Page 22 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

“Thank you for earlier. I didn’t mean to seem ungrateful for all that you’re doing to keep Chaz away, but I’d feel terrible if you got in trouble because of me.”

“Roe, if I get in trouble, it’s because of him and his actions. Not you. Never you,” I say, reaching out and tucking a loose strand of hair that’s fallen out of her ponytail behind her ear. Her hair is so fucking soft, just like silk.

“Here.” I hand her an orange. “It was the last one, so I grabbed it for you.”

Her eyes soften. “Thank you, Landry.”

Leaning over, I peck a kiss on her cheek.

“Anything for my girl.” I’ve noticed that every day for the last couple of weeks, she always grabs an orange.

When I saw it was the last one, I didn’t want her to miss out.

That’s what a good boyfriend is supposed to do, right?

Hell, I don’t know. I’ve never been a boyfriend.

Sure, I know right from wrong and how to treat people.

My only experience is a few dates here and there.

Maybe I need to start paying more attention to Knox and Corie to make sure I’m not fucking this up.

Because the more time I’m around Rowan, the more chances I get to hold her hand and call her mine, and the feeling of rightness that settles in my chest with each interaction, I know that’s what she’s going to be.

Mine.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

“Are you finished for the day too?” I ask, shoving a huge bite of grilled chicken into my mouth.

Training camp is all the healthy shit. I can’t wait to get out of here and eat a greasy cheeseburger.

At least for me, my girl is here. I guess Knox has that, as well.

Corie has been floating around taking pictures for the Rampage social media accounts.

“I am. Unless there’s an injury that needs tending to.”

“I can think of something you can work on for me,” I tell her, and instantly, that blush of hers that I love so much colors her cheeks.

“You just can’t seem to help yourself, can you?” she asks, shaking her head.

“Not where you’re concerned,” I admit. She thinks I’m teasing, but it’s the truth. With every moment I get of hers, I crave fifty more. It’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me, but it also feels right. I’m supposed to be sitting here with her.

“I’m over grilled chicken,” Reid says, plopping down in a chair across from us.

I want to tell him to move along, but he’s one of my best friends, so I just shovel more healthy shit into my mouth instead.

“Funny, Landry was just saying the same thing,” Rowan tells him.

Reid nods. Out of all of my friends, he’s the most like me with food. “Why are you all hiding in the back corner? It took me forever to find you. I texted the others to tell them where we were.”

It hasn’t occurred to my friend that I was sitting here alone with the beautiful Rowan for a reason, you know, like privacy. I’m about to say just that when my sister and Knox show up, closely followed by Foster and Baker.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Corie says, putting her tray down and leaning over to give Rowan a hug. “This is my first training camp, and I thought I was going to be surrounded by sweaty men.” She wrinkles her nose.

“I thought you liked me sweaty?” Knox asks her.

“Ahh,” I say, dropping my fork to my plate and covering my ears.

Rowan laughs, placing her hand on my arm to lower it. “They’re married, Landry,” she says softly.

Dropping my hand below the table, I grab hers and lace our fingers together.

I’m not left-handed, but I pick up my fork and go to town on my food with my left hand.

If hearing Knox talk about my sister gets me to hold her hand, he can say whatever he wants.

I’ll just block him out as I think about how soft her skin is and how right it feels to be sitting here with her like this.

Dinner is loud, with all of us talking and laughing. When it’s time to call it a night, I walk Rowan to the parking lot. “You can stay with me,” I tell her. I have a single room, being a veteran on the team.

There it is, that damn smile that lights me up from the inside. “Thank you, but I need to go home and shower.”

“Text me when you get home?”

“I will.” Sensing someone watching us, I lean in and bury my face in her neck, wrapping my arms around her. “Be safe, baby,” I whisper. She hesitates for a few seconds before wrapping her arms around me and returning my embrace.

“I will,” she says when I finally step back. She turns to walk to her car, and I watch her until she’s inside and driving away.

“It won’t last,” a deep voice says from behind me. I don’t have to look to know who it is.

“Oh yeah?” I say, turning to face him.

“She’ll come back to me.”

I can’t help it. I laugh. Right in his face.

“You’re delusional. Do you think she’ll go back to you so you can control her?

So you can isolate her? Oh, no, I bet it’s so that you can put her back in the hospital.

” With each word, I step closer until we’re chest to chest. “Rowan is mine. You had your chance, and you fucked it up. Too bad for you. I’m a smart man, and I make damn sure every day that she knows how amazing she is.

I know her worth, and I’ll make sure she knows it too. ”

“We have history,” he says through gritted teeth.

“History of mental, emotional, and physical abuse. Walk away, man. Just fucking walk away. Don’t push this or her.

” I’m barely holding onto my anger. I keep thinking about how upset Rowan will be if I punch this fuck face.

Not to mention Coach Warner’s wrath. He needs to throw the first punch, then it’s game on.

“Everything okay here?” Brian Stout, the defensive coordinator, asks.

“All good, Coach. Chaz here was just leaving.”

Chaz glares at me but turns and stalks off.

“There’s something off about that one,” Brian mutters.

“You have no idea,” I tell him, slapping him on the shoulder and heading up to my room. Kicking off my shoes, I strip down to my boxer briefs and plop down on the bed with my phone in my hand, waiting for Rowan to text me. Five minutes later, my phone vibrates.

Rowan: I’m home.

Me: Good. Lock up.

Rowan: Yes, sir.

My cock jumps, and fuck texting. I hit her contact for a video call and wait for her to pick up.

“I just saw you,” she says, laughing as she answers.

“Like an hour ago.”

More laughter, the musical sound calms my frayed nerves. “More like twenty minutes. Thirty tops.”

“Fine, I missed you.” It’s not a line. I do miss her when she’s not with me.

“Wizardry,” she mumbles.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“You’re trying to cast some type of wizardly spell on me with all of your sweet and charming words.”

“That’s just me, babe.”

“The ladies don’t have a chance.” She chuckles.

“Nope. There is only one lady in my life. Well, two if you count my sister. No, make that three because Sloane might as well be my sister too.”

“And the third?” she asks.

“There’s this girl. She’s got long blonde hair and these big blue eyes that rival the sky on a warm summer’s day. I’ve been spending a lot of time with her, and I don’t hate it.”

“Hmm, I bet she doesn’t hate it either.”

My heart hammers inside my chest as if I just ran the full length of the field for a touchdown.

“It’s you, Rowan. In case you didn’t get that.

” I know she did, but I don’t want to play games.

I wanted to feel her out, but she admitted she doesn’t hate spending time with me, and yeah, I just needed to make sure she understood that it was her.

“Landry—” She shakes her head, her blue eyes full of something I can’t name.

“Don’t say anything. I just needed you to know.”

“You should get some sleep. We don’t need you getting hurt.”

“I’ll see you in the morning?”

“I’ll be there. Good night, number one.”

“Number one in the program and in your heart.” I wink, and she laughs. She waves at the screen before it goes black.

After plugging my phone in to charge, I close my eyes. I can see her smile and hear her laughter, and that’s how I fall asleep, surrounded by all things Rowan.