Page 87 of Over Time Advantage

Yes, it’s now Coach Fallon. It turns out Coach Carroll had to go on bed rest after a pregnancy-related complication. Reagan and Coach Lakshmi sat me down and asked me if I was willing to do double duty as the team trainer and an official assistant coach. Official, because I was basically an assistant anyway, participating in team practices and strategy sessions. The sport has come flooding back to me, and I can honestly say I’ve never been happier in my career. It doesn’t even feel like work. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time.

Kennedy and I have forged a very natural friendship. I like her. A lot. She’s funny and smart. I’ve never seen anyone who works as hard as she does. In fact, she’s working too hard. Her muscles have been a little achy, but that’s only given me more of a chance to spend time with her in the training room.

I shake my head at Coach Lakshmi. “Nothing other than to keep moving the ball around and crash the boards. We’re smaller than New York, but we need to play bigger.”

They’re our opponents in our season opener tomorrow night. Harper, who’s also in the huddle, has become a bit of a gym rat. She loves coming to practice and hanging with the team. The players have been so welcoming to her. I think they get a kick out of her mouth.

Her brain is like a sponge, absorbing everything. She and I talk about the intricacies of the game all the time. It’s been great connecting with her like this. She’s always been so softball obsessed—which she still is—but now she’s enjoying basketball too. She’s got natural athleticism and is only nine years old. She can play both sports.

While she and Bailey share softball, she and I now share basketball. It’s been so fulfilling for me.

As the team gathers their belongings from the sidelines, I make my way to the training room for the inevitable flow of players that will visit me for various treatments.

Harper is with me. “Mommy, you didn’t practice the play we discussed. Did you mention it to Coach Lakshmi?”

Harper hates how every play revolves around Sulley. She came up with a decoy play to get Kennedy the ball and asked me to tell Coach Lakshmi about it. I’m trying not to be obvious about favoring Kennedy, but it happens to be a smart play. At some point, I’ll mention it.

“I will when the time is right. We want it to be in a big moment, right?”

She smiles as she nods. “Are you being veridical, Mommy?”

“Fucking toilet paper,” I mumble.

“Mommy!” she shouts. “Language. You owe money to the swear jar.”

I sigh. “Right. Tell me what veridical means.”

“Truthful,” she replies.

“Yes, I’m being veridical. We’ll bust out your play when the time is right. I promise.”

She looks at me skeptically before seamlessly helping me prepare some of the machines the team will need. It’s become our routine. I smile as I look at her carefully setting everything up with practiced precision. This is what I hoped for when taking this job. Something that would excite Harper. Something she would be proud of. Something we could do together.

Kennedy, Sulley, and Shay all walk into the training room. Harper runs to Kennedy with the E-stim machine and instructs, “Lie on your stomach first. I’ll set up the pads on your hamstring. One pad near your gluteal fold, one just above your knee, and the other two on both the medial and lateral sides of the tender area.”

Kennedy messes Harper’s hair. “You got it, little genius.” That’s her nickname for Harper, and my daughter basks in the attention.

Put mildly, Harper is obsessed with Kennedy. Kennedy’s so rough and tough in her style of play, and Harper gets the biggest kick out of it. She’s always quick to help Kennedy with treatments, desperate to spend time with her.

“How’s the leg feeling?” I ask Kennedy from across the room.

She smiles. “Much better, thanks. I’m doing everything you told me to. I’m even eating more protein.” I told her that it would help in muscle recovery.

“Good. I’m clearing you to play in the game, but don’t stop what you’ve been doing. We don’t want this to bother you all season.”

She nods. “I won’t. I’m taking my brother to a steak dinner tonight. Lots of protein, I promise.”

I clap my hands excitedly. “It’s nice that you and Pierce are spending time together.”

She pinches her eyebrows together. “I don’t remember telling you his name.” She shrugs. “I must have at some point.”

I swallow as I mumble, “Yep, you must have.”

Shit. I need to be careful.

Harper carefully applies the adhesive patches to Kennedy’s ailing leg. I look on as she does so perfectly. When she’s done, she says to Kennedy, “Don’t forget veggies, Kennedy. They’re just as important as protein. A robust diet is well-rounded.”

Kennedy laughs. “Harper, you’re my favorite person in the world. When I have a daughter, I hope she’s just like you.”