Page 133 of Home Town Advantage
“You too, Uncle Vance.”
The call ends, and I can’t help the smile on my face. She’s so cute. The past two months have gone well. Maddie and I have never gotten along better. I FaceTime with Francesca once a week. We’ve been building a real relationship for the first time in her life.
It took Sulley time, but she joined my last call. Francesca called her Aunt Sulley, and I thought Sulley would freak out, but she didn’t. She’s taking it all in stride.
I walk out to the living room, and both our families are sitting there happily chatting, enjoying their morning coffee.
Sulley looks at me. “Did she flip for the bike?”
I nod. “She certainly did.”
Sulley appears nearly as excited as Francesca did as she walks over to me with a huge, flat gift. It looks like it could be a big picture frame.
I excitedly tear it open and am shocked by what I see. I look up at Sulley. “I’ve never seen this photo before.”
She smiles. “I don’t remember taking it. My mom found it in a box a few weeks ago, and I had it blown up.”
It’s a photo of me, Finn, and Sulley. It’s the day we carved McShea Brothers into the tree. The day we started the cabin. We’re right in front of the tree. She’s on his shoulders. I think Finn and I were about sixteen, which would have made Sulley eight.
As I look closer, I realize Finn and I are looking at the camera, smiling, but Sulley is looking at me. Staring at me.
She realizes the moment I see it. “Even back then, I loved you, Vance. It’s always been you. It will only ever be you.”
I wrap my arms around her and bring my lips to hers and whisper, “I love it, and I love you.”
MeeMaw hits my leg. “You should propose right now. It feels like the right moment.”
Sulley and I smile into each other’s mouths, and Sulley shakes her head. “Nope. Not until he wins the whole thing. Championship or bust, QB1. We’ll see how much you really want it.”
“No pressure,” I sigh.
She laughs, and it’s music to my ears.
I take her hand. “Come with me. It’s time for your gift.” I can’t believe I pulled this off.
We walk toward the plastic that I know has been driving Sulley nuts. The space was done a week ago, but I had to make it outwardly look like the construction was still going on so she wouldn’t go down there.
I tear it all away, and we walk down the stairs. “Just what I always wanted, a mancave," she says sarcastically.
I smack her ass. “Quiet woman, or I’ll tie you up and leave you down here.”
“Hmm, what will you do with me once I’m tied up?”
She’s giggling at her own joke when we reach the bottom of the stairs. She gasps and then breathes, “Oh my god.”
It’s a full-length basketball court. There are photos covering the walls. They all revolve around basketball. Several are of her and Finn practicing together, and the rest are of her throughout the years up through their team championship photo this year. Nancy sent me some of the memorabilia she hung onto, which is now sitting on shelves in plastic casing. Some of her most important trophies, like her college basketball Player of the Year trophy and her WNBA Rookie of the Year trophy, are also sitting on shelves.
I point to the one open area. “I have a feeling there will be a lot more accolades coming. I left space for them.”
She looks around with tears in her eyes. “What about your mancave? I thought you needed your own private space away from me.”
I shake my head. “The last thing in the world I want is space away from you. I want you in my space all the time.”
She wraps her arms around me and kisses my lips. “This is incredible. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She toggles her head around the room. “I need to take it all in.”
