I can sense his presence a couple beds over and I hear the movement of the bed. I turn around and he's sitting, watching me.
“Thank you for helpin’ me clean up. You don't have to do that.”
“Thank my mama, she raised me right,” he grins.
His eyes bore into mine, searching for what, I don't know, but the scrutiny makes me uncomfortable.
“Can I help ya with somethin’ else?” I ask crossing my arms over my chest.
“Any chance I could get some therapy for my shoulder? Just a quick rub down, sore from those nine straight innings, winnin’ my team the world series and all.”
He smirks as his fingers go down to the hem of his shirt and he brings it over his head. My eyes widen and I feel my face heat with a blush.
“Devin I...you can't just come on in here and get naked like that,” I snap.
I steel myself and look back to him. He gets off the bed walking closer to me, his muscular arms swinging by his side, the stubble on his lower stomach disappearing into his shorts. He clears his throat as he sits on the bed that I'm right next to. His hard bicep brushing against mine as he hops on top.
“I ain’t naked. The way you're lookin’ at me though, it probably won't be too long before I am,” he whispers.
“I...I wasn't…” I close my eyes and take a deep breath before I continue. “Listen I'll help ya out because I don't turn nobody down, but don't try and work those moves on me. It ain't happenin’,” I say shaking my finger at him.
“I ain't workin’ no moves darlin’. Just came for some care, that's all,” he says lifting his hands in defense.
The movement showcases the indent of his biceps and I grit my teeth. My body has never had a reaction like this before and I can't seem to turn it off around him. I need to get it under control before it does something stupid.
“Let me get my stuff.”
I give Devin my back as I take the few steps to the shelf on the wall. I grab the bottle of lotion and a rag and turn back around, noticing Devin’s gaze snap from my ass back to my face.
I shake my head and walk to him, my leg leaning against his hanging off the bed. I can't fault him, I was basically undressing him a minute ago.
“So, did ya miss the part where I said I pitched a whole game to help my team win the world series? Game seven, game was tied up until the 8th. Pitched someone into a double play...or you watched it?”
I look up at him with unaffected eyes and shrug.
“You want a trophy or somethin'? Or is it just one big one that y'all gotta share and it ain't your turn yet?”
“I…”
“I mean that's your job, ain’t it? Bringin’ your team to the big final game?”
“I mean yeah but-”
“Listen I don't watch ball, I'm more of a football girl. I'd rather watch big, muscular guys tackle each other in tight pants then hit a small ball and run around some bases.”
“You don't watch baseball?” he says dumbfounded.
“Nope, but congrats and all, now hold still and tell me if somethin’ hurts.”
I squirt the lotion in my hand and rub them together as I place my hands on his rock solid shoulder. I hear him exhale as I work my fingers into the muscles by his collarbone and back down his bicep. The sound is sexy as hell and I picture him making it as I kiss his-
“Goddamn that feels good,” he whispers interrupting my dirty thoughts.
This bliss in his voice does something to my southern region and again I need to mentally smack myself. Stop it Normani, you don't do this for a reason.
I continue to dig my fingers into the top of his shoulder, my muscles flexing, trying to not picture moving my hands down lower, massaging other parts of his body. Oh my God, what am I thinking?
“You okay darlin’?” Devin says breaking me out of my spell.
“S...sorry, am I hurtin’ you?” I stutter.
“Grip just got a little tight up top, I ain't complanin’ though, tight will get the job done.”
I drop my hands off his shoulder and reach for the rag.
“Alright, you can leave now, we're done.”
“What? That wasn't even-”
“Done Devin. I ain't one of your bat bunnies and I sure as hell ain't gonna be talked to like one. Go on and get your ass off this bed and out that door before I make you.”
“Darlin’, I-”
“It's Normani,” I seethe.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you, I was just jokin’ around...ah shit.”
I stare at him with my hands on my hips and he hops off the table reaching for his shirt and puts it on over his head, taking his hat off and mussing his hair. He doesn't move and for a second and I think he's going to turn around, but he doesn't. He puts his hat back on his head and he stomps through the office and walks out the door without a look back.
I stand there perplexed at the turn of events. What the hell just happened? All of the stories I've read in the media have made Devin seem like a golden boy. A man every woman would kill to be with. Well, I don't know what they see, because I want to kill him, not kill to be with him.
I throw the last towel in the hamper with gusto and head towards the back office. Bella recently put a desk in there for me and it's officially mine. I smile with pride as I head towards my desk, grabbing my purse and turning back around to leave.
You've come a long way girl, be proud of yourself.
