Page 25 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Thirteen

L andry

The locker room is lit up. The entire team, along with the staff, is amped for game time.

Today is the first preseason game for us, and we’re ready.

We’ve had the taste of a championship, and I hope like hell we can get a repeat.

Training camp was good with no injuries, and practices have been on point. We’re conditioned and ready for battle.

The room is loud, and everyone is excited. I am, too, but this year, this game feels different. Not because we’re last year’s league champs, although that’s part of it, but the larger part is the woman who’s going to be watching me from the sidelines.

Rowan.

Over the last two weeks, we’ve been talking on the phone every night.

We start out texting, and by the end of the night, I’m video chatting with her because I need to see those beautiful blue eyes before I fall asleep.

She’s opened up to me about growing up in foster care and her time with that fucker, Brown.

We’ve grown close, and dare I say, she’s my best friend.

Yes, Knox still also holds that title, but this is different.

Whatever this is with Rowan is intense and feels like so much more than friendship.

We’ve had dinner out a few times. I blew it off that the public needed to see us together to see that we were truly dating.

I lied. I just wanted to have dinner with her.

It’s as simple as that. However, I was worried that I was coming on too strong, so I hid behind the fake dating.

The fake dating that’s not so fake anymore. Not for me.

I don’t think it is for her, either, but I’ve been too chicken shit to ask her.

I’ve fallen hard and fast for this woman, and the thought of her pushing me away doesn’t sit well.

So, instead, I hide behind the ruse. Every time we’ve gone out, and I’ve walked her to her door, I’ve ached to kiss her.

To show her that I’m falling for her, but I’ve held off. She’s too important to move too fast.

I can wait as long as it takes for her to be ready. I just hope that one day, she’s willing to take a chance on letting another man, specifically me, into her heart, because she’s damn well slithered her way into mine.

I’m dressed in full pads in my uniform and ready to go.

There’s still some time before we head out to the field.

I might as well have a snack. I work my way to the food table and grab a bag of chips.

They’re baked and not my favorite, but it’s food, and it’s free, so who am I to complain?

As I eat my chips, I find myself heading toward the training rooms.

Heading toward Rowan.

I spot her immediately. She’s wearing khaki pants and a Rampage polo.

Her hair is pulled back in a low ponytail, and her ass in those pants is sensational.

It pisses me off that every man in this stadium and on television gets to see her like this.

There is no looking away from the beauty of my Rowan.

“Fancy meeting you here,” I call out, popping a chip into my mouth.

Rowan lifts her head from where she is packing her training bag and smiles. “Pregame snack?” she asks.

“Yep.” I flash her a toothy grin and toss another chip into my mouth.

“Are you nervous at all?” she asks, hopping up on one of the treatment tables, her legs swinging back and forth.

“Nah, nothing to be nervous about.”

“You’re right. Playing in front of thousands of fans in the stadium and millions more on television is just another Sunday.” She shakes her head, a soft smile playing on her lips.

“It is for me,” I say, walking farther into the room. I hop up on the table next to her and offer her a chip. She takes one, and I don’t know why, but my heart swells. “I don’t share with just anyone,” I tell her, grabbing another chip for myself.

“I feel special.”

“That’s because you are.” I lean my shoulder into hers, hoping like hell she can hear the sincerity of my words.

“You’re something else, Landry Reynolds.”

She’s smiling, which makes my heart beat faster. Finishing off my chips, I stand from the treatment table, toss the empty bag into a nearby trash can, and come to stand in front of her. “You ready?”

She raises her brows. “Ready for what?” she asks cautiously.

“Our handshake.”

“What?” she asks, confusion and humor clear in her tone.

“Our handshake. All my touchdowns today are for you, and we need a handshake to celebrate.”

Her mouth opens as if she’s going to speak and then quickly closes. I watch her throat as she swallows hard, licks her lips, and tries again. “For me?” Her question is softly spoken and filled with uncertainty.

