Page 49 of Home Town Advantage (Fourth Quarter Fever #1)

TWENTY-THREE

SULLEY

I smile as Kennedy walks into practice for the first time in two weeks. “Look who it is. Ronda Rousey.”

Ronda Rousey is a famous female professional fighter.

Kennedy was originally suspended for a month by the league for punching Diane Garma and knocking her unconscious. Reagan was able to negotiate the suspension down to two weeks, but Kennedy had to agree to go to some sort of anger management rehab facility. We haven’t seen her in two weeks.

Kennedy was also levied with a hefty fine, but I insisted on covering that. How could I not? She protected me. I’ve watched the replay a thousand times. I would have been coldcocked if Kennedy hadn’t stepped in.

Kennedy lets out a laugh as she holds up her fists and does a little shadow boxing dance for us. “Do you know how many offers I’ve gotten in the past two weeks to fight professionally? If I weren’t so pretty, I’d consider it. Promoters are throwing a lot of money my way.”

I giggle and sarcastically respond, “It’s a shame you’re so pretty. ”

She nods in agreement. “Yep.” She points to her face. “Can’t mess with the money-maker.”

Kennedy’s punch went viral. Black Widow memes and headlines were everywhere. I’m not surprised she’s fielding offers. It’s the world we live in.

Her jersey is now the best-selling one in the league, knocking me from the top spot. I couldn’t possibly be happier for her.

Fallon wraps her arms around Kennedy. The two of them have gotten close. “I missed you. Are you okay?”

Kennedy hugs her back. “I’m fine. Don’t make a fuss.

If anyone was physically closer to Diane than I was, they would have done the same thing.

That cunt was about to dole out a cheap shot to Sulley.

Should I have let that happen? Fuck no. I’d do it again.

Bitch had it coming for a long time. She can’t face the reality that Sulley is better than her.

When you fight with reality, you lose a hundred percent of the time. ”

I pull her close to my side. “I missed you so much. Tonight, we celebrate you getting out of basketball jail. Let’s all go out for a nice dinner and then go dancing.”

She grins. “Time to party.” Looking over her shoulder, she yells, “Booster! Where are you? I swear, he’s always slacking.”

He materializes seemingly from the shadows. “I’m here, Queen Jeffries. Do you need some water? A towel?”

She shakes her head. “No, make us a dinner reservation. Somewhere nice and expensive.” She winks at me. “Sulley’s treating. And pick up my dry cleaning on the way home. Oh, and be sure to grab my costume for my grand return gameday entrance.” She smirks. “It’s a doozy.”

VANCE

I’m sitting at a table by Daylen’s pool with Daylen, Beau, and Champ.

We’re meeting the girls later at Club Liberty.

They wanted a girls-only dinner to celebrate Kennedy’s return.

I think Sulley is taking the team to a fancy restaurant as her thank you to Kennedy.

As difficult as that woman can be sometimes, I can’t deny that Kennedy will go to any lengths to protect my girl.

The league may have freaked out over her violent actions, but the real world is hailing her a hero.

Daylen, who’s flipping steaks at the grill, shakes his head at Beau. “If her pussy has hair, she’s faithful. It’s the bald ones who cheat. Grass doesn’t grow on busy streets.”

Beau sighs in frustration. “No way. I like them groomed. I manscape, why shouldn’t they womanscape?” He looks at Champ. “Do you prefer men who manscape?”

Champ has gradually started feeling more comfortable discussing his sexuality within our small group. Never around the full team, but around us, he’s begun to talk about his love life. I’m happy he feels comfortable doing so. It says a lot about the trust he has in us.

Champ scrunches his face. “Sorry, D, but I’m with Beau. You got to keep that shit clean and trim. No one wants to floss when they’re giving head.”

Daylen harrumphs. “Agree to disagree.”

I chuckle. “The conversations we have sometimes never cease to amaze me.”

BJ nuzzles her nose into Daylen’s side. In his annoying BJ baby voice, he says, “Is my princess hungry?”

Bark.

“Don’t worry. Daddy made you steak too. Just the way you like it.”

Bark, bark.

Daylen then feeds BJ an entire steak, which she appears to gulp down all at once without bothering to chew it. He uses his BJ voice again, “Don’t listen to them, pretty girl. Men like women who are au naturale, just like you.”

I grit out, “That better not have been my steak. ”

He smiles. “No, you have the shitty cut. I save the good stuff for my babydoll.”

I walk over to the grill to make sure he kept the good steaks on the grill, which he did. He smiles. “Chef Benny never buys shitty steaks.” Chef Benny is Daylen’s house manager and BJ’s dogsitter when we’re on the road. “Have I ever given you shitty steak?” he asks.

