Play Maker (Bitsberg Knights Duet)

“Thanks, Lacey. I really appreciate that. Rayna and Hudson need all the friends and support they can get. It’s been a long battle.”

Lacey nodded, and I turned back to face forward. She left me alone as I dug into the notes, filled with a renewed vigor to finally do something other than just stand on the sidelines and wring my hands while others tried to figure it out. They had all failed Hudson, and I refused to let that happen again.

No matter what the cost.

19

Shelby

The days all warped together once I got back to Bitsberg. I spent most of them locked away in my room, studying my notes and making phone calls to get advice on how to proceed.

Ross was busy with the team, getting ready for the playoff game, but he’d made me swear that I’d set aside my research for one night, New Year’s Eve. So, at seven o’clock, on the thirty-first, I was decked out in a sleek black dress that was shaped in a figure-flattering mermaid cut and would make Ross’s eyes pop out of his head. Among other things…

The doorbell rang, and my heart leapt into my throat. I fluffed my hair, ran my finger around the edges of my lips to swipe away any excess lipstick—fire engine red, because, why not—and then hurried to the door.

“Shelbs! James Bond’s here to pick you up,” Aunt Maggie bellowed up the stairs.

I rolled my eyes and placed my hand on the banister, channeling my inner Scarlet O’Hara as I started to descend. Ross was waiting for me at the bottom, and as expected, his eyes went wide at the sight of me. I also noted he shifted his weight back and forth as his eyes roamed over my hips and back up to my generously displayed cleavage, propped up with the magic of what seemed like an entire roll of double sided sticky tape.

“Damn girl! You are beautiful,” he managed, immediately drawing me into his arms. He pressed his lips against my ear and whispered, “There’s no fuckin’ way we’re making our dinner reservations.”

My cheeks warmed as I noted that we had a three person audience. “You don’t look too bad yourself, you know, for a big football dude.”

Ross chuckled as he released me. I took another look at him, wearing a suit that was tailored so well it hurt. Maybe he was right. Dinner was overrated.

“Can I take a picture?” my mom asked, holding up her phone.

I laughed. “We’re not going to the prom,” I said, still laughing as she snapped one, anyway.

“Come on, baby. Let’s do this prom style,” Ross said, spinning me around. He held me tight, his hands on my waist, and I bit my lip as his cock pressed into my ass. I dragged in a steeling breath and then plastered on my best prom smile for my mom as she snapped another picture.

“Thank you, Ross,” my mom said, shooting me a look. “At least one of you will humor me.”

I playfully slapped Ross’s arm as he beamed at my mom over my head. “He’s just trying to suck up because he wants some more of that chocolate torte you made at Christmas.”

“Anytime, dear.” My mom winked at Ross and pocketed her phone. Aunt Maggie and my dad laughed from their place by the doorway to the den.

“Have a good night, you two,” my dad said. “Drive safe.”

“Don’t take any unmarked pills,” Aunt Maggie chimed in. We all swiveled to look at her, a mixture of amusement and disbelief on all of our faces. She shrugged. “Just sayin’”

My dad wrapped an arm around her shoulder and directed her back to the den. “Have fun.”

“Bring me some party favors!” Aunt Maggie called out as she was herded away.

“Ready?” Ross asked, holding up my long black coat for me to slip on.

I giggled. “More than you could ever imagine.”

The look in his eyes told me that maybe he could.

The first stop of the night—after a playful argument in the car over whether or not to skip out on the event—was the venue. And we arrived looking a little more wrinkled than when we left my parents’ house. Chance, Lacey, and Aria were the first to greet us at the party which was a charity event put on by Chance and Lacey’s newly formed non-profit organization. They wanted to throw a big, year-end event and decided New Year’s Eve was the perfect night to invite their family, friends, sponsors, and colleagues to come out and enjoy an elegant party and dinner. Chance invited us the week before, right after the New York game, and we both agreed it would be fun.

“Lacey, you look gorgeous,” I said into her hair as we exchanged a quick embrace. She was decked out in a peacock blue gown and more diamonds than I could even count.