Page 160 of Off Season

“Do you promise not to tell my daddy?”

“I pinkie promise.”

“Today’s word was simp. It means a boy that is pathetically desperate for the attention of a woman.”

Cheetah lets out a loud laugh. “That sounds like a Kam word.”

“Do you think Kam is pretty?”

“The second prettiest girl in the world.”

“Who’s the prettiest?”

“You, of course.”

I subtly peek into the fort opening and see Harper grinning. As I pull my head out, Fallon appears. She whispers, “It’s past her bedtime, but it’s too cute to interrupt.”

I’ve spent the better part of the past three weeks with Fallon. Ireallylike her. She’s funny in both a straight-shooter and a self-deprecating kind of way. She’s been amazing with Bailey. I suppose Bailey has always said that they get along well, but I didn’t realize they had become close friends. They genuinely like each other. It’s so weird to me, considering Bailey was banging Fallon’s ex-husband, but if Fallon doesn’t care, neither do I. As long as she’s good to Bailey, I’m good with her.

I nod before whispering. “They’re having a heart-to-heart.”

We hear Harper’s voice. “Uncle Cheetah?”

“Yes?”

“You’re my favorite uncle. But you can’t tell Uncle Layton.”

He gasps. “Oh my god.” He pretends to cry. “This is the best day of my life.”

Fallon and I both silently laugh before I crouch down and crawl into the fort with them. “Can I join this party?”

Fallon bends down and sticks her face in. “It’s your bedtime anyway, kiddo.”

Harper’s face falls. “Already?”

Fallon nods. “Yep. Sorry. Let’s go brush your teeth. What’s left of them.”

Harper is missing a few teeth. It’s kind of cute.

Before she exits the fort, Cheetah loudly mumbles, “Don’t tellyour mom about the Skittles I gave you.” I’ve learned in my short time here that Harper is a Skittles addict.

Harper’s eyes widen. “Shh. Snitches wind up in ditches.”

I silently laugh as Fallon playfully narrows her eyes at me. I taught Harper that last week. The kid is a damn sponge. Just wait until they find out how good she’s gotten at poker. And yesterday’sKam word of the daywas hustle. Contextually, she learned that hustling involves hiding your skills in poker to lure someone into wagering more money. I can’t wait for Tanner to see the fruits of my labor.

Fallon and Harper disappear while I rest my head on Cheetah’s chest. He pulls out a bag of dark chocolate peanut butter cups.

I grab them. “You’re a godsend.”

“It’s a bribe.”

As I dig into my first peanut butter cup, I ask, “What are you bribing me to do?”

“To marry me, of course. How ’bout it?”

I smile as I roll my eyes. “Not today. Maybe tomorrow.”

“One of these days—”

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