Page 11 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Six

R owan

It’s Memorial Day weekend, and the gang’s all here celebrating at Knox and Corie’s place. Corie and Sloane have officially adopted me into their friendship group, and I love them for it.

I left Los Angeles scared to be on my own, but I knew I had to get away. The job with the Rampage was a long shot, but it brought me to Nashville. To this amazing group of humans who I’ve come to adore.

“What are they yacking about over there?” Sloane asks.

We’re currently sitting under the warm spring sun. The pool water is heated, but we’ve not been swimming yet. Instead, we’re soaking up some much-needed Vitamin D.

“They’re killing my mood,” she grumbles.

“What mood is that?” I ask her.

“Calm. Zen,” Sloane says, sounding half asleep.

“I think they’re talking about football. Knox mentioned a trade earlier, so if I had to guess, they’re gossiping about that,” Corie explains.

“And they say women are bad,” Sloane scoffs. “Those five are worse than my grandma and her quilt-making buddies. They gossip all the time.”

Corie and I laugh. She’s not wrong. I’ve been around them for a while now, and I've noticed that the guys like to gossip. Landry seems to lead the pack, with Reid coming in at a close second.

“They get it from Harry,” Corie adds. “That man and my brother know everything about everything. It’s annoying.”

“Yeah, but they didn’t know about you and Knox.” I peek open my eyes just in time to see Sloane, with her eyes closed, holding her fist out to Corie to bump knuckles.

“They did not. Knox and I should get a medal or something for being able to dupe them.” Corie snickers.

“You definitely snuck one past them,” Sloane agrees. “Their bellies are full. They should be napping or something,” Sloane says when the guys' laughter carries over to us.

“Maybe we should go see what the fuss is about?” I suggest.

“You know what? We might as well,” Corie says. “This one is going to keep complaining about the noise, and I’ll admit I’m nosy.” She chuckles.

“You two go on. Tell them to keep it down, would ya?” Sloane asks.

“I’ve earned this downtime. This last month of school has been brutal.

The kids were over it, and to be honest, so was I.

I know that sounds bad, but you try wrangling twenty rambunctious four-year-olds every day.

It’s… a lot,” she says with a heavy exhale.

“You sit right there and soak up the sun,” Corie tells her. She nods to me, and I stand with her as we walk to the other side of the pool, where the guys are sitting under a huge umbrella.

There’s one open seat next to Landry, and Knox pulls Corie onto his lap, making the decision easy.

“What’s going on over here?” Corie asks.

“Just talking about a trade that was announced today,” Knox tells her.

“Yeah? Good or bad?” she asks.

“None of us know him, but he’s got a rep for being an asshole. I guess he requested to come to Nashville. No one knows why, but he took a pay cut to be here,” Knox explains.

“Because you’re the league champs. Of course he wants to play with a winning team. Who wouldn’t?” Corie replies.

“Who is it?” I ask. As an assistant physical therapist for the Rampage, I’ll be working with him, too, and call me nosy as well. I’m definitely curious. Also, there is this slight shimmer of worry that it might be him . Even though I know he loves Los Angeles and the fame he has there.

“Chaz Brown, a cornerback from Los Angeles,” Baker tells me.

Instantly, my body freezes. My heart starts racing, and I can feel my vision blurring. I force air into my lungs and will myself to calm down. I’m hearing things, right? He didn’t really say his name.

“W-Who?” I manage to squeak out.

“Chaz Brown,” Knox says slowly.

I shake my head. “No. No. This can’t be happening.” My breathing is labored, and I can feel it coming on—a panic attack.

“Hey,” a soothing voice murmurs. I feel pressure on my thigh and blink hard once, twice, three times to see it’s Landry’s hand.

“You’re okay,” he says softly. “Just breathe in like this.” He takes in a slow, deep breath and then exhales just as slowly.

“Match me, Roe, you can do it,” he says calmly.

“Eyes on me,” he says, his tone soothing yet commanding.

I do what he says, keeping my eyes on him and matching my breathing to his. It takes a few pulls of air into my lungs before I feel my body start to settle.

“There she is,” he says softly. His hand is still resting on my thigh, and his gorgeous green eyes are full of concern. “You’re okay,” he tells me.

Closing my eyes, I will the ground to swallow me whole. I’m so embarrassed. Just when I found people—friends who were here for me—I go and have a panic attack over hearing a name. His name.

