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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

imageImage I’ve got to get this kid to bed. But, before that, we’re going to have a battle about taking a shower. What is it about preteen boys not wanting to shower? I just don’t understand.

Me:

I think it’s less about the shower and more about being able to exert control over your own body. I’ve actually never thought about this until now but that’s what came to mind as I remember being his age. I wanted to decide what I could do with my body. I didn’t want my mom telling me.

Palmer:

So you fought your mom about taking a shower too?

Me:

Yes, ma’am.

Palmer:

Did you also fight her about wearing a coat in the winter?

Me:

No. I didn’t want to be cold. But I do recall someone *coughs* you *coughs* that didn’t wear a jacket to practice.

Palmer:

Image

Me:

imageImage I will see you Friday unless I run into you before that.

Palmer:

Sounds like a plan. And thanks for everything you’re doing with the boys. Ethan talks about baseball constantly. We stopped and got the glove oil you mentioned. It’s really nice to see him so excited about something.

Me:

He’s a nice kid. It’s my pleasure.

I wait for a long time to see if she responds, but she doesn’t. I wonder if she’s also staring at the word “pleasure” and comparing that with the taste of our kiss earlier today.

Me:

Good night, Palmer. Say good night to Ethan for me.

Palmer:

Good night, Cole. I will.

I slide my phone into my pocket, but I don’t move. Instead, I stand in the stillness of the country evening and think about the wild-haired woman who has captured my attention.

It occurs to me that I really know nothing about her—way less than I usually know before I have a meal with someone. Interestingly enough, I’ve had more conversations with Palmer than I usually have before a first date, but I actually know less.

Our chats are more generalized and about nothing and are less set up. Maybe that’s why I think about her all the time. This thing between us is more authentic, more organic—all happenstance.

I blow out a breath and look up. Mom is standing on the back porch, waving her hand to tell me it’s time for dinner.

Nothing is fixed and nothing is better. But the ball in my stomach is somehow a little less raw.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN PALMER

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

PALMER

Why does he do this?” I growl at the computer. “He does this intentionally.”

Burt’s company credit card is on the screen. The charges are half-legit and half-bogus—I know Kirk didn’t authorize a one-hundred-dollar dinner at Texas Roadhouse.