Playbook (The Holland Brothers 2), page 30
“That we do.” His chest rises and falls with a quiet laugh, but then his face falls back to his somber expression.
I tap his shoulder with the back of my hand. “You’ll be back before you know it. Your time is coming.”
He nods, a hint of a smile erasing the worry that’s been there all season, but especially the last couple of days after not being cleared for another game. “Our time.”
We knock wrists and then someone clears their throat next to us.
Billy Boone watches us, gaze flicking from Archer to me. He nods his head in greeting.
“Nice game tonight,” Billy says.
I lean forward. I swear he just complimented me. My mouth opens, then I close it. Every time I talk to this guy, I put my foot in it.
“Brogan’s having a hell of a season,” Archer says. “And he’s just getting started.”
He stares at Billy, daring him to disagree. I’m not surprised when he doesn’t jump at the chance to shower me with praise, but he does lift his beer in what I choose to see as a silent peace treaty. “Best of luck with the rest of the season.”
“Thank you,” I say. “And if it’s not too late to apologize, I am sorry.”
“I appreciate that.” He walks off, and I’m still staring after him, shocked, when our drinks come, and Archer reaches for them.
“That was…interesting,” he says. “I’m proud of you.”
“I’m still waiting for him to come back and yell at me. I don’t think I like being on his good side. It’s creepy.”
Laughing, Archer leads me back to the table.
London looks at me as I slide into the chair next to her.
“Whatever they’re saying, it’s a lie.” I give all the guys my meanest scowl. Not that they buy it. I’m too happy tonight to pull off the expression. My brothers are here, my girl.
My girl.
I know there’s a lot we need to talk about, but I’m not scared anymore. If she can handle a secret sister and knowing I haven’t spoken to my dad since I was a teenager, then I think chances are good she can handle anything.
“We were telling her how great you are,” Knox says with an unconvincing smirk.
“Yeah, I bet.” I wrap an arm around her shoulders, and she nuzzles into me, laughing.
“Jokes aside, you’re pretty fucking great.” Hendrick lifts his glass. “To Brogan. Love you, Brother.”
Brother.
The word hits different tonight. They didn’t do anything different. They’ve always shown up for me, always treated me like one of them. I guess I just feel it now. We’re not blood, but we’re family. The family you choose, the ones who choose you back, are so much harder to find.
We spend the next hour catching up. Flynn lets us pepper him with questions about school and baseball. Knox fills us in on how he plans to spend the off-season doing freestyle and hanging out every free second with Avery, Hendrick is all smiles and constantly turning the new wedding band on his left ring finger. It’s nice. I missed them and I don’t want to go this long without seeing each other again.
When the conversation comes to a lull, I take London’s hand under the table for encouragement and then decide to tell them the news.
Releasing her hand so I can sign as I speak, I say, “I, uh, have some news.”
“You already got married, didn’t you?” Hendrick asks, looking between me and my girl.
“We just literally watched them get back together.” Knox shakes his head at our older brother then me. “I’m betting there’s a baby involved, or maybe you’re a throuple instead of a couple.”
Archer starts coughing on his drink.
“Kiiiidding.” Knox grins.
London’s brows rise. “I’m not pregnant.”
I glance at her. “That’s more important to clarify than the fact you’re not also sleeping with Arch?”
“I mean…” She shrugs. “You two are close and the three of us hang out a lot. I can see where people would think that.”
“We’re not a throuple.” I glare at everyone around the table.
“Eh…” Knox keeps on smiling, the smug bastard. “I took my best shots.”
“I’m pretty sure I have a sister,” I say before they can come up with any other ridiculous ideas.
“A sister?” Hendrick leans forward. “How?”
I tell them what I know. How Sabrina was adopted as a baby and grew up in Flagstaff. And the letter and texts that I ignored, thinking it was another scam from someone just wanting money. London squeezes my fingers, silently supporting me. But the truth is it doesn’t hit me with the same sort of pain that I thought it would.
Not with these five. They’re my family, and family loves you no matter what.
I’ve always hesitated in planning things and instead let them come to me because I guess I felt like I was inconveniencing them in some way, but before they leave, I make sure we’ve got some solid dates for Christmas while Flynn is home and Archer and I have a few days off.
And if I had any reservations about them all liking London, though the thought didn’t even cross my mind honestly, it’s obvious they do by the way they each hug her and then me on the way out the door.
The three of us, Archer, London, and myself, head back to my apartment. Archer gives us a salute and heads off to his bedroom, and then it’s just me and the most gorgeous woman in the world.
“So…” I take both her hands and swing them between us. “What should we do now?”
“Hmm…” Smirking, she glances up as she thinks. “Maybe we should go to bed.”
“Yeah, sure, we could do that.” It’s after midnight, but I’m wired. Totally fine though. I’ll just stare at her while she sleeps. That’s not strange, right?
She leans in and brushes her lips over mine then says, “I’ve been dying to really test out the sturdiness of the bed.”
“I love you,” I blurt out.
