Page 7 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Four

R owan

“So, wait, is the baby his?” I ask Corie.

She’s just finished telling me about how supermodel Natasha Gillman showed up at Baker’s door, telling him she was pregnant from a date that Corie had organized for them.

We’ve been unpacking boxes at her and Knox’s new house all day today.

The guys left a few hours ago to get another load, and the three of us have been gossiping ever since.

“Yeah.” Corie nods. “Baker got the DNA results back yesterday. He’s the father. I can’t help but feel responsible since I helped set up the date,” she says solemnly.

“That’s not on you,” Sloane tells her. “That man chose to sleep with her. You never could have predicted this is how that arranged evening out would have ended.”

“She’s right. This isn’t in any way your fault,” I tell her.

“Deep down, I know that, but—” She shrugs. “Don’t mention it when the guys get back,” she tells us. “I know Baker is working with the Rampage PR to handle any drama that may arise.”

“What’s taking them so long anyway?” Sloane asks.

“You know how the five of them get when they get together. It wouldn’t surprise me if my brother convinced Knox to take a detour in the moving truck to a drive-thru.”

Sloane and I both laugh. That’s something I’ve learned about Landry Reynolds. The man loves to eat.

“I can’t believe this is your new home.” Sloane looks around the massive kitchen, which we’ve just finished unpacking.

“You and me both. I told Knox the condo was fine for now. We knew that we eventually wanted a yard for our future kids and our own pool. Then this house came on the market, and since it’s in the same neighborhood as my brother, in a good school district, and has a big yard, a pool, and really everything we’d talked about wanting in our forever home, we couldn’t pass it up. ”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Thanks, ladies. So, we’ve talked about me, my new house, my new husband, our jobs, and Baker’s life drama. What about the two of you? Any dating prospects?” Corie asks.

“Nope,” Sloane says, popping the p . “I’m not looking either. Dating is exhausting, and I feel like all the good ones are either taken or are in hiding.” She laughs. “What about you, Rowan? Are you seeing anyone?”

“Nope. Not seeing anyone and not looking.” They’re both peering at me as if they need more information.

“My ex—did a number on me. Let’s just say I’m not in a hurry to let a man get close enough to control my life ever again.

” I clamp my mouth shut because I’ve already said more than I ever intended to.

I’ve pushed that part of my life to the past, the very dark corner of my mind, and I don’t care ever to revisit it.

“Something tells me that there's a story there,” Corie says, giving me a curious look.

“Yeah, you could say that,” I tell her, wishing I would have just kept my mouth shut. It’s been a long time since I’ve had friends just for me, and I got caught up in the moment.

“You don't have to tell me. You don't have to tell us—” Corie points to her chest, then to Sloane “—but just know that if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here.”

“ We're here,” Sloane says.

“We’re your people, and we’re here for you for whatever you need.

I know that we haven't been friends long, but I can promise you that we can keep secrets.

It's not good to keep them inside, as I can attest. As you know, I recently went through a situation where I had a secret relationship with my husband, and keeping everything inside was tough.

If I didn't have Sloane, I don't know what I would have done,” Corie tells me.

“Thank you, but it's a part of my past. He’s my past, where he belongs and can be forgotten.

Pushed inside a box in the back of my mind, never to be reopened again.

I'm fine. I've worked through it, but I'm just—he's ruined my trust and my faith, and I don't know that I'm willing to put my trust and my faith into someone else when I know what the outcome could be.”

“Not all men are like that. I can tell you for certain, having known the love of a good, honorable man. Having my brother and their friends around, they’re the good ones.

There are good men out there. It's awful when there's one bad apple that ruins it for everybody,” Corie says. I can hear in the tone of her voice that she’s appalled that there are men out there like my ex. She’s not the only one.

“Thank you, truly. I really don't think it's something I want to talk about, but if that ever changes, I will definitely let you know. So yeah, nothing to talk about here.” I laugh nervously, hoping like hell the conversation gets switched. I’m racking my brain with what to say next when I hear a deep voice behind me.

“What are we not talking about?” Landry asks, walking into the room. I turn to face him, my mouth hanging open. Surely he didn't hear any of that, did he?

“Don't you worry your pretty little head about it,” Sloane tells him before turning and winking at me.