I step closer, and she opens her thighs, allowing room for me.

I’m in full pads, but I can still feel her heat.

Lifting my hand, I rest it against her cheek.

“Who else would they be for, Roe?” I want to kiss her.

Fuck me, I want to kiss her. I don’t want our first kiss to be in a stinky locker room, but the urge is so fucking intense.

I’ve never wanted the taste of a kiss this badly.

My need for her grows stronger every damn day.

“That’s a lot of pressure,” she murmurs.

“Nah, no pressure. Just me showing my girl she’s important.”

“We’re pretending,” she murmurs.

I lean in closer. I’m so close there is barely any space between her lips and mine.

Just a little more and my lips would be pressed to hers.

“Are we, though?” I ask. She sucks in a breath, and I can’t stop myself as I close the remaining distance and press my lips to hers.

It’s just a quick peck, but the meaning is the same.

I’m not pretending.

Not anymore.

I’m not sure I ever really was. I don’t know what’s going on with me or with us, but I know that I want to give us the time to figure it out. Not because her ex is here, but because she’s all I can think about, and that small little peck of her lips, it’s not enough. Not for me.

This isn’t how our first kiss should have happened, but this is who we are.

I’m a professional athlete, and she’s a part of the physical therapy team.

This is our life, our jobs, and honestly, I’ll take any piece of this woman, any way that I can have her.

I’ll just have to make it up to her later when we celebrate our win and all of her touchdowns.

Dropping my hand from her cheek, I take her hand in mine. “Now, this handshake. We have to have something to celebrate because I’m sure that Coach Warner will have my ass if I run to the sidelines to kiss my girl after each of my touchdowns.”

“Multiple?” she asks.

“When they’re all for you, yes.” I nod.

“You kissed me.”

I chuckle. “I did. Was that okay?”

She nods. “I didn’t expect it.”

“But you wanted it?”

“I wasn’t sure. It’s been so long. I assumed I’d freak out, but I didn’t. Not when it’s you.”

I stand a little taller at her words. “That’s my girl.” Needing more of her, I lean in and peck her lips for the second time. I hate that this is where we are, surrounded by smelly teammates and gear, but it feels right.

Right for us.

“Now, give me your hand.” I take her hand in mine.

Fuck, her skin is so soft. “Let’s do this.

We bump knuckles, then fist each other’s hands, lean in for a hug, kind of like a chest bump, and then we’ll blow it up.

” I release my hand and spray out my fingers.

“Boom!” I say, and she tosses her head back in laughter.

It’s pure, genuine, and completely intoxicating.

“I’m going to need you to go through that again.” She’s smiling. Those beautiful blue eyes of hers are sparkling, and I swear, I feel as though I’m ten feet fucking tall with the way she’s looking at me right now.

“All right, here we go.” We run through the handshake three more times, and by the time we’re done, she’s giggling, and I’m smiling so hard, my face might crack.

“Reynolds!” Coach Warner booms. “Stop flirting with your girlfriend, and get over here.” He’s not mad. It’s not his angry voice.

“All eyes are on us,” I whisper.

“Yeah,” she agrees.

“I’m going to kiss you again,” I warn her.

“Because they’re watching.” She nods solemnly.

“No, baby. Because I have to.” Leaning down, I kiss her again. It’s a peck, innocent enough, but it still lights my soul on fire. “I’ll see you out there.” With a grin and a wink, I move back to the main part of the locker room.

“Nice of you to join us.” Coach smirks.

“Sorry, Coach, just saying hi to my girl.”

“I need your head in the game, Reynolds,” he says.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rowan enter the locker room with her therapy bag tossed over her shoulder. My eyes move to where Chaz is staring daggers at me. “That’s not an issue when I’m playing for her, Coach.”

Murmurs rise around the room because seeing me like this is new not only for me but also for my teammates. Coach even looks surprised.

“Fair enough. Preseason…” Coach Warner starts his pregame speech. I tune him out as I glare across the locker room at Chaz fucking Brown.