She startles, smiling.
I wince, but fuck it. “Not because you want me to fuck you hard enough to break a bed. Or not just because of that.”
She laughs.
“Thank you for showing up for me tonight and for wanting to know all of me. I’m not good at opening up about my family, but I will if you still want to hear it.”
“I want to know all of it. Every detail about you. I’m not going anywhere so there’s no rush.”
Some of it is going to be really hard to share, I know that, but I’ll do it for her. Because I understand. I want to know every detail about her too.
“Did I mention I love you? Because I fucking love you.” I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of saying it.
Her mouth curves, and the way my chest tightens I know she feels the same way even before she says it.
“I love you too.” She stares at me a beat and then gets a sassy glint in her eye. “Also not just because I know you can fuck me hard enough to break a bed.”
I lift her up and toss her over my shoulder. My hand automatically goes to her ass, giving it a little smack. “Can and plan to, sweetheart.”
She squeals and giggles as I carry her to my bedroom. I set her down on the floor in front of me but keep my arms circled around her back. She looks up at me with those big green eyes the color of a four-leaf clover. My lucky charm.
Everything in my life is better with her by my side. She peels me out of my shirt, then I lift hers over her head. Her skin is like satin as I run my hands down her shoulders and arms to capture her hands. Threading our fingers together, I drop my forehead to hers and close my eyes. I just want to soak in this moment. She’s here.
She chose me. I can’t even begin to describe what that means to me. A strange sensation, something like contentment, fills my chest.
“Everything okay?” she asks quietly.
“Perfect,” I say, pulling back so she can see my eyes and know that I’m being sincere. “I have never been better.”
“Never?” She cocks a brow and then her hands go to my jeans, fingers working quick to pop the button and unzip me. I’m still in a haze of happiness and bliss as she drops to her knees and her intent finally becomes clear.
Her mouth feels so damn good. Our gazes remain locked as she takes me slowly to the back of her throat then glides back to suck on the tip. She is a fucking goddess. I’m not sure I’ll ever feel worthy, but I’ll never take her for granted.
“I need to be inside you.” I pull her back up to her feet and kiss her while I take off the rest of her clothes.
We tumble onto the bed in a tangled heap, kissing and laughing softly. Her body molds to mine, and I hold her against me like I thought about so many times over the past week. I swear I can breathe easier when she’s around.
When I finally push inside her, we both still, mouths fused together but not moving. My heart races and a jolt of electricity courses through me.
“I love you.” I’m not even sure I’ve said the words out loud until she says them back.
“I love you.” She lifts her hips higher, taking me deeper. Her body quivers and she lets out a soft moan.
I capture all her sexy sounds, swallowing them as I continue to fuck her slowly. Hard but slow, dragging out every sensation with thinly contained control.
“Please,” she whimpers. “I need to come.”
I pull out, then grip my dick and tease her clit, stroking up and down over the sensitive bud until she cries out. I’m barely back inside her before my own orgasm splits through me. She clenches around me and stars dance in my vision.
We cling to each other as we come down from it, bodies shaking and breaths ragged. When I finally manage to shake the fog from my vision, her sweet smile is waiting for me.
“Sweetheart.” The word comes out in a low gravel.
“You were right,” she says. “I have never been better.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
“There she is.” Brogan stands as Sabrina walks through the restaurant to our table.
“Hey. You made it.”
“Sorry I’m late,” she says, taking her crossbody purse off and pulling out the chair across from me. “I still don’t know my way around the city very well. All the one-way streets and…”
She stops, flustered, and takes her seat. Her red hair catches on the sunlight coming through the window. “How are you?”
“Good,” Brogan says. “Did you get everything moved?”
“I’m in a month-to-month place for now until I decide where I want to live.” She glances around the restaurant. “This place is cute.”
“It’s my sister’s and my favorite brunch place. They have the best lemonade mimosas,” I say as the server approaches our table.
“I’ll have that.” Sabrina smiles. “Thanks.” Her smile widens. “It’s so nice to meet you. Brogan has said such nice things.”
“About you too,” I tell her.
Sabrina agreed to do a DNA test and they confirmed she is his sister. Since then, they’ve been trying to get to know one another. He’s taken her to lunch and another time she invited him to dinner with some of her friends. I can tell how hopeful it all makes him feel to have found this family he didn’t know existed.
“So, Brogan tells me you’re opening a dance studio.” I’m so curious about his sister. I have my guard up, just in case, but so far, she hasn’t raised any red flags.
The way her eyes light up at the question even reminds me a little of him. She’s tall and graceful. Her features are softer, but she has that something about her that draws people in and makes them want to pay attention.
“Well, I’m trying, but you’d be amazed at how many building owners take one look at me and blow me off because they think I’m some young kid who’s going to flake on them.”
“I could help if you want,” Brogan offers.
Quiet falls over the table, and I hold my breath while I wait for her answer. I think he’s genuine in wanting to do whatever he can for her, but I hope that she doesn’t see him as only that.
