Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

BAILEY

T oday is our victory parade down Broad Street in Philly. The whole city is shut down to celebrate us. We’re all excited about it.

The Cougars lost their steam after Layton’s injury and were knocked out of the World Series in game six. All the attention is on us.

Despite the sadness of Layton’s injury and their season ending, the guys are all excited for our victory and are coming to celebrate with us. Layton demanded the doctor put on his cast so he could come too. Apparently, they were waiting for the swelling to go down.

The parade is about to start, and we’re all in the big float. It’s our entire team plus a few of our close Cougars friends.

Ripley seems off. I don’t know why. I pull her to the side. “Are you okay?”

She takes a few deep breaths. Worry is written all over her beautiful face. “Today is for celebrating. We’ll talk later.”

Cheetah throws his arms around us. “Why do you two look so serious? It’s a party day!” He nods toward a table full of shots. “Let’s get this party started!”

He hands out shots to several people and lifts his in the air. “To the Anacondas!”

Everyone screams out, “To the Anacondas,” as they take the shots.

After ensuring everyone has another shot in hand, he lifts his glass again. “Here’s to love. Here’s to honor. If you can’t come in her, come on her.”

Everyone starts laughing as they take another round of shots.

The parade begins down Broad Street. It pauses now and then as Kam, Cheetah, and a few others jump off the float to dance with the crowds. The two of them are nuts, but all the fans are eating it up. I can’t help but watch them together. I don’t ever remember anyone making my sister smile so much. I hold out hope that he can eventually break down the walls she’s so carefully built throughout the years.

I lean over to Arizona. “Are Kam and Cheetah doing a choreographed dance right now?”

She laughs. “They sure are.”

After a very bizarre dance routine, we’re approaching the cross street where Tanner said he’d be standing with Harper and Andie. My eyes immediately find him as we approach. If there was ever anyone made to stand out in a crowd, it’s Tanner Montgomery.

Flashes of what he’s done to my body for the past few days play on a loop in my mind. He now has Harper for the next few days, so I know we’ll be on pause, but the time I’ve spent with him recently has been incredible. I’ve experienced pleasure I’m not sure I ever knew existed. I’ll be gagging for it by the time she leaves for Fallon’s again.

We make eye contact, and he winks at me. I notice Harper in my jersey and Andie in Arizona’s.

I immediately jump off the slow-moving float and run to grab Harper and Andie’s hands .

Harper’s eyes widen. “What are you doing?”

I smile down at her. “It’s time for you to join the parade.”

She squeals, “What?”

“Come on. Let’s celebrate.”

I bring two shocked and excited little girls onto the float with us. Everyone is welcoming. The girls smile as they wave to the crowds lining the streets with pure and total glee. I know it’s a moment neither of them will ever forget.

It’s been a crazy few days of partying. This town knows how to celebrate its champions.

Tonight is about Harper though. It’s her league championship game.

I arrive at their house a little before we need to leave. As soon as I step in the door, Tanner pulls me into his arms and kisses me. I wrap my arms around him, immediately losing myself in all things Tanner. His lips suck me right in. Damn, this man can kiss.

I love the way his beard rubs my face. I know my face will be red when we’re done and there’s something so hot about being marked by him.

He kisses his way down my neck and mumbles into it, “Hi, beautiful. I’ve missed you.”

I can only manage a, “Hmm,” as my body melts into his.

When he eventually pulls away, I’m a little unsteady on my feet from the affection. He has to hold me upright for a moment.

When I regain my senses, I drink him in. He’s in jeans and a hoodie with a baseball hat for Harper’s team. He’s so hot. And he’s mine…for now.

I eventually breathe out, “Hi.”

He winks at me, knowing the effect he has on me, and then adjusts himself before he turns and walks back into the kitchen area. I follow him and notice a big box on the counter. “What’s that?”

“The girls are flipping out that you’ll be at the big game tonight. I bought your jersey for each of them. If you don’t mind, maybe you can sign them.”