I shut my office door at the same time the chime for the front door sounds. I feel my heartbeat kick up and my adrenaline starts pumping. I reach for my phone in my purse as I walk slowly down the hall to peek out.
No one.
I have my hand wrapped around my pocket knife in my bag and my other hand is up, prepared to fight. I can do this in my sleep and I'm ready.
“Normani?” I hear a voice say.
“Devin?”
“Where are ya?”
“Dammit Devin,” I snap as I walk further into the training room. “You scared the shit out of me, what are you still doin’ here?”
“Still? I just got here. Must have met my evil twin. Guy’s a dick. He hit on you right?”
“Devin…”
“Damn him, he always does this. See, that guy don't know what to do when he has a queen in front of him. He mistakenly lumps all woman in the same category. I have to apologize for him.”
I keep my hands crossed in front of my chest, but a small smile pulls at my lips.
“You sound crazy, ya know that?”
Devin laughs and the sound flows through my body, calming me.
“I am crazy. Crazy for sayin’ that crap to you, you barely even know me. I’m sorry for that. Can I make it up to you? Get some dinner with me? I'm really sorry Normani...it's hard for me to...I don't know, separate everything.”
“It’s okay, I forgive you. I can't do dinner though I uh...I have somewhere I need to be.”
“Fair enough. Can we get lunch this week? I swear I’ll behave.”
“How about we just see each other on Thanksgivin’. I’m kinda busy this week.”
“Okay, the brush off. I get it,” Devin says putting his hands up.
“It’s just...you really ain’t my type Devin. I...I gotta get goin’.”
I walk towards the door and I feel Devin follow behind me. He’s close, too close.
I turn around and lock the door, his arm brushing against mine as he walks past me.
“Have a good night,” I say turning back around.
“Let me walk you to your car, see you off safely.”
Something happens in that moment, something to my chest. It’s a twitch, a yearning, a feeling I’ve never felt before.
He wants to keep me safe.
This concept is foreign to me and I immediately go on high alert. Why is he being so nice?
“I...I can get myself to my car just fine.”
“I know ya can, but like I said, Mama raised me right.”
He walks towards my car ahead of me
and I shake my head as I follow. We get to my car and he walks towards the driver side, opening my door for me as I stare at him.
“What? I got somethin’ on my face?” Devin asks bringing a hand up to his chin.
“No..no I...thank you,” I stutter breaking myself out of the spell.
“Drive safe. Have a good night Normani.”
I nod and get into my car and Devin shuts my door. I put the key in the ignition and start the car, putting it in drive and pull out of my spot, Devin watching as I drive towards the exit of the lot. Only when I pull onto the street does he walk towards Bella’s car and get in.
My body buzzes with the awareness of it wanting something, wanting someone. I don't even know what to do about this, how to feel about it. I've been numb for so long the feeling of my body thawing out, my heart beating again is scary. Really fucking scary.
-----
“Hands up, lets go. What's got you so distracted tonight?” Miguel says as he lands a punch to my stomach.
I groan and put my hands up walking towards the ropes of the ring.
“Give me a minute,” I rasp, my hands on my knees trying to catch my breath.
I feel Miguel slowly make his way to me and I whip around, swiping his legs with the back of my calf. He flies in the air and his body slams down on the mat.
“There she is,” he groans rolling to his side.
“You deserved that, I said I needed a minute.”
“Alright, go take a break. We're talkin’ before you get back in here.”
I nod as I rip the velcro off my gloves and take them off, first one then the other. I wiggle out my fingers and duck under the rope of the ring and hop down. I walk over to my backpack on the side and take my water bottle out, squirting a healthy amount in my mouth and a little on my head.
The truth is I can't concentrate. Something isn't right and I can feel it in my bones. My ridiculous sixth sense mixed with Devin Gavinwood has my head all kinds of mixed up.
“It's a guy,” Miguel says from behind me.
“No it ain't,” I snap taking another sip from my water bottle and throwing it back down to my backpack.
“Then what?”
“I don't know. I'm just not in it today,” I mumble.
“Bullshit Mani. You're never not in for a fight.”
“Well I'm allowed to have off days,” I snap looking at Miguel.
His gaze is hard, and he puts his hands up in defense.
“Whoever he is, I just hope he treats you right and he knows what the hell he's gettin’ himself into.”
“Ya know what, I am in it today. In fact, I'm really in it today. Wanna go no gloves? I'd like to see how big of an asshole you can still be with my fist down your throat,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Ha. You forget I can read you like a book, Mani? Knew it was a guy. Who is he?” Miguel says smiling, sitting on the nearest chair turning it around and leaning over the back.
