Page 35 of Home Town Advantage (Fourth Quarter Fever #1)

SIXTEEN

SULLEY

“ T he badass bitch is back,” Kennedy announces happily, and quite loudly, when I enter the gymnasium. She even adds a little ass shake as the practice session comes to a halt and everyone looks my way.

I smile and do a little curtsy. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic was a bitch.” For some reason, five miles took me over forty-five minutes.

She nods. “Every traffic jam starts with one dumbass doing dumb shit.”

“Facts,” Layla agrees. “Nothing is worse than Philly traffic.”

Shay shakes her head. “Then you haven’t lived in LA. It’s brutal there. Why does there need to be traffic at three in the morning on a Sunday? What’s happening that it’s backed up? Who are all those people, and where are they going? Why is the biggest idiot always at the front?”

I let out a laugh. It’s true. Traffic jams are one of the great mysteries of life.

My teammates all walk over to hug me. Each one lovingly embraces me .

I look around at them. “I’ve missed you guys. I feel like I’ve been away forever.”

Palmer nods. “You have. I got back weeks ago. I need my girl here with me.”

Kennedy gasps. “What about me, Palmer? You had the one and only Kennedy Jeffries.” She turns to me. “Don’t worry. You’re back in more than enough time for the greatest day of the year. Valentine’s Day.”

I lift any eyebrow. “Umm…I’m now single. It’s no longer a good day.”

She smirks as she crosses her arms and shakes her head.

“Nope. It’s the unofficial meat market day at the gym.

The best day to go. Roll into the gym after five or six in the evening on Valentine’s Day.

No attached men will be there. It’s guaranteed to be only single men.

It’s open season. Honestly, it’s my favorite day each year.

It’s basically a candy shop full of all your favorite treats.

It’s your birthday. It’s Christmas morning. It’s?—”

“I get it,” I interrupt. “I guess I never thought about it that way. That’s a very positive outlook on being single.”

She grins. “I ooze glass-half-full energy, don’t I?”

I let out a laugh, as does everyone else. If there’s one thing Kennedy doesn’t do, it’s ooze glass-half-full energy.

A young man I don’t recognize walks up to me with a folded towel in his hand and holds it out for me. “Would you like a towel, Ms. O’Shea?”

I look at my teammates in question. We don’t usually have towel boys at voluntary, unofficial team practices. Especially attractive ones in unusually tight clothing.

Kennedy shrugs. “I have an intern. This is Booster. He’s been working for me for a few weeks. He gets school credit for it.”

The young man corrects, “Again, it’s Rooster, Ms. Jeffries.”

She sighs. “You’re so short. I feel like Booster is more appropriate. Roosters are loud and annoying. It’s a stupid name. And why did you call her Ms. O’Shea? What if she got married recently? ”

The poor kid’s face drops. “Oh, I’m sorry. Is it Mrs.?”

“You can just call me Sulley.” I correct.

Kennedy shakes her head. “Nope. Booster is going to show us all some respect. No first names. Queen is the most acceptable. We’re all queens.

” She places her finger on the corner of her mouth.

“Come to think of it, why are single women Ms. and married women Mrs.? Is it really anyone else’s business if we’re attached or not?

Men are Mr. no matter what their status.

So our relationships to men matter, but their relationships to us don’t? Such sexist bullshit.”

Shay stares at Kennedy. “Your brain will be studied for science one day.”

Kennedy quips, “Says the lesbian in a wife-beater shirt. Tell me you’re a lesbian without telling me you’re a lesbian.”

Shay smiles as she tugs on the straps of her ribbed, white tank top. “In the lesbian community, we don’t call these shirts wife beaters.” She winks. “We call them wife pleasers.”

She blows Kennedy a kiss, and I giggle. “She’s got you there, Kennedy.”

Shay and Kennedy share bemused looks. They love to rib each other, but they’ve become good friends and respect one another. In fact, I know Kennedy hung with Shay and Alyssa a lot when I was gone.

Palmer throws her arm around me. “How are you? You know, since your breakup.”

“I’m great,” I answer honestly.

“Are you two done for good?”

I nod. “Absolutely. I don’t read my books backward. I already know that story, and it most definitely has ended.”

Kennedy nods emphatically. “Good for you. On to bigger and better, preferably at the gym on Valentine’s Day. You were too good for him. I was happy you broke up. Speaking of good news, creepy Noah was fired.”

That’s kind of a relief. “How come? ”

“Because Reagan Daulton walked into the training room and he was jerking off to our team photo.”

I let out a laugh. “Oh my god. Are you for real?”

