life without apology. That includes flirting with me any chance he gets. It’s harmless, and honestly, I get a kick out of it. I need to take him out to dinner when I get back into town. Talia would love to meet him.

“I can’t tell you. It’s… We shouldn’t. But … we couldn’t stop it.”

Emery squeals. “Ooh. Forbidden. That’s hot.”

Mason growls.

“Oh relax, you caveman. You know you’re it for me.”

“Fucking better be,” Mason grouses.

Emery whispers something, and I’m glad I don’t hear based on my brother’s groan.

Yuck. They are as bad as Jace and Ry.

“Can you two please stop?”

“Sorry, yes. We were talking about your forbidden romance,” Emery says, stifling her giggles. “Do we know the girl? Is she your best friend’s sister?”

“Let me guess, Rylann and Scarlett have you reading romance books too?”

“And your mom.” Emery chuckles.

I sneer. “Gross.”

“Bet your dad doesn’t think so.”

Mason and I both gag as Emery cackles. She’s been hanging out with my sister-in-law and her best friend too much.

“Can we get back to my problem?”

Mason huffs. “You don’t have a problem.”

“Mason,” Emery scolds.

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