Page 25 of Home Town Advantage (Fourth Quarter Fever #1)

ELEVEN

SULLEY

I ’ve had the most magical week on the Amalfi Coast of Italy.

The company treated me like a queen. They put me up in a suite in a fancy hotel, gave me a huge daily allowance for food, were respectful during the photo shoots, and made sure to schedule work obligations so I had plenty of free time to explore the majestic area.

The company is an Italian athletic clothing line named Veloce.

Apparently, they have a partnership with Daulton Holdings, Reagan’s company, and she recommended me as the spokesperson.

It is by far my biggest payday, and I’m so grateful to her for advocating for me.

She has more than lived up to every promise she made before she drafted me, which included being supportive of me both on and off the court.

Veloce is trying to bill this line as both athletic and beachy. Seems like a weird combo to me, but the money can’t be beat, and I got a free trip to Italy. Accepting it was a no-brainer.

My photo shoots were spectacular. I can’t wait to see the pictures.

The nights are a little lonely. Shane said he couldn’t get away to come join me, but I don’t mind wandering the old, cobblestone streets alone.

I’ve experienced beauty on this trip that I’ve only seen in books before.

You can’t appreciate certain things unless you see them in person.

I’m sitting in a café on my last night here when I receive a text notification and look at my phone.

Vance: How did it go?

I’ve been here for eight days, and my boyfriend hasn’t once asked me that question.

In fact, he’s only texted about how many days until we have sex again.

I also noticed that he took a few screenshots of our FaceTime calls and posted them to social media without bothering to ask me if I minded.

I know he’s a bit of a social media whore, but when I’m in videos or photos of us together, I’m giving my consent. A secret screenshot doesn’t have that.

This trip has given me a lot of time to consider my relationship with Shane. I think I’m going to enjoy my week with him, and then I might suggest we spend some time apart. I suppose I’ll see how it goes, but I’m leaning toward ending things.

The sound of my FaceTime ringing breaks me from my thoughts. I look down and notice it’s Kennedy. She may be the biggest shock of my moving to Philly. Second only to transitioning into an amicable relationship with Vance.

Kennedy has this hard exterior, but inside, I believe she’s a good person. She hides it from the world, but I see it.

I accept the call and smile into the screen at my beautiful friend, who looks like she’s in bed. “Hey! How are you?”

She answers, “I’m good. My brother had his last high school football game this weekend. It was cool to see him play. He was excited to have me there.” She bites her lip. “Thanks for the advice. You were right.”

She and I had a conversation recently about her relationship with her brother.

She has some animosity toward her parents, which has resulted in her not spending much time with her little brother over the past few years.

He invited her to his senior night game, and she was on the fence about attending.

Given how much I cherish the memory of my brother attending mine, I encouraged her to go.

“That’s great. I’m happy you went. It was the right thing to do. I’m sure your brother was happy.”

“Crazy happy.” She squints her eyes at the telephone screen. “What the hell are you drinking?”

I giggle. “A margarita. I know it’s not very Italian, but I practically OD’d on Italian wine this week. Sometimes a girl just needs her comfort drink.”

She nods. “I get it. Nothing beats a good margarita. The difference between a man and a margarita is that a margarita hits the right spot every time.”

I let out a laugh. “Sure does.”

“Is Shane with you?” she asks.

I shake my head. “He was busy this week. He ended up not coming down. I’m supposed to head up to him in two days, but our shoot is over early. I may travel up to Rome tomorrow to surprise him.” I let out a breath. “I think I might end things. I’m not sure yet, but I’m thinking about it.”

“Are you upset about the prospect of things being over between you two?”

I shake my head and answer honestly. “Not really.”

She shrugs her shoulders. “I suppose that’s very telling.”

She’s right. It is.

She continues. “No offense, Shane seemed like a nice guy, but he doesn’t look like the best sex of your life kind of guy. He’s not the multi-orgasm-inducing type. He looks…missionary to me.”

I let out a laugh. “Yep, he’s a little missionary.

” What I don’t admit to her is that it’s more than that.

He’s never once made me feel like I felt with Vance in my bed all those years ago, and all we did was kiss and touch a bit.

I want someone who sets me ablaze like Vance did.

Maybe even someone who pushes me out of my comfort zone.

Hearing about Kennedy’s sexcapades over the past few months has made me realize I’ve been missing out.