“Here. Take a drink.” He twists the cap off a bottle of water and hands it to me.

My hands tremble as I take a slow sip, then another. Landry reaches over and pushes my hair off my face. I’m sweating profusely, and I can only imagine what I look like. “Thank you,” I manage to push the words past my lips after another few sips of water.

Without looking away from me, he places the water on the table. He traces my knee with his thumb, the sensation soothing. “I’m sorry.” I cover my face with my hands. I just want to crawl into a hole and disappear.

“There is nothing for you to be sorry for,” Landry says, keeping his voice soft.

Shuddering a breath, I drop my hands and meet his eyes. “I’m okay,” I tell him.

“Damn right, you are.” He gives me an assertive nod, and I can’t help it. It makes me smile. It's just the corner of my lips, but it’s better than a panic attack.

“Do you know him? Do you know Chaz?” Corie asks gently.

I nod. “Yeah.”

“You don’t have to tell us.” Landry is quick to defend me. “Only if you want to.”

“It’s kind of a long story.”

“We’ve got nothing but time for you, Rowan,” Landry tells me.

His words give me reassurance. They’re my friends, they should know about my past. Especially if I have to pack up and leave the life I’ve been building here.

“What he said,” Corie agrees, as the rest of the guys softly murmur their agreements too. “You’re a part of our Rampage family,” Corie adds.

“Thank you.” I smile at my new friend. “I’ve never been a part of a family. Not one that I wanted to be a part of.” Landry’s hand tightens on my knee, and Corie’s eyes soften because I’m only looking at her.

“You have one now,” Knox says, his voice gruff.

“Rowan?” I turn to the sound of Sloane calling my name. She’s walking toward us with concern in her eyes. “What happened? Are you okay?”

“She’s good,” Landry answers for me, his thumb now tracing lazy circles on my knee.

“Pull up a chair,” I tell her with a grimace. Telling this is not going to be easy, but I can’t hide from this. I can’t hide from Chaz, especially if he’s being traded to the Rampage.

“Come on over,” Reid tells her. He pushes back from the table and pats his lap, and Sloane moves slowly and plops down on his thighs.

All eyes are on me.

“You don’t have to,” Landry says softly.

“I need to. I want to.” I inhale and slowly release the breath from my lungs, and then I start to talk.

“This is a long one. Before I start, I don’t want your pity.

You need my background to understand why I stayed, and I value your friendships.

” I take a minute to glance at Corie, Sloane, and even the guys.

They’re all my friends. “I’ve never truly had friends that were mine…

just for me. I want you to understand why I freaked out. ”

“We love you,” Sloane tells me. “You’re one of us.”

The group murmurs their agreement while Landry keeps his hand on my knee. Somehow, his touch is grounding. It’s been so long since I’ve felt a comforting touch, and never one like this—given for the sake of nothing but comfort, not out of any kind of obligation.

“I grew up in foster care. I won’t bore you with the specifics, but by the time my mother lost all parental rights, I was too old for those who were looking to adopt.

I bounced around from foster home to foster home.

Everything I owned didn’t fill up a trash bag.

The families I lived with… most of them were in it for the money or for an older kid to watch and entertain their younger biological children.

When I was eight, I was placed with a good family.

They were nice to me, and I didn’t feel afraid to go to bed at night.

Three months later, my foster dad was transferred to a new job out of state, and back to another home I went.

” I pause, taking a breath, staring down at Landry’s hand that’s still on my knee.

“I was one of the lucky ones. I’ve heard so many horror stories from foster homes.

I’ve lived them alongside some of my foster siblings, but for me, I was spared the worst of the worst. However, there were no hugs, no simple touches, no smiles or reassurances.

” My hands are on my lap, and Landry reaches over and laces his fingers through mine, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

“No more,” he says. His voice is gravelly, and his eyes are full of remorse. I hate it, but at least it’s not pity I see staring back at me.

I give him a short, stiff smile and continue with my story before I lose my nerve.

“It was never home. I was always a guest. I was never allowed to grab a snack from the kitchen or watch my favorite shows. I was an inconvenience. A paycheck.” Landry’s hand tightens on mine, which holds all of my attention.

It’s why I don’t notice Corie as she comes at me from behind and wraps her arms around me in a hug.

“I’m so sorry, Rowan. And no, this is not pity. This is me caring for my friend. This is me showing you that you’re not an inconvenience, and you’re not a paycheck. You’re someone I care about.”