Page 16 of Run the Play
“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.
