Page 7 of Home Town Advantage (Fourth Quarter Fever #1)

We all start laughing. Beau asks, “Did you turn around and walk out?”

Daylen shrugs. “Nah. I let the ladies get their kicks. It was my community service for the day. Plus, I still got to check it off my bucket list even if it wasn’t exactly as I imagined.” He winks. “The cougar and the granny were left very satisfied with a fun story to tell their friends.”

Our collective laughs get louder and louder.

He smiles. “I even posed for pictures. In bed.”

For anyone else, this story would be appalling.

For my best friend, it’s the regular course of business.

He’s so uninhibited and carefree. I wish I had a little of him in me, but he hasn’t dealt with what I have for the past five years.

Some days, I can barely keep my head above water as I mourn everything I lost by making the decision I did.

I won’t say I regret it, I don’t, but it forever changed my life.

Beau crosses his meaty arms as he stares at Daylen. “I thought we were sunbathing this afternoon.”

“Sunbathing?” I ask. “What the fuck?”

Beau responds, in a completely serious tone, “I like to sunbathe naked. Exposing your testicles to UV light increases your testosterone by over two hundred percent.”

Beau is very into testosterone production and its impact on building muscles.

Coach mumbles, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. What kind of bullshit is that? You pullin’ my chain, Fudd?”

Beau shakes his head. “No, sir. It’s not bullspit. It’s science. Look it up. UV light anywhere on the body is good for testosterone production, but especially on the testicles. It’s part of my training regimen. You know I take training seriously, sir.”

It’s true. Beau Fudd is a training machine. It’s why he’s built like a tank and can easily push his way through three-hundred-and-fifty-pound linemen like they’re fruit flies.

And that’s how, on that particular afternoon, nearly the entire Camels football team ended up sunbathing naked on our field instead of practicing.

SULLEY

Palmer’s eyes move up and down my body in our new apartment. “Wow, Sulley, you look amazing.”

I study myself in the mirror and take in my appearance. I’m wearing skin-tight brown leather pants with an equally tight, sequined red tank top. Running my hands down the smooth pants, I ask, “You don’t think it’s too much? I've never worn anything like it.”

Palmer and I moved into an apartment in Philly together.

It’s a short-term lease that will get us through our first season.

I want to learn about this city before I decide exactly where I want to buy a place.

Palmer was nervous about living on her own, so I told her we could temporarily rent an apartment together as we begin to navigate a much bigger city than either of us has ever lived in before .

She shakes her head. “Not at all. You’re so pretty. I’m used to seeing you in baggy basketball uniforms without makeup. Your makeup is gorgeous too. You look like a movie star.”

Kennedy walks into my bedroom and interrupts, “Thank you. I can do yours too if you want. I’ve never seen eyes the color of yours. They’re practically purple. I could make them sparkle like you wouldn’t believe.”

Kennedy insisted on taking me shopping today and then equally insisted on doing my makeup.

I don’t know what changed from the night in New York, but she’s been much nicer.

Almost welcoming. I obviously haven’t spent a lot of time with her yet, but I think she’s the kind of person who assumes the worst in people until proven otherwise.

I also think she puts up a tough exterior, but she isn’t as hard as she’d like people to think.

I’m guessing there’s more to Kennedy Jeffries than meets the eye.

She’s in a barely there black skirt with an equally tiny silver tube top.

She has a beautiful body and doesn’t seem afraid to show it off.

Her dark hair is pulled into a stylish ponytail, and her makeup looks professionally applied, making her big green eyes pop.

It almost looks like they’re fake, even though I know they’re not.

Layla made arrangements for us all to go out tonight with her husband, Presley, and his friends. I couldn’t say no. These women are my new teammates, and I need to make friends in Philly. Layla has been beyond excited about it.

I’m praying Presley isn’t friends with Vance McCaffrey.

I haven’t seen him since the nightmare fallout the year my brother died.

I know by moving to Philly it’s inevitable that I’ll run into him at some point, but I don’t need it in week one, and I certainly don’t want to sit at a table with him all night.

Palmer fixes her glasses. “Oh, I wouldn’t be comfortable like that. I wouldn’t look nearly as good as you and Sulley.”

