Page 11 of Home Town Advantage (Fourth Quarter Fever #1)
FIVE
VANCE
I ’m at my agent, Tanner Montgomery’s, house.
He hosts a monthly poker game for some of his longtime local clients, the ones he considers friends.
It includes Daylen and me from the Camels, and Cruz “Cheetah” Gonzales, Layton Lancaster, and Trey DePaul from the Philly Cougars.
Cheetah and Trey are still playing ball, but Layton retired last year after a gruesome injury in a World Series game.
He’s now on the coaching staff of both the Cougars and Anacondas.
His wife, Arizona Abbott, plays for the Anacondas.
Tanner has a high-end man cave in his basement and always has a ton of food and drinks for us.
I consider this group among my closest friends in the world, but Tanner and Daylen are the only ones who know my full past. Tanner has worked hard through the years to keep things under wraps, per my request.
Everyone has arrived except Cheetah. He texted that he was running late.
I ask Layton, “How’s the wedding planning coming?”
He already eloped with Arizona, but they’re having a big wedding for family and friends this fall after her season is over. I believe Daylen has termed it a performative wedding . They’re doing it during our bye week so Daylen and I can be there.
He smiles widely. “It’s awesome. I can’t wait. She’s changed my life for the better.”
Layton was the biggest playboy around for years. Seeing him like this is shocking, but in a good way.
I slap him on the back. “I’m happy for you. Don’t forget to text me the name of your builder.”
He and Arizona are designing and building a big house in the suburbs. I want to do the same. It’s time to see Finn’s vision come to fruition. It’s another promise I made to him.
Layton winces. “Shit. I keep forgetting.” He pulls out his phone.
“Sending you Collin Fitz’s contact information now.
He’s a character, kind of goofy, but he’s the best at custom mansions.
And once you decide to move forward, he gets shit done quickly.
He knows people in the permitting offices. It’s amazing how efficiently he works.”
I feel my phone vibrate, knowing his text came through. “Thanks, man.” I make a mental note to call Collin first thing in the morning.
Cheetah comes rushing down the stairs. He’s a blue-eyed Latino man who is widely considered one of the fastest players in baseball. “Sorry, guys. I was with Kam.”
Daylen shakes his head. “I can’t believe you snagged her.”
Cheetah shrugs. “I’m not sure I’ve snagged her. Sometimes I’m not sure how much she likes me. She tolerates me because I’m so damn good in bed.”
Daylen smiles broadly with a celery stick dangling from his mouth like it’s a cigar. “You can tell how much a woman likes you by her feet.”
“Her feet?” Cheetah questions.
Daylen nods. “Yep. If they’re behind her ears, she likes you a lot.”
Cheetah chuckles. “Then I guess she likes me.”
Cheetah then looks at Tanner. “Were you able to get us the tickets I asked for?”
Tanner nods. “Yep. I got a bunch for the Beavers’ home opener. It was a hot ticket. People are clamoring to see Sulley. My phone is ringing off the hook with offers for her.”
Cheetah smirks. “’Cause she’s hot.”
I scowl at him. “It’s because she’s the best basketball player on the planet. Don’t be such a sexist asshole.”
He raises his eyebrow. “And she’s hot. What’s wrong with you?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. She’s worked her ass off. She deserves your respect.”
Cheetah, Layton, and Trey all stare at me, dumbfounded. Trey asks, “Do you have something going on with her already? Didn’t she just move here a minute ago?”
I shake my head. “I’ve known her for her whole life. She’s like a little sister to me.” That taste of the word sister feels bitter in my mouth. While I feel protective of Sulley, I don’t see her as a sister at all.
Trey smiles. “Whatever you say, loverboy.” He winks.
“I see what’s happening here. I’m not blind.
My wife writes romance novels. I see the story unfolding.
” He pretends like he’s opening a book. “Star quarterback reined in by star basketball player, producing superstar babies for generations.” He pretends to close the book. “Happily ever after. The end.”
Daylen mercifully, and likely purposefully, interjects, “Speaking of being blind, I had sex with a blind woman once. She told me I have the biggest dick she’s ever laid her hands on. I said, you’re pulling my leg .”
The collective group laughs as we otherwise have a typical night of poker. We all make plans to meet at the Beavers’ opening game.
I’m both nervous and excited for Sulley’s home opener.
They played their season opener in Miami a few days ago.
I watched it on television. The players on the other team were extremely rough with Sulley.
