Page 161 of Over Time Advantage

“Shh,” he warns. “There are a lot of people in this house.”

“Don’t care,” I moan, before he covers my mouth with his to silence me.

We got drunk on pina coladas last night and fucked like rabid animals into the wee hours of the night. This time, he makes slow, sweet love to me. I feel every ridge and vein as he moves in and out of me at a pace designed to both torture me and draw out my pleasure.

I’m so in love with my husband. Our marriage is everything I could have dreamed of and more. This man exists to make me happy. He has lived up to every promise he made to me when he proposed. I’m prioritized in every thought and every decision he makes.

After the Super Bowl win, Baron DeBurg begged Jett to stay. He was indifferent, saying if we were going to start over and build a family, he refused to miss anything. I suggested he stay on at least until that time came, knowing it might not ever come.

It took us well over a year of multiple stressful in vitro procedures, but I finally got pregnant with my very last frozen egg. That year was a tough time for me, but Jett held my hand and supported me every step of the way. The hormones made me crazy, but he loved the shit out of me even on my worst days.

Much to Jett’s delight, we had a girl. We made the huge mistake of allowing Harper the uninhibited ability to name the baby. She chose Kendra after some Justice League superhero. Apparently the real name of Hawkgirl, Harper’s favorite superhero, is Kendra. We tried to explain to her that it was too much like Kennedy, but she said we gave her autonomy and refused to budge. Kennedy thinks it’s funny so we went with it.

Bailey became pregnant again shortly after me. Their youngest daughter, Dani, and Kendra are only a few months apart and are the best of friends. They think they’re sisters because Harper is both of their sisters. We used to correct them, but we don’t bother anymore.

Jett coached three more seasons, with his final being another Super Bowl championship. He wanted to retire a year earlier when Kendra was born, but I felt like he had some unfinished business and encouraged him to stay in his job. I’m so happy I did.

He and Vance retired at the same time. They both wanted more time at home with their respective growing families. Jett is such a hands-on father and grandfather. I can’t believe he ever worried about it.

While I initially fought his retirement, thinking he’d be bored, I was wrong. The girls keep him busy. He loves spending time with them and taking them to various activities, games, and other events. Kennedy and Daylen are both still playing, so Jett bears a ton of responsibility for their daughter, Rose, during the handful of months when they’re both in season. He loves it.

Jett runs his hands all over my body before he cups my breasts. “Hmm, you’re so beautiful,” he mumbles into my mouth as he continues to move in and out of me. “I love you. Merry Christmas.”

I smile into his mouth. “It’s certainly starting out very merry. I need Santa to fill my chimney though.”

Just as we both finish, little fists begin pounding at our door. I hear names like Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Fallon, Uncle Jett, Groach, and Fana. That means it’s Kendra, Dani, and Rose, respectively. Rose calls Jett a cross between grandpa and coach, while she calls me a cross between Fallon and Nana. She came up with the names on her own when she started talking.

Jett blows out a breath before untying me. I quickly make my way to the bathroom to clean up while he deals with the girls.

In one of Jett’s sweatshirts, I walk into the kitchen of the giant house Jett rented in Jamaica for Christmas this year. We needed a big house because our blended family is enormous. It’s Bailey and Tanner with their whole crew, Kam and Cheetah, Kennedy, Rose, and the rest of the Humblecuts, as well as our brood, which of course includes Pierce and Harper. Daylen had a game yesterday and was supposed to be on the red eye last night. He should make it here at some point this morning.

Jett happily splurged on this mansion. He loves how big our Christmases have become. He said he’s spent too many holidays alone or with only Ginny and Pierce. He’s thrilled with the fact that we’ve grown into this big, loud, fun, modern family.

As I enter the kitchen, I see Kennedy in one of her tiny pickleball outfits, standing at the blender with AirPods in her ears. I remove one. “Merry Christmas, sweetie.”

She smiles as she turns and hugs me. “Merry Christmas, Mom.”

Yep, she’s called me mom for years now. It started here and there just after Rose was born, with her needing me more than ever, and it grew from there to a full-time thing. I still occasionally encourage her to reach out to Ginny, but it never happens. We saw Ginny from afar at Pierce’s college graduation earlier this year, but that’s it. Neither Jett nor Kennedy will acknowledge her. Rose has never met her. I suppose Ginny made her bed and now needs to sleep in it, but part of me will always have compassion for her because I can’t imagine the pain of having a child who doesn’t speak to me.

Pierce is in medical school and thriving. He maintains a relationship with his mother, but it’s separate from us, and he’s learned to respect that. He comes home a lot to see Harper and Kendra. I know he also spends time at Kennedy’s and loves Rose endlessly.

“Are you listening to Christmas music?” I ask in surprise. It’s not like her.

“Nah. I needed something to drown out your screams,” she deadpans. “I’m listening to songs about sex and violence while I’m on my way to play pickleball with Betty and Ethel.”

I giggle. “You’re playing now?” I ask with surprise.

“No. Later this afternoon. Daylen will be here soon. He loves it when I wear these outfits. And I wouldn’t miss watching the already spoiled children open the five hundred gifts you all packed and brought down here.”

She’s not wrong. That Christmas tree is very full.

I look at the blender. “Yum, are those eggnog shakes? They look good.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Umm, no. Have you ever heard of a Boner Shake?”

I bite back my smile. “I may have enjoyed the fruits of one of those a few years ago. They’re…powerful.”

She makes a look of disgust. “TMI. Anyway, I sneak it into Daylen’s morning protein shakes or use it as creamer in his coffee whenever I can. He’ll be tired when he arrives. He won’t ask any questions. I’ve been sexless all week without him while sleeping in the room next to you two nymphomaniacs. I need a little extra lovin’ once he arrives.”