Page 2 of Learn the Play
“How’s the team doing after all that shit with Brown went down?” Case asks.
“Solid.” I nod. “Why didn’t you assholes warn me?”
“He was a solid guy, or so we thought. He said he wanted the trade to follow his girl,” Landon tells me, his eyes darting back to his wife. “We had no idea he was… Yeah, I’m not even sure what to call him. I’m just glad Landry’s girl is okay, and he’s getting what he deserves.”
“Definitely,” Case agrees.
Landon glances back over at his wife and newborn son. He’s smiling wider than I’ve ever seen him. He’s completely enamored with his family, as he should be. He’d fit right in with Knox and Landry. I’ve never met a woman who had the power to change me so completely.
“Go on,” I tell him, nodding toward where Tessa is now standing, swaying back and forth with their three-week-old son in her arms. “That’s where you need to be.”
He grins. “Thanks for coming, both of you. I’ll be there when it’s your turn.” With that, he taps the table with both hands, stands, and moves back to his wife and son. He wraps Tessa in his arms and smiles down at their baby. Not gonna lie, I’m hit with a little bit of envy.
“He makes it hard not to want that, watching them together.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
We sit in silence for a while, just watching the guests of the small, intimate wedding. The hotel is massive and right on the beach. The wedding was at sunset, the perfect backdrop. I’m happy for my friend, but I’m ready to slip away and get a drink away from the love fest. Not that I begrudge him his happiness. I don’t. But damn, it can sometimes be a hard pill to swallow when everyone around you is loved up and you’re the lone single guy. Well, Case is single, too, but the way he’s eyeing the blonde bartender, he’s got plans to keep his bed warm tonight. I, on the other hand, need a stiff drink.
“I’m gonna go grab a drink,” Case says, his eyes locked on the bartender. “You want anything?” he asks, standing.
“Nah, I’m all set. I might go take a walk, get some fresh air.”
“Yeah,” he says, slapping a hand down on my shoulder and walking away.
I meet Landon’s eye and nod toward the door, mouthing that I’ll be right back. He nods, and I make my escape. The sun has long since set, and the breeze from the ocean feels nice compared to the stuffy reception room. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m enjoying the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. It’s not something I get at home in Nashville, and when we’re traveling for games, it’s all work and no play.
When I reach the beachside bar, I settle on a stool in the corner away from the crowd and order a beer. I consider something harder, but the last thing I need is to get shit-faced and have someone recognize me and take photos to sell to the tabloids. My team is coming off a two-year league championship-winning streak, and we don’t want that kind of bad publicity.
“Thanks,” I mumble to the bartender, keeping my head low as he delivers my beer and rushes off to help the next customer. I’m just about to take my first sip when someone plops down in the seat next to mine.
Glancing at the newcomer out of the corner of my eye, I see her shoulders slump as she exhales a heavy breath. “That bad?” I ask, unable to stop myself.
“You have no idea,” she grumbles. She rests her arms on the bar and slumps forward, resting her forehead against her forearm.
“What can I get ya?” the bartender asks.
“Something fruity where I can’t taste the alcohol,” she says, lifting her head and blowing her hair out of her eyes.
I take a minute to look her over. She’s got long brown hair that drapes across her back in soft curls. From my view, it seems as though she’s got a banging body, but it’s not until she turns to glance at me that her true beauty hits me full force. So much so, that my breath literally stalls in my lungs, causing me to cough and act a fool, drawing attention our way.
Her big brown eyes sparkle. I shit you not, they sparkle as if they have diamonds in the center, as she takes me in. Reaching over, she pats me on the back. “You okay there…?” Her voice trails off.
“Reid,” I say, tapping at my chest, trying to force air back into my lungs. “I’m good,” I tell her as I wait for some sort of recognition to flash in those stunning eyes of hers, but nothing happens.
“Bellamy,” she says, offering me her hand to shake.
I take her small hand in mine, and fuck me, her skin is soft. “Nice to meet you,” I say, my voice husky. I don’t understand what’s happening to me right now. I’ve met dozens of beautiful women in my life and interacted with them as if it were just another day. Never once in my life has a woman made me feel so off balance.
“You, too.” She nods at the bartender in recognition of the fruity drink he just placed in front of her, as she brings the glass to her lips and drains half of it. “Much better,” she says, under her breath.
“Bad day?” I can’t help but ask. When I sat down, I intended to enjoy a beer and keep to myself, but this beauty just changed that. She’s immediately captured my attention in her coral flowing dress, big brown eyes, and dark brown hair that looks smooth like silk.
“If you count having to attend the wedding from hell a bad day, then yeah. The worst,” she says, taking another hefty pull ofher drink. She smacks her lips before licking a small drop of her fruity drink that lingers on her bottom lip.
I catch the bartender’s attention and point toward her drink, lifting my beer to let him know to bring us both another. “Want to talk about it?” I ask. Why? I have no fucking idea. I’m not Landry—I don’t thrive on the gossip—but this gorgeous girl seems like she needs to get something off her chest, and I’m here for whatever passes those full, luscious lips.
“Depends, do you need a nap?”