I shake my head. “That’s not true at all.”

Before I can continue, Kennedy interjects, “You know what I read the other day? That female psychopaths are likely to go bare-faced and not wear any makeup. Is that what I’m working with, Palmer?”

I place my hand on Kennedy’s shoulder. “Leave her alone. If she’s not comfortable wearing makeup, power to her. She’s beautiful without it.”

Kennedy shrugs. “Okay, but just know that men fall in love with what they see. Women fall in love with what they hear. That’s why women wear makeup and men lie.”

I can’t deny that men lie. I know a quarterback who does so freely.

Kennedy sighs. “What about the outfit?” Palmer is in baggy jeans and an oversized, thin sweater. “Can we put you in something a little sexier? Aren’t you looking to get laid?”

Palmer’s eyes nearly pop out of her head. “Umm, no. My mission is not to get laid tonight.”

Kennedy gives a short, hard nod. “Well, then you’re good to go. Mission accomplished.”

So much for Kennedy being nice.

Thirty minutes later, we’re walking into a club. It’s called Club Liberty and is supposed to be a Philly hot spot.

The club is beautiful. It’s modern but plays homage to Philly in its touches. The sleek, dark walls are covered in photos of the city. The lights are strobing, and the music is blaring.

Layla immediately comes running toward us with a huge smile on her face. She looks stunning in a short gold dress, showing off her extremely long legs, curvy hips, and full ass. You would certainly never know she recently had a baby.

She wraps her arms around me. “I’m happy you’re here. We’re going to have so much fun. We don’t get out much anymore, but I like to come here to let loose when we do. My mom is watching the baby tonight so we can get our freak on. Right, mi amor?”

She’s a little tipsy already. I love how relaxed she is.

An adorable brown-haired man I hadn’t noticed smiles from behind her as he wraps his arms around her waist and kisses her cheek. “I love it when you get freaky. Juego encendido, hermosa.” Game on, beautiful.

She places her hands over his and leans back into him in a familiar way. “Sulley, Palmer, Kennedy, this is my short king, my husband, Presley.”

His face falls. “I’m nearly six feet tall. I’m not a short king.” He then playfully bites her neck.

She giggles. “You’re shorter than me. That’s what you get for marrying a basketball player.”

He twists his lips. “Hmm. Worth it.” He looks at the three of us.

“Welcome to Philly. You may be the tallest friend group ever. It’s a good thing all my friends are tall too.

” He waves his hand in invitation. “Come. We always have a private booth upstairs with security so no one bothers us.” He twists his lips.

“Some women go a little feral for my teammates.”

We follow him up a guarded set of steps to what appears to be a balcony overlooking the dance floor. I’m silently praying one last time that his friend group doesn’t include Vance.

I see a large round booth flanked by security. Sure enough, four very famous football players are sitting there with drinks in hand.

There’s one that stands out to me. He always has.

He’s wearing his trademark jeans with a flannel top.

Every other guy is dressed more fashionably, but not Vance.

I can’t see his shoes, but I’d bet my next endorsement deal that he’s wearing cowboy boots.

His ever-present frown is firmly in place.

I’m sure he’s as happy to see me as I am to see him.

I can feel my heart start to beat faster, like it always has when Vance McCaffrey has been near me. I hate him with every fiber of my being, but I equally can’t ever forget what it felt like the first and only time he touched my body.

FIVE YEARS AGO

Today was the worst day of my life. I watched a coffin with my brother inside be lowered into the ground. I wish I didn’t look. The image will forever be burned into my mind.

I don’t remember the undoubtedly beautiful eulogies, as most of them came and went in a blur, just like the rest of the day.

He was loved by everyone who knew him. I only remember Vance’s speech, where he talked about brotherhood.

Vance’s mother had complications during his delivery, and she had to have a hysterectomy.

He’s an only child and spoke passionately about how Finn was the sibling he never had.

How much he truly loved my brother. How there is now a hole in his heart that will never go away. I know the feeling.

He looked exactly like I felt. Broken.

The house has been full of people expressing their deepest sympathies. In some ways, that makes it easier. Late at night, when it gets quiet, that’s when reality truly settles in.