“They’re flipping out for me ?”

He gives me an incredulous look. “Yes, Bailey. You’re a superstar on a championship team. Did you not see the tens of thousands of people at the parade? I hate to break it to you, but you’re famous. Arizona may be the face of the team, Ripley may be the backbone, and Kamryn may be the flashy smile, but you, my beautiful girl, are the heart and soul. You must realize that.”

Hmm. I’ve never thought of it that way.

I smile in gratitude for his words. “Thank you. I’m happy to sign them.” I look around. “Where’s Harper?”

“She said she needed time alone to visualize.” He smirks. “Know anything about that?”

I giggle. “I may have talked to her about it.” I hold out my hand. “Give me a Sharpie. I’ve got some jerseys to sign.”

He hands one to me. “Great. We’ll give them to the girls after the game. A celebratory gift if they win, and something that will make them feel better if they don’t. They’ll certainly need it if they lose. Their douchebag coach will tear into them. Actually, win or lose he’ll probably tear into them.”

He’s a yeller and screamer coach. I’ve seen him in action and marvel that he treats seven-year-old girls that way. I marvel more that the parents allow their kids to play for him. I wouldn’t.

An hour later we’re sitting in the stands with Fallon, Beckett, Amanda, Cassandra, Trevor, and Dylan.

Fallon greets me warmly, congratulating me on our big victory and telling me that she and Harper were glued to the television watching the final game.

I’m seated between Tanner and Cassandra. I lean past Cassandra and smile at Dylan. “It’s nice of you to come support your friends. ”

“Mommy says anchor friends are the most important in your life. She’s had her best friend for, like, a hundred years.”

Cassandra playfully elbows her. “A hundred? Like fortyish.” She winces. “Ugh, that’s actually a lot. Now I feel old.”

Trevor shakes his head as he reaches over and rubs her leg. “Sexy, you don’t look a day over thirty.”

She blows him a kiss which he proceeds to catch and then simulates throwing down his pants.

I let out a laugh as my attention turns from Dylan’s crazy parents back to Dylan. “I think it’s incredibly sweet that you’re here. And I’ve never heard the term anchor friends.”

Cassandra nods. “They’re the ones you can rely on. The ones you need to keep you in place when you feel adrift. The ones who never let you float away.”

“Hmm. I love it. That’s how I feel about my closest friends.”

She leans over and whispers, “Is that beard rash I see on your neck?”

My hand instinctively moves to my neck, and she silently laughs before mouthing, “I knew it.”

Just then, an older bald man approaches the group. He appears nervous. “Ms. Hart. My name is Richard Inner. I’m the league commissioner. Thank you for being here. We would be honored if you threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game. The girls on the field are all buzzing with excitement that you’re in the stands tonight. I know it would mean a lot to them, if it’s not too much of an inconvenience for you.”

I point to myself. “Me?”

Tanner sighs and whispers, “Famous.”

The man nods. “Yes, of course.”

“Oh…sure. I’d be happy to.”

“Thank you so much. Would you mind posing for a few pictures as well?”

“No problem.”

I see Cassandra and Trevor exchange bemused looks. I turn to her and lift an eyebrow. She smiles. “His name is Dick Inner? Were his parents on crack?”

I hear Trevor chuckling. Tanner simply shakes his head. Cassandra and Trevor truly are children. I find their behavior somewhere between shocking and charming.

After throwing out the first pitch to an astonishingly loud sea of applause and a bouncing up and down Harper, I pose for pictures with both teams. I feel like a movie star.

When I return to the stands, I see Tanner and Beckett with their heads together. I narrow my eyes at them. “You two are up to no good.”

They both laugh before Tanner nods at Beckett. Beckett then clears his throat. “We’ve been discussing the spring season. Could we, by chance, convince you to coach the girls? No one wants this coach to return, even if they win. The value of having a woman like you coach them is immeasurable. It’s roughly one or two games and one or two practices a week. We’d happily pay you for your time.”

