Learn the Play (Nashville Rampage #3)

Chapter 1

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 is pretty 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 his wife. 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.

“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.