Page 129 of Over Time Advantage

This game is a nail-biter. It’s been back and forth all night. Both teams are playing well. We’re up by one with ten seconds left, and the other team has the ball.

During a timeout, I tell the girls, “Watch the pick and roll. They’ve been killing us on it all night. You need to slide away from your player or draw the foul before they can plant their feet.”

Coach Lakshmi nods. “Yes. And keep a hand in their faces. No open looks.”

One of the New York players is inbounding the ball. Kennedy is all over Diane Garma as she attempts to get open for the pass. I can hear her in Diane’s ear. “You know, Diane, a Blue Whale’s crap can weigh up to five hundred pounds, making it the second biggest piece of shit in the world, next to you.”

I honestly don’t know where she comes up with this stuff.

Diane shoves her. “How would your hot father feel about your mouth?”

Hmm, I wonder if Kennedy has gotten crap her whole life about how good-looking her father is. I remember Layla mentioning it before too.

Without missing a beat, Kennedy replies, “I don’t know, but your dad sure likes it.”

I have to swallow down my laugh. Kennedy Jeffries is a force of nature.

The ball is inbounded. They’re looking for Diane, but Kennedy is blanketing her with her defense. She should win Defensive Player of the Year in the league. She’s so damn good.

Palmer’s player sets a pick for Langford, the player who ends up with the ball.

Palmer’s player then rolls. It’s like slow motion. Langford passes her the ball for an easy two-foot jump shot as time expires.

The ball rolls around the rim a few times as we all watch it. And then it goes in for the basket. Game over. New York wins.

New York piles on top of the player who made the game-winning shot, while our girls hang their heads in defeat and walk off to the locker room.

I look over to Jett and see him also hanging his head. I feel so bad for him. He’s going to miss the decisive game seven.

JETT

I’m in Fallon’s New York City hotel room. The team is staying for the night and leaving in the morning, just in time for me to board a plane to LA. Pierce is staying at NYU tonight, visiting a former high school buddy of his. I wanted to spend a few minutes alone with Fallon before heading home.

“How was she?” I ask.

Fallon gives me an incredulous look as we sit in her hotel room. I know it bothers her that I ask about Kennedy instead of going directly to the source. She’s told me multiple times that, if I want to build a relationship with my daughter, I need to do a better job talking to her. I know she’s right. I’m trying my best.

“She’s obviously upset about the game, but otherwise fine. She’s disappointed you won’t be able to come to the last game but understands you can’t be there.”

I deflate. “I asked for a leave of absence. I was told I’d be in breach of contract. If it weren’t for some of the veterans, I wouldn’t care if I was fired,” I mumble like a bratty child.

She rubs my arm. “Don’t say that. She’ll be fine. She knows you’ll be watching it on the plane.”

We should at least be able to watch the second half on our plane ride home. I’ve already arranged it with the airline.

“Yep.” I look at my watch. “The car service is going to call any minute.”

She sighs. “We’re passing ships lately. It’s so frustrating. Five minutes here and there isn’t enough for me.”

I pull her into my arms and rub my nose across hers. “I know. I’ll miss you. I hate road trips. I hate being away from you. Napa can’t come soon enough. Just a few more weeks.”

A few more weeks until I ask her to be my forever. Until I get to come home to her every night. Until I get to wake up with her every morning.

She smiles against my lips before kissing them. “Four uninterrupted days of your body inside mine.” She lets out a moan. “I can’t wait.”

I chuckle. “We’re going to have to visit vineyards and drink wine too.”

She runs her hand up and down my rapidly hardening length. “This.” She squeezes it. “I need this. I miss this. I’ve gone too many days without it. I’m having withdrawal. I want Daddy Jett inside me.”