Page 21 of Over Time Advantage

Diane: Thanks for my first smile in two days.

Lloyd: Tell me what’s wrong, angel face.

Diane: A bit of a family emergency. My life for the next few months is going to be crazy. I came on here to tell you that you shouldn’t waste your time with me. Reach out to someone who has time for you. You’re a nice guy. You deserve a woman who can give more of herself.

As if I have any interest in that. I think for a moment. This could work well for me. My season lasts another three or four months, depending on how far we get in the playoffs. Perhaps we can talk for a few months, and then when my season is over and I have more time to date, we can have the big reveal.

Lloyd: I have a hectic few months too. No time for dating. Perhaps we can chat and be each other’s stress outlet. I enjoyed talking to you the other night. That’s all I want right now. I’m in no rush.

It takes her a bit of time to reply, but she eventually does.

Diane: If you’re sure.

Lloyd: I am. Share what you feel comfortable sharing. Don’t share what you don’t feel comfortable sharing. No judgment. Sometimes we need an unbiased ear. Sometimes you need to let things out without any ramifications. We can be that for each other.

Diane: You’re a nice guy, Lloyd. Tell me the real reason you don’t date.

I take a sip of my wine as I consider my life over the past few years. I’m already uncomfortable deceiving her as much as I am. When she asks direct questions, I want to give her honest answers. The whole point of this is for her to get to know the real me before she finds out I’m Lloyd.

Lloyd: My son has mental health issues. I’ve been solely focused on him and work. It doesn’t leave much time for a personal life.

Diane: I’m so sorry to hear that.

Lloyd: He’s in a good place right now. What about you? Why don’t you date?

I start to ask about how a smart, gorgeous woman like her can still be single when I remember I’m not supposed to know how breathtakingly beautiful she is. Before I can elaborate, she responds.

Diane: I’ve dated a little bit since my divorce, but I’d rather be single for the rest of my life than be with someone for the sake of being with someone. I can’t seem to find my party mate.

Lloyd: Party mate? Is that young person slang? Do I need to ask my son what it means?

Yet another term I don’t know. I need a dictionary for this crap.

Diane: LOL. No, that one is all mine. My ex-husband and I used to go to parties and kind of parallel party. We’d both be there having a good time, but never together. He’d be with friends and clients. I’d be with friends and spouses. I want someone who, when we go to a party, wants to have a good time together, not apart. Not separately. Does that make sense?

Lloyd: It does. My ex-wife and I would split too, and I never gave it a second thought. Hell, we parallel lived too, and it took its toll on my whole family. Never again. I want a party mate too, Diane.

FIVE

FALLON

“Spitters are quitters,” Kam announces loudly as we sit on the stools around the massive island in Tanner’s oversized gourmet kitchen.

“Keep your voice down,” I chastise. “Bailey is sleeping. She had a long day.”

The past six weeks have been unconventional, to say the least. Bailey spent about two weeks in the hospital getting more surgeries, recovering, and beginning her physical and occupational therapy.

I was basically doing four jobs. I needed to wind down my real job so I could take a hiatus, oversee Bailey’s in-hospital PT, make sure all the right equipment was delivered to Tanner’s house, and be the full-time parent to Harper because Tanner wouldn’t leave Bailey for one second in the hospital. Though getting to be with Harper every single night has been a joy. The worst part of divorce is feeling like you’re missing so much time with your child. I’ve been with her every night over the past six weeks, and it’s been glorious.

We’ve all lived at Tanner’s for the past month, and it’s chaotic. I wanted to dislike Kamryn based on her actions at the hospital, but I don’t. Frankly, her outrageous sense of humor and deep love for Bailey are keeping me sane.

Together, she and I work with Bailey in the gym, where, for hours, she works hard every morning. Kam doesn’t miss a single session. Bailey wants to be pushed to the max, so that’s what we’re giving her. Her progress is nothing short of a miracle, but bad days happen from time to time. You can’t always see the progress every single day, and she has her down moments. Kam is always there, cheering her on and never letting her get too low. Their sisterly bond only makes me ache that much more over the fact that Harper doesn’t have a sibling.

Bailey and Kam’s teammates are often around as well. The Anacondas, Philly’s pro softball team, are a true sisterhood. It’s a thing of beauty.

Bailey’s afternoons include OT and usually a nap from exhaustion. It gives Kam and me a lot of time alone together. Tanner was initially present, but with the way he and Kam bicker, we had to force him to go to his office for a few hours a day to maintain some peace and quiet around here. It’s best for Bailey this way.

My friends help with carpooling Harper to and from school and activities, as well as making sure she’s not as homebound as the rest of us. They pop in here and there to give me a few much-needed laughs.