The Sweet Spot (All About the Diamond #1)

by Naomi Springthorp

  Mike with the Mic

  Wow! Well, that makes my life easier and gives me more time to get ready for my trip. When it’s time for the karaoke finals, hopefully I’ll be more emotionally prepared.

  Text from Rick - It’s been four days and you haven’t responded to anything from anybody. I know you don’t believe me. I know you turned in your Seals tickets for the rest of the season. You will have a seat to every home game waiting for you behind home plate for as long as I’m a Seal. This is killing me. I know you’re hurting. We don’t need to be hurting. We could be together. I love you.

  I feel it in my chest and in my eyes. He still has control of my emotions. I’ve made it this far and I’m not giving up. I can be me and I don’t need him. I don’t respond. I set an alarm and set my iPod to my nap playlist. I can sleep the rest of the way home and ignore my life.

  I get home to find delivery notices stuck to my door. Two from florists dated Saturday and Sunday, and one from the Seals on Monday. I ignore them all and unpack, immediately doing laundry and getting ready for my trip. I get my camera equipment together and update the music on my iPod. I pack multiple bags of clothes, so I have what I need no matter what the weather—nothing baseball other than my old Seals cap.

  I spend Wednesday getting errands done, baking, and preparing snacks for my trip. I get a text from an unknown number.

  Text from Unknown - This is Adam. I hope you don’t mind me texting you. I ran into your friend at the bar and he gave me your number. May I call you sometime?

  Text from Adam - I don’t have much time right now. If you’re still going on your trip, I’ll be in San Francisco next week. We could meet.

  Text to Joey - Joey! What did you do? You gave Adam my number! Why?

  Text from Adam - Is this Angel?

  Text from Joey - He’s hot

  Text from Joey - You need the distraction

  Text from Joey - He paid my tab LOL

  Text from Joey - Nothing wrong with having another friend

  Text to Adam - Yes, it’s me. I guess you can call me.

  Text from Adam - Will you go out with me Monday night in San Francisco?

  Text to Adam - I’m not dating right now

  Text from Adam - Plan on seeing me Monday. It’s not a date.

  Shit!

  Text from Rick - Plane just landed in San Diego and I would love to see you

  I continue to ignore Rick and hope he’ll go away. It’s strange to think that. He’s been my only for so long, even my fantasy. I never thought I’d want him to leave me alone.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  I spend the next few weeks driving the California coast in search of beautiful beaches, relaxing motels and unique resorts. I stop at all the scenic view points. I get my feet wet at every beach. I explore every kitschy town and outlet mall. I make notes and take photos along my way, documenting everything and scheduling social media posts for a week later.

  Texts continue to come in from Rick daily, and occasionally I get one from Sam saying something about how he bribed her to text me hoping I’d respond to her, but I won’t. I ignore them all.

  Adam has been tracking my location, which is thoughtful and creepy at the same time. He calls me and talks to me while I’m driving. On my first weekend, he made sure I was going to meet him on the Monday. I did. He lied. It was a date. After talking to him on the phone for a few days, I didn’t mind. He’s a nice guy. He held my hand while we walked along the wharf and we went to dinner at a restaurant with a view of the bay. At the end of the night, he gave me a chaste kiss and waited to see if I’d take it further like I did at the bar. I didn’t. He told me he had the whole day off in San Francisco on Thursday and asked if I’d spend it with him. When I told him I’d be in Northern California on Thursday, he said he’d meet me there. Wednesday night he called and asked where I was staying. Thursday morning he calls at 8am.

  “Good morning,” my eyes are closed.

  “Good morning. Did I wake you?”

  “Yea.”

  “Are you hungry? Can I take you out to breakfast?”

  “I want coffee. I just woke up. I’m not ready.” My eyes still closed.

  “Breakfast comes with coffee.”

  “What time?”

  “Now, I’m sitting in my car in the hotel parking lot.”

  “It’s too early. What?”

  “Should I sit in my car and wait until you want to get up? I thought you’d be up and wanting to go explore early. I’m here to go exploring with you today.”

  What the hell? I’m not ready for this. “Why did you drive here?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? I came to spend time with you.”

  “You don’t even know my name.”

  “Get ready and we can talk about it over breakfast.”

  I’m hungry now. “Fine, but I’m getting ready quick and I’m not primping for a date or anything.”

  “You're naturally beautiful. You’d look amazing in a bag or nothing. I’m sitting in the black convertible with the top down and a baseball cap on.”

  Did he just hit on me? “I’ll be a few minutes. Find a place for breakfast and make sure they have acceptable coffee.” I hang up, pull on my denim shorts, and a black tank top. I brush out my hair quickly and tie it up in a knot, putting my Seals cap on with the knot sticking out the back. I grab my bag with my hoodie, sneakers, and necessities, and walk out to find Adam in the parking lot sitting in a shiny black Jaguar F-Type Convertible—a hot and sporty two-seater. I walk up to the car and lean on his door looking down on him and judging him for wearing a San Francisco Sissy’s cap. “Nice car. Did you rent it for the drive?”