I admit, “I might enjoy a few days locked up with him before I end things, but my next man is going to be your multi-orgasm-inducing type.”

“What’s your kink?” she asks.

“I’m not sure I have one,” I honestly answer.

“Everyone has a kink.Even Rapunzel wasn’t satisfied until some guy pulled her hair.”

I giggle.

She sighs. “I suppose we need to find you a man who helps you discover yours.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “As soon as you get back to town, I’ll help introduce you to new men.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Have you done any shopping?” she asks. “The stores there are amazing.”

“Just a little bit. A few souvenirs,” I answer.

“Ugh. Spoil yourself. If you get used to receiving nice things, you’ll never accept a guy who gives you the bare minimum.”

“Ooh, I like that line.”

“Me too.” Her face then falls serious. “I did call for a reason. Have you read the news at all today?”

I shake my head. “No, what’s up?”

“Your agent, Tanner Montgomery, got into a bad car accident last night. Your softball friend, Bailey Hart, was in the car with him.”

I gasp. “Oh my god. Where were they? Are they okay?”

Her face scrunches a bit. “It was on their way home from Arizona and Layton’s wedding. I think he’s going to be fine, but the news stations are saying that Bailey is in surgery. She…umm…may have broken her back. But it could just be rumors. I don’t know anything for sure.”

Tears fill my eyes. Bailey Hart was the first person to welcome me to Philly when I visited before the draft. She’s been so kind to me. She comes to games all the time when they’re not playing. My heart breaks for her.

“I’m going to run so I can find out how she is. Thanks for letting me know.”

“Sure thing.”

We hang up, and I’m not sure who to call. I imagine her sister and friends are at the hospital. I don’t want to bother them.

I take a deep breath, knowing there’s only one person who I can call right now. I find Vance’s contact information and click on his number. He answers after only one ring. “Hey. Are you okay?” He sounds frantic.

“Yes. I just heard about the accident. What’s going on?”

He exhales a long breath. “It was pretty bad. Tanner wrapped his Maserati around a pole. I’m trying not to bother them, but Cheetah has been sending updates when he can.

Tanner only has a concussion. A bad one, but no permanent damage.

Bailey fractured her spine. They think she’ll walk again, but it’s going to be a long, uphill battle.

She’s going to need months of therapy to get back to normal. ”

Tears fall from my eyes. “Holy shit. Poor Bailey. Is there anything I can do?”

“Nah. She’s got her core group there, so nothing right now, but once she’s out of the hospital, I think that’s when she’ll need support.”

“Wow. Okay. Will you keep me updated? I don’t want to bother them, but I want to know how she’s doing.”

“Of course. Champ is good friends with Bailey. He said he’s going to the hospital either tonight or tomorrow morning. He’ll update us afterward. I’ll text you then. How are things going for you?”

I look around at my beautiful surroundings. “Great. Honestly, I feel like I’m in a real-life painting.”

He chuckles. “I get that. I went to Italy once. It’s…different from what you and I are used to, right?”

I find myself wondering who he went with. It’s such a romantic country. Why do I feel a pang of jealousy that he possibly experienced it with another woman? More importantly, why do I care?

“It is,” I answer.

“Is Euro-trash boy with you?”

I let out a laugh. “He’s from Massachusetts.”

“Meh. He looks like Euro-trash to me.”

I shake my head in amusement even though he can’t see me. “No, he was busy. I’m heading up to him in Rome tomorrow.”

He mumbles something about Shane being a douchebag for not spending time with me while here.

Frankly, I don’t disagree with that statement, though I’m starting to feel like Shane isn’t the man I’d want sitting across from me at this charming café.

Vance is. I get a vision of his sexy hair blowing in the breeze.

The small smile he reserves for very few people, but I know I’m one of them.

His green eyes practically burning a hole through me, the way they do sometimes when I’m in a skirt or dress.

I squeeze my eyes shut. Fuck, Sulley, this is Vance. The man who betrayed your brother on the deepest level. On the other hand, he’s also the man who is making my brother’s dream come true.

I’m silent, feeling a clusterfuck of emotions. “Vance, I should go.”

“Oh, okay. When are you back in Philly?”

“Not until after the holidays. When I leave here, I’m heading straight home to my parents. Good luck with the rest of your season. Please text me Bailey updates when you can.” I need to get off the phone.

“Thanks. Will do.”