Page 168 of Off Season

Because of course that would be his response.

Me: No, sorry.

Kitten: Can you get one? I’m hard as a rock right now.

Me: She did it to calm me down and said it was a one-time thing.

Kitten: Damn it. I miss all the good shit. Gotta go burp the worm.

Me: Come by later. Crazy shit going down at the Montgomery mansion.

Kitten: As long as you also go down.

Me: Deal.

After Arizona and Ripley arrived, we had to sit Tanner and Bailey down to explain that she was pregnant. They were both in shock but managed to cry tears of joy and get engaged all in the course of ten minutes. Later that night, Fallon, Bailey, and Tanner all sat Harper down to tell her about Tanner and Bailey getting married.

The next morning, Harper knocked on my door. Cheetah was already gone for a team workout, so I told her to come in.

“What’s up, little prodigy?”

I could physically see the wheels in her mind in motion as she slowly entered my room. “My dad and Bails are getting married.”

I nodded. “I know. How do you feel about it?”

She plopped down on my bed. “It’s kind of weird, but my mom said that Bails is now my bonus mom, and I guess that’s kind of cool. I spend half my time with my mom and half with my dad, but now I’ll always have a mom wherever I go.”

I couldn’t help the tears that filled my eyes. “You’re a lucky littlegirl. Some people don’t have one good mom, but now you have two great ones.”

She gave me a toothless smile. “You’re right. I’m double as lucky as everyone else.”

“Yep.”

“Does it make you my aunt?”

Oh shit. I hadn’t considered that. “I guess it does.”

“What do I call you? Kam, Coach Kam, or Aunt Kam?”

“I would like you to call me Your Royal Highness, Queen Kam of Philly.”

She giggled. “For real, what should I call you?”

“Call me whatever you want, Harper. Whatever makes you comfortable.”

“Can I call you Aunt Kam?”

I nodded as I swallowed down the massive lump in my throat and somehow croaked out, “I’d like that.”

Just before Bailey found out she was pregnant, she told me it was time for me to move home and that she was staying with Tanner. That she loved him and was willing to give up marriage and having biological kids of her own if it meant having Tanner and Harper in her life.

About two hours after that conversation, she had a positive pregnancy test in her hand and a diamond ring on her finger. I’ve never been more shocked in my life. Tanner loves her and decided that his love for her trumped anything else he thought he did and didn’t want. The prince gave the princess whatshewanted. He’s giving her the happily ever after of her dreams.

The kicker? He’s as happy as can be. Beaming. Radiating. I haven’t seen a single moment of trepidation from him. He even let me plan the wedding, which is taking place at his house in a few days.

As for my sister, she’s nearly back to herself. She has some residual hand issues. She can’t grip things hard. For a regular person, it wouldn’t be a big deal. For someone who needsto grip a bat for her career, it’s everything. She spends hours in the batting cage every day but still can’t get her grip strength back.

Her ability to play this summer wasn’t looking good, but now that she’s pregnant, it doesn’t matter. She’ll be heavily pregnant during the season and won’t be able to play, regardless of her physical abilities.

---