Page 93 of Off Season

As if on cue because my life sucks sometimes, my phone rings. I quickly glance down at it and notice that it’s my sister, the only person whose call I would take right now. I look up at Cheetah. “It’s Bails. She knows what we’re doing, and she’s supposed to be at dinner with Tanner, Fallon, and the girls right now. It must be important. Do you mind?”

He motions toward my phone. “Of course not. Take it.”

I accept the call on speaker. “Shouldn’t you be getting tied up by Daddy Tanner right about now?”

She sniffles. I know immediately that something is wrong. IfTanner Montgomery broke her heart, I will get on a plane to Colorado tonight to kick his ass. Fuck, I knew this was coming.

“What’s wrong?”

Bailey croaks out, “She’s gone, Kam.”

“Who’s gone?”

“Mom.”

“They finally split up? Good. Now he can have a normal life.”

She sniffles again. “No, Kam. She’sgone. She died.”

Cheetah immediately takes my hand as I stoically respond. “Okay, well, it’s not like it impacts our life. We haven’t seen her in ten years. The world is better without her. Should we have a party to celebrate when I get back to Philly?”

She sighs. “I’m flying down to Florida tomorrow morning. Tanner is coming with me. Fallon is here with Harper and Dylan. The funeral is the next morning. Kam, please come.”

“What? No way. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. Cheetah and I have plans. I’m in freakin’ Jamaica. That bitch isn’t ruining my good time. I don’t owe her shit.”

I see Cheetah fiddling on his phone, undoubtedly texting with Tanner.

Bailey pleads, “Please, Kam. If not for her, do it for me and Daddy. Come home. We need you there. Maybe saying goodbye will be good for you.”

I shake my head. “Bails, I don’t know. I swore I’d never step foot in that town again.”

CHEETAH

I’m holding her hand while her face remains expressionless. Completely and totally expressionless.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and pull it out to see that it’s a text from Tanner. I swipe to open it.

Tanner: No matter what you have to do, get her to that funeral.

I look back up at Kam. She’s still not giving anything away. I’m honestly not sure if she’s happy or sad, and I really don’t think she’ll want to go.

Looking back down at my phone, I type a response.

Me: She’s not emoting over this. It’s weird. I’ll try.

Tanner: I told Shannon to book us two suites at a nearby hotel. One will be in your name. If you need her to take care of anything else, just text her.

Shannon is his longtime secretary.

Me: Thanks, man. How’s Bailey?

Tanner: Worried about Kamryn.

Me: Sounds about right.

Tanner: Our flight arrives in the late afternoon. Get. Kamryn. There.

I hear Kam saying goodbye.

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