“Right. You should have an open relationship and join Tinder. It’s so much better. The guy I was with last night was fire.”
Palmer’s eyes widen. “Last night? With all the shit surrounding Daylen’s declaration?” She smiles softly. “You have to admit, it was funny.”
“It wasnotfunny. It was a mess. For hours. I needed something to take the edge off. I got this big, tattooed, muscular dude to come over and take care of business. Like five times. Otherwise, I would have murdered that Neanderthal in his ridiculous white jeans.”
The corners of Sulley’s mouth turn up slightly. “Are you sure it isn’t that white-jeaned muscular man you wanted in your bed last night?”
My mouth hangs open in both astonishment and disgust. “I’d rather never have an orgasm again than allow that human fungus into my bed.”
“Hmm,” is all she responds while she and Palmer share a glance.
The game gets underway. Daylen has a long catch for a touchdown, and during his celebration he does a fake dip and kiss like he did to me last night. He then looks up at our booth and makes a heart sign with his hands. Our eyes meet. I kiss my middle finger and blow it at him.
The fucker laughs while my rage boils over.
I don’t know when, and I don’t know how, but I’m going to get him back someday.
SEVEN
KENNEDY
Our season ended a few weeks ago. We made the playoffs, which is great for a first-year franchise, but we got eliminated quickly. I think this team could be very good. I’m committed to a rigorous off-season workout to get myself into the best shape possible.
Sulley is off doing a photo shoot in Italy, after which she’s going to spend some time with her unworthy boyfriend and then go home to Montana through the holidays. I can’t believe I’m going to admit this, but I’ll miss her. She’s become a good friend and a sounding board for me. She’s always so levelheaded. I need that in my life.
We just got off a call, where she had to talk me off the ledge. I’ve been on the fence about going to Pierce’s senior night football game. I’ve managed to live in Philly for over four months without having to spend any time with my mother and minimal time with my father. I played pickleball with him once, and I’m playing with him in a tournament today. His pickleball friends are actually kind of funny.
Pierce and I have met for a handful of meals, and I talked tohim after a few of my games while managing to avoid my parents.
Sulley thinks I’ll regret it if I don’t go to his final senior year home game. The last time she saw her brother was at her high school basketball senior night. He surprised her and flew in from his deployment overseas for a short visit. It meant everything to her.
Pierce has been begging me to come. It obviously means a lot to him. I think I’m going to suffer through a few hours with my mother and go. I’m on edge about it, but Sulley was able to calm me down by helping me see the big picture.
I walk into Dad’s pickleball club, and his friend David Debois, who I met the last time we played, is standing at the entrance. I high-five him. “How’s it hanging, Double Dees?”
The man, who must be in his mid-sixties, smiles at me. “Pretty low, Triple Dees.”
I smile at his new nickname for me.
Here’s what I’ve learned about the senior men in the pickleball community. They’re fucking perverts who also happen to think they’re the funniest human beings alive. They also have a wiseass comment for everything. Every little thing. And most of those comments are sexual in nature. They’re funny as hell, and I honestly had the best time when I played with them a few weeks ago. My father doesn’t join in on their shenanigans though. Instead, he rolls his eyes, but I can tell he has a lot of affection for them.
While, of course, they get off on playing with the famous Jett Jeffries, they seem to genuinely like my dad. Though always a fierce competitor, he’s a bit more relaxed when he plays than I’m accustomed to seeing him. I think it’s his form of escapism.
I walk over to the bench where my father is sitting. He raises an unamused eyebrow as he takes in my outfit. “Don’t you think that skirt is a little short?”
I smile innocently. “As long as you can’t see my dick, it’s fine.”
He exhales a long breath. “Can we remember that I’m your father and we should have boundaries in how we talk to each other?” He looks around. “You’re going to give these old guys a coronary.”
I shrug as I place my paddle on the bench and remove my sweatshirt, leaving me in only a sports bra on top. He gives me a disapproving scowl. Beginning to stretch my legs and arms, I state, “Whatever it takes to win, Dad.”
He stretches his right arm across his body. “We’re both all-American athletes. We have zero chance of losing today.”
I giggle. He’s not wrong. We’re going to wipe the floor with these guys.
As I’m leaning over, stretching my hamstrings, I notice his iPhone sitting by his bag. I gasp. “Did you get a new phone? One from this century?”
He nods. “I did, and it’s confusing me. Your brother won’t help.” He picks it up and holds it out for me. “Please show me the basics. I can’t figure out how to dial. There are no numbers or buttons. How can you dial a phone without numbers and buttons?”
