Ballers with Benefits (Double Play Series Book 3)

by Nicole Rodrigues

  My brother has been the biggest ball of mush when it comes to our little sister. Whenever he has a free day or two to come home, he gets his ass back to Louisiana and takes her hostage. She is his little sidekick and I know he is going to be a great father one day.

  “I’m happy you brought her. I was gonna stop by later to hang for a little bit anyway. I’ve been swamped at the office, gettin’ stuff set for when I take off in a couple weeks.”

  “How long you gonna be gone?” Devin asks, taking the crayon from the table and coloring on the page next to Avery.

  “A month. Week in Florida first, then Mexico for three. It’s just training and a couple scrimmage games, nothin’ crazy.”

  “Who’s takin’ over stuff at the office? Didn't y’all go through like six people in the last couple years?”

  “Yeah,” I huff out a breath. “We hired another one, Normani Jameson. I’m meetin’ with her tomorrow actually. She’s supposed to be great. Aunt Sav interviewed a bunch of people for me. She said she’s the best this time, we’ll see.”

  “She sounds hot,” Devin smirks.

  “How can you tell that just from her name?” I say shaking my head.

  “I have hot woman radar. It’s a gift, really.”

  I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest.

  “When are you gonna stop all that crap and find one woman to settle down with.”

  “Findin’ one woman that wants me for me and not for my money and fame is impossible Bells. Oh, by the way, how’s Connor?” he says eyeing me.

  I look over at Lacey and she looks away quickly, guilty as charged.

  “I can’t believe you told him,” I scoff.

  “I knew you wouldn’t. He needs his ass kicked, who better to do that than your brother?” Lacey says shrugging.

  “No one’s kickin’ anyone’s ass. He’s an idiot and it’s done.”

  “That’s not a good word. Mama is gonna get the soap,” Avery says quietly.

  “I’m sorry boo boo. Sissy is a very bad girl, but she didn’t mean it, right sis,” Devin says smirking at me.

  I roll my eyes. These two are always ganging up on me.

  “I’m sorry little mama. I promise I won’t say anymore bad words.”

  “Anyway,” Lacey says nonchalantly, “She’s already moved on, right Bells?”

  I choke on my water and stare daggers at her.

  “Shut the hell up, Lacey,” I whisper.

  “Oh, that’s another bad word,” Avery says quickly.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I say throwing my hands in the air.

  The waitress comes over with our food and conversation is temporarily stopped. I knew I couldn’t get away with Devin forgetting Lacey’s comment though, and like clockwork he breaks the silence.

  “Who’s the new guy?” Devin asks his gaze hard.

  “No one. It was just a stupid night, it’s done.”

  “A one night stand? Bella, what the-” He stops what he was going to say and looks down at Avery. “That’s not like you.”

  “I know it’s not!” I snap. “Maybe that’s what I needed! I’m so sick of what everyone thinks I’m like or not like. Maybe I liked it, maybe I wanna do it again. Maybe I wanna just fu- sleep with a bunch of different people like you! Why is it okay for you to do that and not me, huh?” I say a little too loudly.

  I’m breathing heavy and Devin, Lacey and Avery are just staring at me.

  God, I’m so worked up. The truth is I cannot get Damon out of my head and it’s driving me insane. All I think about, all I dream about, is how my body exploded underneath his touch. I never felt like that in my entire life, with anything. Not when I crack a homer off my bat, won the division championships at LSU, made the U.S National team...never. I’m shaking with need in the booth and look down, playing with my food.

  “Relax,” Devin says quietly. “You’re a big girl, you can do whatever you want, but you’re too good for that life Bella. You deserve someone that will treat you like you’re the only thing that matters in their world. Not a warm body they can sink into when they’re feelin’ hor- lonely.”

  “Thanks for the advice bro, but I think I can handle my own sex life. Now are we here to talk about mama or are we here to dissect who I fu- hang out with?”

  Devin shakes his head and pulls out his phone from his pocket.

  “Well what dates are y'all lookin’ at? I can pull up my schedule and see when I have some free weekends, coordinate that with you and everyone else will fall into place. You and I are really the only ones with crazy schedules,” he says looking through his phone.

  “Plan is still the same? S-U-R-P-R-I-S-E at the house?” I spell so Avery can’t hear.

  Our mama is turning 40 this year and we want to throw her a surprise party. She has been such a strong, influential woman in our life, and we want to give back to her. She raised up Devin and I for eighteen years on her own and who we are now couldn’t have been possible without her constant support and love. It’s the least we can do for everything she has done for us.

  “Yep, perfect. Here, I have these three weekends off, any of them work for you?” Devin asks handing me his phone.

  I look through the dates and recognize a weekend I also am free. Before I hand him back his phone, my finger accidentally clicks the incoming text notification and a picture of boobs pops up on the screen.

