Page 162 of Off Season

An hour later, we’re giggling as we polish off the last of the bottle. She sighs. “This was nice.” She looks around. “It’s weird living in this house.”

“Is this where you and Tanner lived when you were married?”

She shakes her head. “No, we lived in New York City. That’s where Tanner built his company. When we got divorced, I wanted to move to Philly. This is where I grew up. My parents still live here. I was a mess for a long time and needed to come home.Sometimes a girl needs her mom.” She winces. “Sorry, I know yours passed last year.”

“It’s cool. I hadn’t spoken to her in a decade. I most definitely didn’t need her, but I understand needing family. That’s how I feel about my sister. Sometimes I just need her to calm the voices in my head. How come Tanner didn’t stay in New York? He couldn’t have been happy to move his business. He must have fought you tooth and nail.”

She leans back in her chair and tilts her head to the side. “He’s not the monster you think he is. He didn’t fight me at all.”

“Divorce guilt?”

“The events leading up to the divorce were my fault, not his. He didn’t fight because he knew it was best for Harper. He’s a good man, Kamryn. He’s not so bad when you get past the gruff exterior of his like your sister has. We both know he’s in love with her. You should probably learn to get along. I don’t think he’s going anywhere.”

I shake my head. “He can’t give her what she deserves.”

She gives me a knowing smile. “Maybe he’ll change for her.”

“Have you ever read the book on how to change a man?”

She shakes her head. “No.”

“It’s nine hundred blank pages. You can’t change a man.”

She smiles. “Can women change?”

“We…adapt.”

She lets out a laugh. “We’ll see. I have a feeling about them though.”

“It doesn’t bother you? You’re practically rooting for it.”

She shrugs. “Tanner and I are never getting back together. If you could pick a stepmom for your child, could you do better than Bailey Hart?”

I shake my head. “Nope. There’s no better person on this planet.”

She nods. “Exactly.”

“What about you, Fallon? Do you date? You’re fucking hot.”

She shakes her head. I half-jokingly hit on her all the time. “Iwas a little damaged by the end of my marriage. It’s taken me time to get back out into the dating pool.”

“Tell me how it ended.”

“Tell me what you discuss with your therapist,” she challenges.

My lips curl in amusement. “Point taken.”

“To answer your question, I haven’t dated much, but for the first time since my divorce, I met someone who interests me. We’re not dating, but I’m finally letting myself be attracted to someone. My life is on pause right now, and I would never ask him to wait. If he’s still available, we’ll see what happens in a few months when Bailey doesn’t need me anymore.”

“You’re a little mysterious, Fallon.”

She winks.

The front door opens, and Harper and Tanner both walk inside.

He raises an eyebrow while examining our empty bottle. “Help yourselves, ladies. Two-thousand-dollar one-of-a-kind bottles grow on trees.”

My chin practically drops to the floor. I had no idea. Fallon simply smirks. She knew.

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