Page 65 of Home Town Advantage (Fourth Quarter Fever #1)

THIRTY-TWO

SULLEY

M y eyes search the countertop until I find what I’m looking for at the other end. “Momma, can you please pass me the butter?”

She smiles as she hands it to me while we seamlessly work to prepare Christmas Eve dinner next to each other. “Wow, Sulley, your kitchen is a dream.”

I look around at what was once Vance’s kitchen but is now our kitchen.

I didn’t want to live at my house anymore after everything that happened.

I was thinking about moving in with him before the Shane incident, but his invading my home sealed the deal.

And the fact is, I want to live with Vance.

He’s my home, and now we live together in the house designed by my brother.

Every small detail of this house makes me happy, from the brilliant design to the perfect man I sleep beside every night.

Our relationship is in full bloom, and there’s no turning back for either of us.

As it turns out, Shane was in a mountain of debt.

He’d been living well beyond his means for some time, which explains many of his spending habits.

For years, he spent money like he was going to hit it big playing professionally one day, and when he didn’t, he scrambled.

According to the police, he first tried to capitalize on my fame.

When his affiliation with me didn’t provide him with enough money, he found a wealthy Italian girlfriend.

When she realized what a slime he is, he got involved in a point shaving gambling incident and was permanently banned from the EuroLeague.

After that, he realized he was in real trouble and completely lost himself.

Reagan’s initial payoff didn’t make a dent in his debt.

Apparently, Vance paid him once too, but he needed more, and when Vance wouldn’t pay him again, he thought he could get it from me, assuming there was a reason I didn’t want my relationship with Vance to be made public.

He was also shopping the story to various media outlets, trying to drive up the price.

His plan was to take money from me and then sell the story anyway.

Initially, I was annoyed at Vance for keeping it from me, but he was protecting me. Again. Despite that, I wholeheartedly trust him and know he’ll go to any lengths to ensure my happiness and safety.

With the case being public record, we ultimately decided to go public with our relationship.

We issued a statement that we were childhood friends who recently reconnected, and love bloomed.

We didn’t disclose details about my brother or Francesca.

The media hounded us for a few weeks. We let them get their photos of us, and now they’ve mostly moved on.

There are still plenty of photographers hanging around when we go out, but we try not to let it bother us.

And, honestly, it’s made our little public sex fetish that much more of a challenge.

I won’t let Shane’s photos deter us from exploring our needs.

It’s been fun, and crazy hot, to find ways to be physical without being seen.

I feel big, comforting hands wrap around me from behind. Vance’s warm breath fans across my neck. “This kitchen isn’t a dream, Nancy. Life with your daughter is. ”

I smile as I turn my head and inhale my sexy man. Jane and my mother practically coo in delight as they happily watch our interaction.

I whisper in his ear, “I think if we had sex right here, they’d grab popcorn and cheer us on.”

I can feel him laugh as he whispers back, “I think that’s taking our public sex thing a little far, but I’m game if you are.”

I giggle as he moves next to me and asks me what ingredient I need next. “Nope, QB1. You know the corn casserole is a secret O’Shea family recipe. My lips are sealed.”

My mother playfully smacks me with a tea towel. “Vance is family. Perhaps tomorrow morning might be a great time to make it official,” she not-so-subtly hints.

It’s Christmas Eve. The Camels have a home game tomorrow afternoon. We were miraculously able to talk both our families into visiting for Christmas this year. I know they’re all hoping for a Christmas morning engagement, but that’s not happening.

I hear Jane suddenly yell, “Mother! That’s enough brandy in the eggnog.”

MeeMaw smiles innocently. “No problem, honey,” but when Jane turns back around, MeeMaw pours the rest of the bottle into the bowl and winks at me. I never realized what a deviant that woman is while I was growing up.

My mother asks, “What’s with all the plastic by the door over there?

” She points to the disaster that’s been driving me nuts for the past few weeks.

I was hoping they’d be done by now, but they’re not.

The contractor said to stay away from it over the holidays, and they’ll be back in January to finish it.

“It’s Vance’s mancave. His contractor has been working on it for weeks. He won’t let me see it. He said it’s boys only in there.”

I suppose he’s been a bachelor for thirty-two years and needs a space in the house to call his own.

I still think it’s weird that he won’t let me see it, but I’ll take a peek when it’s done.

Collin has told me no less than a hundred times that it’s unsafe down there while construction is happening .

The doorbell rings, and Vance smirks. “That must be the Humblecuts. I’ll get the door. Prepare for madness.”

