Page 117 of Home Town Advantage
Her shoulders begin to shake with soft sobs. “Despite everything that’s happened, I can’t view it as a mistake. It gave me my daughter. She’s my everything. Do you know how conflicted it all makes me feel? If I hadn’t gotten pregnant, he’d be alive. But I refuse to regret it because she’s my heart and soul.”
I never appreciated the level of her torment. She’s been hurting as much as I have. She feels guilt, just like me.
“I guess we both need to forgive each otherandourselves.”
She wordlessly nods as she reaches for tissues and tries to wipe away her tears and runny nose.
I take a deep breath, a few of them, before saying, “If you want to file to change her birth certificate to name Curtis as her legal father, I won’t fight you on it. He’s her father in all the ways that matter. He’s earned it.”
She sucks in a breath as hopeful eyes find mine. “Really?”
I nod. “Really.”
Just then, we hear Francesca’s little voice. “Momma.”
Maddie jumps out of the chair, runs to her bedside, and takes her hand. “Yes, angel, Momma’s here.”
“Where am I? Why can’t I move? What are all these machines? Where’s Daddy?”
Her voice is so sweet. She speaks in full sentences now. I’mrealizing I’ve never heard her talk like this. She was babbling the last time I was with her.
“You had an accident, but you’re going to be fine. You’re going to have to stay in bed for a few more days, but you’ll be as good as new soon. I promise.”
Francesca’s curious, big, brown eyes find mine. “Who’s that man, Momma?”
Maddie turns and looks at me. She gives me a small smile. “That’s your Uncle Vance.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
SULLEY
“I’d rather adjust my life to your absence than adjust my boundaries to your disrespect. That’s what I told him,” Layla says as she brushes a piece of lint off her skirt. “It was empowering after two years of a rollercoaster relationship. It finally set me free from him and his toxicity. Like this weight was lifted from my shoulders. The next month, I met Presley. I might give him shit, but he makes me feel loved and respected. Always. Every minute of every day. Sometimes it takes the right one to come along to truly show you how wrong the last guy was.”
Kennedy, Palmer, Layla, Shay, and I are at a television studio in New York City, about to be interviewed on a popular late-night talk show about our big championship win. They asked to interview only me, but I refused. We compromised on the starting lineup appearing together.
We’re sitting in the green room chatting before we’re called out onto the stage in front of a live studio audience. Layla was telling us about her last boyfriend before she met Presley. He soundslike a real asshole.
Her last sentence resonates with me. It reminds me of Shane. I always knew on some level he was the wrong one, but having Vance back in my life has shown me just how wrong Shane was for me. Vance celebrates my achievements like a partner should. My successes are his successes. He loves me wholeheartedly and wants nothing but the best for me at all times. I never have to censor myself around him. I miss him the second we’re apart. That’s one of the biggest differences in my relationship with him and Shane. I was happy to be with Shane when he was around, but equally happy when we were apart.
I wonder what Shane is doing now. I saw he’s no longer playing in the EuroLeague. I’m not surprised.
Kennedy nods. “There’s no bigger red flag than a guy who disrespects you.” Mischief plays in her eyes. “And guys who shoutKobewhen they take a basketball shot. So annoying.”
I giggle. “True. Speaking of red flags, I think I found another new red flag recently. Guys who wear ankle socks at the gym.” I scrunch my face. “It’s kind of girlie.”
Layla smiles. “It is. The aforementioned disrespectful asshole also had a giant state flag hanging in his bedroom.” She purses her lips. “Gross. I should have known then. Total red flag, pun intended.”
Kennedy snorts in laughter. “That’s a good one. You can tell a lot about a man from his bedroom. What about the guys who don’t even have a bed frame? Just a mattress. Are they still in a frat house? Total fuckboy move to not bother with a frame.”
Palmer bites her lip nervously. “I’ve got another food red flag. When a man sticks more than an inch or so of a banana in his mouth, it gives me the ick. Is he trying to prove he can deep throat it? I don’t want to see that. It’s not impressive.”
We all burst into hysterical laughter. In between hard laughs, I manage to sputter, “Youdefinitelyhave a food fetish.”
Palmer bites back her smile. “I think you’re right.” Shrugging, she unashamedly says, “A girl wants what she wants.”
My mind drifts back to Vance. I left Montana two days ago,telling him I needed a little time and space to think about us. He lied to me for years, but I suppose he had a good reason. Does that make the lying okay?
I look at the collective group. “What about things that some might see as red flags, but you’re not sure it’s a red flag for you?”