As each day passes, and I grow closer to Rowan, knowing that she’s anywhere near him, has rage boiling inside me. I don’t know how, but one day, he will pay for what he has done to her. I won’t stop until he does.

“So…” Knox says from where he’s standing next to me.

“How’s it going?” We’re off to the far right of the sidelines, watching as our defense holds the Vegas Heat at the forty-yard line.

It’s third and ten for this play, and our defense is doing a damn good job of keeping them from progressing forward.

“Amazeballs.” I grin. “How’s it going with you?”

“No complaints.” He rocks back on his heels. “You’re laying it on pretty thick for Brown, huh?” His tone tells me that he knows damn well this isn’t for Chaz’s benefit. Sure, it pisses him off, but she’s not going back to him. I’m certain of that.

“Nah, just showing my girl she’s important.”

Knox leans in close. “Is she yours, Landry?”

I turn to look at him. “She will be.”

He stares at me for several heartbeats and nods. “You got a plan?”

“Nope.” I laugh. “Hell, I don’t even know the plays. I’m going in blind, brother.”

“The play is simple. You treat her like your queen. Make sure that every damn day she knows what she means to you. The rest will fall into place.”

I nod. “Got it, Coach,” I say, slapping a hand down on his shoulder pads.

“Good, now run the play, Reynolds. Having a sister-in-law would make my wife extremely happy.”

Sister-in-law.

Damn. Could that be where this is headed? I don’t even have to close my eyes to picture it. Rowan in a white dress, walking toward me with those beautiful blue eyes of hers sparkling with love and happiness.

Lifting my hand, I rub at my chest. There’s an ache there I’ve never felt before. The picture in my mind is so vivid, it has to come true, right? Have I finally found my forever? Is that Rowan?

Fuck, this changes things.

“Offense!” Coach calls out, and I slip on my helmet and jog out onto the field.

We huddle up, and Knox calls the play, following it up with “You know, so Reynolds has a chance to impress his girl with a touchdown.” He smirks.

My teammates laugh and slap me on the back as we line up and take our positions.

Knox calls the play, Keen hikes the ball, and I’m off.

I'm juking the Vegas defense and pumping my arms and legs as fast as they’ll go.

Looking over my shoulder, I see the ball, and it lands beautifully, just as it was intended into my hands.

Tucking the ball close to my chest, I sprint the final thirty yards, avoiding the defenseman on my way to the end zone.

When I cross the line and the whistle blows, I drop the ball and turn to run back to the sidelines.

I ignore my teammates’ cheers and the roar of the crowd.

I don’t stop until I find my girl. I’m breathing hard, and my chest is rising from the rush of the adrenaline and the run.

“Nice play, number one.” She smiles up at me.

Holding out my fist, we launch into our handshake. By the time we’re done, we’re on the jumbotron, and we’re both smiling like we just won the lottery.

Tearing off my helmet, I lean in so she can hear me. “That was for you, beautiful.” I wink at her. She blushes, and I’m about to say fuck the fine from the league and kiss her.

The crowd roars, so I glance over to see that our kicker, Hank Martin, just got us the extra point. “Hell yeah!” I cheer.

“Go sit, and I’ll grab you a drink,” Rowan tells me.

“That’s not your job.”

She shrugs. “For you, it is.” She turns on her heel and heads for the water table, and I watch her go.

“You’ve got it bad, huh?” Foster asks me.

“You could say that.” I nod. There’s no use in hiding it. Besides, Foster is one of my best friends.

“Hold on to her,” he says. “No matter what happens, if she’s settled here.” He places his hand over his heart. “No matter what happens, hold on to her.” With that, he walks away. I watch as he goes to stand at the very end of the line of Rampage staff and players, keeping his eyes on the field.

Foster lost someone. Not just “someone.” If I had to guess, it was his someone. One of these days, he’ll tell us about her. In the meantime, I plan on taking his advice.

I’m going to hold on to her.