“No, it’s okay,” she says with a shake of her head. “I don’t want to rent from someone who treats young women shitty anyway. And I have a lead on a place not too far from here.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
“What kind of dance studio? Ballet?”
“And tap, lyrical, modern, hip hop.”
“You’re a dancer, then?”
“I was, but I have pretty bad asthma, so I do more teaching than dancing these days. It’s fun and the kids are great.”
I fire more questions at her, and so does Brogan. By the time brunch is finished, she’s won me over. I’ll still destroy her if she hurts him though.
“I hate to eat and run, but I've gotta go,” she says. “I’m meeting a friend.”
She opens her wallet, and Brogan waves her off. “I got it.”
“No,” she insists. “Please. I hounded you for months, the least you can do is let me grab food and drinks.”
Brogan doesn’t seem happy about it, but he gives in with a nod.
She sets some cash in the middle of the table and stands. Brogan gets to his feet as well.
“Archer and I are having some people over next weekend. Will you come?” he asks her.
“Uhh…maybe. Your buddy doesn’t seem like my biggest fan.”
“Archer’s cool,” Brogan says.
“He called me a stripper.”
I cough as I take a drink of my mimosa. That doesn’t sound like Archer, but then again, maybe it does. He’s loyal and I know how much Brogan means to him.
“He was kidding.” Brogan grins sheepishly. “Come. Bring some friends if you want, and I can introduce you to some of my teammates. I’ll make sure they all know you are not a stripper.”
“Or don’t. I’ll show up and tell them I’m the entertainment.”
“I think I might have to beat up some teammates if you do that.”
“Okay,” she agrees with a laugh. “Thanks for letting me crash brunch. This was fun. It was nice to meet you, London.”
“You too.”
Brogan moves around to hug her. “Text me this week.”
They embrace like two people who are still figuring out their relationship, but if I know Brogan—and I do—he’ll do everything he can to make her feel special and welcome.
When she’s gone, my boyfriend takes a seat next to me. He’s grinning big and looks lighter and happier than I’ve ever seen him, which is saying something.
We’ve spent the past weeks talking a lot about his parents, how they were rarely around, so basic things like food and clothes weren’t always available. He had to learn how to do his own laundry at a really early age and he forged their signatures so he could get things at school like free lunch. The stories were heartbreaking and hard to hear. He spent one whole week without water or electricity because they left him to go to a concert in California, and forgot to pay the utility bills. He was seven.
And when they were home, they treated him like his presence was a burden, often kicking him out if he made too much noise or got in the way.
Then Rosie Holland took him in, and Archer and his brothers looked out for him all these years. There’s a lot of hurt there that he’s ignored, but he has so many people that want only the best for him. I hope Sabrina can be one of those people too.
“I like her,” I tell him. It’s true. By all accounts, she truly wants to get to know her brother and doesn’t have any ulterior motives. I hope I’m right. Even Archer can’t find any flaws in her story, and he has definitely been looking for them.
“Me too.” He shakes his head, eyes glinting with happiness. “It’s weird having someone that’s part of me. Blood family that doesn’t suck. I never thought I’d have that.”
I run a hand through his hair and rest my fingers at the nape of his neck.
“I know she didn’t grow up the same way I did, but it’s like she feels that same sense of loss that I do. I know I was lucky, don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t change things if it meant not having the Hollands, but with her, I just feel like she gets it in a different way.”
“That makes sense,” I say. “Having a sister is a really unique and fun thing.”
“A sister.” He laughs. “She probably would have made my life hell growing up.”
“Like any good sister.” I bat my lashes.
He’s grinning like he’s still lost in the idea of Sabrina and what their life could have looked like together.
“You have lots of time for her to annoy and irritate you in all the ways sisters do.”
He leans forward and presses his lips to mine. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know. Everything.”
“You’re welcome.” I take another sip of my mimosa. “Did Archer really ask her if she was a stripper?”
“Not exactly, but he definitely put his foot in his mouth.”
“He’s protective of you.”
He bobs his head in agreement. “I know, but once he gets to know her, he’ll come around. I’m not worried.”
“What did she say when he asked if she was a stripper?”
“He didn’t ask her, he signed it to me.”
My eyes widen. “And she knew?”
“Yeah.” He laughs. “Turns out she knows ASL. Totally called him on it.”
“I like her more and more.”
“Hey,” he says, angling his body toward mine and placing one knee between my legs. “I have an idea of how we can spend the rest of the day.”
“You do, do you?” I ask, sounding genuinely intrigued by the possibility when I know very well it’s going to include us being naked.
He takes both of my hands in his. “Let’s go to your apartment.”
I chuckle. “Mhmmm.”
“And pack up all your stuff.”
My brows furrow. Okay, this isn’t going where I thought it was.
“And bring it to my place.”
“You want me to stay at your place for the weekend?”
“Yes.” He nods, placing a kiss on the inside of my elbow. My skin tingles. This man has made me insatiable.
“For the activities you have in mind, I don’t think I’m going to need my entire apartment.”
