Page 4 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Two

R owan

I overslept. I spent far too long staring at the shadows on the wall last night.

I couldn’t find sleep until the wee hours of the morning, and now, I’m going to be late for breakfast. I showered last night, so thankfully, all I have to do is brush my teeth, wash my face, and get dressed.

I’ve been blessed with straight, thick hair, so I can run a brush through it, toss it up in a ponytail, and call it a day.

Now, I’m rushing around, trying to get ready.

I take one last look in the mirror before swiping my wallet, room key, and phone from the dresser and heading out the door.

I freeze when I open the door to find Landry standing against the wall.

His arms are crossed over his chest, and his legs are crossed at the ankles.

He’s casual and sexy, and I immediately shut that thought down. I’ve traveled the road of dating a professional athlete, and it’s not one I care to be on ever again. No matter how sexy, silly, and charming he might be.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, eyebrows raised.

He shrugs. “Thought I’d walk you to breakfast.”

“You do realize that if we show up together, everyone will think you never left me last night.”

He gives me a wolfish grin. “We can run with that,” he says, wagging his eyebrows.

Before I can reply, my phone rings. “Hello,” I answer.

“Hey, are you coming down to breakfast?” Corie asks.

“Yeah, I overslept. I’m on my way.”

“Okay, well, you might pass Landry on the way. I sent him to check on you, but I got tired of waiting and called too.” She laughs.

“I’m fine. Landry was outside my door in the hallway when I stepped out. We’re on our way.”

“Great.” The call goes silent, and I glare at Landry.

“You knew they wouldn’t think that.” I lock my hands on my hips.

“I did, but it was fun to see you squirm.” He winks and offers me his arm. I hesitate to slip mine through his. “I don’t bite, Roe.”

“You sure about that?” I ask, keeping my tone light. This situation doesn’t feel light, though. I’ve fallen for the charming act before and know how that story ends.

“Positive. Besides, you’re my sister’s friend. She’d never forgive me.” He winks.

With a heavy exhale, I slip my arm through his, and he leads us toward the elevator.

Once inside, I step away, needing some distance.

I know all too well how men can be charismatic and sweep you off your feet, only to barrel into mental, physical, and emotional abuse.

I’ve learned my lesson, and I need distance right now.

Landry is quiet as he stands beside me, and we watch the numbers descend.

When the doors slide open, I step out and turn toward the private room Corie and Knox reserved for all of our meals.

Everyone is already there, and there are two vacant seats next to each other. I fill one, and Landry fills the other.

“Dig in,” Knox tells us. “My wife wants to spend the day on the beach.”

“My sister can wait,” Landry says with a chuckle.

“Happy wife, happy life, brother,” Knox quips, leaning over to kiss Corie’s temple.

A chorus of “Good man” and “Damn right” ring out among the married men at the table.

Landry and I fill our plates from the buffet-style breakfast and dig in. Chatter happens all around me. I listen as everyone talks and laughs. Once upon a time, I thought this would be my life—close friends to call my family and a man who I thought would be my forever. I was so very wrong.

I’ve never seen this kind of loving relationship. I’ve never witnessed the type of love that Knox and Corie share, or even that of Knox’s parents and his aunts and uncles. I thought I once knew, but a little time is all it took for that dream to come crashing to a halt.

“Ladies, are we tanning today?” Sloane asks. “I’m still exhausted. I don’t think I have the energy for much more than that.”

“You?” Corie asks. “I didn’t—” she starts, but Landry interrupts her.

He covers his ears and says, “La la la la la,” and everyone laughs. I turn just in time to see him wink at his sister.

I’ve always wanted a sibling. These two complement each other so well. The same goes for Knox and his sisters, Emma and Everly. I’ve never been able to experience it, but being with them has shown me that love and respect exist not only in relationships but also in families.

“Tanning sounds good to me. Rowan?” Corie asks.

“Considering I didn’t sleep well last night, that sounds perfect.”

“I know why I didn’t sleep. Why didn’t the two of you?” Corie asks, wagging her eyebrows.

“Listen, bestie. Just because you’re all loved up and losing sleep because of…

activities, doesn’t mean the rest of us are,” Sloane tells her.

“I slept just fine, just not long enough. I still have some alcohol that needs to be slept off.” She sticks her tongue out at Corie, making a silly face, and the two laugh.

I smile at their antics.

“What about you?” Corie asks me.

“Just had trouble falling asleep.” What I don’t say is that I don’t sleep well anymore.

