Page 39 of Home Town Advantage
I hear Beau’s deep voice from the back of the room. “Marley and Meis a true story.”
My eyes widen as I turn to him. “It is?”
He nods. “Yep. It’s based on an autobiographical novel. I read it. It was good.”
Daylen and I exchange glances before he jokes, “I didn’t know you knew how to read, Fudd.”
Beau doesn’t bother to respond to Daylen’s ridiculousness. If there’s one thing Beau knows how to do, it’s reading. The guy went to Stanford and majored in biochemistry while dual-minoring in English literature and Greek mythology. He looks like he doesn’t have a single brain cell, which most people assume, but it’s just the opposite, and I have a ton of respect for him and the fact that he’s continuing his studies despite the demands of our job. He’s fairly quiet but is always game to hang out and certainly attracts the attention of a lot of women. I wouldn’t call him a player, but I’ve seen him leave with women on a few occasions. Women flock to the big guy.
Beau looks at his watch. “Are we done? I have a date.”
Daylen raises an eyebrow. “With who?”
Beau answers, “Whom. It’s withwhom. And it’s none of your business.”
Presley happily chimes in, “We have a new thing for date night. We have sexbeforewe go out. This way, when we get home feeling bloated and tired, we can just go to bed.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Are you eighty? What the fuck is wrong with you? You should service your woman both beforeandafter a date.”
He shrugs. “Layla is usually mad at me by the end of a date. Now I definitely get laid. It’s kind of genius. The other night we had sex before our date. She hurt her shoulder in her game, so when we were done, she asked me to help her put her bra back on. I couldn’t do it, and she was yelling at me. I said,Whywould I know how to put a bra on? I’ve only ever taken them off women.” He winces. “It made for a tough night. If I hadn’t already gotten laid, I wouldn’t have gotten any at all. That’s the genius in the pre-date sex plan. It’s like I’m hedging my bets.”
Daylen chuckles as he stands. “You kids have fun. I’m going to shake hands with the president.” He leaves and makes his way toward the bathroom while the rest of us head out of the stadium.
As soon as I’m in my truck, I instruct Siri to call Maddie. She answers after several rings. In a voice that seems less than thrilled to be hearing from me, she says, “Hi, Vance.”
“Hey, Mad. I sent some birthday gifts for Francesca with my check this month. I know they’re a few weeks early, but I wanted to make sure she had them by her birthday and my season starts next week. I tend to lose time and forget things when the season starts.”
She sighs. “Yep, they came this morning.” She exhales a long breath. “I’m going to remove the card. I don’t want her to know who they came from.”
My jaw tightens. “You can always say they came from her father.”
“No, Vance. Curtis is her father.” She pauses. “At least the only father she’s ever known. We’ve discussed this. You’re not around for her. Curtis is. Hit and run fathering isn’t what she needs. I appreciate all you do for her, but I can’t have you upsetting the applecart.”
I try to remain calm. “Listen, I’m thinking of coming home for at least a month or two this year whenever my season is over so I can get to know her properly. I want to spend real time with her.”
She immediately responds, “No. She’s at an age when she’s going to start asking questions about who you are. What would I say? It was fine for you to pop in twice a year when she was younger, but not anymore. We’ve discussed this. She loves Curtis. He loves her. He’s the biological father of herbrother and sister. It’s easier for them all to think they have the same father. Less confusing. Please. Leave our arrangement as is. She’s thriving.”
“But I want?—”
Her tone escalates. “Whatyouwant doesn’t matter,” she interrupts. “You and I made this decision years ago. Curtis Huddle is the only father she knows. He’s in her life every single day. I’m the decision maker. This is how it’s going to be. You have no right. That’s a fact.”
There are so many things I want to say to Maddie, but I hold my tongue, like I always have. CurtisfuckingHuddle, Maddie’s husband, is a jobless piece of shit, happy to live on my money, but I can’t deny that he’s been there for Francesca, and she seems to love him. At the end of the day, I want what’s best for Francesa, and if Curtis is it, then I’ll stay where I’ve always been. In the shadows.
I nervously driveSulley and me out of the city. She asks a million questions along the way, but I remain tight-lipped. I don’t know how she’s going to handle what’s about to happen, but I’m dying to share this with her over anyone else, even Daylen.
We pull through the secluded, tree-lined gravel driveway until we reach a clearing. The property is currently full of cement trucks, pickup trucks, and two big trailers. Sulley pinches her eyebrows. “A construction site?”
I nod toward the fresh cement falling from the trucks. “They’re laying the foundation today for my new house. I…umm…I wanted you to be here for it.”
I don’t know how she’s going to react, but I want her here. I need her here.
She nods, thinking she understands. “Oh. Your new house. That was quick. You’re moving forward?”
I nod as I grab my bag from the backseat and open the door. “Come on, I want to show you a few things.”
We exit the vehicle and make our way to the main trailer. Walking inside, I see my general contractor, Collin Fitz. He’s about ten years older than me. He owns a high-end construction company specializing in custom mansions. He built Cougars pitcher Quincy Abbott’s mansion and is currently building Layton and Arizona’s. When I showed him what I wanted, he was really excited about the project. He said it’s completely different from anything in the area. I love that.
Collin, who is a decent-looking guy with hair a little longer than mine, lifts his head and smiles. “Vance! Glad you’re here. We have a question about the fireplaces.”
