Page 39 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)
I shrug. “Probably, but that’s just because the nosy fuckers don’t have anything better to do with their time. Don’t read comments. Just let them be the keyboard warriors that they are, and we’ll live our lives. The next scandal will come along soon enough, and we’ll be history.”
“Is it too much to ask for that to happen this week?” she asks.
I chuckle. “We might get lucky. Come on, let's go in and tell them, and get something to eat. I’m withering away here, woman.”
“Right.” She laughs.
Leaning over the console, I press my lips to hers. “I love your laugh, and I love you.”
Her eyes soften. “I love you too.”
Together, we make our way into the house and find everyone gathered around the island. It’s covered with breakfast food, and it looks like they’re just getting ready to eat.
“What’s all this?” Rowan asks.
“Oh, well, I might have tracked Landry’s phone on the family app we have, and saw y’all were close, so we started cooking. We didn’t want this one to wither away.” She leans into me, giving me a side hug.
“Thanks, Core,” I say, kissing the top of her head.
“I can’t believe you’re all still here,” Rowan tells me.
“Is that okay?” Knox asks.
“It’s more than okay. I can tell you all at once.
” Rowan looks at me, and I nod my encouragement.
“We met with Roger and Coach Warner. I told them my story, start to finish, and they encouraged me to press charges. They are also pressing charges, as it was an incident between employees. That probably won’t stick, but mine will. ”
Corie beams at her and steps in front of me, pulling Rowan into a hug. “I’m so proud of you, Rowan. What do you need? What can we do?” Corie asks her.
“You’ve already done enough. Just being here for me and staying here last night. I know that was a weird request, but a genius one, Corie. I’ve never had a family before.” Rowan shrugs.
“Well, if family sleepovers mean I get a meal like this, we should do them more often,” Reid says.
Camden coos, as if agreeing, and we all laugh.
“Hand me a plate,” I tell Sloane. She does just that, and I pass it to Rowan, holding my hand out for another. We all gather in the dining room.
“I got an email from Roger,” Corie confesses. “He said that a press release would be in my inbox in the next thirty minutes.” She holds up her phone to show us.
“I’m sorry for all the unnecessary attention this is going to bring into your lives,” Rowan says.
“As long as you’re okay, we can handle the attention, right?” she asks, glancing around the room.
“I mean, we’ve got hefty shoulders,” Reid says, flexing his muscles. “We can handle whatever they throw at us.”
“I was worried too,” Corie speaks up. “When my ex outed us—” She nods toward Knox.
“—I was sure it was going to be the end of the world, but it all worked out. I know it’s not the same.
Please don’t think I’m comparing the two.
I know what you went through, and everything he put you through in the past is horrific.
I guess what I’m trying to say is we don’t care about attention.
” She shrugs. “We care about you. About your healing and well-being. The rest of it is just noise.”
Rowan smiles at my sister. “At least our fake-dating never got out,” she says with a lighthearted chuckle, which eases some of the worry in my chest.
“Please,” Sloane scoffs. “Did any of us really believe it was fake? I mean, really?” she asks.
“Nope,” Corie says, grinning.
“Yes,” Foster, Reid, Baker, and Knox all reply simultaneously, making everyone laugh.
“So not fake,” I say, leaning over to kiss my girl’s cheek.
“Eat up, fellas. We have some moving to do,” Knox says.
“Today?” Rowan asks.
“Yes, today. We’ll grab your clothes and anything important to you, and get the rest as we can.”
“I’m not attached to any of it. All of my furniture was bought from secondhand stores. I’ll donate it all to someone who needs it.” She shrugs as if it’s no big deal, but everyone in the room can feel the sadness.
If I do anything in this life, it’s going to be giving her memories, moments, and mementos that she can hold onto for our lifetime together. She’s never had anything for her, and I’ll make damn sure to spoil her rotten.
“We’ll help you pack, and these guys can do all the heavy lifting,” Sloane says.
Corie holds up her phone. “I have a few posts to make, but that won’t take me long.”
I hate that statements need to be made, but that’s the nature of this business, and being in the public eye. No matter what, I’ll stand tall beside my girl and support her. We all will.
“Thank you. All of you. You’ve made this horrible incident easier. You’ve helped me find the courage to stand up for what’s right, and I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
“Babysitting,” Baker says, and we all laugh.
“Done,” Rowan tells him. “Anytime you need a sitter for that little guy, I’m all in.”
“Hold up, now, don’t be hogging the baby,” Corie says, pretending to glare at Rowan, but cracks a smile. “I need my name on that list too,” she tells Baker.
“And me.” Sloane raises her hand. “I’ll help too.”
Baker nods at each of them. “Thanks. I’m going to need it, I’m sure.”
“Okay, hurry up and eat. We gotta get my girl moved in,” I say.
“You know he’s serious if he’s rushing food consumption,” Foster jokes.
“Damn right, I’m serious. If this wouldn’t go to waste, I would have suggested grabbing something on the way.”
“Damn,” Reid mutters. “You broke him, Rowan.” He holds his hand up to her for a high-five. “Reynolds is putting you above his constant need for food.” He holds up his pinky finger and wiggles it. “You got him right here.” He laughs.
“And damn proud of it,” I say before Rowan can comment. “Now eat.”
Reid salutes me, and then we all dig into our late breakfast. I shovel mine in faster than I ever have because I know at the end of this meal, she’s moving in, and that’s just the first step in starting our forever.
Leaning over, I whisper in her ear, “I can’t wait to spend forever with you.”
She looks at me. Her blue eyes could be filled with so much pain and sorrow, but they’re not. They’re shining with love and happiness, as they always should be. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep that look in her eye.