Ballers with Benefits (Double Play Series Book 3)

by Nicole Rodrigues

  “Well doesn’t that sound like somebody else I know,” Charlotte says smiling, looking over to Gabriel.

  “Daddy, you owe Damon an apology. I’m a woman. I live on my own, I work, I travel, I pay my own bills. I can see whoever I want, whenever I want and you can’t just beat up every man I bring into my life.”

  “I know,” he grumbles. “But when you have a daughter one day Johnson and you hear some womanizer in her apartment...God ya know what, forget it. I got my eye on you buddy and you bet your ass if you hurt her, I will show up at your house and beat the ever livin’ piss outta you so badly that-”

  “Daddy!” Bella gasps. “Enough!”

  “Okay, okay, I'm sorry, but if you think I’m bad, steer clear of her brother for a while. The apple definitely didn’t fall far from the tree.”

  Chapter 20

  Bella

  I hear a soft buzzing from next to me and glance over to my nightstand. I hear the water running in the bathroom and grab Damon’s phone trying to silence it. I see the name Brynn scroll across the screen and freeze. I read the text quickly and feel like I am going to throw up.

  Brynn: I made a mistake Damon. Meet me tonight, we need to talk. I’ll be in San Fran this week too. Let’s figure this out. I miss you sugar dick.

  I put his phone back down quickly as I hear the shower turn off. I get out of bed reaching for clothes and putting them on quickly. He is with me, he wants me. He would never go back with her, she abandoned him.

  “Hey, how’d you sleep,” I hear Damon say from my doorway.

  He has a towel wrapped loosely around his waist and he is drying his unruly hair with another towel.

  “Great, I slept great. What are your plans today?” I say quickly trying to hide my agony.

  “I’m gonna head to see my brother for a little bit. You want to come? He’s uh...he’s getting married in a couple of weeks and I was hoping you could be my plus one.”

  His hands rest on the sides of my neck and I close my eyes and nod.

  “Sure, I’ll see what my schedule looks like. I should um...I was gonna stop by my aunts today, visit with my cousins. I haven’t seen them in a while if that’s okay?”

  I open my eyes and I see him studying me, looking for the chink in my armor. I try to put my wall in place, not letting the stress show on my face. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. He is with me, he wouldn’t hurt me like that. He knows what Connor did to me, he wouldn’t repeat his mistake. He said it himself. I need him to respond to her on his own, I can't force his hand.

  “Okay, yeah that’s fine. Can I see you later? We can go out tonight? Spend the night at my apartment?”

  I smile and kiss him softly on the lips.

  “Sound good. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  He goes to the side of my bed and dresses quickly, taking his phone off the nightstand and stashing it in his back pocket without looking at it. He kisses me hard, his hand going to the back of my head and I kiss him back, all my emotions pouring into that kiss.

  “Bye angel.”

  He leaves the apartment and I scramble for my phone, calling Lacey.

  “Hello?” she answers groggily.

  “Wake up, wake the hell up. Where are you?”

  “At Nico’s hotel, why are you callin’ so early. Shouldn’t you be bangin’ loverboy right about now, you have the place to yourself.”

  “Shouldn’t you?”

  “I need rest, Bella. My body can only sustain so much pleasure without properly rechargin’. Leave me alone, why did you call me?”

  “Get to your mama’s. We need to talk.”

  “Why not the apartment?”

  “I’m leavin’. I need some air and I wanna see the kids.”

  “Okay fine. Just give me an hour. If I’m gettin’ up this early I at least am gonna wake up right.”

  She hangs up the phone and I shake my head, grabbing the keys to my truck and heading out.

  I pull up to my aunt’s house and have tried to suppress every insecurity I have floating through my body but to no avail. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt, but I am so damn scared. Damon means so much to me already and we just really got started. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if he decided to give Brynn another chance.

  I turn off my truck and get out, walking up the path and knocking on the front door.

  “Bells,” my aunt answers surprised.

  “Hey, came to visit the kids,” I say moving towards her and giving her a hug.

  She pulls back and looks at me and I advert my gaze.

  “What’s wrong?” she asks.

  Damn her ability to know everything I’m feeling. It must be a weird twin thing; all twins can feel other twins’ feelings and emotions.

  “Nothin’,” I lie.

  She shakes her head and walks me towards the kitchen. Her husband Jackson Turner, Lacey’s dad, sits at the island with glasses on doing a crossword puzzle.

  “Princess, what is three letters and a part of your body I love to suck on?”

  “Jackson!” my aunt gasps.

  “Oh my God,” I grumble.

  “Ah shit, I’m sorry I didn’t know we had a guest,” he says laughing. “Hey Bells, where’s your other half?” Jackson asks giving me a hug.

  “I...he’s…”

  “Relax Bells, he meant Lacey,” my aunt says putting a hand on my arm.