“It was nothin’. Devin Gavinwood came to visit his sister and that's it. Needed some therapy and I helped him out.”
“Gavinwood? Dammit Mani, couldn't have picked someone less like...him?”
“I ain't pickin’ anyone.”
“You like him?”
“Miguel, you know the answer to that. Even if I did, that life ain't for me.”
“That's your opinion, that ain't a fact. As fierce as you are a fighter, I wish you saw in yourself what I see in you. I see that fighter even out of the ring.”
I shake my head and reach down for my water bottle and backpack.
“You don't know shit,” I grumble.
“I know you can't hide from real life forever. Sooner or later this is all gonna be over and what are you gonna have, huh?”
“I got you,” I shrug.
Miguel rolls his eyes as I reach for the hem of my tank top and take it off, wiping my forehead with it and then throwing it in my bag.
“I hate when you do that,” Miguel complains.
“And that is why I do it,” I smile.
I lift my backpack and put it on my shoulder as I punch Miguel in his arm.
“Ice that back,” I wink.
“Wanna come over for dinner before I leave for Chicago?”
“Can’t. Have some stuff to do in my apartment still.”
I walk over to Miguel and hug him before I make my way towards the front of the studio and to my car. Only when I get inside and drive away do I feel the calm. Then when I get to my apartment building the cycle starts all over again.
Anxious, calm, repeat. It's been like this my whole life and I think I'm destined for it to be like this forever.
A small part of me takes a brief second to think. What would it have been like to be born to a different family? What would it be like like to get hit on by a man like Devin and go with his advances, instead of pushing him away? When he offers to walk me to my car, I can accept it as a man being nice to me, rather than a man that wants to cash in a favor at a later date, or worse, hurt me. What would it be like to go to the studio and learn to fight for fun, rather than to survive? What would life look like after?
I shake my head at all these thoughts. That will never be me. It's no use concocting all of these fairytales when I have no choice but to live in my reality. I don't know if I will ever be safe.
Chapter 2
Normani
“Hey Normani, glad you could make it. Happy Thanksgivin’,” Savannah says opening the front door.
“Thank you for havin’ me. Brought some pumpkin pie, homemade,” I say handing her the pie.
“Actually, if ya don't mind, can you bring that back to the kitchen? I'm just gonna check on the kids quick.”
I nod and walk down the hall to the kitchen and stop in the doorway as my ovaries explode. Devin is sitting at the kitchen table with Avery on his lap, strumming a guitar, singing a slow country song that I know the name of, but can't even concentrate enough to remember.
Avery is leaning her head against Devin’s chest and her hand is on top of his forearm as he strums and sings into her hair. I recognize the song now and I swear my breath is gone, ironically enough.
“You already know
that you're my weakness
After all this time
I'm just as nervous
Every time you walk
into the room
I'm speech-”
Devin stops singing as his gaze locks on me and Avery looks up too.
“Normani! You're here!” Avery squeals.
She jumps out of Devin’s arms and he laughs as Avery runs to me, wrapping her arms around my legs. My gaze is still locked on Devin and he shakes his head breaking our stare. I squat down and bring Avery in for a hug.
“Hey girlie. Happy Thanksgivin’.”
“Mama said you were gonna be here, I'm happy you came. Can we play dolls? I brought all my favorites, they're in my play bag.”
“Sure thing kiddo. Go on and get it.”
Avery runs off and I stand, watching Devin put his guitar into the case on the table.
“I didn't know you play,” I say motioning at the guitar.
“I just mess around, nothin’ crazy,” Devin says smiling.
He shuts the case and puts it in the corner against the wall and turns around, eyeing me.
“What?” I ask suspiciously.
“You look...beautiful. In the least creepy, not hittin’ on you, way.”
I smile and shake my head looking down at my navy blue dress. It hugs my curves and flows out along the waist, the lace sleeves coming down to my wrists, covering reminders of my past.
“Thanks. Sorry about the other day I...I'm just not used to...I'd like to just start over, if that's okay with you?”
“I would greatly appreciate that. Happy Thanksgivin’ Normani, it's great to see you.”
“You too, Devin.“
We stand in the kitchen in silence, each of us stealing glances at the other, the tension in the kitchen so tangible, if I reac
hed my hand out, I could grab it.
“Hey Mani! I didn't know you were here yet,” Bella says walking into the kitchen giving me a hug.
Changeup (Double Play Series Book 4) Page 2