Page 106 of Over Time Advantage

Per his suggestion, I’m now in jeans, a white T-shirt, and the blazer. Straightening the non-existent crinkles in my shirt, I finally build up the courage to ring the doorbell.

Within seconds, it swings open, and the cutest kid—a mini-Fallon—is standing there in black leggings and an Anacondas softball T-shirt. She pokes her head out and quickly looks around the outside area before looking at me with a straight face. “Did anyone follow you?”

My face falls. “Huh?”

“Did. Anyone. Follow you? I’ve got a lot of people looking for me right now.”

What is happening?

I hear Fallon’s voice from behind her. “Stop answering the door the way Aunt Kam taught you to. Let him in.” She arrives at the door and leans on the frame with a big smile. “Sorry, Kamryn teaches her the worst things.”

Harper giggles. “You should have seen your boyfriend’s face, Mommy. Can you send me the Ring video so I can show Aunt Kam how your boyfriend reacted?”

Okay, I know Harper is supposed to be super smart, but this is not what I expected. I look down at her. “You’re not really nine, are you?”

“Nine and a half,” she states proudly.

“Ahh. It must be the extra half that’s throwing me off.” I hold out my hand. “I’m Jett.”

She places her tiny hand in mine. “You’re Mommy’s boyfriend. I have a boyfriend named Luke, but Bails said not to tell Daddy so he doesn’t kill Luke.”

Fallon bites back a smile as she looks down at her. “Why don’t you tell Jett your name?”

Harper smacks her head. “Duh. I’m Harper. You’re very big.” She looks up at Fallon. “Mommy, your boyfriend is super big.”

Fallon runs her lower lip through her teeth as her eyes move up and down my body. “Yes, he most certainly is.”

I wink at my girl before I lean forward to kiss her lips but think better of it and kiss her cheek instead. I then crouch down to Harper. “Someone told me you’re a Skittles fan. I brought you this.” I hand her a big stuffed pillow made to look like a Skittles box. It has a ribbon around it holding two big boxes of actual Skittles.

Her eyes widen. “Mommy, your boyfriend is trying to bribe me, but I accept bribes. Uncle Daylen bribes me all the time.” She carefully examines the pillow. “Wow, this is sublime.”

I chuckle. Fallon mentioned her large vocabulary.

“Come in,” Fallon waves in invitation. “Dinner is in the oven.”

I raise an eyebrow in question. Fallon can’t cook.

She giggles. “Let me clarify. Bailey and Harper whipped up a homemade lasagna this afternoon. I’m trying not to ruin it by heating it up.”

Harper nods. “My mommy could ruin boiled water. At least that’s what Aunt Kam says.”

I twist my lips. “Aunt Kam sounds like a troublemaker.”

Harper smiles. “She is. My daddy gets mad at her all the time, but Mommy and Bails love her. I love her too. She’s super funny. She coaches my softball team. She lived with us for a few months when Bails couldn’t walk. She also⁠—”

Fallon covers her mouth. “Okay, motormouth. Let’s allow him all the way in the door before you give him your life story.”

I chuckle. She’s a trip.

I walk inside to the delicious smell of lasagna cooking. It makes me nostalgic for my childhood.

“Harper,” I say to her, “lasagna is my mother’s specialty. It was my favorite meal when I was a kid. Thanks for making it for me.”

Her face lights up. “Really?” She turns to Fallon. “Did you know your boyfriend likes lasagna?”

Fallen nods. “I did, and you don’t need to keep referring to him as my boyfriend. He has a name.”

Harper gives a crooked smile. “Sorry.”