Page 21 of Home Town Advantage
Time has expired. The Beavers win. The whole team runs to Sulley, the hero. We’re all on our feet, clapping and cheering.
Daylen grins at me. “She’s fucking good, man. The real deal.”
I can’t help but crack a smile of my own. “She sure is. She’s gonna go down as the best of all time. Mark my words.”
After the excitement of the victory dies down, most people begin to leave the arena, but Daylen and I stick around a little longer, as do Tanner and Harper. I know Sulley hatesme, but I want to congratulate her when the media is done with her.
Harper tugs on Daylen’s jeans. She loves the big oaf. “Uncle Daylen, wasn’t that the best basketball game ever?”
He nods. “Sure was. Sulley was great.”
She shrugs. “I liked watching Kennedy. She’s tough, like a softball player.” Harper holds up her little fists like she’s going to fight.
As if on cue, Kennedy walks over to us with her pout firmly in place. She looks at me with pure hatred. “You should take off, asshole.”
Daylen interrupts, “Hello, sugar lips. Cheery as ever. Harper, thelittle girlstanding right here in earshot of you,” he raises his eyebrows in warning to Kennedy, “was just saying how much she looks up to you. Maybe do a better job of acting like a role model.” He glances down at Harper. “Kennedy is a good example that a little girl can be anything she wants when she grows up.” He mumbles, “Despite her disposition.”
Kennedy narrows her eyes at him. “Don’t tell this little girl she can be anything she wants when she grows up. Then it might occur to her that she can’t, which she never considered in the first place.”
Daylen scowls at Kennedy before softening his face and turning his attention back to Harper. “Sweetie, let’s go find your dad. Crazy is sometimes contagious. Let’s get away from it before it rubs off on you.” He takes her hand, and they walk away toward Tanner.
When they’re out of earshot, Kennedy looks at me. “Why are you still here?”
“I want to congratulate Sulley.”
She shakes her head. “Stay away from her. You’re a walking trigger for her. She doesn’t need that in her life right now.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t know anything about our relationship.”
She crosses her arms. “I know more than you think, McCaffrey. She’s a superstar. Don’t dim her shine.”
Both our eyes move to Sulley, who appears as though she’s finally giving her last interview. I’m about to walk over when an extremely tall, skinny man, likely in his twenties, walks over to her, lifts her, and twirls her around. They both smile before he kisses her on the lips. He then starts talking to the reporter, basically hijacking her interview.
My eyes widen, and I practically bark out, “Who’s that?”
Kennedy smirks. “Her boyfriend.”
“She’s been in town for all of five minutes. She already has a boyfriend?”
“They’ve been together for over a year. He went to U of Montana but now plays ball in Europe. He flew in for the weekend. He surprised her last night.” She winks at me. “It was quite a reunion. Palmer said she had to wear headphones to drown out the screams.”
I ball my fists, and my jaw tightens. I didn’t know she had a boyfriend. The thought makes my stomach turn.
Kennedy studies me carefully. “Do you have a thing for her?”
I shake my head. “No. I’m just protective, that’s all. I didn’t know about this guy.”
She pauses briefly, clearly not believing me. “Like I said, leave her alone. You’ve inflicted enough damage on her.”
At that, she turns and walks away.
I stand there and watch as the guy holds up his phone and pulls Sulley close to him. It seems like he’s talking into the camera and recording something. Who the hell is this guy?
SIX
SULLEY
I’m in Shane’s long T-shirt and my panties with messy bed hair as I walk him to my door. This weekend was a quick but nice surprise.