Landry narrows his eyes. “I see how it is. You ladies don’t want to let me in on your secrets. Keep your girl talk. That's fine. Me and the boys have our own secrets that you're not a part of, so there.” He crosses his arms over his chest.

He’s pouting, and it’s adorable. I’ve yet to see a side of Landry Reynolds that’s not endearing, and that’s rare for me to say about any man.

“You do realize that I married your sister, right? And I don't keep secrets from my wife,” Knox tells Landry.

“What?” Landry gasps. “Bro code.”

“Wife code,” Knox volleys back with a laugh.

“Beckett.” Landry shakes his head like he’s disappointed. “That’s not even a thing. Wife code. There is no wife code.”

“When you get married, you’ll get it.”

“Get what? That your wife has you by the balls?” Foster asks with a laugh.

Knox shrugs. “If that’s how you have to refer to it to understand, then sure. We can go with that.”

“Explain it,” I say quietly. I immediately slap my hand over my mouth because it’s not my place.

“She took the words right out of my mouth,” Sloane says quickly. Her eyes flash to mine, and she gives me a subtle nod. She’s got my back, and that feels like a warm hug on a cold winter’s night.

These are my friends. Not people who are talking to me because of who I’m dating. They’re mine. They’re supporting me, no matter how small. Corie and Sloane will never know how much their friendship means to me.

Knox looks at Corie, and if I were not witnessing this for myself, I wouldn’t believe it, but I can see the love shining in his eyes.

“It’s not that I can’t keep a secret. It’s that I don’t want to.

I married Corie because I want to share my life with her.

If there is a secret that I truly need to keep to myself, I will. However, I won’t like it.”

“You can keep your boys’ secrets,” Corie tells him. She’s smiling up at him as if he hung the moon, and in her eyes, I really think he did, or at least attempted to for her sake.

“I do, and I will, but if it’s something I’m allowed to share with you, I’m going to. To be honest, I might, even if I’m not supposed to. You’re my person, Corie Beckett, and that means something.”

Tears burn the back of my eyes, and I swallow back the emotion.

I’ve never met a man who was so open and unashamed about his feelings.

Corie did marry one of the good ones. Knox glances over at me, and I offer him a smile, my way of thanking him for answering my question that I had no business asking.

“Fine. How can we compete with that?” Landry says. “Besides, it’s my little sister who’s got you looking all googly-eyed. How can I fight against that?”

“Single as a Pringle over here.” Reid points at his chest. “That’s a lot of power to give one person.” He shakes his head as if he can’t even fathom allowing someone to get that close to him.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that I understand and that he’s right.

He should steer clear, but when I look back at Knox and Corie and the embrace they’re sharing, it’s hard to find the words.

Seeing them together is the complete opposite of everything I’ve ever known, and it’s fascinating to me.

I guess this is what a healthy relationship looks like.

“Yeah, I’ll be in the single camp for a while,” Baker adds. “I need to learn how to be a dad before I can worry about being anything more to someone else.”

“We’re here for you,” Corie tells him. “You’re not alone in this, Baker.”

“I’m going to be a single dad who’s gone over half the year.”

“We’ll help you,” Sloane tells him. “Corie and I can help babysit.”

“I can help too,” I offer. “CPR certified and everything.” I smile, hoping it helps to ease his fears a little.

“Me too.” Sloane raises her hand. “The job requires it.”

“I’m in,” Corie tells him.

“You don’t have to do that,” Baker says, getting choked up.

“I want to do that. Whatever we can do to make this easier on you, we’ll do it,” Corie says.

“Us too,” Foster tells him. “Whatever you need, brother, you know that.”

“Thank you.” Baker nods.

“We got the last of the boxes in the truck,” Knox tells Corie, changing the subject. “Welcome home, Corie girl.” He leans over and kisses her, and I turn to look away.

I find Landry watching me. He rolls those green eyes of his that match his sister’s, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Let’s get this truck unloaded and find something to eat. I’m starving,” Reid says, rubbing his flat stomach.

“Food. I need food,” Landry agrees.

“I’ll order pizza,” Corie tells them. “I was going to cook since everything in the kitchen is unpacked, but I need to go to the store, and honestly, I just don’t have the energy.”

“Pizza works,” Foster tells her.

“Breadsticks, baby Reynolds. All the breadsticks,” Reid says.

“Mrs. Beckett,” Knox corrects him.

“She’s always going to be baby Reynolds to me,” Reid tells Knox.