Page 72 of The Sweet Spot

JB: Not just the good girl part.

Whit: I am throwing my phone into a water hazard.

Week Three

JB: It's late, so I'm going to say something I normally wouldn't over text.

JB: I miss talking too, Whit, but mostly I just miss being in your orbit. Smelling your perfume, seeing you smile when I say something stupid, feeling you in my arms. I miss it.

JB: I miss you so much I described your golf swing to Grayson in detail and he said I needed a hobby. I told him that you are my hobby. He left.

JB: I know we agreed to a long-distance relationship when we started dating, and I don't want to break up, but this is hard. Really hard, and not in the fun way.

Whit: I'm awake.

JB: Oh, hi. Don't mind me, I'm just spilling my guts on the floor over here.

Whit: I miss you, too. Wanna talk for fifteen minutes? I don't have long, as I have to be up early for some sponsorship events for the tournament this weekend, but I need to hear your voice.

Whit Calling...

JB: It's good to be back home. I had hot dogs with your dad in the 7th. Two each.

Whit: Wish I was there.

JB: Me, too.. Fuck, Coach. Your dad sees me every single night this week. Every single game, he's right there in the tunnel, and you're in Tennessee. Do you understand the situation? I get all of Larry and none of you, because when I'm free, you're playing, and when I'm playing, you're free. I'm dating the wrong Marlow by sheer geography.

Whit: Please never phrase it that way again.

JB: He showed me your round today on his phone in the dugout. Showed me your birdie on 12. I watched it three times with him. Then he said he was so proud of you, and I had to go eat another hot dog to see if it would fill the hollowness in my chest. It didn't.

Whit: Hot dogs don't change the fact that I'm nine-hundred miles away.

JB: I know.

Whit: Call me when you're back from your game. I want to hear your voice even if it's just for five minutes.

Week Four

Whit: Missed the cut for the lead today. Finished third. It's the first time I've been off the top of the leaderboard in months, and I can already tell everyone thinks I'm slipping, and viewing it as their opportunity to usurp me.

JB: Usurp? I like the commitment here.

Whit: I'm serious.

JB: Are you slipping?

Whit: No. I just need a break.

JB: Then they're wrong and you're tired. You're allowed to be tired without it meaning anything. Whit: When did you get so wise?

JB: Well, when you haven't seen your girlfriend in, checks notes, four weeks, you start to think about a few things. Don't worry, Coach. You've got this. You're still number one in golf and every other metric that matters to me.

Whit: ...thanks. I needed that more than I'm going to admit.

JB: Larry and I will be watching you from his dungeon tonight. I'm sending something with him for when he meets you tomorrow.

Whit: Wish you were coming too. I need a hug.