Page 20 of Run the Play
“We did,” Foster says. He grumbles something low under his breath that I don’t catch, and I’m sure it’s something to do with his hatred for the man who almost ruined his career.
“Yeah,” Knox agrees. “Almost ruined both of our careers.”
Something passes over Foster’s features, but the look is locked down before I can get a read on him. There’s definitely something from his past that he’s not talking about. That’s fine. He’ll tell us when he’s ready. He’s the quietest out of all of us. He dates the least. In fact, it’s been years since I’ve seen him even so much as flirt with a woman. My good buddy has been flying low under the radar, and one of these days, he’s going to have to make a landing and let us know what’s going on.
He previously signed with Conner Johnson, just as Knox had right out of college. Conner, the asshole agent, also happens to be my sister’s ex-boyfriend. He caused some drama with Knox and Corie, but everything worked out as it was supposed to. Thankfully.
“He’s going to crash and burn one of these days,” Reid says, just as we hear commotion upstairs.
“Food’s here!” I take off running for the steps, and I don’t have to look back to know that the guys are right behind me. We reach the kitchen to find Corie, Sloane, and Rowan unpacking food. I see boxes of wings, fries, onion rings, and a stack of individual salads. I’m sure those are for Knox’s benefit, but he has loosened up since marrying my sister. He’s not as strict on his diet and workout routine as he used to be during the offseason. He still kicks it into high gear during the season, at least he was. I guess we’ll see in a few months if that’s changed as well.
“Thanks, Corie girl,” Knox says, pulling Corie into his arms and kissing her.
“Urgh, I’m getting ready to eat. I don’t need to see all that,” I say, placing my hand over my eyes.
“Tough shit,” Knox says, kissing her again. My sister giggles, and damn, I love seeing her this happy. I also truly love that it’s my best friend who makes her giggle like a schoolgirl, but I’m still going to give them shit. We’re family. That’s what we do.
“Wing me, Roe,” I tell Rowan, holding my empty paper plate out to her. She smiles and places a few wings on my plate.
“Good?” she asks.
“Keep ’em coming,” I tell her. “I’m a growing boy, after all.”
“What he really means is that he’s a human garbage disposal where food is concerned,” Corie tells her.
“And here I thought Corie ordered too much food,” Rowan replies, adding several more wings to my plate.
“Thank you, my lady.” I nod at her and move on down the line, adding some onion rings and fries before grabbing a bottle of Gatorade out of the fridge and plopping my ass down on the floor in the living room, leaning against one of the recliners to make sure there’s room for everyone else to sit.
I’m halfway through my plate before everyone joins us. Rowan and Sloane are the final two. Sloane takes the recliner Reid is leaning up against, and Rowan hesitates to take the one I’m using to prop myself up. I nod, and she gives me a shy smile before taking a seat.
The next thing I know, there’s a napkin dangling in front of my face. “You look like you could use this,” Rowan says.
“Thanks.” I lean into her leg as a thank-you as well, but the warmth of her skin against my bare shoulder in this sleeveless shirt sends tingles down my spine. I freeze mid-bite of my onion ring and let the feeling wash over me.
It’s new.
I should move away, but my gut is telling me that would be a mistake, so I finish off my food with my shoulder pressed to her leg and let my mind race with how it would feel to be wrapped up in her softness. Rowan is gorgeous, and it’s not hard to conjure up that fantasy. When my cock starts to get on board, I push all inappropriate thoughts to the back of my mind.
Baby goats. They’ve been all over my social media lately. I need to think about baby goats or my stats from last season.Eventually, the problem goes away, and I heave a sigh of relief as I finish off my plate.
“So, Corie, did you spend all your husband’s money today or what?” I ask my sister.
“No, but I did spend some of mine.”
“Why not?” Knox asks her.
Corie rolls her eyes. “I have my own money.”
I watch as my best friend-turned-brother-in-law pouts, just as I knew he would. “Gave you a card for a reason,” he grumbles.
Corie leans over and kisses him. “And I love you for it, but I don’t need to spend your money when I have my own.”
“We did find some good deals,” Sloane speaks up. “I found games for my classroom for five bucks a piece. I had to stock up.”
“Doesn’t the school pay for that?” Baker asks.
“I wish,” Sloane says. “There are always budget cuts, and we’re given one excuse after the other. Most teachers end up spending their own salaries for the supplies they need for their classrooms.”