  “You’re disgustin’,” I mutter handing his phone back to him.

  He looks at the screen with confusion and then his eyes widen.

  “God, how do I get rid of this chick? We broke up months ago, I need to change my number,” he says shaking his head.

  “You’re tellin’ me to be careful, why don’t you take your own advice. I don’t have stalkers.”

  “That you know of. I don’t even wanna know how many guys have your damn calendar up in their room,” he says shaking his head. “I almost had to ring Mac’s neck when I saw him put that shit up. ‘Didn’t know it was your sister, man’. Bullshit,” he says shaking his head.

  “Bad word,” Avery mutters.

  “Mama is gonna kill us,” I snort.

  Devin shakes his head laughing.

  “Boo boo, keep all these bad words between us and we can swing by the ice cream shop on the way home, deal?”

  Avery smiles up at Devin and hugs him.

  “Deal.”

  “Now I know why you’re her favorite. Cheater,” I mutter.

  Devin gives me an ear to ear smile and I smile too. Avery lays her head on his ribs and he moves an arm to wrap around her.

  “We’re gonna head home, am I gonna see you before I leave?” Devin asks.

  “I’ll stop by tonight or tomorrow. Just gotta make sure the new girl can handle stuff.”

  Devin nods and lifts Avery from the booth. She reaches over to hug me and I wrap my arms around her.

  “Love ya little mama,” I whisper. “I’ll see ya tonight or tomorrow, okay?”

  “Love ya too sissy.”

  I hug Devin and they walk out of the diner, Lacey and me behind them.

  “Can you keep your big mouth shut from now on?” I chastise her.

  “Oh stop, I happen to disagree with him. Fuck your heart out Bella Gavinwood.”

  “You would ya hussy,” I laugh.

  Lacey puts her hands up in defense and we walk over to my truck, heading back to our office.

  Lacey has taken over event planning for Double Play since her graduation last year. She’s been interning with my aunt who is her stepmom, Savannah, since she was sixteen. She is really good at planning events that are both beneficial to our athletes and the sponsors. Everyone lines up to work with her, no matter how long it takes. She’s done wonders for my aunt’s company and she seems to really love it.

  I, on the other hand, am torn. I always wanted to go into the Physical Therapy world, but I love softball so much and can’t seem to let it go. I made the National team back when I was nineteen and have traveled all over the world
doing what I love. I started out at LSU and took online courses to finish my degree while still being able to play on the road.

  Now that I am getting older, I dream of settling down and starting a family, I just haven’t found anyone worth giving up softball for. I thought it was Connor, but thank God I found out about his infidelity before I gave up something I loved for him. Apparently, he’s been doing it since the very beginning.

  Having a girlfriend that travels a lot makes it very easy to stray. It’s funny because I was also away from him for weeks at a time, but never once did I dream of cheating. Scumbag.

  ---

  I take out the spare key Connor gave me in case I needed it and walk through the door smiling. I hear muffled noises from the bedroom and freeze.

  Moans. Fucking moans.

  I stomp through the hallway and burst through his bedroom door and drop my bag on the floor. Connor is balls deep in some blonde bimbo from behind and they both stop their movements and look up at me.

  “What the fuck is this,” I whisper.

  “Bella, baby, this isn’t what it looks like,” he says pulling out of her.

  I glance down and suck in a breath at his dick. His condomless dick. This piece of shit.

  “Connor are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me?” I yell.

  The blonde scrambles around the room searching for her clothes and I turn to leave but he grabs my arm.

  “Don’t Bella, baby, I’m sorry I just...it’s lonely waiting around for you all the time and I…”

  “Fuck you Connor. Or I guess she’s already taken care of that. I can’t believe you, four years, four God damned years! Get the fuck off me, don’t touch me, you’re disgustin’,” I yell pulling my arm away from his.

  “Don’t Bella, it’s only been a couple of times, I swear I’m done. It will never happen again,” he pleads, his limp dick still swinging around.

  “A couple of times? I’m such an idiot, my God I am such an idiot. We’re done Connor, don’t fuckin’ call me, think of me, search me up, nothin’. Y’all continue on, don’t stop on my account,” I scoff picking up my backpack and walking down the hall.

  I open the front door but stop and turn around and walk towards the living room. I glance at Connor’s 55 inch TV on the stand, the TV I bought him. I grab the top if it, pushing it to the ground, hearing the crunch of the plastic.

  “Bella, what the hell are you-”

  “You’re fuckin’ lucky I don’t have my bat in my truck. Your car would have gotten a makeover. Go to hell Connor,” I yell as I walk towards the door and slam it behind me.

  The tears start to fall, angry tears, hurt tears, just...everything. Fuck this, I need a drink.

