Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

TANNER

Hildy: Please accept this text as my resignation.

Oh shit. I don’t need this today.

Me: Why? Did Harper misbehave?

Hildy: Harper is an angel.

Me: Then what is it?

Hildy: I don’t think I have the energy for it anymore, and I have some things going on in my personal life. I’m very sorry to not give you proper notice, but I won’t be in anymore.

She’s not wrong that she was struggling to keep up with my energetic daughter, but a little notice would have been nice. Her timing couldn’t be worse.

I immediately click on Fallon’s contact information and press the call button. She answers right away. “Hey, Tan. I’m walking into my continuing education class. What’s up?”

Double shit. I forgot she’s been in New York City for a few days. Can this day get any worse? And it’s not even eight in the morning. Is it too early for a glass of whiskey?

“Hildy suddenly quit. No notice. She’s gone.”

I hear her blow out a long breath. “Oh no. Can you drop her at the Windsors’ house?”

“They’re in Italy for a few more days.”

“What about the Knights?”

“They both work. Dylan and Brandon go to camp during the day.”

Harper didn’t want to go to camp this summer because she’s playing competitive softball and said she needed the extra practice time. Seven-year-old competitive softball. I love her passion, but having her home necessitates constant coverage on the weekdays I have her.

“Right. My parents are still away. You’ll have to take her into your office.”

I feel my jaw tighten. “I have meetings all day today. Any chance you can come back early? I’ll pay for the car service to grab you right now.”

“Tan, it’s hard enough without her going to camp. I’ve crammed all my work commitments into the days you have her so I can be with her on my days. I have to get these hours in to maintain my certification. I’ll barely be home in time for her game tonight, and that’s only if I don’t hit traffic. I’m sorry.”

I’m silent, doing my best not to show my agitation. Not entirely at her, at the situation.

She sighs. “I know what you’re thinking. You make a lot more money than I do, you pay me alimony, and I’m not relieving you to get to your super important meetings. Well, maybe being a physical therapist isn’t as big a deal as being the famous sports agent, Tanner Montgomery, but it’s important to me.”

My shoulders fall. I’m an asshole. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Don’t worry about it. She’ll come to work with me and Shannon will take over when I’m in meetings. It’s my responsibility. I’ll manage it.” It’s not ideal, but she can hang out with my secretary for a few hours today.

Her tone softens. “Okay. I’ll see if I can sign in and then sneak out after lunch to come to your office to get her. I’ll take her to an early dinner before her game tonight if I can.”

“That would be super helpful. Thank you. I’ll meet you guys at her game. And this way I don’t have to leave early to get her there in time for the warm-ups.”

“No promises. I’ll do my best. I’ll text you later and let you know.”

“Perfect.”

I end the call and yell upstairs, “Harper, pack a few books. We’re going to my office.”

She walks downstairs with a scowl on her face. “Where’s Humpback Hildy?”

I chuckle. “She’s not that bad.”

Harper scowls. “She’s a hundred years old, only likes to sit inside, moves like a turtle, and has breath that smells like egg. Rotten egg.”

I smile at my daughter. “Hildy isn’t going to be here anymore. She has some family obligations. Until I find a replacement, you’re going to have to come to my office.”

Her face falls. “Ugh. So boring.”

I wiggle my eyebrows as the subject of my first meeting occurs to me. “Not today. I have a meeting with Arizona Abbott. You’ll get to meet her in person, bug.”

Her eyes widen. “For real? The Arizona Abbott?”

I nod. “The one and only. She’s looking for representation. She might be my client. ”

“Wow! Arizona might sign with you?”

I inwardly laugh. I represent most of the biggest stars in sports and she’s never been impressed. It’s Arizona Abbott who finally impresses my daughter. Perhaps I need to add more women to my list of clients. It will be good for Harper.

“Yes. That’s what the meeting is about. Bring your jersey. Maybe she’ll sign it.”

“Awesome.”

She runs upstairs to grab her Abbott jersey. When she returns, she asks, “Daddy, can I get a new sleeping bag for the camping trip next weekend?”

Harper’s class at her school is having a huge family camping trip next weekend. It’s a welcome-to-second-grade tradition at the school. A bit of a rite-of-passage bonding activity, and Harper has been looking forward to it all summer.

“What’s wrong with the one you have?”

Her adorable face scrunches in disgust. “It’s for babies. It has Bluey on it.”

“Did you ask Mommy?”

Her face falls. That means she asked Fallon, and she didn’t say yes. “Umm…well…”

“Harper, you only got it last year. It’s practically new.”

“But it’s for six-year-olds. I’m seven and a half.”

“I’ll talk to Mommy about it.”

She mumbles under her breath, “Now I’ll never get a new one.”

I cross my arms. “Don’t be a brat. Did you go to the bathroom this morning?”

Her frown turns into a smile. “I did.”

“And?”

“Echt.”

I twist my lips. “Hmm. That’s a hard one.”

