Page 44 of Home Town Advantage
She nonchalantly shakes her head. “No, I stay up and contemplate random scenarios. Like what would happen if one conjoined twin committed a crime and had to go to jail? Do you falsely imprison the other one?”
He tilts his head to the side as he considers his words. “Holy shit. That’s a good question. Do you know the answer?”
She lets out a laugh. “No, bonehead. I don’t.”
His lips curl in amusement. “I might research the issue.”
Sick of their bizarre foreplay, I walk over to Sulley. Her face lights up as she sees me approach. “Nice game, Vile Vance.”
“Nice jersey, Gully Sulley.”
She bites back her smile. “I was contractually obligated to wear it. It was done under duress,” she says in a teasing manner.
I nod in understanding. “Hmm. I get that for the game. Are youstillcontractually obligated to wear itafterthe game?”
Her eyes fall to the floor as she mumbles, “I guess certain habits are hard to break.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
Her eyes widen a bit, as if she’s catching herself, before they raise to meet mine. “Nothing.”
Before I can inquire further, Layla sloppily throws her arm around Sulley’s shoulders. She’s clearly a little tipsy. “What do you say, O’Shea?” Layla hiccups and giggles. “That rhymed. I’m a poet and didn’t even know it.”
She starts laughing hysterically at her own cheesy joke before eventually calming down and again asking, “What do you say?”
Sulley pinches her eyebrow together. “Umm, about what?”
“Vegas, silly. I was just telling you about it. At least I think I was. The guys on the team go for the first weekend of the NCAA tournament every year in March. I didn’t go this past year because of the baby, but I usually go. So do most of the other WAGs.”
The NCAA basketball tournament takes place over two weeks in late March into early April. It’s a huge sports event, the first weekend being especially fun because there are so many games. With the possible exception of the Super Bowl, it’s the biggest weekend in Vegas each year. We always go and have an absolute blast betting on games, drinking, dancing, and generally partying until we can’t stand.
Sulley shakes her head. “I’m not a WAG.”
Layla smiles sweetly. “But you’re my friend, and I want youthere. Kennedy and Palmer already said they’re in. They’re not WAGs either.”
Sulley looks at me, and I nod. “It’s always a fun weekend. It’s a bit of a team tradition. We rent two floors of suites at the Palms Casino. The more, the merrier.”
She runs her lower lip through her teeth. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but never could because I’ve always been playing ball that weekend. Hmm…why not? That sounds like fun. I’ve never been to Vegas. It’s on my bucket list.”
Layla squeals in excitement. “Yay! We’re gonna have a blast. I’ll book everything. The guys charter a jet, so you don’t even need plane tickets. Just a few fabulous outfits for all the fun parties we’ll attend,” she bumps her hip with Sulley’s, “and sexy bikinis for the pools. I’ll email you all the logistics, but be prepared for a fantastic time, right, Vance?”
I nod. Vegas is sounding a lot better this year.
ELEVEN
SULLEY
I’ve had the most magical week on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. The company treated me like a queen. They put me up in a suite in a fancy hotel, gave me a huge daily allowance for food, were respectful during the photo shoots, and made sure to schedule work obligations so I had plenty of free time to explore the majestic area.
The company is an Italian athletic clothing line named Veloce. Apparently, they have a partnership with Daulton Holdings, Reagan’s company, and she recommended me as the spokesperson. It is by far my biggest payday, and I’m so grateful to her for advocating for me. She has more than lived up to every promise she made before she drafted me, which included being supportive of me both on and off the court.
Veloce is trying to bill this line as both athletic and beachy. Seems like a weird combo to me, but the money can’t be beat, and I got a free trip to Italy. Accepting it was a no-brainer.
My photo shoots were spectacular. I can’t wait to see the pictures. The nights are a little lonely. Shane said he couldn’t get away to come join me, but I don’t mind wandering the old,cobblestone streets alone. I’ve experienced beauty on this trip that I’ve only seen in books before. You can’t appreciate certain things unless you see them in person.
I’m sitting in a café on my last night here when I receive a text notification and look at my phone.
Vance: How did it go?
