Page 76 of The Triple Play

His bat connects, and the ball skitters across the ground toward third base.

“Yes,” I breathe as he races toward first base. He slides in, feet first, popping up to standing and dusting off his pants with a grin.

The camera pans back to home plate, where Griffin is standing just outside of the box, taking a practice swing. I draw in a long breath and blow it out slowly.

"Looks like our dynamic duo has someone’s attention,” Juniper comments, and my gaze snaps over to find her and Isla staring at me with amused smiles on their faces.

“Interesting,” Isla says with a teasing lilt. “Very interesting.”

“What… I don’t…” I’m floundering, but then I’m saved by a loud roar on the screen that pulls all of our attention. “Crap.”

Griffin’s walking away from home plate, and even through the screen, I can see the frustration in the clench of his jaw and the stiffness of his gait.

Thankfully, the next player up makes a hit, and Denver advances. Then, Cal’s back up to bat and lands a home run that has all of us on our feet, cheering as all three Thunder players round the bases, giving us a solid lead.

The game ends with the Thunder eking out a win, but just barely. Isla clicks off the television before checking her phone. “Charlie will be home in half an hour.”

Both she and Juniper turn to face me.

Isla leans forward, and there’s a gleam in her eyes that makes me nervous. “Alright girlfriend, spill. Griff or Foxxy?”

“Or both?” Juniper winks.

There’s no hiding my reaction.

“Hell yeah, it’s both, isn’t it? I knew it!” Juniper pumps her hand in the air. She turns to Isla and points at her. “I told you it was both.”

“Wait, you knew?” I blurt out, then slap my hand over my mouth. So much for admitting nothing.

“We guessed,” Juniper says. “Or maybe imagined is a better word for it. But oh my god, finding out we’re right? You’re into both of them?”

Oh. They think we’re just talking about attraction. There’s no mistaking the sense of relief I feel, realizing they don’t actually know anything is happening.

Yet, they seem okay with the idea of me being interested in two men at the same time. Not judgmental or weirded out at all.

“Yeah, I mean, they’re both really hot,” I say lamely, snatching up the glass of water in front of me and draining it.

“That they are.” Juniper nods. “I say go for it. Get yourself a hot man sandwich.”

“Juni!” Isla laughs. “Stop pushing her.” She shakes her head, then looks at me. “Ignore her.”

I force a smile and a laugh. “Right.”

“Or don’t,” Juniper pipes in with a grin. “But I’ll stop. Actually, I should probably go. I’ve got an early morning meeting with city council to beg for more funding so I can expand our education program.” She stands up and stretches her arms overhead. “Thanks for having us, Isla. I can host for tomorrow’s game.”

“In your teeny-tiny apartment that only has one chair?” Isla teases, then shoots me a look. “Trust me, we’ll be more comfortable here. But if you two want to handle dinner, that would be great. I’ve got Charlie’s student-led conference at school, so I'll be home late.”

It takes me a second to realize they’re just automatically assuming I’ll come over again to watch the game tomorrow. They’re including me, without question.

“Done,” Juniper says brightly. “What do you want to bring?” she asks me.

“I can make pasta?”

She nods. “Perfect. I’ll bring salad and wine.”

And I’ll work on gathering the courage to admit how far my attraction to Denver and Griffin really goes.

Which means, I need to get the courage to first admit to myself how far in I am.