She was elbowed and shoved constantly. They don’t seem to like that a rookie is getting so much media attention. I don’t like what they’re doing to her.
She brushed it off and scored twenty points with eleven assists and seven rebounds. An amazing rookie debut. I like how calm she is under pressure. She never lets anything or anyone get to her.
So many players in the league are giving interviews saying that Sulley is overhyped, and that she won’t be as productive in the WNBA as she was in college.
I don’t understand why they’re trying to bring her down.
She’s good for the league. She has a huge following.
Their season opener was the most viewed WNBA game in history, and Beavers home and away games are sold out for the entire season, with people clamoring to watch her play.
Tanner purchased a ton of seats for tonight, all right on the floor, and we get to enjoy the fruits of his labor as we sit down. He’s busy making his rounds, shaking hands with people. I suppose that’s part of his job. He’s very good at it.
I’m sitting with Daylen, Presley, Beau, and Champ.
I insisted on coming early to watch warmups and to ensure we don’t miss the player introductions.
I need to see the first time she’s announced in front of the home crowd and watch all the fans go wild for her.
She’s earned this moment. It’s a long time in the making.
I see Layton and Arizona walk toward the seats next to us, hand in hand, with huge smiles on their faces.
She’s an absolute stunner with her California height, blonde hair, and blue eyes.
The crowd erupts with excitement when they notice them.
Layton and Arizona are the unofficial sweethearts of Philadelphia.
Their love story is plastered everywhere, and they seem to relish it.
They wave to their sea of fans without a care in the world. I envy how carefree they seem to be.
They’re followed by Bailey Hart, Kam’s identical twin sister, and then Cheetah, who’s holding Kam’s hand as she enters behind him.
Bailey and Kam are brunette stunners. Both are sexy, though Bailey is sweet while Kam is a little crazy, making her perfect for Cheetah.
Few people know this, but Tanner is in some sort of secret physical relationship with Bailey.
She’s much younger than him, and she nannies for his daughter in the off-season, but he’s into her. Very into her.
Apparently, Sulley has already made friends with the players on the Anacondas.
It’s nice to see women’s professional athletes being supportive of each other.
The players on the Anacondas became overnight sensations here in Philly last season.
Hopefully their star power will rub off on the Beavers, and Philly will embrace the new basketball team similarly.
Layton turns his head and looks down the row of seats toward Kam. “You were the last to arrive.”
The guys on the Cougars play a game of whoever is last to arrive has to share a random, fun fact with the group. They seem to get off on it. It’s kind of annoying, albeit slightly amusing at times.
Kam rolls her eyes. “I’ve got a good one for you. The first testicular cup was used in hockey in 1874. The first helmet was used in hockey in 1974. It took men a hundred years to value their brains as much as they value their dicks.”
Daylen lets out the loudest laugh I’ve ever heard in my life. I swear, ten thousand people stare at him.He’s wildly amused by Kamryn. Though he’d never admit it out loud, I think he secretly wishes he’d met Kam before Cheetah did.
I look across the court and nod my head at Coach Jeffries. He’s sitting with his son and ex-wife. I imagine they’re here to cheer for Kennedy. He nods in return.
I then notice Tanner’s eight-year-old daughter, Harper, walking onto the court with his ex-wife, Fallon. Harper sprints toward Bailey and leaps into her waiting arms. I guess she loves her nanny.
Kam and Cheetah slide down, allowing Harper and Fallon to sit next to Bailey. Fallon and Bailey seem friendly. I wonder if Fallon knows Tanner is banging the nanny. Not my business.
Harper bounces from person to person until she gets to Daylen, sitting next to me, and climbs onto his giant lap. Her blue eyes look up at him. “Uncle Daylen, who’s your favorite Beaver?”
I narrow my eyes at him to ensure he keeps it clean.
He winks at me, aware of my thoughts. “Hmm. I think Layla Ladrón. I’ve known her the longest.” He points to Presley.
“This is her husband. That’s what he’s most famous for.
No one would even know his name if he wasn’t married to a superstar like Layla. ”
Harper’s face lights up. “Oh, cool. Do you want to know who my favorite player is?”
Daylen pretends to think about it. “Well…if I had to guess, and it’s only a guess, I’d say Sulley O’Shea.”
Harper gasps. “How did you know?”
He tugs on her O’Shea jersey and gives her his goofy grin. “Just a wild guess.”
Harper looks down at her jersey, which is now a bestseller, and giggles. “Oh right. Daddy says I can meet her after the game. That she’s super nice.”