Page 57 of Over Time Advantage

“Yep,” I answer.

“Let me take your suitcase,” he offers. “I’ll walk you out.”

I say my goodbyes to Harper and Bailey before Tanner and I walk to my car in silence. After he places my suitcase in the trunk, he closes it and then looks at me. “Thank you.”

I offer a small smile. “Of course. I’m happy Bailey is doing so well and just glad I could help.”

He scratches through his beard. “I’m not talking about her physical therapy, though I’m obviously thankful for that. Thank you for how you’re handling the pregnancy and engagement news. You’re a class act, Fallon.”

My eyes fill with tears. “It’s not the easiest thing on the planet for me,” I admit.

He nods before pulling me into his arms. “I know. That’s what makes it all the more special. I will always love you and want what’s best for you. I know those are just words. You’re showing me the same through your actions, and I realize that’s so much harder. Know that I’m here for you. We will always be a family, even if it doesn’t look exactly like we originally imagined it would. When your time comes, and I know it will, I’ll be here cheering for you the way you are for me.”

“Thanks,” I whisper as I take in his familiar, once comforting scent. I’m realizing for the first time since the divorce that the longing I always felt at his scent is finally dissipating. There’s a different scent I’m starting to prefer. One that never fails to make me smile and put me at ease.

He breaks me from my reverie. “Are you okay being in the wedding? You don’t have to. It’s a lot to ask of you.”

I pull back and grin. “Oh, yes. I’m walking down the aisle with your father. Nothing could possibly make me any happier than that,” I say in a purposefully mischievous tone.

He chuckles. “I bet. Be sure to give him hell.”

His father fully blames me for our divorce, just as my mother fully blames Tanner. I enjoy messing with his father any chance I get, just as Tanner does his best to tolerate my mother’s obnoxious comments to him.

“I most definitely will,” I assure him.

We part, and my phone rings just as I’m pulling out of his driveway. I look down at my caller ID and realize it’s from Daulton Holdings. “Hello,” I answer.

“Fallon Montgomery?” a female voice asks.

“Yes.”

“This is Reagan Daulton. We met when I visited Bailey Hart.”

“Of course. I remember.” It’s hard to forget a billionaire with model good looks. She’s probably a few years younger than me with a killer body you can still make out behind her designer suits. I can’t believe she’s calling me directly and not one of her employees.

“I’ve had a few conversations recently, and your name kept coming up. The Beavers are in need of a new trainer. Your extensive physical therapy experience with athletes, as well as your background in basketball, make you an ideal candidate for the position. You come highly recommended. We’ve obviously all seen the incredible job you’ve done with Bailey. Is it something that might interest you?”

“It is. Thanks for reaching out. I’d love to hear more about what it would entail.”

She goes on to give me a complete description of both my in-season and out-of-season job requirements, with the former obviously being much heavier. It’s double the money I’m making now. While Tanner has seen to it that money isn’t a concern for me, I’m excited at the prospect of better supporting myself. I don’t enjoy being reliant on him.

We talk a bit about what the summer would look like with my having a young daughter. She doesn’t seem to mind Harper potentially spending time at the team’s facilities. Harper will absolutely flip her shit if she’s able to hang out with the players.

My biggest concern is Kennedy Jeffries, though I don’t voice that to Reagan. Kennedy doesn’t know it, but I’m dating her father. I need to talk to Jett about this, as well as Bailey and Tanner, because it will impact them too. I’ll have road games and will need help with Harper on those dates. I know they’ll be supportive, but we need to have a conversation about it.

We end the call with me asking for a few days to consider it.

JETT

“If a woman sleeps with twenty men, that makes her a slut. What do you call a man who does the same?” Daylen asks everyone in the locker room after a light off-season workout.

“Probably gay,” Champ answers without hesitation.

The guys all laugh hysterically at the unusual humor from Champ, with Daylen laughing hard enough to bring down the entire stadium.

They all continue chatting about their nonsense, but their voices fade into the distance for me as I brush my freshly washed hair, putting a little extra effort into it because I get to see Fallon tonight.

I’m having dinner with Pierce first, but then I’m going to Fallon’s house. She finally moved out of Tanner’s home. I’m hoping it means more than two nights a week together, though I suppose with our various custody arrangements, it won’t.