Page 39 of Over Time Advantage

I nod in understanding. Champ is gay. I’m assuming that’s why, but I have no fucking idea how any of this waxing stuff works.

Turning to Nastya, I say, “Just my back,” as I remove my shirt and then sit on the table.

The guys all look at each other. “What am I missing?” I ask.

“Try your balls, Coach,” Beau suggests.

“I thought you said you only manscape.”

Daylen lets out a laugh. “I can’t believe you know the word manscape. Holy shit. I wish Vance was here to see this. Can I take a video for him?”

“No, asshole, you cannot,” I bark at him. “Fudd taught me about manscaping an hour ago.”

Beau nods. “I usually trim the hedges because I had them waxed for years, and now it doesn’t grow in as full. I don’t always need the full waxing anymore, but I started with it. I highly recommend it if you’ve never before…dealt with the area.”

Daylen nods in agreement. “It also makes your junk look bigger.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “My junk is plenty big. It doesn’t need help.” I turn to Beau and look at him in question. I’ll do whatever he tells me to. I trust him.

He sighs. “Nastya, back and yichki, please. It’s for the best, Coach. Trust me.”

Forty-five minutes later, they’re practically carrying me out of there because I’ve never experienced more pain in my life, and three-hundred-pound linemen used to tackle me every day. Daylen hasn’t stopped laughing the entire hour. Every single time I screamed like a little girl, which was with every pull of the wax, he nearly peed his pants. Even Beau and Champ couldn’t contain their laughter at times.

Through my tears and despite my sore back and painfully throbbing balls, I mumble, “Nastya is a Russian spy in charge of torturing US citizens. I’m convinced of it.”

The three of them only laugh that much harder.

They help me into my car, spouting all kinds of dating advice. There was something about a three-day rule. You can’t call or text a woman for three days after a date. To apply only a drop of aftershave, not a lot. Don’t talk about your ex. Don’t love bomb, as if I know what that means.

My head is spinning. What have I gotten myself into?

NINE

FALLON

Ipoke my head into Bailey’s bedroom. “I’m heading out for the night. Do you need anything before I go?”

She closes the book she was reading and looks up at me. “For the night? You’re not sleeping here?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m going to gradually start sleeping at home more and more often to get Harper ready for me moving out. It’s time. Honestly, it’s way overdue.”

I was all set to do so last week when she loudly wished on her birthday candles that I would stay longer. How could I say no to that?

Bailey bites back a smile. “She’s manipulating you. You know that, right?”

I sigh. “I know, but she’s so damn cute. I can’t say no to her. And she told me she doesn’t remember when we were married and all living together. It kind of broke my heart.”

“Better no memories than bad ones,” she replies as if she’s remembering a bad one from her own childhood.

I give her a small smile. As I understand it, Bailey and Kam’s mother was a bit of a nightmare. I don’t know all the details, but they’ve made several comments about it, and I know they hadn’t seen her in years before she died about a year ago.

“By the way,” she continues, “Sulley is coming back to town in the next few weeks. She texted me about coming by for a visit. Are you up for a little two-on-two? You and me versus her and Harper?”

My mouth widens. “Are you kidding me? That would be amazing.”

Sulley O’Shea is the star of the professional women’s basketball league. She was the first-ever draft pick for the Philly Beavers last year. Everyone in this town loves her. She and Bailey are friends, but she’s been out of town for months and hasn’t seen her since the accident. I know she checks in on Bailey all the time though.

“Yep,” she answers, “I told her you and I were both high school all-state basketball superstars who could kick her ass.” She makes a muscle with her arm in jest.