She turns and walks to her office, our discussion over and I swear I saw a pig fly. I haven’t seen her this flustered with anyone the past four years and I hope Nico is going to be the one to show her she can take the plunge again. She deserves it.
I walk to my office with a smile on my face and Normani stops me at the door.
“Hey Bella, someone is in your office. He said he’s a good friend, I tried to tell him that he should stay in the waitin’ room but...I can call security if you want.”
“No that’s okay Normani, I get visitors a lot. I don’t think we have anyone for another hour today so you can just hang if ya want?”
She smiles and walks around to the reception area, turning on the computer.
As I walk back towards my office, I wrack my brain for who my visitor could be. I don’t have to wait too long to guess though, because sitting at my desk with his feet on top of it is Connor. Son of a-
“What the fuck are you doin’ here?” I yell.
“Whoa, whoa, Bella, what’s the matter with you? I’ve missed you beautiful.”
He gets up from my computer chair and walks towards me. I take a step backwards and my back bumps against the wall. He comes closer and his fingers move my loose braid off my shoulder. His fingers trace a spot on my neck and I immediately feel my cheeks heat. I purposely put my hair in a loose braid today to cover the evidence of Damon’s desire from last night.
“I never would have pegged you for one to slum it, Bella. You’re better than him,” he seethes.
I smack his hand away and push into his chest, putting space between the two of us.
“I’m better than you! Get out of here Connor, we’re done and there is no way in hell I’d ever take you back!”
“Just letting you know what you’re getting yourself into. You don’t think Mr. Playboy Damon Johnson is going to stray? Not seeing you for weeks at a time, other woman throwing themselves at him, you think he’d be able to resist? You’re crazy if you do.”
“You don’t know anything about our relationship.”
“No? It’s not all about fucking? Clearly it’s love at first sight, right?” he says motioning to my neck. “He’s taking advantage of this tight little body while you’re here and the second you step on the plane, he’ll be warming someone else's bed.”
“That’s how long it took you, huh?” I scoff. “I probably didn’t even get through security yet and you were already findin’ some hussy that you pretended was me.”
I see his expression harden and he takes a frustrated step back.
“It wasn’t like that.”
“The hell it wasn’t.”
“I loved you Bella.”
“You loved to control me Connor. That Bella is gone, long fuckin’ gone the day you crushed her. This Bella,” I say motioning to myself. “This Bella wants nothin’ to do with you. I'm doin’ whatever and whoever I want and you can't say a damn thing about it. Get the fuck out of my office before I call security. I never wanna hear or see you again Connor, you got it? I swear to it, the next time I do, my Louisville will connect with your face. Don’t test my homerun record.”
He shakes his head and stomps out of my office and I move to my desk, plopping down in my chair. I lean my head back and close my eyes. I try to keep his words from seeping into my brain, but I can’t. Damon and I aren’t a couple so he can do whatever he wants when I’m gone.
My trip to Mexico is the black cloud hanging over us. I haven’t told him yet, it’s only for a couple of weeks, but Puerto Rico was only two, and Connor quickly found someone to occupy his time.
“Hey are you okay? I’m really sorry about that I shouldn’t have let him in here,” Normani says from my doorway shaking her head.
“No, it’s okay. That’s my ex so if he ever does try to come back, at least now you know not to let him in. Call security if he does, believe me, it’s for his own good.”
“Mind if I ask what happened? You can totally tell me to piss off if you don’t wanna talk about it,” Normani says sitting in the chair across from mine.
“I was away for softball for a couple weeks and came back home early to surprise him. Went to his apartment and caught him balls deep inside some girl. End of story.”
Normani looks down playing with something on the carpet.
“I’m sorry, that really sucks.”
“It’s fine. I’m more mad about the time I invested in him. I realize now that what I felt for him wasn’t anything but comfort. I was with him for four years. At some point, I just decided it was easier to stay with him then start over with someone else. Bein’ with Damon now I realize…”
I clamp my mouth down and stop my words.
“I know we don’t know each other very well, but whatever you tell me I won’t ever tell anyone else. I’m really good at keepin’ secrets,” she says.
I notice her look away again and I sense that she isn’t just talking about keeping my secrets.
“Thank you Normani. Ya know what? Have you met my cousin Lacey, Savannah’s daughter?”
Normani shakes her head and I get up from my desk and walk around it towards her.
“Well we’re goin’ out tonight, you can’t say no. I think the last patient is at 4 so once they’re gone, we’ll walk across the hall and kidnap Lacey and we’re havin’ a good time. You can stay over at our place, deal?”
Normani smiles shyly and nods her head.
“Okay yeah, that sounds good.”
---
“To bein’ bad ass bitches,” Lacey says clinking our glasses together.
