Page 15 of Run the Play
It’s been just Corie and me after losing our parents. The idea of adding to our small family makes me want to meet the love of my life and join in on the fun. Family is what you make it. These four men in this room with me are my family—through thick and thin—and that’s precisely how I know that no matter what those test results say, Baker is going to be just fine. We’ll make sure of it.
Chapter Four
Rowan
“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 thep. “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'rehere,” 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.
