Page 32 of Over Time Advantage

FALLON

“How do hardshell tacos survive factories, delivery trucks, and store shelves, but crumble the second you put something inside them?” Kam asks in frustration as her taco breaks into pieces while she fills it with all the toppings on the kitchen counter.

Amanda, Bailey, and I giggle as we drain our second glasses of champagne. It’s New Year’s Eve. Tanner is having a gathering at his house. He won’t call it a party, even though it is.

Bailey is now walking with a cane. She happily torched her wheelchair and walker recently. Her work ethic is unmatched. I’ve never had a patient progress like her. Obviously, her being in great shape before the accident contributed, but she pushes her body to the max every single day for hours, with Kam right by her side, encouraging her to do just a little bit more. One more rep. One more step. Kam is always helping Bailey get to that next level.

We’re over two months into this and have settled into a groove. Tanner and Kamryn still fight like cats and dogs, but everyone else gets along shockingly well. It’s like a sorority house in here sometimes.

Bailey let Tanner back into her bed. It’s not something we discuss, but they’re not doing a good job of hiding it from anyone except Harper. At some point, we’ll have to sit Harper down and tell her about their relationship. I think she’ll be over the moon about it.

The front door opens. Reggie, Sam, and Piper walk in. “Fuck, it’s cold,” Reggie declares in her loud voice as she shivers exaggeratedly. “I should have had a few drinks to warm me up before we left. Thank god menopause will take care of that in a minute or two.”

“I thought you said you were pregaming?” I inquire.

She raises an eyebrow. “When I say I’m pregaming before I go out, what I really mean is that I’m napping and then hoping someone cancels before I bother to get dressed.”

Amanda shakes her head. “I’m not sure how you get naps in when you have so many kids at your house. I have no chance at ever napping with the boys running around like lunatics.”

Reggie smiles. “If you want quiet, just tell your kids to wake you up in fifteen minutes so you can all clean the house together. Nothing—I mean nothing—keeps your kids quieter than the threat of Mommy waking up and making them clean. Follow me for more parenting advice.”

I smile as she kisses my cheek and says, “Happy New Year, beautiful.”

I squeeze my friend. “Same to you. You look great. Have you lost weight? Your jeans are practically falling off you.”

She shrugs. “If you wear the same jeans for five days, they become more and more baggy. Follow me for more weight-loss tips.”

I let out a laugh. “Oh stop it. Seriously, you’ve lost weight. Did you go back to Weight Watchers?” She’s been on and off with them for years.

She shakes her head. “No, I got banned from Weight Watchers for dropping a bag of M&M’s on the floor. Totally worth it. It was the best game of Hungry Hungry Hippos I ever saw.”

Amanda snorts, causing champagne to fly everywhere. “Oh my god, Reggie, you’re terrible.”

She winks as Sam places a big box on the kitchen island. “What’s this?” I ask.

Reggie opens the box so I can see the contents. It’s an entire case of wine. My chin drops. “Just how much do you think we’re drinking tonight?”

She shrugs. “Some tonight, and then you’ll have leftovers for the rest of the month with your bizarre pussy posse.”

I cross my arms. “I thought we discussed doing Dry January.” We’ve all mentioned it because this group of women living together has brought nightly drinking to excess.

She deadpans, “It’s Chardonnay. It’s dry.”

Kam high-fives her. “I like the way you think, Reggie.”

Reggie winks at me while Harper and Andie approach us. “Mommy, when is Dylan getting here?” Harper asks me.

I love their friendship. Andie and Harper are tomboys, while Dylan is a girly girl who hates all sports. They’re all very smart and beautiful in totally different ways. Dylan looks like her mom, with ice blue eyes and dark hair. Harper mostly resembles me, and Andie has wild curly hair, with much darker features.

“Any minute, sweetie. They were dropping Brandon at a friend’s house,” I inform her.

Her face falls. I know she has a crush on Dylan’s twin brother. I’m sure she was hoping he’d be here tonight.

Kam sighs. “Harper, I told you to play hard to get. Who’s the cutest boy in the grade above yours?”

Harper immediately answers, “Luke O’Connell. He’s soooo cute. All the girls like him.”

“He’s Dylan and Brandon’s cousin,” Andie adds. “He and his best friend, Scotty Cooper, are super cute. Scotty’s sister is in our class. He talked to me at recess the other day,” she says as she blushes.