Page 59 of Home Town Advantage (Fourth Quarter Fever #1)

TWENTY-EIGHT

SULLEY

“ I ’d rather adjust my life to your absence than adjust my boundaries to your disrespect.

That’s what I told him,” Layla says as she brushes a piece of lint off her skirt.

“It was empowering after two years of a rollercoaster relationship. It finally set me free from him and his toxicity. Like this weight was lifted from my shoulders. The next month, I met Presley. I might give him shit, but he makes me feel loved and respected. Always. Every minute of every day. Sometimes it takes the right one to come along to truly show you how wrong the last guy was.”

Kennedy, Palmer, Layla, Shay, and I are at a television studio in New York City, about to be interviewed on a popular late-night talk show about our big championship win. They asked to interview only me, but I refused. We compromised on the starting lineup appearing together.

We’re sitting in the green room chatting before we’re called out onto the stage in front of a live studio audience. Layla was telling us about her last boyfriend before she met Presley. He sounds like a real asshole.

Her last sentence resonates with me. It reminds me of Shane.

I always knew on some level he was the wrong one, but having Vance back in my life has shown me just how wrong Shane was for me.

Vance celebrates my achievements like a partner should.

My successes are his successes. He loves me wholeheartedly and wants nothing but the best for me at all times.

I never have to censor myself around him.

I miss him the second we’re apart. That’s one of the biggest differences in my relationship with him and Shane.

I was happy to be with Shane when he was around, but equally happy when we were apart.

I wonder what Shane is doing now. I saw he’s no longer playing in the EuroLeague. I’m not surprised.

Kennedy nods. “There’s no bigger red flag than a guy who disrespects you.” Mischief plays in her eyes. “And guys who shout Kobe when they take a basketball shot. So annoying.”

I giggle. “True. Speaking of red flags, I think I found another new red flag recently. Guys who wear ankle socks at the gym.” I scrunch my face. “It’s kind of girlie.”

Layla smiles. “It is. The aforementioned disrespectful asshole also had a giant state flag hanging in his bedroom.” She purses her lips. “Gross. I should have known then. Total red flag, pun intended.”

Kennedy snorts in laughter. “That’s a good one. You can tell a lot about a man from his bedroom. What about the guys who don’t even have a bed frame? Just a mattress. Are they still in a frat house? Total fuckboy move to not bother with a frame.”

Palmer bites her lip nervously. “I’ve got another food red flag. When a man sticks more than an inch or so of a banana in his mouth, it gives me the ick. Is he trying to prove he can deep throat it? I don’t want to see that. It’s not impressive.”

We all burst into hysterical laughter. In between hard laughs, I manage to sputter, “You definitely have a food fetish.”

Palmer bites back her smile. “I think you’re right.” Shrugging, she unashamedly says, “A girl wants what she wants.”

My mind drifts back to Vance. I left Montana two days ago, telling him I needed a little time and space to think about us. He lied to me for years, but I suppose he had a good reason. Does that make the lying okay?

I look at the collective group. “What about things that some might see as red flags, but you’re not sure it’s a red flag for you?”

Kennedy sucks in an excited breath. “Ooh. Like possessiveness? I lowkey love a possessive man. Not irrationally possessive, but she’s mine, don’t fucking touch her is a sexy vibe for me.”

Palmer nods. “And bossy. I think I’m into bossy, authoritative men.”

I narrow my eyes at Palmer. “Where did that come from?”

She fidgets nervously and looks down. “Nowhere. It just…sounds hot. Someone telling you what they want and when they want it. I think I’d be into that.”

“Is that what you meant?” Shay asks me.

I shake my head. “Not exactly. No one likes a liar, but what if they think they had a good reason for lying to you?”

“Like what?” Layla asks.

Before I can answer, the production assistant opens the door. “It’s time, ladies.”

Ten minutes later, we’re seated on a couch being interviewed by a famous late-night host in front of a live studio audience.

He looks at me. “Sulley, you were a little cold in the first half of that final game but then came out on fire in the second half and carried your team to victory. What changed for you at halftime?”

I give him a small smile. “I didn’t carry my team anywhere.

Everyone contributed to our victory in that final game.

Going hot and cold is part of the sport.

That’s why it’s not a one-person sport, and that’s what makes these ladies such great teammates.

When one of us is down, another picks up the slack.

I had a terrible first half, but these amazing women kept us in the game.

Look at Kennedy and Palmer’s rebound numbers.

How often do two players on the same team get that many rebounds?

If anything, that kept us in the game. That carried us to victory.

And how about Kennedy’s dunk to seal the deal? ”

He turns to Kennedy. “Is it true it was your first dunk ever? Even in practices?”

She smiles broadly. “It was. I’ve been working on it. I appreciate that our coaches had enough confidence in me to call my number in the big moment, and that Sulley saw it through. She made a great pass and gave me the best opportunity for success.”

I nod. “I never had a doubt. No one works harder than Kennedy Jeffries.”

He gives us a knowing look. “It must be in the genes. Your father has always been known as a hard worker. Judging by all the love he gets on social media, he looks like he’s still working hard…on those biceps.” He looks at the crowd with a giant smile plastered on his face. “Am I right, ladies?”

The audience laughs, and some women scream in delight.

Kennedy doesn’t flinch, though I see her lip twitch a bit.

Before she says something she’ll regret, I interrupt, “I think Kennedy stands on her own, out of her father’s shadow.

” I turn to the audience. “Don’t you all agree that this amazing athlete should be celebrated for her accomplishments, not her father’s? ”

Everyone starts cheering and clapping. Crisis averted.

