Page 17 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Nine

L andry

“My man!” I raise my hand for Harry, the head of the maintenance department and my partner in crime, to give me a high-five. “What’s new?”

“Everyone’s excited about family day.”

“Family day?” I have no idea what he’s talking about.

“Yep.” Harry grins. He prides himself on getting the scoop, and he especially enjoys it when he gets one over on me, which he has this time.

“Come on, now, you have to spill the tea.”

His grin grows wider, the skin around his eyes crinkling. “The Rampage is doing a family day. An event for all the players, their families, and the staff to get together to celebrate the start of the season.”

“Oh, yeah, and when was this announced? When is this family day that you speak of?”

“They sent out an email a few weeks ago. The missus is excited. This time, this isn’t a secret. Are you just messing with me, boy? You knew, didn’t you?” he asks.

“No. I didn’t know. Truly, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone and start scrolling through my long list of emails. Lo and behold, there it is. I don’t know how I missed it. Quickly, I skim the contents and shove the device back into my pocket.

“You gonna be there?” Harry asks.

“Harry, my man, Rampage is life,” I tell him, gently slapping a hand to his shoulder. “I’ll be there.”

“You bringing a lady friend?” he asks, wagging his eyebrows.

“They said family day.”

“So, that’s a no?”

I can’t help it. I laugh. Harry is always telling me I need a woman in my life and that he’d be lost without his wife. “That’s a no. I haven’t found her yet.”

“Well, you can’t have mine. So keep your muscles and your green eyes that the ladies seem to swoon over all to yourself.”

“I mean, maybe she needs a younger man in her life.” I hold my arms out at my sides. “Patty might want to trade you in for a new model.”

Harry’s belly shakes with laughter. “Get out of here with that nonsense. My Patty is just fine.”

“You better watch out, old man.”

“Whose side are you on?” he asks as I start walking backward toward the training room.

“Patty’s!” I call out before turning and heading down the hall.

His laughter carries after me. Pushing into the training room, I see Knox and Foster already on the treadmills.

Technically, we’re not required to be here, but our captain, also known as Knox, my best friend and brother-in-law, is a tyrant.

Well, not so much since he married my sister, but he still finds time to ride our asses about getting in shape for the season.

“Look who finally decided to show up,” Knox teases.

“I’m only here because I was forced.” That’s not true, and we all know it. Knox keeps us in line, but we have a taste of what it feels like to win the league championship, and we’re gunning for a repeat of that win this season. “Besides, it’s Harry’s fault.”

“Right.” Foster laughs. “You thrive on gossip and junk food. Anyway, what’s Harry got for us today?”

“Did you know about family day?” I ask them.

“Yeah,” they both agree. “They sent an email.”

“I missed it. You need to tell me these things.” I frown. I hate that Harry got one over on me.

“Start paying closer attention to your inbox.”

“Whatever,” I mumble. “Let’s get this over with. I’m starving.”

“Did you not eat breakfast?” Knox asks.

“That was an hour ago,” I tell him, and he just chuckles under his breath, shaking his head.

“Oh, so this is dire hunger then. We better get started,” he says with a laugh, just as Reid and Baker join us.

“Sorry, Natasha had a doctor’s appointment,” Baker says, running his hands through his hair.

“And I didn’t want to get my lazy ass out of bed,” Reid adds with a shrug.

I hop on a treadmill and let my mind drift to this family day.

The email said food and family fun. It’s a cool idea and just another reason why I love being a member of this organization.

The Rampage cares about its team and staff.

Speaking of staff, Rowan will be there. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her.

I know she’s been working with some of the guys on strength training to address old injuries.

She’s been here, but I haven’t seen her.

Maybe I should take a stroll through the training room after our workout and see if she’s there.

You know, to say hi and check in on her.

We each do a five-mile run and then move to the weights. We’re all sweating and smelling like ass, I’m sure, but we’re athletes, and we’re used to it. Wiping the sweat off my brow, I toss the towel and pick up the free weights.

“You know, Chaz is probably going to be there,” Reid tells me.

“Be where?” I ask, my mind instantly going to me smashing that fucker’s face in for what he did to Rowan.

“Family day.”

“Fuck, but he’s not supposed to report until training camp two weeks after.”

“In what scenario do you see the head office not making a new player feel welcome?” Reid asks.

“Motherfucker. We need to keep an eye on her.”

“We will,” Foster assures me.

“We’re not going to let him get to her,” Knox adds.