I take the shot and wince. The last time I really drank was with Damon and the liquor burns, traveling down my body sinking to the pit in my stomach that’s been there since Connor left my office.
“Hey, get that frown off your face right now. Fuck ‘pretty boy no balls’.”
“It's not that, it's just what he said. As long as I stay on the team, I can never have a real relationship. No guy is gonna wait around weeks at a time for me to come back home.”
“Unless that guy does the same shit. Text that fine ass right now and he'll set your mood straight. He travels, you travel, it's the perfect arrangement,” Lacey says tipping her drink to me.
“You just want me to text him so he'll bring Nico,” I laugh.
“Oh Bella, such a rookie it's cute. I don't need Damon to bring me my Hulk. One text and he'll be here on his knees kissin’ up my-”
“Stop!” I say laughing, “Ease Normani into your antics, this poor girl is never gonna come out with us again.”
“Mani knows the deal, right girl? I'm sure you got the men lined up, look at you. Those crazy eyes and that ‘I spent all day at the beach’ skin, dark shiny hair, whew,” Lacey says fanning herself.
I look over to Normani and she buries her face behind her drink.
“I...I'm really just focusin’ on my job right now, gettin’ on my feet.”
“Sure,” Lacey says eyeing her. “Code for ‘I don’t kiss and tell because you bitches will be jealous’, I get it,” she says putting her hands up in defense.
Normani smiles and shakes her head putting her now empty glass on the bar.
“Another one?” I ask.
“One is my limit,” Normani says shaking her head.
“What? Come on,” Lacey whines.
“I like bein’ in control,” Normani says seriously.
She opens her mouth again but shuts it, her lips effectively forming into a straight line. She didn't mean to let that slip, I can tell. I store it in the back of my head with the rest of the mysteries I've collected about Normani Jameson. I could easily look up her and find my answers, but she'll tell me in time. We’ll get to it all one day.
“Let's dance,” Lacey yells.
I grab a shot from the bar and down it as the three of us make our way out to the dance floor.
“This is the best song!” I yell.
I put my hands up above my head, shaking my hips back and forth to
the rhythm. Lacey and Normani laugh at my antics and follow, putting their hands up shaking their bodies.
I notice a man come up behind Lacey to dance and she shakes her head, turning back towards us, putting distance between them. Hmmm, interesting. She looks up sensing my thoughts and rolls her eyes at me.
The guy gets the hint and moves on to another group of girls next to us. I look over at Normani and she smiles as she puts her hands on her thighs bending down in sync with the thumping of the bass.
Another man wanders to our trio, this time moving behind Normani. His hand touches her waist and I see her face go sheet white. She turns around quickly, her hand twisting the mans wrist, his face contorting in agony. She says something to him and he nods as she lets go. He moves his wrist in a circle and a security guard comes over. Normani shakes her head and the security guard walks away, his arm on the man. She turns towards us and nods her head towards the bar. Lacey and I watch her walk and get a water from the bartender.
“What the hell was that?” Lacey asks me.
“I don't know. Come on.”
We walk over to the bar by Normani and she sighs.
“You okay?” I ask her.
“I'm fine,” she snaps.
Lacey and I just look at each other, unsure of what to say.
“I think I'm gonna head out. I can just go home, y’all don't have to leave just because I am,“ Normani says.
“Nonsense, I'll head back with you. Bells, why don't you hangout?” Lacey smirks.
“And why would I do that?”
“Because you and I both know you're thinkin’ about Damon and wantin’ a repeat of certain bar scandals.”
“I...I may be thinkin’ of it just a little,” I admit.
“Do it,” Normani agrees.
I motion for the bartender to bring another shot and down it quickly before I can think about it.
“That's what I'm talkin’ about! Do it ‘bad bitch Bella’. That's your new name by the way,” Lacey says downing her own shot.
I reach into my purse and fish out my phone, opening the lock screen and scrolling to Damon’s number and smirk.
Bella: At Carmine's. Come...and then I will ;)
Damon: You little vixen. I'm on my way.
I smile and bite my lip picturing how the rest of this night is going to go. I look up from my phone to Lacey eyeing me with a devilish smirk.
“Texted him? You have that ‘I'm about to get some’ look.”
“Yes, I texted him. You get ass all the time, I'm allowed to do what I want.”
“Hey, go get it girl. Mani and I will head home and have a shot for you and your vagina in your absence.”
Normani laughs and Lacey slings her arm over her shoulder.
“I feel bad leavin’ y'all.”
