Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1)(6)

“Listen, it’s late and my family is doing the whole party thing for me tomorrow. I should probably be going,” I say and pull out my phone to look at the time.

He reaches in his pocket and retrieves his phone. He swipes his finger across the screen then looks up at me and frowns. He turns the phone toward me.

“I think your friend left with my buddy,” he says almost like he is apologizing for Stacey.

“Oh, um, I’ll just take a cab,” I reply as I read his text then look back at my phone to see a similar message from Stacey.

“You had a lot to drink. I have a car waiting for me. I could give you a ride home if you like,” he says with concern.

“No that’s fine,” I say and stand up. I turn to leave and the room spins with me. He is right behind me steadying me with his hands on my waist.

I turn to face him and have to take a step back and put my head back. Man he is really tall and I have on heels. He smiles down at me and snakes an arm around my waist.

“At least let me walk you out and make sure you get in a cab,” he says with a bit of a plea in his voice.

“Ok,” I consent.

I am more wasted than I thought. He stops at the bar to close his tab and pay the bill, asking for a bottle of water for me. I guzzle the water but still need his help walking out of the club. The fresh air helps, but only a little.

“Hey, are you sure I can’t give you a ride home? I would feel better if I did, you are pretty drunk,” he says with concern.

I look up at him nervously and chew on my bottom lip. He has been really nice all night and I am probably safer with him than in a cab with a driver I really don’t know. I bounce in place as indecision wars in my head.

“Okay,” I sigh heavily and he seems to relax.

He helps me over to his waiting Limousine and I slide inside. He gets in after me and sits close. I kick off my shoes and lean against his arm.

“You remind me of my brother,” I murmur sleepily. “A big old bear, safe and ready to protect, are you soft and cuddly?”

“Not right now, sweetheart,” he replies huskily.

I ignore his insinuation and wiggle under his big arm. “Mmm, you’ll do just fine,” I yawn and snuggle into him.

He brushes my hair out of my face and cups my cheek. “Sweetheart, you have to give the driver your address,” he chuckles.

“Oh, right,” I say and pop up, “but no personal information.”

I crawl over to the window bordering between us and the driver and knock. He rolls the window down and I lean to whisper my address to him. He chuckles and nods his head.

“You got it,” I chirp.

“Yes, ma’am. We’ll get you home,” he says with a nod of his head.

“Great,” I slur and crawl back over to Dimples.

He is smiling at me and laughing. This time I crawl into his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. His arms tighten around me and I snuggle in.

“Perfect,” I murmur before passing out.





Chapter 2


I feel someone gently shaking me out of my sleep. I open my eyes to find a pair of blue ones staring down at me. I blink a few times and he smiles.

“You’re home Sweetheart, wake up,” he says softly. I try to peel myself off of him but he tightens his grip. “Here hold onto your purse.”

He ducks out of the car taking me with him in his arms like I am nothing more than a football. He turns and asks the driver to hand him my shoes, letting him hook them onto his fingers. He turns making his way up the path to my front door and sets me on my feet before it. I fish out my keys and open the door stumbling inside.

“Counselor,” he calls from behind me. I look over my shoulder at him and raise my brow in question. “Your shoes Darlin’.”

“You can drop them right there,” I point. “After you come in and shut the door.”

I turn and start for the kitchen again. I hear the door shut behind me then the sound of his heavy footfalls as he follows me. I pull out a glass and pour myself some wine.

“I think my brother left some beer here. Would you like one?”

I look up to find him watching me. “Sure,” he replies. “Can I use your restroom?”

“Yeah, first door on the right.” I point him in the right direction.

I open the refrigerator and pull out a cold beer and open it. I set it on the counter for when he comes back. I decide to go use the bathroom in my room while he is doing the same in the powder room. When I am finished I go back to pick up my glass and the bottle and go into the living room. I sit down on one side of the couch and he sits on the other end nursing his beer.

“Tell me about football without getting into personal information,” I say as I pull my feet up and turn toward him.

He gives me a huge grin and starts with his father teaching him the game. I listen to him as his voice pulls me in. The more he talks, the more I sip at the wine and the closer to him I move. Until I am right beside him and my knee brushes his thigh.

“And here I am now, a pro player,” he says with a great big smile. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“For starters, not that I am one, as we established at the club,” he says with a smile, “but why the aversion to white men?”

I shrug. “Never really thought about it, I guess I’ve never really been attracted to one before.” I wrinkle my nose thinking about it. “It’s not that I haven’t thought of any of them as attractive I just never seen myself with a white guy. Don’t take it personal. I haven’t been with any type of man, white, black, purple, or orange in seven years.”