  She eyes me and goes towards the fridge bring out a pitcher of sweet tea, grabs two glasses and motions for me to follow her.

  “We’re gonna be on the patio baby,” she says kissing Jackson and walking towards the backyard door.

  I follow my aunt out and she shuts the sliding door behind her.

  “What did that boy do?” my aunt says without waiting for me to answer.

  “He ain’t a boy Aunt Savannah, and he...well he didn’t do nothin’, at least not yet.”

  “And what does that mean?” she asks pouring me a glass.

  She takes a sip of hers and watches me, waiting for me to explain.

  “I saw his phone this mornin’. It was a text from Brynn, she wants to meet him tonight, to talk about them and try and work it out.”

  She looks down nodding her head and then opens her mouth to speak but then shuts it.

  “You think I’m crazy, right?”

  “I don’t, but I don’t know why you’re assumin’ he wants anythin’ to do with her? Did he text back?”

  “No, he didn’t even see it yet. It came in while he was showerin’ and then he left to see his brother and didn’t look at it.”

  “Ahh I see. He didn’t invite you to go meet his brother, is that it? You feelin’ a little like it ain’t as real as you thought?”

  “No, he invited me to go I just...I needed to think. He invited me to their weddin’ too I just...I remember what it was like with Connor and it sucked. But Aunt Savannah, what I felt for Connor wasn’t even a fraction of what I feel for Damon. This...thing between us is...I...I think I love him, really love him.”

  My aunt moves to my lounge chair and pulls me in for a hug, running a hand down my hair.

  “Alright, when are we murderin’ him?” I hear Lacey say from the door.

  She slams the door shut and stomps over to me, taking my glass of sweet tea and downing it.

  “When and where and I’m there,” she says again.

  “Easy there Capone. No one is hurtin’ anyone. Why don’t ya fill her in. I’ll round the boys to come say hi when y’all are done talkin’. Trust Bella, I know it’s hard, but that’s the only way love works.”

  She kisses the top of my head and goes back into the house.

  “Love? What the hell did I miss?” Lacey asks sitting on the lounge chair.

  I fill Lacey in briefly about my dilemma and before she can speak Lacey’s brothers, Tucker and Harrison run out onto the patio.

  “Bella!” they yell running into my arms.

  “My boys! How are y’all doin’? Givin’ your mama and dadd
y a hard time I hope?” I say laughing.

  “I made the baseball team in town!” Tucker yells. “Daddy is tryin’ to get me to try the outfield, but I wanna pitch. He ain’t too happy about it.”

  I laugh and roll my eyes.

  “We’ll you know how I feel about it! I come from a house of pitchin’ so can’t help ya there bud! Although third base is super cool,” I smirk.

  “I play ball too!” Harrison says sitting on my lap.

  “I heard you and your brother are gonna be double trouble up in the majors, huh bud?”

  Harrison nods and I lunge for his belly, tickling him as he squirms underneath me.

  “Get over here you booger,” Lacey says to Tucker.

  Savannah and Jackson adopted Tucker when he was five years old from Second Chances orphanage. He had a really rough start to life, but after a lot of convincing and persistence, he finally found a home with my aunt and her husband. Harrison was the miracle baby, or so we all thought. He’s a couple of months younger than Avery and I love how no matter the blood, we are all family.

  “I got someone I want you to meet soon,” Lacey says to Tucker.

  “Who?” he asks confused.

  “Ya ever heard of Nico Johnson?” Lacey asks knowing full well that Tucker is Nico’s biggest fan.

  “You’re jokin’,” Tucker says hopping off her lap.

  “Who is your favorite sister?” Lacey asks.

  “You! You! Oh my God Lacey, I will kiss you!”

  “Ew don’t get weird. I’m gonna see when he’s free and he can come hang with you for a little, have a catch or whatever. He’s excited to meet you.”

  “You told him about me? Oh my God, I have to go practice. I love you!” he lunges at Lacey hugging her around her neck and he pulls Harrison off my lap.

  “Buddy, you don’t even know what this guy can do. I saw him smash a ball so hard the stitchin’ came off. He is amazin’, he’s the best baseball player there ever was…” Tucker trails off as they walk further out into the backyard, picking up their gloves and a ball from the side deck.

  “Introducin’ Nico to the boys, huh?”

  “I mean yeah, he’s Tucker’s favorite player. What kind of sister would I be if I didn’t introduce them?”

  “How is that gonna go?”

  “Don’t Bells. I can just introduce him as Nico Johnson, which is who he is.”

  I shake my head and I’m about to respond when my phone buzzes next to me.

  Damon: Something came up later, baseball stuff. Can I meet you guys out tonight? Text me where you are, and I’ll try and come. Sorry angel. I’ll talk to you later.

  “No,” I gasp. “He’s...he’s goin’ to meet her, I just have that feelin’ Lace. God, I’m such an idiot!”