VANCE

I look around my dining room table and realize it’s full of all the people I love in the world. I’ve never been happier in my entire life. The future looks bright for the first time in a long time.

This is the first Christmas I’ve ever hosted. I’ve never once gotten my parents to fly to me for the holiday.

Sulley grabs my hand under the table and whispers, “Are you okay?”

I lean over and kiss her cheek. “More than okay. I love you, Gully Sulley.”

“I love you too, Vile Vance.”

MeeMaw is a little tipsy tonight. I’m not sure what she put in the eggnog, but she’s been downing it by the gallon. She looks at Daylen. “Your sisters are very pretty.”

He chuckles. “I know what you’re doing, you old hag. Ashleigh is my dad’s wife, not my sister.”

MeeMaw giggles, and Mom shakes her head in disapproval. “I’m so sorry for my mother, Hank. I think she spiked the eggnog with her heavy hand.”

Hank releases a loud laugh as he kisses Ashleigh’s cheek. “It happens all the time, Jane. I can’t help that my bride hasn’t aged a day since I met her.”

I think surgery has a lot to do with it, but I’ll keep that to myself.

I turn to Jagger. “How’s school going? Are you starting to think about college?”

She nods. “Yes. I’ve had some interest from college coaches to play softball. I’m trying to decide if that’s an avenue I want to pursue.”

Sulley playfully narrows her eyes at her. “Why not basketball? You have the height for it.”

Jagger shrugs. “I’m better at softball. And I like being outdoors.”

Sulley nods. “I get it. I’m friends with a few of the players on the Anacondas. They’ll be at the game tomorrow. I can introduce you.”

Jagger’s eyes widen. “That would be amazing. Thank you.”

We have a nice meal. Everyone gets along well. The Humblecuts are on their best behavior until dessert, when Sulley says, “Momma, this pie came out perfectly.”

Hank’s head snaps toward Daylen. “Did she just say mama ?”

Daylen slowly nods his head. “I believe she did.”

Oh Christ, here we go.

Jagger moans. “Ahh. Please, no. Not tonight.” She turns to my family and the O’Sheas, explaining and apologizing in advance for this little game that Hank and Daylen like to play.

Daylen looks at Hank with a straight face. “Yo mama is so dumb, it takes her two hours to watch 60 Minutes .”

There are a few low laughs at the table, but Hank doesn’t blink.

Hank replies, “Yo mama is so dumb, she tried to climb Mountain Dew.”

I let out a loud laugh, but Daylen doesn’t even crack a smile.

MeeMaw scoffs. “Oh, please. You two think yo mama jokes are funny?” She shakes her head in disapproval. “Yo mama jokes are so old and have been done by way too many people,” a sly smile finds her face, “just like yo mama.”

The whole table erupts in laughter. Daylen falls to his knees and bows to MeeMaw. “You are the master. I worship at the altar of my queen. ”

MeeMaw bats her eyelashes. “You’re not even the first man to say that to me today.”

My mom covers her eyes in mortification as she shouts, “Mother!”

After dessert, Daylen and I are cleaning the dishes. He looks at me. “You ready for tomorrow?”

I nod. “Yep. Big game.” If we win, we lock up the top seed for the playoffs, meaning every game will be a home game until the Super Bowl. It’s a huge advantage in football. Having your hometown crowd cheering for you is invaluable. Playing on the field you play on all year is everything.

He motions his head toward Frank, who’s standing alone at my fireplace. He’s staring at the Christmas stocking with Finn’s name on it. “Go talk to him. I’ve got this.”

“You sure?”

He nods. “We’re almost done with these dishes. Go ahead.”

“Thanks, man.” He knows I planned to talk to Frank tonight.

I walk over and hand Frank a glass of bourbon. I have a very small one for myself since we have a game tomorrow, but I set another full glass on the mantel just above Finn’s stocking.

Frank holds up the glass. “Thank you for this, and thank you for hosting us.”

I clink glasses with his. “My pleasure. I need to talk to you. When my season’s over, I want to ask Sulley to spend her life with me. I’d like your blessing.”

His attention turns to the glass sitting on the mantel. “Is that for Finn?”

I nod. “Yes, sir. I thought he should be here for this conversation too.”

Tears fill his eyes as he takes a long sip. “Her mother and yours were hoping an engagement would happen tomorrow morning.”

A small smile finds my lips. “Sulley said she won’t agree to marry me unless I win a Super Bowl first.”

He chuckles. “That sounds like my girl. How do you plan to propose?”