Page 120 of Restricted List

“Where else would I be?” I ask, dropping my bag in front of my stall and pulling off my jacket.

Knox flops onto the sofa across from me, taking the seat next to Josh. “Man, we haven’t seen you in weeks.”

Josh laughs. “He’s been too busy sticking his dick in-”

“Shut it, Garro. It’s a lot more than sex.”

I sense someone walk up behind me as I grab a hair tie and pull up my hair. “No, but there’s still plenty of that, huh, Pierce?”

A large smile breaks out across my face as I turn around and wrap an arm around Ari Morgan. “Holy shit, man. Did you not plan on telling me you signed?”

Ari returns the hug before breaking free. “Figured the suspense was more fun. It was made easier by all the snow after Christmas canceling my flight and begging Skip not to tell you.”

“You’re a fucking dick,” I laugh before gesturing to the rest of my friends. “Ari, this is Knox, Josh, and Lane. You’ll be seeing a lot of them on and off the field.”

“I can manage that. Spencer, though, might take longer to accept.”

“Me?” Knox asks. “What the fuck did I do? I just met you.”

“You struck me out in game seven,” he shrugs.

Knox throws his head back and laughs. “Yeah, I’m not sorry about that.”

“So, what made you sign in New York?” Lane asks, leaning forward against the back of the sofa.

Ari turns to face him. “Never really liked Atlanta,” he shrugs. “My contract was up, and it felt like it was time to go somewhere new.”

“Plus,” I interject, “I’m here.”

Ari tips his head back and laughs. “Same ego you’ve always had.”

“I never said I changed.”

“You really think you haven’t changed?” He raises his eyebrow mischievously. “You actually have a girlfriend, man.”

That seems to pique Josh’s interest. “What does that mean?”

I groan, knowing Ari is about to spill everything.

I’m not ashamed of how I used to be, but it’s not something I ever told the guys. It never felt necessary when I turned over a new leaf when I came to New York.

When I met Rory, more specifically.

Ari looks at me smugly. “You never told them how you used to fuck around every city we traveled to?”

“What?!” Lane says excitedly. “Pierce slept around?”

“Yes,” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose and already knowing the guys are going to learn a lot more about me as they get to know Ari. “I used to sleep around. Never wanted a woman for more than a night.” I take a deep breath, rubbing the back of my neck. “But then I was traded here, and I met… her.”

Knox looks at me in disbelief. “You stopped fucking around just because you met her?” His head falls back as he laughs. “And it still took you almost four years to make a move?”

“Fuck off,” I chide before lowering my voice. “You know damn well why it took so long.”

Lane slides over the back of the sofa, flopping into the seat before leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees with his hands clasped under his chin. “Please tell me you have more stories, Ari.”

“I have endless stories,” he chuckles.

I just sigh, accepting my fate. “And I’m sure they’ll all come out in due time. But why don’t we all go out tonight? We can have the girls come, too. Everyone can get to know you since you’ll be around now.”

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