  “No, it’s mine. I don’t drive it often, but San Francisco is my working home base right now. I thought it’d be nice to take it for a drive, maybe have a hot blonde with me and take her to breakfast.”

  “Should be easy for you to find a hot blonde. This is California.”

  “I meant you, beautiful. Get in and let’s go to breakfast.”

  My hunger and desire for coffee wins over my want to be difficult and make him go away. It doesn’t make any sense. Adam is a nice guy and hasn’t done anything to make me dislike him. He hasn’t pushed me. He’s been polite and went out of his way to pay attention to me and talk to me everyday. I’m not comfortable with it. I’m sure it’s because he’s not Rick. How can a mere mortal compare to a man I fantasized about for years? I don’t want a rebound guy. I don’t want a guy at all. Joey’s not wrong, he’s hot.

  We pull into a coffee shop a few blocks away and have a leisurely breakfast, starting with coffee. We talk about my trip and my plan for the day. He drives me to today’s destination and wanders through a forested area to find the beach with me. I take photos along the walk, as well as up and down the beach before I play at the edge of the water and relax in the sun.

  “Is this what you’ve been doing all week?”

  “Pretty much. Exploring beaches and towns. Sometimes I need to sit down and simply absorb what’s around me to get the whole atmosphere of a place. When I stop for a few minutes, everything comes into clear view and makes sense.”

  “How often do you go exploring?”

  “This is the first time I’ve done it on the mainland. I’ve explored on most of the Hawaiian Islands and I’ve done many day trips around San Diego.”

  “Why are you exploring California now?”

  Without thinking, “The beach keeps me focused and I can work from about anywhere. It’s an opportunity to get better at what I do and forget my life.”

  “Seems like a good life to me. Why do you want to forget it?”

  “I guess I want to forget my life the way it was with someone. I don’t want to talk about it.” I strip down to my bikini. “Want to go swimming?”

  Adam takes in the view of me in my bikini, head to toe and back.

  “Your loss. Just going for a quick dip.” I yell as I wade into the ocean and swim out to bodysurf. He’s watching me every step
of the way. He wants more, but he hasn’t tried to get it. Maybe he knows I’d turn him down.

  I walk out of the water, spread out my beach towel and lie on the warm sand to dry off. Adam takes his shirt off and uses it as a pillow, stretching out in the sun with me. I’m relaxed and fall asleep. Adam wakes me, “Angel, do you want to check out of your room and ride back to San Francisco with me? Maybe spend a couple nights with me at my place? I don’t have to be at work until about noon tomorrow and Saturday. I want to spend more time with you.” He leans over me and kisses me. Not sweet and chaste how he typically kisses me. Sucking and nibbling on my lips. His tongue playing a game with mine. His desire for more obvious.

  I sit up quickly, “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a tease. It’s not me at all. I’m not ready for someone new. It wouldn’t be fair to you or me. I’m not over him. I don’t know if I’ll ever be over him.” I pull my shorts on over my bikini and pick up my bag. “I think it’s best if you take me back to my hotel now.”

  “Okay. Do you enjoy spending time with me, Angel? Do you find me attractive?”

  “You’re kind, attentive, and one of the hottest guys I’ve ever met.”

  “You’re not attracted to me?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I’m still hooked on my ex. Forget me, it’s not fair to you. Maybe if I get over him someday I’ll call you.”

  Adam takes me back to my hotel, we sit and talk for a bit. “When are you driving back through San Francisco?”

  “I’m not sure yet. I’m not ready to go home.”

  “Hopefully I’m in town, I want to see you.”

  I get out of his car and he gets out after me, backing me up against his car and claiming me with his mouth. His hands roaming my body and holding me tightly to him. His breath ragged, “Are you sure you don’t want me, beautiful?”

  In many ways I wish I did. Nothing feels the same as simply being in the same room with Rick. “I’m just not over him. I wish I was. You’re a great guy.” I turn and walk away into the hotel.

  Adam called most days to check on me and remind me he wants to spend time with me.

  I spend the rest of the time wandering beaches and occasionally locking myself in a hotel room with an ocean view to be alone. If I’m alone, nobody knows if I cry. There’s no proof and I’m not admitting anything.

  At the end of three weeks, I start my drive home and take three days to do it. I stop at my favorite places and after almost a month, I find myself parking in my assigned spot at home.

