Page 26 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Fourteen

R owan

I can’t stop smiling. My face actually hurts.

Landry and the Rampage played an incredible game.

It was preseason, so he didn’t get to play as he usually would in a regular season game, but he did score two touchdowns, and both of them he celebrated on the sidelines with me, using the silly handshake.

All eyes were on us, and they even put us up on the jumbotron. Having all of that attention on me would usually bother me, but Landry’s infectious celebratory attitude had me not caring. That’s a feat in and of itself.

“Rowan,” a deep voice says.

I stop and take a deep breath, not wanting to deal with Chaz. Turning, I smile at him. “What can I do for you, Mr. Brown?”

“So, that’s how it’s going to be? You’re spreading your legs for another player, and I’m suddenly a stranger to you?” He takes a step closer.

I take a step back. “Is there something you need, Mr. Brown?” My question only proves to make him angrier.

“Fuck you, Rowan. You’re going to end things with him. Today.”

“Rowan, I need you.” Reid pushes into the room, right past Chaz, and hops up on my table. “I hurt,” he says dramatically.

“Fuck off, Montgomery. We were talking.”

“But I need her,” Reid says. He flashes me a wink, and I bite down on my cheek to keep from laughing.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever find myself in a situation where I felt comfortable enough to laugh at Chaz and his angry stare. “What’s going on?” I ask, keeping my face neutral.

“I have this pain right here.” He leans over and points at his ass cheek. I can’t help it. I snicker, which only proves to piss Chaz off even further.

“Get the fuck out of here,” he seethes.

“No can do, Chazzy boy. You see, Rowan is my girl, and I don’t like the tone of your voice.”

“Oh, so you’re fucking this one too?” Chaz spits, his hands fisted at his sides.

“No, not me. That’s all Reynolds. Rowie and I are besties,” Reid tells him.

“Rowie?” Chaz scoffs and rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, Rowie and Reid. We’re like this.” Reid holds up his hand and crosses his index and middle finger. “Like peanut butter and jelly, we are,” he says.

How he’s maintaining a straight face is beyond me.

“There you are,” Brian Stout, the defensive coordinator, sticks his head in the room. “Are you injured?” he asks Chaz.

“No,” he grinds out.

“Then get out here. We have some things to go over.”

Chaz gives him a curt nod, then turns back to me and Reid. “This isn’t over.”

“Later, Chazzy boy.” Reid waves.

As soon as he’s out of the room, I lean my weight against the table, relief washing over me.

“Are you okay?” Reid asks. All the playfulness is now gone.

“I’m good. Thank you for that.”

“What did he want?”

“For me to end things with Landry.”

Reid nods. “You know you can’t do that, right? You’ll break his heart.”

“We’re pretending,” I remind him.

“Are you, though?” he asks as the door opens, and Landry comes strolling in.

His hair is still wet from his shower, and his shirt clings to him. It looks as if he barely took the time to towel off. “What’s wrong? Was that asshat in here bothering you?”

“Nothing is wrong,” I say gently. “Yes, Mr. Brown was in here, but so was Reid.”

“Thanks, man,” Landry says, running his fingers through his still-wet hair. “Are you finished up here?”

“I think so. No injuries and no one has come to me for therapy. Let me check in with John, but I’m pretty sure I’m done for the day.”

“Good. Let’s get you clocked out, and we can head to my place.”

“Your place?”

“Yeah. Today was an early game, so everyone’s coming over. I’ll either order food or grill something. We’ll chill, talk about today’s game, and watch some of the others on television.”

“I don’t want to intrude.”

Landry gives me a look that tells me he’s not going to let me get out of this.

Not that I want to get out of it. I wanted to make it known he doesn’t have to feel obligated to invite me.

I like the idea of being included in going back to his place with everyone to hang out.

Maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll get a goodnight kiss.

“I’m going to hit the showers. I want pizza, by the way. I’ll stop and pick it up on my way over,” Reid says.

“I’ll send you some cash,” Landry says, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

“Nah, man, this is on me. I’m pretty sure it’s my turn anyway.” Reid nods at me before climbing off the treatment table and leaving us alone.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Positive. He came in demanding we end things, but he didn’t get to spew his hate because Reid intercepted him.” I smile when I think about Reid’s tactics. “He called him Chazzy boy, and me Rowie. Told Chaz that he and I were besties.” I chuckle. I can’t believe I’m able to laugh about this.

Landry moves toward me, and with each step, his eyes grow more heated. When he’s close enough to reach me, he slides his arm around my waist and presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Is Reid going to be a problem?”

