The Lineup(75)

Emory takes a step forward, placing her hand on my forearm. “Jason, are you okay? You seem a little crazed.”

“Crazed? I’m not crazed. I’m just . . .” God, I can’t hold it in any further. “I’m in like!” I shout right before taking another bite of my apple. “I’m in like and I want everyone to know about it. This is only the beginning. Next, I’m going to be a father. Can you see it, little Orson babies running around, all from different countries, all proud to have a dad with the finest ass in baseball?”

Emory and Knox both stare at me, blankly, unmoving.

I snap my finger at them. “Are you two okay?”

“Are you okay?” Knox asks. “Dude, you’re fucking losing it. What the hell are you talking about? Does this have to do with Dottie?”

“Ohhh.” Emory nods her head. “That makes sense. Uh, did something happen between you two?” She clasps her hands together.

“Oh, something happened. We had a date last night and it was fantastic. She’s so cool and smart and then at the drop of a hat, her asshole closes up and she becomes the most uptight person I’ve ever seen. I love it.”

“You love how she’s uptight?” Knox asks.

“Oh yeah, gets me hot. Love seeing her in a tizzy. Or when she sticks her nose in the air, when something I say is completely beneath her . . . makes me want to say it all over again.”

“Seems like Dottie’s worst nightmare,” Knox says, walking to the kitchen and filling two cups of water for him and Emory.

“Oh yeah, I’m pretty sure there are times where her fist itches to give me a fat lip with some of my antics, but then I just flash her my winning smile and all is forgiven.”

“I doubt that’s the case,” Knox mumbles and takes Emory by the hand to sit on the couch. I follow closely behind. “Are you two dating now?”

“Yup,” I say with finality. “We’re a couple, so I’m sorry to inform you but your title of cutest couple is about to be stolen.”

“You think we’re cuter than Milly and Carson?” Emory asks.

“Of course. No competition. Milly is gorgeous but Carson is bringing down the team. I surpass them without even having a girlfriend, hell, if I were coupled up with my nightstand, I’d be a better couple.”

“I’ll be sure to spread the news on to Carson.” Knox laughs to himself.

“Not the best idea, you know how sensitive he is.”

“I think you’re referring to yourself,” Knox points out.

I chuckle. “True, I’m very sensitive and if he finds out and comes after my ass, I won’t recover easily, which means I’ll be over here at your place, begging you to nurse me back to health so my lady friend doesn’t have to see me in such a weak state.”

Knox scratches the side of his jaw and says, “Have I ever told you how much I really don’t like you?”

“Almost every day.” I wink at him.

“What does this all mean? Can we go on double dates?” Emory asks with excitement.

“I would LOVE that,” I say just as there’s a knock at the door. Knox gets up to welcome their visitor while I lean over the armchair and say to Emory, “We can take one of those couples cooking classes I hear people raving about.”

“Yes, that would be so much—”

“Look who it is,” Knox announces to the room as Dottie steps into view, and fuck, does she look good. She’s wearing a tight red dress, nude heels, and her hair is pulled up into a well-polished bun on the top of her head.

Dottie smiles at Emory but when she sees me, her smile falters. I know why. She’s probably wondering what I’ve said to our friends.

“There she is,” I say, standing and walking to her. “You’re out of work early.”

“I . . . I’m going back—” I plant a giant kiss on her lips and when she doesn’t kiss back, I grip the small of her back and plaster her against my chest. I lightly part her lips with my tongue and before I know it, her mouth opens to me and I give her a gentle, sweet kiss, loving the way she melts into my body. Fuck, I love kissing this woman.

Whispering, I say, “You look amazing.”

“Thank you,” she whispers back as Emory claps her hands and comes up to the both of us.

“Oh my God, this is so exciting. Look at you two. You’re so cute.”

“See, told you,” I say to Knox, elbowing him in the stomach.

We are cute.





After Dottie dropped the keys off and gave Emory a rundown on the plants, I snagged her by the hand and pulled her into my apartment.

“I have to get back to work if I’m going to go to the amusement park with you tomorrow.”

“That’s fine, just let me have a second with you.”

She bites her bottom lip and the usual hard tone of her voice disappears when she says, “Okay. Just a second.”

Smiling, I bring her to my living room where we both take a seat on my couch.

“What did you tell them?” Dottie asks, sitting next to me but keeping a distance.

“Just that you’re my girl, that we’re dating, and that I’m in like.”

“In like?”

“Yeah, the stage before love. I also might have announced something about babies but that’s neither here nor there.”