Not when I’m always worried about when the other shoe will drop.

I know that I got away from him, but when you live two years of your life on pins and needles, a good, deep sleep is hard to come by.

Time is all I need. I know that the scars he caused will fade in time, but they will always be there.

I don’t know if I’ll ever trust another man enough to get that close to me again.

I’m certain the risks are not worth the reward.

No, I’m going to be the lonely cat lady with no husband and no kids to speak of. Though no cats because I’m more of a dog person. So I guess I’ll be the lonely dog lady instead. I’ll pave my own way.

“Everything okay?” Sloane asks. There’s concern in her voice, and I swallow back the emotion that causes. I was so isolated before. To have Corie and Sloane come into my life and enfold me in theirs, as if we’ve all been friends since we were little, warms my soul.

“Yeah, just couldn’t sleep.” I smile, hoping I can pull off the lie. “Strange place, I guess.”

“That’s the worst,” Reid chimes in. “I remember when I was first drafted and traveling all the time. It was hard on me too. You eventually get used to it.”

“I’ve never really traveled much. I guess I better get used to it,” I say, my eyes dramatically wide, and everyone laughs.

“Fair enough.” He nods. “But it does get better eventually.”

“So what are we doing?” Baker asks.

“Whatever we want,” Knox replies. “We’re in paradise, after all.”

“Well, us old fogeys are going to take it easy,” Knox’s dad tells them.

“Come on, old man,” Knox teases. “The five of you against the five of us.”

“What are we talking?” Tyler, Knox’s uncle, asks.

“Sand volleyball,” Foster suggests. “You know, since the five of us are professional athletes, it’s best not to play football because it’s an unfair advantage and all that.” He smirks.

“Oh, just because you get paid to play doesn’t mean we can’t hang,” Kent tells him with an arched brow.

“Bring it on, boys,” Seth says, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I hope you’re ready to eat sand,” Mark boasts.

I smile at their banter. Their wives do the same, as if this is normal for all of them.

“We’ll cheer you on from our lounge chairs,” Tyler’s wife, Reagan, tells them.

“It’s settled. Eat up. The beach is waiting!

” Corie says excitedly. Knox smiles at her like she’s his reason for breathing.

There’s an ache in my chest when I think about never having that.

At least I’ll be able to witness true love firsthand through my friends.

I’m sure Sloane will find a man to sweep her off her feet, just as Knox did with Corie.

I’m lying on my belly on the lounger, the warm sun beating down on me.

My eyes are closed, and I wish I could fall asleep.

I wish I could truly relax enough to let the gentle crash of the waves lull me into dreamland.

I hear the guys hoot and holler during their five-on-five volleyball game.

Knox’s mom and aunts are all chatting at the far end of our long line of loungers.

Knox’s sister, Everly, and her husband, Matt, had to leave right after breakfast. They both had to get back to work.

His youngest sister, Emma, is lying on the other side of Corie, and Sloane is on my right.

We’re a long line of ladies, just soaking up the warm sunshine.

His cousins are all hanging around in various places as well.

“Ladies,” a deep voice greets us.

I keep my eyes closed. None of these guys are here for me.

“Great day for a swim,” Knox says. I hear Corie screaming and laughing, telling him to put her down.

When more screeches greet my ears, I open my eyes to see what I’m missing.

The married ladies are being toted off by their husbands, and Reid has Emma tossed over his shoulder.

Foster bends down to grab Sloane while Baker records it on his phone.

I’m just about to scan to look for Landry when I feel hands on me.

“No. Oh, no, you don’t.” I squirm to try and get away, but his hold is firm as he lifts me into his arms. “I don’t swim with fish!” I call out, half hysterical and half laughing.

Landry stops walking. “What?” he asks, staring down at me. I can’t see his eyes through his sunglasses, but I know he’s watching me.

“I don’t swim with fish,” I repeat.

“Roe, they’re just as afraid of you as you are of them.”

“Yeah? Tell that to the sharks that want to eat me.”

“You think I’d let a shark eat you?” His tone is soft, almost endearing.

“It would eat us both,” I grumble.

“Not on my watch.” He adjusts his hold on me, lifting me higher in his arms. “If you don’t want to go, we won’t. But if you do, we’re going to go in and come right back out. You’ll be able to say that you splashed around in the ocean.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to. I do want to. I’ve just never been in the ocean. Not able to know what’s in there is creepy.”