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Back The Sweet Spot Save as PDF
Chapters (50)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CONTENTS
  5. CHAPTER ONE PALMER
  6. CHAPTER TWO PALMER
  7. CHAPTER THREE COLE
  8. CHAPTER FOUR PALMER
  9. CHAPTER FIVE PALMER
  10. CHAPTER SIX PALMER
  11. CHAPTER SEVEN COLE
  12. CHAPTER EIGHT PALMER
  13. CHAPTER NINE PALMER
  14. CHAPTER TEN PALMER
  15. CHAPTER ELEVEN COLE
  16. CHAPTER TWELVE PALMER
  17. CHAPTER THIRTEEN PALMER
  18. CHAPTER FOURTEEN COLE
  19. CHAPTER FIFTEEN COLE
  20. CHAPTER SIXTEEN PALMER
  21. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN COLE
  22. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN PALMER
  23. CHAPTER NINETEEN PALMER
  24. CHAPTER TWENTY COLE
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE PALMER
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO PALMER
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE PALMER
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR COLE
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE PALMER
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX COLE
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN PALMER
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT PALMER
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE COLE
  34. CHAPTER THIRTY PALMER
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE PALMER
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO COLE
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE PALMER
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR COLE
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE PALMER
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX COLE
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN PALMER
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT COLE
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE PALMER
  44. CHAPTER FORTY COLE
  45. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE PALMER
  46. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO COLE
  47. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE PALMER
  48. EPILOGUE PALMER
  49. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  50. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The words burn as they slide out of my mouth. Admitting that—putting it into the universe—feels like I’m just asking for trouble. But how can I be in trouble if I’m being honest? I can’t be duped if I see it for what it is, right?

“If Cole was a regular guy and worked at the Piggly Wiggly or the coal mine, I’d absolutely give him a shot,” I say. “But he’s not that kind of guy. So I have to take it for what it is, and right now, it’s making me happy.”

“That’s great, Palm.”

“I’m just going to keep a life jacket on, you know? Don’t jump in too deep.”

She claps, making me roll my eyes.

“Stop it,” I say, shushing her.

“I like it. I like this Palmer. You go, girl.”

“No one says that anymore.”

“I just did. Besides, this is something worth celebrating.”

“Why is that?”

She sighs. “Because you’re living for you. You saw something you wanted and you went after it. You got it. You screwed it, apparently, and—”

“Stop!” I laugh. “Please. Stop.”

“Fine. But I’ll be over around nine, and you can tell me everything.”

A grin kisses my lips. “I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

“Bye.”

I relax in my seat and feel the sun on my face. This feels like me—the me I want to be. Fun. Hopeful. Exciting.

Like there’s something out there for me.

I close my eyes. My brain calms, the chaos in my head stills, and I find myself with one clear thought: if only this thing with Cole could be real.

You’re always safe with me.

Thinking about the words typed on the screen from him floods my body with a calmness that I’ve never known. But that’s the thing—Cole is all the things that I’ve always hoped to find in someone.

So of course he has to leave.

“No, you know that,” I say to myself, opening my eyes. “You’ve always known that.”

I’m looking down to reread his texts from last night when a new one pops up. It’s from Cole to the parent group text for the baseball team.

Practice tomorrow night at 5:30 for whoever can show up. Last minute, I know, but we tarped the field and it doesn’t look too bad. See you all there!

Then a separate text pops up just to me.

I have something for you. imageImage

Me:

You do? Color me intrigued.

Cole:

I think you’ll like it.

Me:

What is it?

Cole:

I can’t tell you.

“Ugh,” I say, my face aching from smiling.

Me:

Give me a hint.

Cole:

Well, it’s hard.

Me:

Ooh. Do tell.

Cole:

I’ll show you tonight if you’re good.