Page 148 of Payoff Pitch

He kisses my hand again. The same hand he hasn’t let go of since he walked in. “I’m having all the necessary equipment delivered to my house as we speak. Reagan Daulton called in some favors, and everything is being expedited. You’ll stay with me. Fallon is going to move in and give you everything you need.”

I pinch my eyebrows. “You bought all the equipment?”

He nods.

“And Fallon agreed to this?”

He nods again.

“What about her job? Her life?”

He squeezes my hand. “We’re all here for you, baby. We’regoing to get you through this together. You’ll be stronger than ever.”

Kam clears her throat, and he lifts his head to her. “I’ve already had a room made up for you too.”

I shake my head. “This is too much, Tanner. I can’t ask this of you.”

“You didn’t ask. And it’s already done.”

Kam wiggles her eyebrows. “Looks like we’re having a slumber party at Daddy Tanner’s house.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

BAILEY

The past few weeks have been difficult. I’m frustrated with my progress, even though Fallon and the doctors tell me I’m doing remarkably well and ahead of where they expected me to be at this point.

Kam and Tanner are at each other’s throats. It’s like a pissing contest between them as to who can do more for me. They’re both driving me nuts even more than they’re driving each other nuts.

I’m trying my best to shelve my emotions over the lost ovary and the fear of what it could mean for my future. They had a specialist come in and explain everything to me. She said as long as my other ovary is healthy, they have no reason to think I’ll have any problems becoming pregnant when the time comes. They did an ultrasound to confirm the health of my remaining ovary, and the doctor was optimistic. Kam has repeated a thousand times her willingness to carry for me if needed, but I know she doesn’t want that. She’s always been adamant that she doesn’t want to ever be pregnant or have kids. I don’t know that I could ever ask that of her.

My future fertility is the least of my concerns right now. Walking and functioning independently is my sole focus. Needing help from others for every little thing is so damn frustrating.

Arizona and Layton canceled their honeymoon and came right home. I cried my eyes out when they walked in. I hate that it was ruined for them, but she said there was no way they would have been able to enjoy themselves knowing what I was dealing with. They promised to take a real honeymoon when I’m able to walk them to their gate at the airport.

Kam, Arizona, and Ripley spent all day, every day with me at the hospital. I feel both loved and like a burden. The hospital suggested I talk to someone given how this type of injury can take its toll on your mental health. I’ve been talking to a psychologist almost every day. It helps.

Even with a full-time job and a little one at home, Gemma stopped by the hospital every few days. Since I already read all her books, she brought me signed copies of books from her author besties, Libby Cox, Bella Valentino, and J. Estes. They all even made me several hysterically funny get-well videos.

My happiest moments at the hospital each day were when Harper came to visit after school. She stayed through dinner. I loved having dinner with her every night. She’s what I needed to push through during my darkest moments full of self-loathing and fear.

Fallon has been nothing short of a godsend. She’s pushing me on the physical front, she plays referee between Tanner and Kam, and she seems to have the best understanding of what I’m going through. It makes sense considering what she does for a living.

The Camels are in season, but Champ comes to as many of my physical therapy sessions as he can. He and Ezra are the positive cheerleaders that I need. Tanner gets crazy jealous when they’re with me. His over-the-top reaction is honestly the humor I need at times.

My father and Ray visited for a bit. Dad offered to move here to help out, but I know he can’t really afford to be away fromwork that long, so I told him I’m fine and already have more help than I can handle. He calls every single day to check in on me.

We’re finally out of the hospital and back at Tanner’s house. It feels like a million people are living here. There are two guest rooms on the first floor. That’s where Kam and I sleep.

Fallon is in the upstairs guest room next to Harper’s room. Tanner’s home gym is completely unrecognizable from before the accident. It must rival the nicest therapy facilities in the world. I can’t imagine what it cost him, and he won’t talk about it. He simply says that he and Reagan together made sure I’d be given every opportunity to succeed as soon as possible.

The news outlets have all speculated as to what Tanner and I were doing in the same car, but Reagan issued a statement that he was giving me a ride home after I had too much to drink. Fortunately for Tanner, his blood alcohol level was below the legal limit, so there are no issues there. He and I both know the real reason we got into an accident. Kam went ballistic when she found out, and somehow Fallon knows, but that’s it. No one else. It was below freezing temperatures that night and people assume we slipped on ice.

I’ve been feeling crowded, so I begged Tanner to go to his office in the mornings. That’s when I do most of my physical therapy. I don’t need him then. Fallon is obviously with me, Kam doesn’t leave my side, Arizona and Ripley are usually here, Champ comes when he can, and Cheetah, Layton, Quincy, and Ezra always manage to pop in and out. I need at least one person out of the house, so Tanner isn’t here for my PT anymore. And being around him is hard. I was a minute away from ending things, and now all of a sudden, I’m living in his house being catered to every single minute. I need breathing room.

“That’s it, Bailey. Five more steps and then we’re done,” Fallon encourages.

Most of my weight is on the bars next to me, but each day I’m able to put a little more on my legs.

---