Fallon
The girls on the team, likely Kennedy, arranged for this to take place at the end of our game today. I’m so embarrassed, but Harper is beaming at the fact that twenty thousand people are on their feet singing for her mom.
It’s my fortieth, and Jett is in Seattle for their final preseason game ahead of next week’s home opener.
They’ve been gone for a few days. I miss him.
I’m nervous for his season to begin because I’ve been spoiled with his attention for eight months.
Now he’ll have to focus much more on his job.
Our playoffs are about to start. I’ll be busier than normal. It’s not a great combination for us.
Plus, we’ve both been avoiding the massive elephant in the room.
A conversation is inevitable, but I think neither of us wants to have it during such a stressful time.
Our nights together are few and far between right now.
We just want to enjoy them without having to deal with a heavy conversation about the future.
He flies in very late tonight. He wants to come over, but I have Harper.
We’re not doing sleepovers when she’s around just yet.
She’s been getting more and more comfortable around him, but staying the night is a big deal.
His kids don’t even know about us, and I’m holding this giant secret for Kennedy.
My maternal instinct tells me to wait on the sleepovers with Harper in the house until our future is a bit clearer and hurdle free.
A giant cake is wheeled out to the floor with what appears to be forty candles. Harper helps me blow them out.
We enjoy the cake in the locker room. Kennedy sits next to me. “Did you have any family here tonight to celebrate?”
I shake my head. “A few friends were around, but these games are a bit too much for my parents. My father doesn’t do well in crowds.”
“I get it. You don’t see my parents here either. Parent,” she corrects. “I only acknowledge my father.”
I stare at her in disbelief. “I feel like your father is at most games. I’ve…umm…seen him sitting courtside.”
“Maybe now, but not my whole life. He missed plenty, trust me. It’s easy to support people in the good times. What about the bad times? What about when you need your parents the most? You would never treat Harper the way I was treated. Trust me.”
I give her a disapproving look.
“What?” she questions with incredulity. “I speak four languages. English, profanity, sarcasm, and real shit. We’re mending fences, but some wounds cut a little too deep to ever fully heal.”
I know I’m overstepping, but I’m feeling defensive of Jett. He thinks he’s made strides with her. I thought so too. “No one is perfect, Kennedy. Everyone makes mistakes. We’re all human. You can’t undo the past. Has he apologized and recognized his wrongs?” I know full well he has.
She slowly nods as she studies me. “He has. Many times.”
“Well, maybe you should accept it. You can choose to move forward, not backward. Relationships are messy. Trust me, I can relate. Do you value the relationship over the grudge?”
She’s about to respond when Harper plops onto her lap and interrupts, “If someone says sorry, it means they value the relationship. That’s what my mommy always tells me.”
Kennedy wraps her arms around Harper and squeezes her tightly. “Why are you smarter than me?”
Harper giggles before looking at me and yawning. “Mommy, can we leave soon? I’m tired.” It’s way past her bedtime.
“Sure, baby. In about thirty minutes. I need to clean up the training room before we go.”
“I’ll do it,” Harper offers.
Kennedy pouts. “We’re not celebrating your birthday. Yesterday you said you were down for anything.”
I shake my head. “When I say I’m down for anything, what I really mean is anything that begins before eight and has free parking.”
She lets out a laugh. “You sound like my dad. Again. I guess it’s a generational thing.”
Oh Christ. We really need to tell her.
While Harper is in the training room, I quietly ask Kennedy, “How are things going with Daylen?”
An uncharacteristically soft smile creeps onto her lips.
“Honestly? Really well. We hang out almost every night. I think…” she bites her lip nervously, “I think I’m falling for him, and I’m pretty sure he feels the same way.
It’s so unexpected but also kind of…special.
He’s doting on me in a way I’ve never experienced.
I’m at a loss for words for how he makes me feel. ”
I give her a genuine smile in return. “That’s wonderful. Maybe it’s time to talk to your family about things.”
She lets out a laugh. “Definitely not my mom. I don’t want her in my baby’s life at all. Ever. Daylen wants us to tell my dad.” At least she appears more conflicted about telling Jett than she does about Ginny.
Please tell him. Please tell him.
“That sounds like a good idea,” I nonchalantly encourage.
She scrunches her face. “Nah. Not yet. Let’s see how things go. Maybe after our season, when I start showing.”
Ugh. This is killing me.