  “No! He is the idiot. Text Normani, we’re goin’ out tonight. I’m callin’ Hulk, we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  Chapter 21

  Bella

  “Where is that black top you let me borrow that one time? I want to wear that.”

  “I think top drawer,” Lacey says from her closet.

  I move to her drawers opening the top one. I pull out some shirts and realize that they are way too big for her.

  “Oh my God Lacey Turner. You gave him a fuckin’ drawer?” I yell.

  “What?” she gasps. “Put that...no I did not. I...I just...it’s easier okay,” she grumbles. “When he comes to Louisiana to visit, it’s easier if he already has stuff here. It ain't a big deal, don’t make it one.“

  “I never thought I’d see the day. Does he have a toothbrush in the bathroom too,” I joke.

  She opens her mouth and then closes it in a tight line.

  “Oh my God! Lacey! You’re so deep.”

  “Drop it Bella. I mean it, okay? Don’t even talk about it because if you do, and you jinx it, and this goes away I’ll…” she clamps her mouth down like she just spilled some big secret and I’m speechless.

  “I...okay. I won’t talk about it.”

  Lacey turns back to the closet and the conversation is over, even though inside I am doing such a freaking happy dance for her. I pray he treats her right, and I hope his brother does the same to me.

  ---

  “To amazin’ fucks that end as explosive as they started,” I yell clinking my glass against Nico and Lacey’s way too hard.

  I’ve had about three drinks already, but I still feel the pain. Lacey got the truth out of Nico and I feel the nausea start to creep up just thinking about him with her.

  He went to meet her. He called Nico to tell him to keep an eye on me because he wasn’t sure he would make it out.

  Keep an eye on me, what a piece of shit.

  “Bells, I think you need to slow down a little bit,” Lacey says her face serious.

  “Oh miss party pooper. If this guy over here did what Damon is doin’ this would be you, don’t deny it. I remember pullin’ you out of this exact situation years ago.”

  Lacey’s expression hardens and she takes my drink slamming it on the bar.

  “Exactly! And you told me the same shit I’m tellin’ you. You’re stronger than this Bella. Pull yourself together, listen to me on this one.”

  “Yeah?” I yell. “How about you listen to me, Lacey! I walked in on my boyfriend of four years fuckin’ some girl in the bed we used to sleep in together! I never thought I would recover from that and in walks Damon Johnson, a man so perfect I didn't even know those really even existed.”

  “Bells…”

  “I’m not like you. I can’t move past a broken heart by fucking without feelings and I can’t hurt someone before they hurt me! I never had a man make me feel the way Damon does. I got a tattoo, I jumped out of a fuckin’ airplane Lacey! I trusted him enough to let him fu-” I stop, pursuing my lips.

  The whole bar doesn’t need to know I let him pop my ass cherry. Calm down Bella.

  “The things we did together made me into this Bella and yes you’re right, I am stronger than this. But I’m allowed to give myself one night to be upset, that the only guy I ever truly loved was just using me for a fuck because he used to jerk off to my calendar. So let me drink,” I say grabbing my drink from the bar and swallowing it down in one sip. “And leave me alone. Enjoy your fairytale and let the rest of us single folk embrace the heartache.”

  I walk past her to the other end of the bar and order another drink. That might have been harsh, but I really don’t give a shit. I’m hurt, I’m drunk and I just want to hit something. I clench my fists and unclench them, remembering way back when, a certain Gavinwood let his anger get the best of him and suffered the consequences.

  “Hey,” I hear Normani say next to me.

  She puts her hand on my shoulder and I shake my head.

  “Just don’t Normani. Please don’t say anything. I was a bitch to Lacey but she’s family, we’re stuck with each other. We fight like this on a regular basis and we’ll be fine. I can’t do that to you, you don’t deserve it. Just...drink with me, or better yet...watch me drink and make sure I don’t hit someone.”

  I down another drink and Normani puts her arm around my waist resting her chin on my shoulder.

  “You’re gonna be okay Bella. Maybe he just wanted to meet with her to officially tell her to fuck off. He’s happy with you and a second chance with her would never happen.”

  “Then why didn’t he tell me? Why didn’t he say, ‘Hey Bella I’m gonna go tell Brynn to fuck off then I’ll meet you at the bar’. Better yet, why even meet her at all. A simple text would suffice. She left him Normani, abandoned their year relationship over a text message!”

  “He’s a smart guy Bella, he wouldn’t go back to her. Why won’t you call him, tell him you want to see him and tell him that he needs to explain himself.”

  “How about he just take you home right now and you can explain why you’re getting piss drunk?” I hear a hard voice say from behind me.

  I grit my teeth and whip around and come face to face with the man himsel
f.

  “Nice of you to join us. Brynn didn’t want to join in on the fun, sugar dick?”