Page 64 of Sweet Spot

“You really going to put up with this asshole?” Everett pointed at me. “On the road like this all the time? Head up all our asses?”

I held my breath while I waited for her answer. She shrugged. “Well, my dad is always on tour. I guess I never really thought about that aspect of a job because it was always my reality.”

“Tour?” Everett had renewed interest. Like a puppy whose ears perked up at the sound of a treat being opened.

“Yeah, he’s a musician. He plays five or six instruments. Right now he’s mostly playing drums.”

“Who’s he touring with?” Everett almost fell out of his chair leaning closer.

“Travis Brantley and Kristen Holt.”

Shouts went up around the table and conversation derailed entirely as everyone talked about their favorite songs and how much they loved the singing duo.

I let it all turn into background noise because my mind had launched onto something specific. My dad is always on tour. The bent piece of Kate’s life that had her chasing jerks in suits. All these people replaying my life choices, telling me I should have stayed on the road when my gut told me not to.

I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled us closer together until I could place a kiss on her temple. Then I pressed my forehead to the same spot and whispered, “We’re two bent pieces that fit together perfectly.”

She turned just enough to look up at me with a question.

“It’s nothing. We’ll talk about it later.” I kissed her cheek, then her lips.

“Get a room!” All the guys at the table threw their napkins at us.

Kate scrunched down into the safety of my arms and I tried my best to block the napkins. When the assault ended she was laughing and I was scowling. “Try that again and see how many laps I make you run.”

“Aw, Cap! We’re just teasing!” Wes put his hand over his heart. “You know how much we love love!”

Wes, I now knew in excruciating detail, had a reverse romance with his wife, Carrie, our orthopedic surgeon. To say the man was a romantic at heart was an understatement. “I wish you loved working on throwdowns more.”

“Oh!” Erik and the rest of the guys all went wild. “He called you out!”

“That was harsh, Cap.”

“But right,” Rhett grunted. “I’ve had to chase down three—three!—of your misfires already this season.”

Wes slumped down in his chair, finally, mercifully, silent.

The only sign Kate was nervous was the way she had her hands clasped in her lap. Otherwise she was cool and serene. That chameleon skin in place as she sat beside my pool and watched Rosie swim.

“Can I get you a drink?” Megan asked. Dad stayed at the marina to help Larry, so it was just Mom and Rosie. And Everett.

“Water?” Kate replied.

Mom looked to me. “Yeah, water sounds great.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Mom was losing her mind. She must have the same superpowers as Kate because she didn’t look it, but when I told her last night? Completely bonkers. You’d think I told her I won the lottery and I married a princess all at the same time.

And okay, maybe to her that’s exactly what I did. She was the one who pushed me to take this job. To her this job was me winning the lottery. And Kate? She wasn’t royalty but she was perfect. The fact that Mom knew exactly who she was as soon as I explained said a lot.

“She’s different,” Kate frowned.

“She’s nervous,” I explained. “Megan is afraid she’ll scare you off with her enthusiasm.”

“Enthusiasm?”

“She loves you. She loves the idea of you. Mostly, she loves that I’m dating, but even more than that, she’s over the moon that I’m dating you.”

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