Page 91 of Switch Pitching

Sofia hears our conversation and smiles back. “If James didn’t make it obvious yet,” she starts, now walking backward, “we’re a really lively bunch. You’re gonna love it!”

We make it to Sofia’s car, put our luggage in the back, and pile in. Sofia carefully exits the parking lot and immediately gets stuck in traffic.

“The city’s welcoming you back the only way it knows how,” says Sofia sarcastically, through gritted teeth. I take a peek at Sofia’s GPS and see a big stretch of red coming up.

“Yay,” I deadpan.

“Why did you make me pick you guys up when the airport train exists?” demands Sofia.

“I didn’t ask you to!” I shoot back.

“Yeah, well Mom did.”

“I literally told her that we’d take the train! Also, can we stop bickering in front of Ethan?”

“Why? That’s only delaying the inevitable.”

I sigh. “He’s an only child.”

“Damn, lucky you,” says Sofia, glancing back at Ethan. “I mean it’s not all bad. I’ll have time to give him the big interview.”

“Huh?” Ethan and I say at the same time.

“No interviewing my boyfriend! I’m an adult!” I insist.

“You turned twenty-two a month ago. It’s my duty as your older sister to audit anyone you bring home and?—”

Sofia suddenly lays down on the horn and swerves to stop someone from cutting her off. She takes her sunglasses off to glare menacingly at the perpetrator before straightening out and composing herself.

“Where was I?” she continues. “Right, interrogat—interview. Yeah. Ethan. Where did you two meet?”

I jump in before Ethan has a chance to reply. “We’re teammates. Can’t get any more PG than that, Sofia.”

“I knew that. Just wanted to see if I could catch you out.”

Jesus Christ. I know she’s only joking, but still.

She doesn’t stop. “Next question. I’m curious as to how this all started.” She gestures between me in the passenger seat and Ethan in the back.

Ethan pipes up. “It was a surprise to both of us, I think. I definitely wasn’t expecting us to get together when the season started.”

Sofia dramatically jerks her head up. “So, something changed. Did James take one look at you and go like ‘oh, damn, guess I like men now’.”

Ethan and I snicker at the same time. “Yeah, that’s essentially what happened but I didn’t realize it at first,” I admit.

Sofia laughs. “Let me guess, he flirted with you right from the start,” she says, staring pointedly at Ethan through the rearview mirror.

Ethan nods and smiles.

Wait, how did she guess?

“How’d you know?” I ask, still curious.

Sofia turns to glance at me. “Oh, come on,” she teases, rolling her eyes. “Don’t act like you don’t shamelessly flirt with literally all your friends. Everyone knows about that.”

Ethan snorts and I reach back to slap him in the knee.

“I don’t flirt with all my friends!”

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