She smiles. “No, but Reagan is smart. She knows he’s a creep. They’re interviewing candidates now. Hopefully, they’ll hire a woman as our next PT.”

We had a great practice. It was fun to be back with my team. It was seamless. We’re so much more familiar with each other than we were only six months ago. I think we’re going to be awesome this year.

Kennedy has gotten even stronger, quite obviously hitting the gym hard since I last saw her. Her dedication is enviable.

I’m loving my new house. It’s small, but it’s homey and perfect. Most importantly, it’s mine. Obviously the cabin is mine too, but it was given to me. My brownstone in Philly is the first big-ticket item I bought for myself. I’m full of pride over it.

With some gentle coaxing from Kennedy, I decided that I’m going to host a housewarming party next week. Layla loves to be the social planner, so I told her to invite whoever she wants. She gave me the name of her caterer, and I booked them. I feel so grown up.

With Layla picking the guest list, I know it will include Vance.

I sort of miss him. I hate that I do, and I’d never admit it out loud, but I find myself constantly thinking about our two days together.

I can’t stop remembering the way he made my body feel.

Every kiss and every touch are forever burned into my memory.

I have a few lingering bite marks from him.

I keep looking at them in the mirror, not wanting them to fade.

I’m now pulling into Tanner Montgomery’s long driveway until I reach the house. It’s not a house. It’s a mansion. Being a sports agent must pay well .

I can’t wait to see Bailey. I feel like I’ve been a terrible friend, but I haven’t been back in Philly until now.

Before I have the chance to knock on the front door, Tanner’s adorable daughter, Harper, opens it. Her face lights up, and she yells out, “It’s Sulley O’Shea.”

I smile. “Hi, Harper. It’s good to see you again.” She came to several of our games last summer.

“You remember me, Sulley O’Shea?”

“Of course. You were quite memorable given that you told me basketball was your second favorite sport. That you prefer softball. Usually, little girls tell me that basketball is their favorite sport.”

Her face falls. “I’m sorry, Sulley O’Shea, but my mommy says never to lie. If it makes you feel better, you’re also my second favorite basketball player.” She gasps and covers her mouth.

I can’t help but giggle. She may be the cutest kid I’ve ever seen in my life.

“May I ask who your favorite is?”

With her head down, she mumbles, “Kennedy Jeffries. I like her toughness.”

I smile. “I like Kennedy too. I wouldn’t be able to score as many points as I do without Kennedy rebounding and setting picks for me.

” Harper lifts her head, and our eyes meet.

“It’s okay to be honest. I like honest people in my life.

In fact, Kennedy is one of the most honest people I know.

It’s probably what I love most about her. ”

A grin immediately finds her pretty face. “It is?”

“Yep. Can I come in?”

“Oh, yes. Sorry.” She yells again, “Bails, Sulley O’Shea is here.”

“You don’t have to use my last name every time you refer to me. Sulley is fine.”

She yells again, “Bails, Sulley is here. I told her softball is still my favorite sport, but it’s okay because she likes honesty.”

I hear Bailey laugh as she approaches. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but she’s walking fine. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect quite yet, but if I didn’t know about her accident, I wouldn’t know.

“That’s because softball is the best sport.” She holds up her arms in invitation. “Sulley, I’m so happy to see you.”

I hug my friend and do my best to hold back my tears. “I’m so happy to see you too. You look amazing. You’re a miracle. I’m sorry I haven’t been around. I just got back into town and had to move into my new house. There were a few issues, and I couldn’t get away until now.”

She pulls back and offers her always sweet smile.

“I’ve been a little busy anyway. It works well because Harper’s mom and I want to challenge you and Harper to a game of basketball.

I wouldn’t have been able to play a few weeks ago.

” She makes a muscle. “I don’t mean to sound like every guy you’ve probably dated, but I was an all-state high school basketball player. ”

I let out a laugh. “That’s so true. They all love to brag about that.” I’m reminded of Kennedy’s red flags since that’s one of them.

She nods. “Right? Same with baseball.” In a deep voice, she says, “I once hit a home run when I was sixteen. Your fences are shorter. I’d be a stud softball player.” She rolls her eyes. “Well, I hit about thirty home runs a summer, jerk . Off of all the best pitchers in the world, Chad .”

Harper hangs on every word Bailey says and asks, “Who’s Chad?”

Bailey and I share bemused looks before she answers, “It’s a universal name for jerky guys. Like Karen for women.”

Harper scrunches her face. “There’s a Karen in my class. She’s abhorrent.”