“She’s one of us now,” Baker tells me.

“Yeah, but so is he,” I mumble. The words taste sour as they cross my lips.

“We need a plan,” Reid says. “We can’t have that tool on our team. Not after what we know.”

“It’s too late, and Rowan is right. She lied when she went to the hospital.

We have no proof,” I say, fighting the anger in my veins.

He’s a coward and a bully beating up a woman.

One who needed him when she had no one. He took advantage of her, and for that, he’s going to pay. I just don’t know how.

“So, we watch him,” Baker says. “Guys like him, they think they’re invincible, but he’ll screw up, and we’ll nail him.”

“I think that’s our best bet. We need to keep our mouths shut.”

“I’m not going to be buddy-buddy with him,” I spit the words. The thought of being nice to him disgusts me.

“You don’t have to be his best friend or invite him over, but you’ll need to be civil,” Knox reminds me.

“I fucking hate it. That’s not who we are.” Not us as a team or us as men. We don’t beat on women.

“I know, brother,” Knox says, his eyes telling me he understands that this is more than just a man beating up on his woman. I can’t explain it. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to find the words. What I can say is that I feel protective of her.

“It’ll all work out,” Baker says. “Look at me and my situation. We’ll make the best of it, keep our eyes and ears open, and we’ll get something on him. It might take us some time, but we’ll get there.”

“Yeah,” I agree. I just hope he’s right. I hate the thought of that man being anywhere near Rowan or my sister. Hell, any woman, for that matter. He’s a piece of shit, and there is no place for him here.

I’ll just have to do better. Keep an eye on her and, mostly, an eye on him. Because a tiger doesn’t change his stripes, and one day, his shit is going to catch up with him. They do say shit rolls downhill, right?

An hour later, our workout is done, and I swing by the therapy and training rooms looking for Rowan. I find her with her boss, the head trainer, John, and the rest of their team. She looks busy, so I leave her alone. At least I’ve set eyes on her and the fucker Brown is nowhere in sight.

“Damn, they went all out,” Baker says from his spot next to me.

“They did,” I agree as we take in the Rampage field that contains bounce houses, a face painting station, a guy making balloon animals, a few carnival games, and food and ice cream vendors. “It’s a genius idea.”

“Agreed. It’s hard to believe next year, I’ll have a kid here with me.”

“How’s that going? Y’all still getting along?” I glance at him.

He shrugs. “It’s weird as fuck, but it’s been fine, I guess. She keeps me updated with her appointments, her cravings, and name ideas. She’s due at the end of training camp. It’s going to be a lot. Being a single dad to a newborn, but that’s my kid, you know?”

“Yeah,” I agree. “I’m here for whatever you need.”

“Thanks, man. Corie, Sloane, and Rowan have all offered to help me. I know I’ll need to hire help for the season, at the least, but leaving my new baby with strangers doesn’t sit well with me.

I’ve never met this kid, but he or she is a part of me.

It almost feels like a dream, and then I wake up to a text from Natasha telling me the baby kicked her all night long, and it’s like a slap in the face that it’s my reality. ”

“I won’t try to pretend to understand what you’re going through.

It’s fucked up for sure, but you’ve got this, Daddy Sinclair,” I say, grinning.

“The ladies will help, and I’m sure they’d help vet a nanny for you as well, when you’re ready.

In the meantime, let us help you. If you need a break, call one of us.

We might not be great with babies, but damn, man, we can learn with you. That’s our niece or nephew, after all.”

“Thanks, Reynolds,” he says, his voice raspy with emotion.

“What’s good to eat?” I ask, trying to break up the heavy of the moment.

Baker laughs. “I don’t know, man, but I’m certain you’re about to find out.”

“You know it.” I clamp a hand on his shoulder before walking off toward the food.

It smells fucking delicious, and you know I can always eat.

However, before I can follow my nose to the smell of what’s sure to be greatness for my belly, I see Rowan.

I’d recognize that blonde hair and that ass anywhere.

It’s been far too long since I’ve seen her, so for once, my belly is going to have to wait.

I detour and head toward her. I look past her to see who she’s talking to, and I see red.

I quicken my pace, and when I reach her, I toss my arm over her shoulder and press a kiss to her temple.

“Hey, baby.” I smile down at her. Her brow furrows just slightly, so I lean in and place my lips next to her ear.

“Just roll with it.” She relaxes into me, putting her hand on my chest.