Page 63 of Home Town Advantage
She turns in my arms so we’re facing each other. “You were the town hero once.”
I give her a small smile. “Not anymore.” I shrug. “At least people have stopped throwing eggs at my parents’ house. This egg crisis has been a blessing for them,” I joke.
She smacks my arm playfully. “It stopped before that. It sucks that they’ve had to suffer. It’s not their fault.”
“At this point, it’s the thing that hurts the most. I’m glad your parents let them back into their lives. It paved the way for everyone else in town to do the same. Your parents are good people.”
She sighs while we lie in awkward silence.
I point toward the door. “We should probably get dressed. I need to help my dad.”
“Okay. What are your plans?” she asks.
“I’m going to visit with them for a few more days before heading back. My move-in was cut short by the storm. I raced to get home so I could help my father with the ranch. What about you?”
She nods in understanding. “I closed on my new house. I was supposed to be there a few days ago to move my stuff, but my flight was canceled. I’m going to head back right away as long as Momma doesn’t need me. My team has already started offseason workouts. And I need to go visit Bailey. I feel terrible that I haven’t done so already.”
I’ve talked to her on the phone several times, and I sent her a few goodie baskets, but I haven’t seen her in person since the accident.
“The guys said she started walking. She’s not fully back to normal, but she’s getting stronger every day.”
“Yep. I’ve spoken with her and the crew a few times. It’s amiracle. Why is she living at Tanner’s house?” she asks. “I would have thought she’d be in some rehab facility.”
I twist my lips. “I guess it’s not much of a secret anymore. They’ve been secretly dating for a year and a half.”
Her eyes widen. “What?”
“Yep. It was supposed to be casual, but I think Tanner is in love with her. In fact, I know he is.”
Her face scrunches. “He’s like…a dad. He’s so old.”
I smile. “He’s not that old.”
She bites her lower lip. “I guess he’s attractive, but it’s still weird. Wait, doesn’t his ex-wife live with them too?”
“Fallon is a physical therapist. Tanner wanted her to work with Bailey so he moved her in too. He said she knows about him and Bailey and is cool with it. He spent, like, a million dollars to bring in all the therapy equipment she needed so she would rehab at his house instead of at a facility. Control freak.”
She blows out a breath. “Fucking hell. It’s like a soap opera. Someone should write a book about that crazy situation.”
I smile. “Gemma probably will.” Gemma is Trey’s wife. She’s a lawyer by day and a secret romance author by night.
Sulley visibly swallows. “I had a good time, Vance, but this ends here. I just…I can’t be with you after everything that’s happened.”
I nod as sadness fills me. “I know, Sulley. I know.”
We dress in relative silence as the best two days of my life come to an abrupt and painful end.
SIXTEEN
SULLEY
“The badass bitch is back,” Kennedy announces happily, and quite loudly, when I enter the gymnasium. She even adds a little ass shake as the practice session comes to a halt and everyone looks my way.
I smile and do a little curtsy. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic was a bitch.” For some reason, five miles took me over forty-five minutes.
She nods. “Every traffic jam starts with one dumbass doing dumb shit.”
“Facts,” Layla agrees. “Nothing is worse than Philly traffic.”
