Page 65 of Sweet Spot

Kate smiled, hands still clasped. I put mine over them. “Nothing to worry about here.”

“What if she doesn’t like me?” Kate whispered while glancing at the pool. Rosie was so busy with collecting all the dive sticks that she hadn’t noticed anything.

“Then we’ll keep trying.”

Rosie emerged from the pool steps with hands full of colorful sticks and goggles over her eyes. “I got them all in one breath!” Then she dropped them and ran over to the table. “Ice cream lady! What are you doing here? Did you bring more?”

Kate laughed nervously. “I should have, shouldn’t I? That was a mistake on my part. Next time I will bring ice cream.”

“Next time?”

I jumped before Rosie started asking more questions. “Hey Rosie girl, why don’t you grab a towel?”

My daughter looked down at the puddle she created and ran off to the stack of towels by the sliding glass door, returning a moment later with her hair a mess from removing the goggles.

I helped wrap her up. “Rosie, this is Kate.”

“It’s nice to officially meet you, Rosie. I’ve heard a lot about you from your dad.”

Rosie looked up at me and it was clear she fully understood the situation. “So she’s your girlfriend, huh?”

“Yes she is.”

She glanced back at Kate, who was obviously holding her breath. A moment or two away from turning blue. “Dad must have given you a lot of ice cream. Are you sure about this? You seem like a smart lady.”

Kate burst out with the most beautiful laugh, reminding me all over again of the first time her voice made all the hair on my body stand on end.

“Did you just insult me, young lady?” I squeezed Rosie tight.

“Well, you are a lot.”

This sent Kate into another fit of giggles. Megan came out with a tray shaking her head. “What is going on out here?”

“Rosie has informed Kate that I’m quite a lot of work.”

Megan shot Rosie a look. “Says the master.”

Rosie shrugged. “I had to learn it from somewhere.”

“They’re not that bad,” Megan assured Kate. “And they’re worth it.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” Kate replied.

I couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off my face.

23

Isaac

“If we get Joe more time at third I think he can be a great utility player. Someone we can use anywhere on the field. He’s got the talent for it.” Gordo stood too close to the television where we had footage from practice up on the screen.

I swear the man thought he could step into the television and actually be part of the footage. Maybe technology would advance enough in a few years that he could. “Yeah, keep that up. I would love that kind of versatility.”

Gordo turned suddenly, staring right at me. “We need to talk about Everett.”

“Okay…”

“He’s been late every day this week. His slider hasn’t hit once in a game. And…have you seen his beard?”

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