I turn to Tanner, and he smiles hopefully. “It would be incredible. The spring season is from early March through May. It ends before your games begin.”

“I’d like to do it, but I might have a few conflicts with my team practices toward the end.”

Tanner nods. “We know. We’ll work everything around your schedule as best we can. I’ll help out if there are times you can’t be there.”

I look out onto the field. I’ve never considered coaching before, but getting to work with all the girls sounds like heaven.

Beckett interrupts my thoughts. “You can take time to think about it. We know it’s a big time commitment.”

I shake my head. “I don’t need to think about it. I’d love to do it.”

Beckett and Tanner high-five, and I inwardly giggle at the notion of two men like them being nervous to approach me about this .

The game has begun when I see a familiar figure approach the stands. It’s Kam, wearing a hat that reads I Heart DILFS .

As soon as she reaches me, I grab it off her head. “You can’t wear that here.”

She smiles. “I brought it for you. It’s a gift.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “What are you doing here?”

“I came for Harper’s big championship game. You’ve been talking about it all week.”

“Fine. Thank you. Sit down and be quiet. No shenanigans.”

She smirks. “Me? Never.”

We slide down and make space for her to sit between me and Cassandra. Cassandra looks Kam up and down. “You two must be in the sexual fantasies of every man in America. The twin thing is a kink.”

Kam lets out a laugh. “Right? I can’t get her to do porn with me. I told her we’d make a fortune. We only do separate porn. Bailey prefers porn monogamy.”

Cassandra smiles, and I elbow Kam. “She’s kidding, Cassandra. No porn for either of us.”

Kam rolls her eyes. “My sister is no fun. You know the difference between two cocks and a joke? Bailey can’t take a joke.”

Cassandra bursts into laughter, and I cover Kam’s mouth, motioning toward Dylan. Through gritted teeth, I say, “Cut it out. Young ears.”

Fortunately, Dylan isn’t listening to us.

Kam points to the field. “Lighten up. It’s seven-year-old softball. Where’s Harper?”

I point to her spot on the field. “She’s the shortstop.”

Kam wiggles her eyebrows. “Like me. Excellent choice.”

The game progresses and happens to be a good one. Harper’s team is up by one run in the final inning, but the other team has runners on second and third with two outs.

The batter hits a very slow roller toward Harper. At this level, there’s no chance of her being able to field that in time to record the out at first base. It’s going to be a hit and the runner from third is going to score, tying the game.

But Harper does something no other seven-year-old little girl or boy has probably ever done. She charges the ball and quickly throws from the slot to get the batter out at first by a hair.

Game over. They win.

I think the chin of every player and parent is on the floor at her executing the advanced technique so perfectly, especially in such a big moment. Even Kam breathes, “What in the fresh fuck did I just see?”

I can only smile in satisfaction. Tears sting my eyes. We’ve practiced that thousands of times at this point. To see it come to fruition is truly one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever experienced. I can’t wait to coach these girls and have more moments like this.

After the initial shock wears off, every single person stands and erupts into cheers like we just watched the last out of the World Series. The girls on the field are all celebrating Harper.

When she eventually walks off the field, she sprints into my waiting arms. “Did you see me? I did it. I threw from the slot.”

I hug her and twirl her around. “I did. It was amazing.” I whisper in her ear, “You’re better than Kam was when she was seven.”

Harper smiles while she looks up at Kam, who high-fives her. “I know Bailey just made some comment about you being better than me when I was a kid. Honestly, I couldn’t do that until I was thirteen or fourteen. That was fucking sick.”

I smack Kam’s hand. “Don’t curse in front of her.”

Harper nods. “You have to put ten dollars in our swear jar.”

“Ten dollars? What the shit? That’s insane.”

Harper crosses her arms. “Now it’s twenty.”

“F—fine. You’re a real ball-buster, kid.”

“Make it thirty.”