  My door has more delivery notices stuck to it, some of them three weeks old. I open the door to find an envelope had been slid under the door. I open the envelope and there’s a handwritten letter:

  Dear Sherry,

  I don’t know if you’ve gotten any of my messages. I’ve been texting you every day. I’ve left you some voicemail messages. I’ve sent you emails, too. I’ve tried reaching you on social media, but you’re logged out. I know your business pages have been getting updated and it looks like you’ve been on a road trip, but I don’t know where you are. I’ve been by your place to try and find you every day that I’m in San Diego, usually twice. I know I can make us better. I know we belong together. I believe that you know it, too. I know in my heart you feel the way that I do and nobody can replace you. I’m betting and hoping, nobody can replace me.

  I don’t want to remind you of the problem, but I want you to know the truth. Ava had a crush on me in high school and when she found out what happened with my ex, she was in my face wanting to make me feel better or at least make sure I wasn’t alone. She was at my room waiting for me after away games for a couple months, back when it happened two years ago. She was never anything other than sex and I know that wasn’t fair to her, but honestly I wasn’t being the best person then. There was more than her, I was the ultimate player at the time. I didn’t like myself and it’s why I quit women. It wasn’t me. I’m not that guy and it didn’t make me feel better about my situation. I wanted things I couldn’t have and I wasn’t going to get living that life. I knew it and I stopped it. I was young and had anything I wanted available to me. It’s the plight of the baseball player. It’s why I don’t want you to think of me as a baseball player, I never want to be that with you.

  I want you to know I’ve never lied to you. I’m always honest with you, no secrets. In Colorado, when I found Ava in my room I kicked her out and filed a complaint with the hotel. She wasn’t naked when I found her, she was sitting in the chair crying about her boyfriend dumping her. I let her vent and kicked her out. She wasn’t happy about it and thought I should help her get over it, but I wouldn’t do it. After you left me in LA, I explained to her in detail that I never want to see her again for any reason. I told her you're the only one for me and if you won’t have me, I won’t have anyone—I mean it, it’s only you for me. I filed a complaint with the hotel and made sure Ava knows I will file legal charges against her if she does it again. I haven’t heard from her or seen her since. I’m sorry you found her the way you did.

  My biggest concern right now is you. I haven’t seen you or heard from you, or so much as seen proof that you’re still breathing in weeks. I need to know you’re okay. I know we weren’t together long and we’ve been apart longer than we were together. I can’t believe it was such a short time, it felt like the way my life is supposed to be and had always been that way—you and me together. This time apart feels like years.

  I swear I haven’t touched another woman since I met you and I don’t want to. I didn’t touch another woman for almost two years before I met you.

  Please believe me. I need you. Nothing is the same without you. I’ll always love you and it will always be you. I’ll do anything and everything for you. Please come back to me. I want to make you happy. If there’s anything I can do to bring you back to me, I want to do it.

  I miss you, my queen.

  Love Always,

  Rick

  I want to believe him. No matter how hard I try, I miss him and dream about him. I know these things are going to keep happening and my heart can’t handle it. I hate that I’m making him hurt. I hate not talking to him and having no contact. It’s the right thing. I’ve made it this far. I’ll get over him.

  I check the Seals schedule to see when they’re in town. He’ll be by to find me and I need to be prepared or not be here.

  I unpack and try to get settled in at home. I start by checking email and social media, get back in the full swing of my routine. I’ve done well at keeping my clients satisfied and booking trips while I was on my road trip. I’ve been contacted by a few of them wanting me to prepare an itinerary for them and book rooms for similar adventures. My beach adventure postings have gotten positive feedback and expanded my social media reach. I have months worth of photos to post and will be writing short blogs about certain locations. I check my email and have a new message.

  From: MikeMic

  Sherry,

  The stage has been replaced and the last upgrade is supposed to be complete this week. Karaoke finals are scheduled for a week from Wednesday. You know the drill.

  See you there!

  Mike

  I’m excited to have something positive to look forward to. I’ve been waiting for the finals.

  To: MikeMic

  Mike,

  I can’t wait. I’ll be there!

  Sherry

  My social media pings, it’s an odd sound to me because I’m logged into it for the first time in weeks. I’m not sure I want to check it. I guess I can see who it is and not respond.

  RookCross: Hi Sweetheart! Surprised to see you logged in. Haven’t seen you in weeks.

  RookCross: I know you’ve been keeping to yourself and I don’t expect you to reply to me. I know what happened. I believe him. I’ve spent a lot of time with him on the road. We’ve shared many hotel rooms over the last couple years. He’s not that guy. He ignores women and isn’t interested. He didn’t invite her in or give her the key. She did that o
n her own and he didn’t want her there. He still talks about you everyday. You're the only woman he’s interested in. He’s not that kind of player.

  Sherry: I can’t handle it. There’s always going to be someone or something. It’s too much for me.

  RookCross: Can you handle being away from him?

  RookCross: He doesn’t know I’m messaging you and I won’t tell him. You told him that you love him and I don’t think that just goes away.

  Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

  Text to Joey - Having a weak moment

  Text from Joey - Are you home yet?

  Text to Joey - Got home today

  Text from Joey - You’re strong. You’ll make it.