I think the host gets the clue that she doesn’t want to talk about her father and doesn’t push any further.

He turns his attention to Layla. “You’re married to Presley Ladrón, right?”

Layla winks. “For now. As long as he’s a good boy.”

He chuckles. “I’ve seen a few members of the Camels at your games. Any other love connections between the Camels and the Beavers?”

Layla shakes her head and lies. “Nope. Just me.”

I sigh, hating that she had to lie. I hope Vance didn’t see that. He’ll be so hurt .

The host eyes us all skeptically while we remain tight-lipped. What is he getting at?

He continues, “They always show the guys engaging in beer drinking contests at your games. How about you ladies show them how it’s done?”

The audience starts clapping again while a big cart full of beer cans is brought out. We then have a beer drinking contest. Palmer wipes the floor with all of us, but we have a blast along the way.

A few hours later, I’m almost home. Keith has dropped everyone but Kennedy and me at their respective homes. As soon as the last person exits the car, Kennedy asks, “What was with the lying question? Was that about Vance?”

She doesn’t know anything about Montana, not even that I went.

I was gone for less than twenty-four hours, but Kennedy knows everything else.

I’ve confided in her and see no reason to stop now.

She’s become a sounding board for me. It’s nice to have a girlfriend to talk to about this stuff.

It used to be my mother, but she’s a little jaded when it comes to Vance.

I’m very clear on where she stands. My other close friends on the team know something is going on with us, but I’ve shared very few details with anyone but Kennedy.

I exhale a long breath. “I found out that Vance never slept with my brother’s girlfriend. It was all a lie.”

Her jaw drops. “What? What about his daughter?”

“She’s not his biological child.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t understand. Why would he say the child is his when he never even slept with her?”

I take a few minutes and explain it all to her. She’s as in shock as I was when I found out. “Wow,” she breathes, “I can’t believe he did all that. What are you going to do?”

“I told him I needed time to process everything and think. ”

She takes my hand in hers. “Babe, you’re in love with him. Any fool can see that. And he’s equally in love with you. The one thing holding you back no longer exists. What’s there to think about?”

I’m silent, but Keith feels the need to interject in my personal life for the first time in all the months he’s been with me. “He loves you, Ms. O’Shea. He checks in with me at least two or three times a day when he’s not with you to make sure you’re okay.”

“Thanks for the input into my love life, Keith,” I say sarcastically.

“Anytime, Ms. O’Shea. You two remind me of my relationship with my wife.”

“I didn’t know you were married, Keith. Didn’t you once tell me we should keep things professional?

” I joke with him. At the beginning, I tried to pry information from him, and he remained tight-lipped, saying it wasn’t professional for us to engage in a personal relationship or to exchange any personal information.

I see him crack a smile in the rearview mirror. “I’m a sucker for love. I’ve been happily married for forty years, ma’am. I know what true love looks like. You and Mr. McCaffrey have what it takes.”

Kennedy raises an eyebrow. “If Dr. Love is done, I was going to say I tried to hate Vance, I really did, but he’s…likeable. I understand you needed to get your head on straight, but?—”

“But what?”

She shakes her head. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this; I must be hormonal.

You know I’m not a romantic, and I think you’re way too young to settle down, but you guys have this amazing story.

It’s like a romance novel. You had a childhood crush on him, and he had no idea.

Then he had one on you, and you had no idea.

Tragedy struck, and he did this incredibly selfless thing to honor your brother’s dying wishes, completely at his own expense.

He’s head over heels for you. Even before I knew, I knew.

You can see it in the way he looks at you.

” She licks her lips. “Let me ask you something. Do you ever see yourself loving or caring for anyone as much as you love and care about him?”

I shake my head and easily answer, “No. Never.”

“What’s holding you back?”

“I’m not sure.” I think for a few seconds longer, trying to articulate what’s been running through my head. “I wish he felt like he could have told me. Maybe it’s a trust thing.”

“I get that, but his intentions were never ill-conceived. He tried to do right by everyone in your family, including you. He’s basically been an angel on your shoulder throughout your entire adult life. If not for him helping you along, think about where you’d be right now.”

She’s not wrong. “I know. You’re right. I think I was in shock, but I want to be with him. I can’t not be with him. I…I love him.”

She squeezes my hand. “I know you do. You should go get your man. Tell him how you feel and then never let go.” She shakes her head. “Fucking hell, what’s wrong with me? When did I turn into a romantic?”

I let out a laugh before I lean my head back on the headrest. “I’m also concerned with us going public. We’re both well-known. The press will hound us. That’s a lot of pressure. What if it goes sideways? It will be in the public eye.”

She nods. “I get that. Maybe you can keep things private. For a little longer. You won’t know unless you try. You owe it to yourself to try. Go to him. When does he get back?”

“Tonight.”

“Honestly, Sulley, I think you should do something special for him. He’s sacrificed a lot and laid it all on the line for you. Go suck his dick when he gets off the plane. Something like that.”

I giggle. “And who says you aren’t a romantic?” I ask sarcastically.

“I heard that,” yells Keith from the front seat.

I roll my eyes. “Keith, didn’t you once tell me to pretend you weren’t here and to go about my business? ”

“Now I’m invested in this relationship, ma’am.”

Kennedy and I start laughing. Who knew Mr. Stiff was a softie at heart?

In a much lower voice, she says, “That whole drive-in scene thing he did for you was hot as fuck. Fulfilling your fantasy?” She fans her face. “So hot. Does he have any fantasies he’s mentioned to you? You should fulfill them like he did for you.”

A smile finds my face as I answer, “Yes, he has,” while an idea starts to take shape in my mind.