Page 174 of Off Season

CHEETAH

Tanner narrows his eyes at Harper at the poker table. “Are you counting cards?”

Harper giggles. “What? Me?” She looks down at her full house and innocently shrugs. “It was a good time to go all in. I guess I got lucky.”

Daylen blinks a few times as he stares at everyone’s cards. “What the fu…dge? We were just hustled by a nine-year-old.”

I’m realizing that she threw the first few hands until we upped the ante and assumed she didn’t know what she was doing. She even folded a winning hand at some point and said she didn’t realize it was a good hand.

There’s only one person who could have taught her this.

Tanner’s lip twitches as he grits out, “KamrynfuckingHart.”

Harper gasps. “That’s ten dollars in the swear jar, Daddy.”

She reaches her little hands out and collects all the chipson the table, worth a few hundred bucks. “I think it’s my bedtime.”

Tanner accusatorily asks, “Since when are you excited about bedtime?”

“Since I have three hundred and forty-six dollars to put into my piggy bank. I see a trip to the candy store in my future.”

It’s the night before Tanner and Bailey’s wedding. All he wanted was a poker night with his friends and Harper. They leave for their honeymoon right away, so including Harper was important to him because he won’t see her for a while.

Harper walks around the table with a huge grin as she kisses everyone on the cheek. She whispers to me, “Text Kam and tell her that I hustled everyone.”

I wink at her. “Will do.”

When Harper leaves, Layton looks at me. “You were the last to arrive tonight. I didn’t mention it in front of Harper because your fun facts are always dirty, but it’s time to pay the piper.”

I think for a few moments until something Kam mentioned a few weeks ago hits me. “Have you ever really considered the wording of Juicy Fruit commercials?”

I see them all deep in contemplation and notice the moment it hits each one.

I chuckle. “Yep.Take a sniff, pull it up. The taste is gonna move you when you pop it in your mouth.The Juicy Fruit marketing department are dirty fuckers.”

Tanner rubs his beard. “That sounds like something Kamryn would know. Don’t become as deranged as her.”

That’s now the third time tonight he’s made a less-than-flattering comment about Kam. I’m a little fed up with it.

I fake a smile and say, “Wait until you see what she has in store for your wedding tomorrow.”

Frankly, I can’t believe he let Kam plan it.

I stick around after everyone has left. I’m helping Tanner clean up empty bottles when he turns his head to me. “Is something on your mind?”

I nod. “Yes. I get that you and Kam are a bit of a mismatch, and I’m cool when you two take playful jabs at each other when you’re together, but I can’t have you talking shit about my girl behind her back.”

He jerks as if he’s taken aback. “I didn’t realize it bothered you.”

“I know. That’s my fault. I’m always one for keeping things light, but she’s the woman I love, and she’s about to become your sister-in-law. Find some common ground. I know she’s going to bust your balls, and you have every right to give it back to her but keep the fighting clean.”

One corner of his mouth turns up. “You’re right. And I will.” He rubs his beard. “I do have respect for her, Cruz. Did she tell you that I offered her a job?”

“What?” I couldn’t possibly be more shocked right now.

“Yep. A few weeks ago, before we found out about the pregnancy. I did some digging and found out that she’s been in law school. She told me that you were the only one who knew at the time.”

“I was.”

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