  Chapter 6

  Bella

  I walk into the Double Play building and fish my keys out of my purse, glancing over to the glass door across from mine. The lights are still out so I walk over to my door, opening the lock and flipping on the lights. Walking over to the reception desk, I turn on the computer and head towards my office, throwing my purse on my desk and turning on my computer. I sit down in my computer chair and turn on my cell phone.

  Nothing.

  A small part of me hoped that our little escapade last week wasn’t forgotten by Damon and he would somehow get my number and want to go for round two. I was wrong, so very wrong. This is why you don't do one night stands Bella. There is no phone call for a repeat.

  I shake my head at myself as my computer comes to life and I bring up the schedule for the day. I glance over at the time on my desk and hear a small knock on my door. I look up to see a beautiful woman with long, dark brown curly hair, almost black. Her skin is sunkissed and her eyes are a crazy shade of light green that I’ve never seen before. Her full lips break into a smile and she waves.

  “Hey, I’m Normani Jameson. You must be Bella Gavinwood.”

  She walks towards my desk extending her hand.

  Oh, Aunt Savannah, you sneaky, sneaky woman.

  “Hi! Sorry,” I say shaking my head, “I’m distracted today.”

  “It’s okay, I decided to come in a little early to introduce myself, see if ya needed any help with the new patient this mornin’.”

  “New patient?” I ask confused.

  “Knock, knock, anyone home?” asks a rough voice from the waiting room.

  I glance up to Normani confused and she follows me towards the waiting room.

  My jaw drops as I see Damon standing in the hallway, my hallway and I let out a low moan at his appearance.

  He is dressed in workout shorts that don’t hide the snake in his pants in the slightest and his big barreled chest is covered with a tight as hell dri fit t-shirt. He is wearing a baseball hat, covering his unruly hair and I audibly swallow.

  “Well, well, well, what’s up Doc?” he says smirking, folding those muscular beauties across his chest.

  “You’re...you’re the new patient?” I ask my voice breathy.

  “And you're my new PT. Should have figured, where do ya want me?” he asks his voice low and seductive.

  “I...give me a minute,” I say holding up my pointer finger.

  I grab Normani by the hand and lead her in the back towards my office shutting the door behind us.

  “Shit, shit, shit,” I whisper pacing in front of my desk.

  “Savannah told me it was okay to schedule him today. He has a slight ACL tear and he’s tryin’ to rehab it without surgery. I didn’t...I’m really sorry if I messed up already,” Normani says quickly.

  I look up at her worried expression and put a hand on her shoulder.

  “You did nothin’ wrong, I did. Shit. God dammit Aunt Savannah. I can’t do this. You need to do this. First day gettin’ thrown into the fire, you ready?” I ask looking at her with pleading eyes.

  “I...I guess sure, okay, yeah,” she stutters.

  “Okay, I’ll guide ya but...I can’t put my hands on him,” I say shaking my head.

  Normani laughs but then stops when she sees my expression.

  “Wait, you’re serious? Why?”

  “I fucked him. Like reallyyyyy fucked him last week and if I touch him I’ll just...shit. Forget I told you that, super unprofessional. Oh God, do I look okay?” I say, sweat dripping down my back.

  Normani laughs and puts a hand on my shoulder.

  “You’re fine. Let’s go, I got your back,” she says pushing me out the door.

  We walk towards the training room and Damon is sitting on one of the beds, his legs swinging off the side.

  “So, it’s Normani’s first day and she is gonna be takin’ care of you. I’m just here to watch and guide.”

  “Too bad. I remember how well you took care of me last week. I never figured you to be the watching type, angel.”

  Normani snorts and I look over to Damon with daggers.

  “Lay your smug ass down and just be quiet,” I snap. “Normani, drag the computer over here. We’ll assess him first verbally and then do a physical exam.”

  “Ohh, physical exam, that sounds fun,” Damon says with a smirk.

  “What happened to you? You didn’t seem hurt last week,” I ask changing the subject.

  “I guess the tequila was a great pain reliever, that and your pussy,” he whispers.

  I hear Normani giggle behind me and slap his shoulder.

  “Don’t come into my place of work and make me sound like a hussy Damon. Keep it professional or I’ll send your ass to another office.”

  He puts his hands up in defense and laughs.

  “Okay, okay fine, I'm sorry. I just love seeing that cute little blush you got going on. Hard to keep my mind in check when the result of my teasing gets me that.”

  I close my eyes trying to fight the effect his words have on me.

  Damn him.

  “Okay, computer is all set up boss. Now what?” Normani says breaking me out of my dirty thoughts.

  “Alright Damon, how did you injure yourself?”

  “Sliding into second base. Oversho
t the bag and twisted up my knee sliding into it.”

  “I see we have a copy of your MRI results here, you know this is torn right?” I ask looking at the computer.

  “I know, but the team doctor thinks that I can rehab it without surgery. I wanna try.”