I shake my head, “Nope. You’re the grill master.”

He nods. “Damn straight. How are we on time?”

I look down at my phone. “Sulley texted that they’ll be done with dinner in about an hour. We can head out right after we eat.”

Yes, I’m anxious to see her.

He raises an eyebrow. “You’re whipped. Is she finally moving the needle for you?”

I stare at my best friend and admit, “She doesn’t move the needle. She is the needle.”

His face breaks out into a huge smile. “I’m happy for you. You deserve this.”

“Do I?”

He places his hand on my shoulder and gives me an uncharacteristically serious look. “Yes, Vance, you do. You are, without a single doubt, the best man I know. It’s okay to finally let yourself be happy.”

I swallow down my emotions. “She can’t get past everything that happened.”

“That’s because she doesn’t know what happened. Maybe you should clue her in on everything.”

I exhale a long breath. “Now isn’t the time. She’s in season. I don’t want to ruffle any feathers for her or the team.”

He shakes his head and loudly announces, “Excuses are like assholes. Everyone has them, and they all stink.”

I smirk. “Says the man who gets off on burying his face in women’s asses.”

He chuckles. “I meant men. Assholes are hot for women.”

Champ raises his hand. “Not all men have stinky assholes.”

I let out a laugh, in part because it’s funny, but mostly because I’m loving that Champ has finally become comfortable enough with us to crack jokes.

We’re surrounded by the chatter of our friends in the booth of a noisy, music-filled club, yet I can’t hear anything except the rapid beating of my heart as I stare at Sulley. Her lips are painted red tonight and all I can think is that I want that lipstick on my cock.

She’s engaged in conversation, smiling and laughing along with everyone else. Why can’t she be like that with me in public? It hurts that she refuses to acknowledge our relationship.

I turn and look at Layla and Presley, who can’t keep their hands off each other tonight. I used to be disgusted by it. Now I’m jealous. I want to be able to sit here and touch my girl too. I want her to show me the unashamed love and affection that I see Layla giving Presley right now.

I’ve barely seen her over the past two weeks. We had our fight, and then the whole Kennedy thing blew up, and she was busy dealing with the aftermath. Her parents visited for a few days. She didn’t want me anywhere near them. Then the team had a long road trip. They only just returned.

It feels stifling when I can’t spend time with her. Like I can’t breathe properly.

Daylen elbows me. “Who pissed in your cornflakes? I thought you’d be happy to see her.”

“Fuck off,” I snap. “I’m just having a bad day,” I lie.

He gives me one of his goofy smiles while he runs his hands through the hair he’s once again cut. “Bad day? Do you want to hear about bad days? The airport in Vienna, Austria, has a counter solely dedicated to people who thought they were flying to Australia. Now that’s having a bad day.”

I can’t help the laugh that bubbles. He always makes me smile. I mumble, “I’m not sure that’s someone having a bad day or them being a moron.”

He wiggles his eyebrows. “Truth.” He clinks his beer bottle with mine while nodding his head toward Sulley. “You’ve got this, stud. Ask her to dance. Slip her the tongue. Chacha with her chesticles. Give her the hot beef injection.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re a buffoon.”

He chuckles as he nudges me. “Go ahead. Get your groove on. Shake your booty. Bust a move. You’ll be seen down there, but you won’t be seen .” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

He knows I never dance. I look down at the dance floor. There are a ton of people down there. Hmm, maybe he’s right. She and I could get lost in the group. This way, I could touch her. My fingers itch to do so.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and start typing.

Me: Miss me?

Her phone is on the table, so I see the moment her screen lights up. She picks it up and reads it before looking up at me. She exhales a deep breath before subtly nodding.

I type again.

Me: I miss talking to you. I miss kissing you. I miss feeling you in my arms. I miss being inside you.

God, I have zero chill when it comes to this woman. I’m so pathetic.

She looks down at her phone and closes her eyes. After several long beats, she opens them and begins typing. Her lips curl in amusement as she does.

I feel my phone vibrate and look down at it.

Sulley: What are you going to do about it? Throw me down on this table in front of everyone, Mr. Public Fornication? Will you lift my skirt and do filthy things to me right here in this club?

My girl is feeling frisky. All the blood in my body rushes south as I get a visual of doing just that. I have to adjust myself in my jeans. She notices, and her smile widens.

My eyes rake over her outfit. She’s in a short skirt and tank top with those thin spaghetti strap things. I don’t think she’s wearing a bra. She looks edible. I can’t help but lick my lips. She stares at my mouth while her cheeks redden, and she squirms in her seat.