Page 20 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

It just took me a while to find them, and I’m so damn lucky I finally did. I don’t know if his plan will work, but knowing that he and all our friends are behind us helps ease some of my worries.

“Get a room!” I think it’s Reid who yells it, and I don’t know why, but I start laughing. Not just “haha,” he’s funny, but belly-shaking, uncontrollable laughter. Landry does, too, and it takes us a few minutes to get ourselves composed.

When we do, he lifts his hands, and both of them settle on my cheeks. “I like that sound,” Landry says, smiling down at me.

“What sound?” I furrow my brow. I’m so focused on us that I haven’t been paying attention to anything else going on around us. Even the fact that Chaz is nearby doesn’t seem to penetrate the bubble we’ve found ourselves in.

“Your laugh.” His tone is serious, and so is the look in his eyes when he drops his lips to my forehead before pulling away. “You’re just jealous of me and my girl!” Landry calls back to Reid. He looks down at me. “She’s mine.” Two words softly spoken so only I can hear him.

My heart races out of control.

“She was mine first, big brother.” Corie reaches for my hand and tugs me away from him. “You have to share.”

“Knox doesn’t share.”

“When you put a ring on it, you don’t have to,” Knox calls back.

Landry’s heated gaze finds me. “Is that how I get my girl all to myself?”

“Yep!” Corie says, and we turn and walk away.

Sloane rushes to catch up with us, linking my free arm with hers, and we walk away. “Oh, my hotness,” Sloane says, pretending to fan her face with her free hand.

“Right?” Corie asks.

“What? What hotness? What did I miss?” I ask them, trying to catch up. “Where are we going?”

“We’re taking a walk so you and your boyfriend can cool things down. There are kids present,” Corie teases.

“And hotness is the way he looks at you. I’ve known Landry since I was in kindergarten, so basically all my life, and never have I seen him act like he is today,” Sloane tells me.

“We’re acting, guys,” I say in a low voice. “We texted you.”

“That’s not acting, but you can keep telling yourself that,” Sloane says.

“No. I mean, yes, that’s what we’re doing. He’s helping me. You know that.” I try to reason with them.

Corie leads us to a row of tables where no one else is within earshot except for the three of us, and we each take a seat. “Yes, you’re acting, but sometimes that gives you the freedom to express things you might not normally express.”

“Your brother… he could have anyone he wanted. He’s just being the nice guy that he is.”

“He wants you.” Sloane grins, bouncing her eyebrows.

“Stop.” I push at her shoulder, and she laughs.

“Chaz was hounding me, and Landry noticed. He walked up to me and put his arm around me, and before either of us knew what was happening, he was telling Chaz that he and I were dating. He even went as far as to offer Chaz his hand and thank him for screwing up with me and letting him have his chance.”

“Damn, Reynolds is bringing his A game.” Sloane nods approvingly.

“Good. I’m glad he’s helping you. But, as his sister who only wants to see her big brother happy, keep an open mind, yeah?”

“Trust me, that’s not where this is going.”

“She’s all loved up with her new hubby, and now she wants everyone around her to be in the same boat,” Sloane explains.

“I don’t know that being loved up is anywhere in my future.”

“Count me in. If I ever find a man who looks at me the way Knox looks at our girl here, I’m all in,” Sloane says.

“Just be careful,” I warn her. “Make sure those looks are real, and—never mind. I know I’m jaded, and I hope one day that will change.

I ignored so many signs because I didn’t want to be alone.

It took him sending me to the hospital to realize I wasn’t living and that bad attention isn’t better than no attention.

I wasn’t getting comfort and affection, but it was all that I knew, so I put up with it.

Please, just make sure, before you take the leap, that he’s truly one of the good ones.

Like them.” I nod to where the guys are as they head in our direction.

“You’ll find him,” Corie tells me. “And when you do, give yourself the freedom to try again. To put your trust and your love in someone who deserves it.”

I nod because there’s a knot in my throat, making it impossible to speak.

“You ladies about ready to head out?” Knox asks. He walks over to stand behind Corie and places his hands on her shoulders.

I feel two strong hands on mine as well and tilt my head back to see Landry standing behind me. “You ready to head home?”

“I drove.” We’re not together, but he’s pulling this off. I’ll give him that.

“I know, but you aren’t leaving here when he can follow you. As far as we know, he doesn’t know what you’re driving. I’ll drive you back to my place. We’re all headed there anyway to swim and chill. I’ll bring you back later.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“You’re my girl.” Landry shrugs as if those three words don’t send my heart racing.

“I agree with him,” Baker speaks up. “We don’t know if he’s watching, and it wouldn’t make sense for you to leave without each other. I rode with Foster, so I’ll just drive your car back to Landry’s place. Easy fix.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Honestly, you’re saving me. Have you ever ridden with this guy?” He points to Foster, who just chuckles.

“Thank you, Baker.”

“You’re welcome. So, we’re all heading back to Landry’s. Do we need any supplies?” Baker asks.

“Nope. I’m all stocked up. We have food for the grill, snacks, drinks, and beer. If I don’t have it, we don’t need it,” Landry jokes. “I even got that fruity shit you ladies love so much. We’re doing Fourth of July right,” he says with excitement.

“Bro, are you hungry again?” Foster asks.

“Is that a real question?” Landry grins at him.

Foster shakes his head, amusement lining his features. “Let’s get out of here.”

Landry offers me his hand, and I take it, allowing him to help me to my feet.

Together, our fingers laced, we head out of the stadium with our heads held high.

We made it through today, but I know this isn’t the last I’ll hear from Chaz.

I could feel his eyes on us all day, and I’m sure he was seething but trying to maintain his composure to protect his image and his new position on the team.

He’ll get to me sooner or later, and when he does, that’s when I’ll have to leave.