“Oh stop it! How many times have I stumbled into your room needin’ a hug or a wake up call. You don't ever do anything for yourself. Go enjoy that hot piece of ass and commit every second to memory so we can hear about it tomorrow. We'll be fine, we’ll call an Uber and Jackie Chan here will fight off any creeps,” Lacey says pushing me towards the door nodding towards Normani
I turn around and hug her and then Normani and walk towards the entrance to Carmine's. A couple of minutes later a sleek, red sports car rumbles to the curb and the passenger window rolls down.
“Get that ass inside this car angel,” Damon says smirking.
I skip to the car, open the door and slide into the cool leather seat.
“How's it going sexy. Where to?” he says.
“I wanna do somethin’ crazy. What should we do?”
Damon drives slow through Main street and stops at the stop sign to let the pedestrians cross.
“Stop! Right there! Let's get a tattoo,” I say pointing across the street.
Damon laughs and shakes his head.
“That's a permanent crazy Bella, are you sure about that? How much have you had to drink?”
“Only two drinks, I’m fine, I want to! I've always wanted to but I've been too scared. Pull in Damon, I want a tattoo.”
He listens to me, pulling his car into an empty spot in front of the shop. He jogs around the front of the car and comes to open my door. I stand and he pushes me lightly into the car, cupping my cheeks.
“Hi angel,” he whispers kissing me softly on my lips.
The familiar ache in the pit of my belly returns and my stomach flips, aching for more of him already.
“Hi big guy,” I smirk.
“Let's do this big shot,” he says lacing our fingers together.
Chapter 11
Bella
We walk inside the shop and the buzzing of a needle sends goosebumps up my arm.
Don't be a chicken shit Bella, you can do this.
“How can we help y'all?” says a man from the front chair.
Every inch of his skin is covered in tattoos and his beard extends down to the top of his chest. He has a bullring in his nose and I gulp nervously.
“I...I wanna get a tattoo,” I stutter.
“Virgin?” he asks.
“Wh...what? No, I ain't a virgin but I don't see what that-”
“Yeah, she is. I’m gonna get one too. I'll go first, make sure she knows what she's getting herself into,” Damon interrupts squeezing my hand.
The man nods and walks to the back of the shop.
“Damon, you know damn well I ain't a virgin I don't see why they even-”
“Skin angel, virgin skin. No tattoos. I can't wait to watch that cherry pop though,” he whispers in my ear.
He bites gently on my lobe and I close my eyes, sucking in a breath and a soft moan escapes past my lips.
“You can sit here my man. Name’s Matty. What you thinkin?” Matty interrupts.
“I want an angel maybe lifting up a devil,” Damon smiles eyeing me.
“Alright, let me see what I can work up. Give me ten minutes.”
Matty turns to his computer and clicks around a couple of things and I smile.
“Interestin’ choice,” I quip. “What does it mean?”
“Just want a reminder of that one time where I almost lost myself again, but an angel came and saved me.”
Our eyes lock and my heart skips a beat in my chest. He is going to permanently mark his body with a reminder of me? I'm trying not to look too deep into this but it's so hard.
I look down at his lips and move closer to him capturing them against mine. My hand moves to the back of his head instinctively, pulling him closer to me, taking my pull of this addictive man.
“What are you gonna get?” he asks breaking our kiss.
“A butterfly,” I answer. “I know not very original but...I don't know. I feel like I'm changin’, becomin’ a different person. I wanna always look at it and remember this me. The carefree, happy, wild me that did whatever the hell she wanted because she wanted to. I haven’t felt this alive in a really, really long time.”
“I think it suits you. Butterfly it is.”
Damon pokes my nose and I laugh as Matty stands.
“What do ya think?” he asks.
Damon and I both look down at it and the lines that swirl together to form a beastly devil on the floor with a beautiful, dainty angel, hand stretched out towards the devil. The angel’s wings are wrapped around the devil like a blanket and it’s so perfect.
“Good work man, looks good,” Damon says standing walking towards the chair.
I follow behind him and sit in the chair next to Damon.
“Where you want it?” Matty asks.
“My ribs,” Damon says without hesitation.
Matty nods as he puts on gloves and squirts some clear liquid into a cloth.
“Some sick work here man, who did this?” Matty asks.
“Luke Gritt. Flew out to LA for the week. Guy’s a magician with the needle,” Damon answers.
“No shit. I'm honored I'm tattooin’ skin that Luke Gritt touched,” Matty says wistfully.
Damon laug
hs as he pulls up his shirt, turning his body towards me and winks. Matty cleans Damon’s ribs and then reaches behind him, putting a thin piece of paper down, patting it gently.
“Good spot?” he asks.
Damon looks down on his ribs and motions for me to look. The outline of the tattoo looks so sexy against his tan skin and I nod smiling at him.
Ballers with Benefits (Double Play Series Book 3) Page 10
