Page 1 of Learn the Play
Chapter One
Reid
The sun sets over the ocean as I watch one of my best friends from college marry the love of his life. This has been a recurring thing for me lately. Two of my best friends back home have also fallen victim to the love bug.
Landon’s smile is so big that I fear his face might crack, and his bride, Tessa, is gorgeous, with only eyes for her new husband. When Landon called me to tell me he was getting married, I wasn’t too surprised. He’s just like the rest of us: Once we’re all in, that’s it. I knew she was it for him. What surprised me, though, was the phone call a few weeks later, telling me he was going to be a dad.
“You gonna be next?” I ask Case, my other best friend from college. Case, Landon, and I were roommates, and we’ve been close ever since. Sure, they get to play together, while I was picked up by the Rampage, but I’ve found my place there—my teammates, my Rampage family. I miss Case and Landon, but that’s all a part of life, right? Things are constantly changing, and we learn to adapt to the outcome. I’ve gotta admit, mine ispretty damn good. I love my life, and our careers allow us to afford traveling to see each other, giving us the entire off-season to catch up.
“No prospects, but damn if their smiles don’t make you wonder what you’re missing out on.” He laughs. “You?”
“Same. I’ve got it at home, too. Beckett and Reynolds have both been drinking the water.”
Case tips his head back in laughter. “So that leaves you, Sinclair, and Vaughn?”
“Yeah, but Daddy Sin has his hands full at the moment, being a single dad. Well, mostly single. Shared parenting. He gets his son one week, and his baby momma gets him the next.”
“That sucks. No chance of working it out?” he asks.
I grimace. “No. She was already back with her ex when she found out she was pregnant. They’re still together.”
“Fuck, that’s awkward as hell,” he mutters.
“You have no idea. Sinclair is handling it like a pro. All he cares about is his kid.”
“I get that,” Case says.
“The Rampage ladies are rallying around him to help out when he needs it. Hell, even I watched the little guy a few weeks ago.”
“Really? You? And who are these Rampage ladies? Why don’t we have Cougar ladies?” he jokes.
“That’s Knox’s and Landry’s ladies, as well as their best friend. They dubbed themselves that, and it’s just kind of stuck.” I shrug. “And yeah, I’ve watched him. It’s not so bad. Baby Camden pissed on me, but it could’ve been worse. Landry and Rowan had him, and he shit all up his back. Luckily, Rowan was there to bail Landry out.” I shudder at the thought.
A baby cries, and we all turn to look at Landon holding his infant son in one arm, while the other is wrapped around hiswife. They’re both smiling down at baby Lance with so much love in their eyes.
“You can’t even tell she just had a baby three weeks ago,” Case says, nodding toward the happy couple.
“Should you be able to?” I ask him. I don’t know shit about this stuff.
“Fuck if I know. I just assumed you’d be able to tell, and what kind of wedding night are they going to have? She can’t—you know.” He wags his eyebrows. “Right?” he asks.
“Dude, why are we talking about this?” I ask him. “I don’t know these answers.”
“I’m just saying.” He shrugs and tips his beer to his lips.
Landon guides his new bride to sit and gently hands her their son. Immediately, her best friend, Autumn, Tessa’s mom, and Landon’s mom swarm her to fuss over the baby. I watch as my best friend smiles at them, before lifting his gaze and searching the room. When he sees us, he comes walking over, and I swear, there’s pride in his strut.
“Great day,” he says, taking the seat across from us. “It’s not the tropical wedding we first talked about, but our son is here, and that’s everything.” He turns to look over his shoulder at his wife and son.
“Married life looks good on you,” I tell him.
“You should try it.” He pulls his gaze from his wife and son. “Both of you.”
“And disappoint the ladies?” Case asks, chuckling.
“He’s not wrong,” I joke. “I mean, with you all dropping like flies, someone has to take one for the team and help the single ladies have some fun.”
“I’m telling you. You have no idea what you’re missing,” he says, turning his attention back to his family.