“What? No, he was just helping me, so I wasn’t alone with Chaz.”

“Figures, not only do I have to worry about your ex, now I have to worry about my friends too,” he says, shaking his head.

“Stop.” I laugh, pushing at his chest. He holds me tight, smiling down at me. “Do you want to leave your car here? We can come back to get it later?”

“No, I’ll just drive to your place.”

“No stops along the way. I don’t want him to follow you and catch you out on your own. I live in a gated community, so he can’t come past the gates.”

“Good thing I have gas,” I tease.

He shrugs. “I’d just take you with me. In fact, I prefer that. I should have picked you up today and brought you with me.”

“That’s out of your way and would have been a waste. I’m perfectly fine to drive here on my own.”

“I know, but I worry about you. I don’t trust him. My gut tells me he’s not going to let this go. He’s not going to let you go. I mean, he requested to be traded here and took a pay cut because he knew this was where you were. He’s not going to just accept defeat.”

I nod. He’s right, and we both know it. However, the thought doesn’t scare me as much as it used to, not now that I’m no longer dealing with him all on my own. For the first time in my life, I have a support system.

“Let’s go find John and get out of here.”

“You don’t have to wait for me.”

“I’m waiting.” He reaches for my hand just as John enters the room. I try to pull away, but Landry holds firm.

“Good game, Reynolds,” John tells him.

“Thanks, man, appreciate it.”

“Rowan, you’re all set to head out. No injuries and no additional treatments are necessary. We all came out winners today.” John laughs.

“Thank you, sir,” I reply. He nods and turns to walk back out the way he came.

“Do you have anything to take with you?”

“Yeah, I always keep a change of clothes on me.” He releases my hand, and I walk over to grab my bag, purse, phone, and keys out of my locker before turning the combination to lock it back up. “All set.”

Landry nods, places his hand on the small of my back, and keeps it there until we reach my car in the parking lot. He makes sure I’m buckled in and tells me to wait to pull out so that he can follow me to his place.

His demands make me feel appreciated and cared for. Nothing like what I’m used to. I wasn’t sure what to think when he told Chaz that he and I were dating. Unknowingly, having Landry Reynolds in my life is precisely what I needed. He’s healing me in a way I never thought possible.

“Oh shit,” Reid says, scrunching up his nose.

We all turn to look at him. He’s sitting in the recliner with Camden sleeping on his chest. He’s been a baby hog most of the night.

“What?” Baker asks.

“Shit. Literally. Daddy Sin, you gotta take him,” Reid says while trying not to breathe through his nose.

“What? Uncle Reid can’t handle diaper duty?” Baker jokes.

“How can something so cute and so damn cuddly make that stench?” Reid gags, and we all laugh.

Corie stands from where she’s been sitting on Knox’s lap. “Aunt Corie will do it.” She takes Camden from Reid and rests him against her shoulder. “I didn’t feel like kicking their behinds in Name That Tune anyway,” she tells the baby, and I grin. She really does kick our asses every damn time.

“I can get it, Corie,” Baker tells her as he starts to stand.

“No. Let me. Take the help while you can get it.” She places a kiss on Camden’s tiny head and disappears down the hall.

“Yeah, man, if you want to go take a nap or whatever, you know where the spare bedrooms are,” Landry offers.

“Thanks. My parents are still in town, and Mom has been great. They wanted to keep him tonight, but I told them to nap or go out to dinner. Besides, I didn’t see him much today.”

“Any luck on a nanny?” I ask.

“Yeah. Natasha and I hired an older lady. She’s sweet as hell.

Her kids have all moved away, and she has no grandkids of her own.

Her husband is a doctor who still works part time, and she’s got an open schedule.

She’s CPR certified and comes with great references, and her background check was clean. ”

“That’s great news,” Sloane and I say at the same time.

Baker nods. “She starts the week after next, which is also my week. I’m nervous, but she comes highly recommended, and we definitely need the help. Well, I do. Natasha’s not back to work yet.”

“I’m still available to help in the evenings and on weekends,” I tell him.

“Me too, and you know Corie is as well,” Sloane tells him.

“Thanks. I might have to lean on you for when we’re out of town. She said she’ll do overnights, but I don’t want to overwork her and have her quit. Asking Natasha to do it is out of the question. She’s strict on one week on, one week off.” Baker rolls his eyes.

“All better,” Corie says, coming back to the living room.

“Thanks.” Reid opens his arms for Camden, and Corie shakes her head.

“I don’t think so, buddy. You’ve hogged him all night.”

“He loves me.”