For Christmas last year, one of Harper’s stocking stuffers was word of the day toilet paper. For some reason, Harper used to refuse to go to the bathroom in the mornings. She’d be ready to burst in the car on the way to school, often having accidents. I thought this might incentivize her to sit on the potty in the morning. We’ve made a bit of a game to see if she can stump me with unusual words.

It's been a massive success. She loves it so much that she begged me to stock her bathroom with rolls of it. It’s hard to constantly find new ones, but it’s working, so I do my best. I happen to have a high vocabulary, but I’m sure the day is coming when she finally stumps me. It started as a way to get her to use the bathroom, but increasing her vocabulary has quickly become an added bonus. Now and then I’ll hear her work one of the words into casual conversation. The looks on people’s faces are priceless.

“Do you know it?”

“Only that Mommy is an echt Philadelphian. It means true or genuine.”

Her face falls. “Why do you know so many words? Your brain must be huge.”

I wink. “I guess I’m an echt smart person.”

BAILEY

Coach Billie motions for our hands to meet in the middle. “Great practice today, ladies. No one beats the snakes.”

Kam raises an eyebrow and whispers to me, “I don’t mind beating certain snakes.”

Even though they didn’t hear her, Arizona and Ripley smile knowing what likely just came out of Kam’s mouth. Coach Billie has a knack for making all Anacondas’ cheers unintentionally sound sexual.

Coach Billie is about fifteen years older than us. She was an outfielder in the Olympics twenty years ago. She’s got a ton of energy, and we all adore her, though she’s a little na?ve at times.

Kam smirks at me before yelling. “Hell yeah, Coach Billie, no one will drain these snakes.”

Coach Billie’s dimpled smile grows. “That’s the spirit, Kam.”

Everyone on the team giggles.

Coach Billie continues, “Let’s get showered and onto the bus. No one likes a dirty snake. We’ve got an important road trip coming up.”

Kam turns and wiggles her ass at me. “I prefer to dirty them up myself.”

I scrunch my face. “I always wanted a disgusting teenage brother. The good news is, I feel like I have one.”

A little while later, as we step out of the showers, Arizona asks me, “Did Tanner Montgomery ever call you?”

She told me that, when she met with him this week, he mentioned needing a nanny and she recommended me. She seemed to think he was very interested.

Apparently, he’s divorced with a seven-year-old daughter. I know that he’s a huge sports agent, but I know nothing else about him.

“Not yet. I hope he calls and that he can work within my schedule.”

After we get dressed, we board the bus. I’m sitting with Kam while Ripley and Arizona sit in the seats directly across from us.

Kam brought a giant cooler. I hope it’s not booze. The coach won’t like that.

I peek inside and stare in disbelief. “Kam, why do we have seven containers of chopped-up pineapples in here?”

She simply smirks. It’s the official signal that something ridiculous is about to come out of her mouth.

“I recently read an article about what certain foods do to your system. It said that pineapples make your pussy taste good. Some shit about the pH balance. I’d offer you a container or two, but I’m not overly optimistic that anyone will be tasting your pussy anytime soon. It feels wasted on you.”

Before I can consider a reply, Arizona and Ripley look into the cooler. Arizona pinches her eyebrows together. “Why the fuck do you guys have so many pineapples?”

I roll my eyes. “My sister thinks it will make her vagina taste better.”

Ripley nods. “I’ve heard that too. Along with cranberries and cinnamon.”

My sister types away on her phone and mumbles, “Adding cranberries and cinnamon to our grocery list.”

Arizona shrugs. “I’ve heard that caffeine and red meat have the opposite effect.”

Kam’s eyes widen. “And…I just became a vegetarian and decaf drinker.”

Arizona and Ripley giggle at my crazy sister before Arizona asks her, “You’re the only one of the four of us who has tasted pussy. Have you noticed a difference based on diet?”

Kam twists her lips. “I’m not sure I’ve ever thought about what they eat, but the pineapple thing is science. That’s real.”

Ripley shakes her head. “I don’t think I could ever wrap my head around the notion of licking pussy. I guess I’m fully straight.”

Kam rolls her eyes. “Did you grow up fantasizing about sucking cock?”

Arizona mumbles, “A little.”

We all laugh and then make not-so-subtle grabs for a few sliced pineapples…just in case. I have a feeling we’re all about to single-handedly boost the pineapple industry.

Just then, my phone starts ringing. After noticing it’s an unknown number, I move to an empty seat in the back of the bus to answer it. “Hello?”

In a smooth as silk, deep voice, I hear, “Bailey Hart? ”

“Yes?”

“This is Tanner Montgomery. I got your name and number from Arizona Abbott.”

I’m practically bouncing off the seat with excitement. “Oh, yes. She mentioned that you might reach out. You need help with your daughter, right?”

“Yes. She’s not in camp this summer and my nanny unexpectedly quit.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. As you may know, I’m in season right now. My free time is subject to my softball schedule. When the season is over, I’ll have much more availability.”

