Page 28 of Over Time Advantage

He blows me a kiss. “Love you too, Coach.” Looking at Vance, he asks, “Can you be ready to go in ten? I want to grab a few more gifts for BJ before I get home. I think she was disappointed with the number of gifts for her under my Christmas tree.”

“Who’s BJ?” I ask. There’s no way he has a girlfriend. He’s the biggest womanizer in a huge group of them.

“My dog,” he answers as though it’s common knowledge.

I pinch the bridge of my nose at his ridiculousness while Vance smacks my back. “He worships that slobbering, needy mutt. And no, D, I’m not ready. I have another round of reps to get done before I shower.”

Daylen shrugs as he holds up his phone. “Okay. I’ll just play Candy Crush or Watermelon while I wait.”

I cross my arms. “You know, when I was a kid, we didn’t have games or any other readily available entertainment to kill time. I had to hum into a fan to amuse myself when I was bored.”

Daylen lets out a laugh. “You’re a funny man, Coach.”

“Hmm,” I grumble. “I’m hitting the shower. You two have a merry Christmas.”

Vance nods. “You too, Coach.”

Daylen smirks. “Thank you, Coach. Remember, don’t kiss under the mistletoe this holiday season. Kiss under the camel toe.”

“Something ain’t right about you, Humblecut.”

He blows me another kiss while he winks at me. “Love you too, Coach.”

It’s Christmas morning. Despite my begging, Kennedy refused to come to Ginny’s last night. She said she will never again step foot in her childhood home. She did, however, agree to stop by my house this morning to exchange gifts.

Pierce and Ginny are here, but Kennedy isn’t. I hope she’s not bailing on us.

I quickly pull up her number on my phone and press to connect the call. It immediately goes to voicemail. “You’ve reached Kennedy’s voicemail. When you receive this message, please hang up immediately and text me whatever it is you have to say. I don’t do telephone calls.”

I can’t help but smile. She really is very funny.

I’m about to send her a text when Ginny approaches me while Pierce is in the bathroom. I try to look into her eyes, not at her lips. She clearly just got them done. They look like they were stung by a thousand bees. It’s ridiculous.

“How was he this morning?” I ask.

Pierce was upset that Kennedy didn’t come to dinner last night. He had a small anxiety attack. It’s been a while since he had one. It feels like all his progress has gone down the drain.

She shrugs. “Not great. He was sick on the toilet all night. He barely slept. I’m still not sure switching from Lexapro to Zoloft was best for him, but I suppose it was now or never.”

His doctor had been recommending a switch to a more specific drug for his anxiety, but it has a few more side effects. We chose his winter break to make the change so we could keep a close eye on him.

He was sick after dinner last night, and it sounds like it continued into the night. Just when I think he’s doing well, the slightest thing sends him into a tailspin. Kennedy’s not coming to dinner tipped him over the edge. I pray she comes this morning. I don’t think my fragile son can handle it otherwise.

My doorbell rings, immediately brightening my sour mood. I practically sprint to the door and open it, beyond excited to see my beautiful daughter standing there. She’s wearing stylish jeans, a red blouse, a green wool blazer, and brown leather boots. Per normal, her hair is pulled back and her makeup looks perfect. She’s always so outwardly put together, far exceeding her years.

With a big smile on my face, I say, “Merry Christmas, sweetie. I’m so happy you’re here.”

It’s been years since she’s been with us on Christmas. This feels like real progress.

She chews her lower lip nervously. “Is she here?”

I nod. Kennedy had asked me to consider uninviting Ginny, but I would never do that. It’s Christmas morning. Ginny is Pierce and Kennedy’s mom and has every right to be here.

She exhales a long breath and straightens her shoulders. “I’m not going to stay long. I don’t have the mental energy for her. I’m here for Pierce.”

“I know. I’ll take whatever time you have. I appreciate you coming by. It means a lot.”

I see she has two gifts in hand, undoubtedly one for Pierce and likely one for me. My heart breaks for Ginny. She’s desperate to reconnect with Kennedy. She came to every one of Kennedy’s home games this past summer, but Kennedy wouldn’t even look her way. She calls and texts Kennedy all the time, but Kennedy never answers or replies. I honestly don’t think she’s uttered a single word to Ginny in ten years.