Ballers with Benefits (Double Play Series Book 3)

by Nicole Rodrigues

  “I’m gonna head back inside finish helpin’ out my aunt. Wanna come or hang out here?” I ask Normani.

  “I’ll come help,” she says getting to her feet.

  She smiles back down at the kids and we walk back towards the house.

  “He’ll be okay,” she says as we approach the patio.

  “Who?” I ask.

  “Tucker. That look you get, when they bring you to that place. It’s gone now. He’s happy here.”

  I look over at her and nod, feeling sorry for her because I don’t think the look she’s talking about is gone from her.

  “Normani…”

  “I’m okay Bella,” she says giving me a half smile. “I was a lot older than he was, it’s harder for me to forget what brought me there, but I’m fine, promise.”

  She puts her hand on my shoulder and then walks up the patio stairs into the house and I follow behind her.

  My mama and daddy arrive at the house and we are all quiet, waiting in the kitchen. We hear the front door knob jiggle and my mama walks through, all of us yelling surprise and she screams, her hand going up to her mouth.

  “God Lord, what the...Gabriel John, you sly dog,” she says turning around to my father hitting his chest.

  He catches her wrist in his hand and pulls her to him, kissing her with way more passion than is publicly appropriate and my Aunt Savannah breaks it up.

  “Save it for later you horndogs,” she yells.

  Everyone laughs as my parents break their kiss and my mama turns towards everyone, walking around saying hello.

  “My babies,” my mama says as she gets to me and Devin.

  “Happy birthday Mama,” we both say.

  “How did I get so lucky with the two of you, huh?”

  “We love you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us,” Devin says.

  “We wouldn’t be the two badass people we are today without ya,” I smirk.

  “Bella June…” my mother warns.

  “Oh yeah, yeah, I know,” I laugh.

  My daddy comes up behind my mama and puts his hands on her shoulders.

  “These two planned it all,” he says. “I was just responsible for keepin’ ya distracted,” he whispers in her ear, kissing her cheek.

  “That you did,” she whispers back.

  “And I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that,” Devin says walking away.

  “Ew,” I say following.

  I walk towards the kitchen and feel a hand on the small of my back.

  “You ready to do this angel?” Damon whispers in my ear.

  I smile and turn around wrapping my arms around his neck.

  “Let’s do it future husband.”

  We walk to the middle of the living room, and Damon clears his throat as everyone focuses their attention on us.

  “Bella and I have an announcement for everyone,” Damon says above the hushed crowd.

  “You better not be pregnant,” Lacey yells.

  I scoff and shake my head.

  “Everyone knows that’s gonna be you, ya hussy,” I yell back.

  Everyone laughs and Lacey shakes her head at me, Jackson grilling a laughing Nico by her side.

  “With the blessing of Mr. Gavinwood, I asked Bella to marry me and she said yes!”

  The party erupts in cheers and my mama starts crying while running to me, wrapping her arms around my waist.

  “My sweet girl. I knew you were gonna find your man. I’m so happy you did. I love you. Bless your love always.”

  “Thanks Mama,” I whisper.

  “But you Mr. Johnson,” she says pointing at Damon. “If my girl comes to my house, poundin’ some Ben & Jerry's again, it better be because she wants some mama time or she's pregnant. You better not pull that crap or so help me God-”

  “Easy baby cakes,” my daddy smirks coming up behind my mama putting his hands on her shoulders.

  “No ma'am, never again,” Damon says.

  My mama grabs Damon into a hug and I laugh as my daddy slaps him on the back.

  “Remember what I told ya though, son.”

  “Believe me sir, I won’t forget,” Damon laughs.

  “Call me Gabriel and treat my baby like gold.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of treating her any other way.”

  Lacey runs over to me tackling me in a hug and grabs my hands.

  “We are gonna rock your bachelorette party. Hell fuckin’ yeah,” she says hugging me again.

  I laugh hugging her back and Devin comes over next putting his hand out for Damon to shake.

  “Welcome to the family Johnson, but don’t think I ain’t keepin’ my eye on you. I hope you remember that ass whoppin’ I delivered. Plus, now I can rock you with a fastball at practice if I need to.”

  Damon laughs and puts his hands up in defense.

  “I remember, no fuckin’ around, don’t worry. Save the fastball for playoffs.”

  Everyone else follows, hugs and kisses and congratulations. We eat and drink the night away at our parent’s house and end up meeting some of Damon’s teammates out at a bar later that night.

  Damon and I walk through, hand and hand and see the group in the back.

  Lacey is where she always is, attached to Nico’s lips, and I don’t recognize a lot of the other people except the idiot standing up with a bottle of vodka in his hand.

  “Enter ball and chain!” says the idiot, Lance.

  I roll my eyes and Damon gives Lance the finger as we walk closer to the group.

  “Fuck off Lance,” Damon growls.

  He sits back down with his hands in the air and smiles, drinking straight from the bottle.

  “So Nico, those tickets are for this weekend, dick. Enjoy the game. Although I didn't see the actual panties,” Lance says.

  Nico shakes his head, as he glances towards Lacey in his lap and she furrows her brows.

  “How do I know Lace wasn't in on it so you won?” Lance continues oblivious to Nico's pleading stare.

  “In on what?” Lacey asks now eyeing Nico.

  “Our bet. He bet he could get Jackson Turner's daughter's panties, I didn't think he could. Took his home run titles, so he'd take his daughter, I think were his exact words. You weren't in on it, were you?”

  Dammit Nico! I close my eyes hoping like hell those words did not ever come out of his mouth.

  “No,” Lacey seethes, “I wasn't. He won fair and square.”

  She gets up from his lap, sitting down on the chair next to him, giving him her back.

  “Lace…” Nico pleads reaching for her.

  “So playoffs start next week right?” I ask changing the subject. “Anyone got Houston goin’ all the way?” I laugh.

  “I do!” Lacey says quickly, “Ya know what? Let's fuckin’ bet on it, huh Nicholas?” Lacey snaps brushing past him towards the exit.

  “Shit, full name, you're in trouble,” Damon says.

  Nico curses and runs his hands through his hair following her out.

  “You're a dick Lance,” Damon says.

  Lance puts his hands up in defense.

  “I was just makin’ sure I wasn't gettin’ conned. Those are my season tickets man.”

  “Shit,” I grumble. “This is the last thing she needed. She’s been crushed before Damon, Nico was so different for her. Dammit!”

  Damon cups my cheek and kisses my lips softly as he grabs my hand.

  “I know my brother and I know how he looks at Lacey. The same way I look at you. They’ll figure it out, okay?”

  I nod and close my eyes letting out a breath.

  He kisses my hand again, turning my ring around and kissing the diamond.

  “I love you angel.”

  “I love you too big guy.”

  “What’s our next adventure?” Damon asks.

  “How do you feel about Vegas?” I smirk.

  Thank you for reading the third book in the Double Play Series!

  Find out about the mysterious Normani Jameson and how she captur
es the heart of everyone’s favorite pitcher, Devin Gavinwood in book 4 of the Double Play Series, Changeup! Release date is April 15th!

  Preorder Changeup