“I understand. I’d love to figure out a way to make this work. Harper is freaking out at the prospect of having you here. She’s a huge fan of the Anacondas. I’ll take whatever free time you can give me until your season is over, and then we can figure out something more consistent for your off-season. She’ll be in school by then. Why don’t you come by tomorrow to meet with both of us? I’m hopeful we can discuss logistics and find a way to make this happen.”

A big smile finds my lips. I love working with kids and miss it. “We’re on our way out of town for a short road trip. Can we meet when I get back?”

“No problem.”

We set up a time for me to come by on the afternoon of a day off we have later this week. Arizona has her big Sports Illustrated photo shoot all day, and I think Kam mentioned that she has plans that day. I’ll be free.

We get to the airport and I’m on cloud nine. I hated saying goodbye to the families I worked for in Chicago. I miss the kids. This is exactly what I need to feel fulfilled.

I’m in a bit of a dreamy state as I begin to go through airport security. My carry-on bag gets flagged, and I’m pulled aside. The TSA agent, a young burly man, says, “Ma’am, according to our x-ray machines, you have a water bottle in your bag. I’m going to have to open the bag and remove it. ”

A water bottle? That’s odd. Maybe he’s mistaken. I shrug. “Umm, okay. I don’t remember putting one in there, but maybe it was left in there by accident.”

I hear Kam giggling as she pulls out her phone to start recording. I narrow my eyes at her. “What did you do?”

She gives me her mischievous smile. “I was a good little sister and helped you pack. You can thank me later.”

The TSA agent unzips my bag, lifts the flap, and sucks in a breath. Everyone on the team starts laughing. They’re obviously in on whatever my sister is doing to me.

I begrudgingly peek over the flap. Oh. My. God.

Right next to a big water bottle, clearly planted by my sister, is a giant, and I mean giant, brand-new vibrator in a box, also clearly planted by my sister.

I can feel my face turning red with embarrassment. I close my eyes and grit out, “Kamryn Sarah Hart, I’m going to kill you.”

I can hear her hyperventilating in laughter.

I reopen them to see her still smiling and still recording this. “But the TikTok I’m making will go viral.”

I ball my fists at my sides. “Do not post this.”

Arizona throws her arm around me and smiles. “That’s a giant vibrator. You like the big boys, don’t you, Bails?”

I grit out, “It’s not mine.”

Kam nods. “It is now, sis. You’re welcome.”

Ripley makes a sound of disgust. “Ugh, I’m Bailey’s roommate for this trip. Wait until I’m in the shower before you use it.”

She winks. She’s messing with me.

I shake my head. “How are you all my best friends?”

They’re all still laughing. I feel like everyone in the airport is staring at me.

My sister is officially a lunatic.

Later that night, Ripley and I are in our hotel room, about to go to bed, when I see her on her phone, typing away like she’s in a text conversation. She’s smiling goofily.

“Who are you texting with the big ol’ smile on your face, Rip?”

She looks up like she’s been caught doing something bad. “Oh, sorry. Just this guy I met at the gym. The one I mentioned to you before. He’s been asking me out and I finally said yes. We’re going to dinner later this week after we get back. I’m kind of excited about it.”

“That’s great. Tell me about him.”

She smiles. “He’s in finance but played football in college. He’s really cute, with a beard. I love a guy with a beard. And he’s a big man. You know I need that.”

Ripley is tall, about six feet, and curvier than the rest of us. She only likes to be with bigger men.

When we were in college, she didn’t have the highest self-esteem because of her body. She was always a bit uncomfortable in her own skin. I hate that for her. Just because she’s a little bigger than society deems acceptable doesn’t make her any less beautiful. She happens to be a gorgeous woman with her red curly hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin. None of us are stick-thin. We’re athletes. We have muscle mass, though Ripley is bigger than the rest of us.

Whoever she was dating in Houston changed that for her. She’s always been tight-lipped about whoever it was. While it’s still a work in progress, she definitely feels more comfortable about her body. She’s even doing a plus-sized lingerie ad in the next few weeks.

“That’s exciting. Where are you going?”

“I’m not sure. He said to dress nicely, so I’m guessing a fancy restaurant.”

“Good for you, Rip.”

“What about you? Any prospects?”

“My new vibrator is the only action I’ll be getting in the near future. I can’t imagine any man living up to that monster. ”

She giggles. “It’s a big boy, for sure. What about Ezra? You won’t consider giving him a chance? He’s hot and clearly into you.”

I blow out a breath. “He just doesn’t give me that feeling. You know the one I’m talking about.”

She scoffs. “I do. Trust me, I do. Maybe it will grow in time though. You two would be so cute together.”

I sigh. “I don’t believe that. Either you’re immediately attracted to someone or you’re not. I’ve never had a situation where I felt nothing and it eventually turned into something. Have you?”

She shakes her head. “No, I suppose you’re right.”

“When you want someone, it hits you right away.”