Page 138 of Over Time Advantage

Because timing isn’t my friend lately, the phone rings again as soon as I hang up with Kennedy. It’s Tanner, and I answer. “Hey, Tan. Everything okay?”

“She’s in labor.”

“Oh shit. Is she okay?”

“I don’t know,” his worried voice shakes. “She’s screaming a lot more than you did.”

“Each delivery is different. And she’s got two of them in there. It hurts like a motherfucker. It’s normal to scream. Where are you?”

“We just got to the hospital. They took her back to get her hooked up to machines. I’m finishing up the paperwork. Can you⁠—”

“Yep,” I interrupt, “we’re on our way. I’ll let the school know Harper won’t be in. She’s got time. She won’t miss it.”

Harper desperately wants to be there for the birth of her sisters. She’s become a little obsessed with seeing their first breath, reading something about the miracle of it.

Given the hard night Harper’s had, this might be a nice distraction for her. Something happy to refocus her attention.

I walk back into my bedroom and kiss her forehead while giving her arm a small shake. “Sweetie, wake up.”

Her eyes blink open. “Mommy?”

I put on the happiest face I can muster. “Yes, baby. It’s me. Guess what? The babies are coming. You’re going to be a big sister today. We need to get to the hospital.”

She shoots straight up with excitement. Like Bailey, she’s had a suitcase prepared for weeks, and she takes it with her everywhere, just in case. It’s kind of adorable how she felt she needed one too, as if she’d be sleeping there.

We arrive at the hospital just in time for her to see Lorelei and Aurora “Rory” Montgomery be born. It was a shockingly quick delivery, and I’m relieved Harper made it in time. She would have been upset if she didn’t.

The babies are perfect and gorgeous, just like their parents. Unlike Harper when she was born, they’ve got darker hair, and a lot of it.

Harper can’t stop staring at her little sisters with wonderment. I take a million photos of them as a new family of five.

I have to step out at some point and hide in a hospital closet to bawl my eyes out. I’ll never be able to give her this.

TWENTY-EIGHT

SEVEN WEEKS LATER

FALLON

I’m wearing my favorite turquoise dress, the one the saleslady said matches my eyes, walking into the immaculately decorated ballroom for the Children’s Hospital annual charity event. I’m with my friends. They’re with their spouses, and I’m alone, as always.

I take in my surroundings. This is one of the nicest country clubs in all of Philadelphia, and no expense was spared in making this party extraordinary. From the bright hydrangea flowers to the centerpieces, candles, and elegant ivory linens, everything is whimsical and beautiful.

I can hear the chatter of my friends, but I’m not listening. My attention is elsewhere because I feel Jett’s presence in my bones. The room is large, and I have no idea where he’s seated, but goosebumps spread all over my skin knowing those sexy green eyes are on me.

I begin to scan the room through hundreds of people until I see him in his tuxedo, standing with a group. He’s hard to miss, being tall, broad, and so gorgeous he takes my breath away. Jett Jeffries was born to stand out.

I remember last year when we were at this event and outside on the balcony. When I turned around and saw him, I thought it was James Bond himself. He’s perfect. I’m convinced no sexier man exists on this planet.

His eyes rake over my body, and his tongue darts out before sweeping across his lower lip. I can feel my insides liquefy as I think about what that tongue has done to my body.

Can electricity travel between two people standing this far apart? It sure feels like it. The pull to him is so damn strong. There could be thousands of people here and we’d still find each other. We’re soulmates.

I can tell he’s thinking the same thing. His fists ball at his sides, and his Adam’s apple bobs up and down. His eyes are penetrating. Even from over fifty feet away, they’re practically fucking me.

He pulls out his phone from his pants pocket. I can’t help but smile as he removes his reading glasses and places them on his face. God I love those glasses on him.

He begins typing. Within seconds, I feel my phone vibrating in my purse. I open my bag and pull it out.