Page 40 of Run the Play
“When you put a ring on it, you don’t have to,” Knox calls back.
Landry’s heated gaze finds me. “Is that how I get my girl all to myself?”
“Yep!” Corie says, and we turn and walk away.
Sloane rushes to catch up with us, linking my free arm with hers, and we walk away. “Oh, my hotness,” Sloane says, pretending to fan her face with her free hand.
“Right?” Corie asks.
“What? What hotness? What did I miss?” I ask them, trying to catch up. “Where are we going?”
“We’re taking a walk so you and your boyfriend can cool things down. There are kids present,” Corie teases.
“And hotness is the way he looks at you. I’ve known Landry since I was in kindergarten, so basically all my life, and never have I seen him act like he is today,” Sloane tells me.
“We’re acting, guys,” I say in a low voice. “We texted you.”
“That’s not acting, but you can keep telling yourself that,” Sloane says.
“No. I mean, yes, that’s what we’re doing. He’s helping me. You know that.” I try to reason with them.
Corie leads us to a row of tables where no one else is within earshot except for the three of us, and we each take a seat. “Yes, you’re acting, but sometimes that gives you the freedom to express things you might not normally express.”
“Your brother… he could have anyone he wanted. He’s just being the nice guy that he is.”
“He wants you.” Sloane grins, bouncing her eyebrows.
“Stop.” I push at her shoulder, and she laughs. “Chaz was hounding me, and Landry noticed. He walked up to me and put his arm around me, and before either of us knew what was happening, he was telling Chaz that he and I were dating. He even went as far as to offer Chaz his hand and thank him for screwing up with me and letting him have his chance.”
“Damn, Reynolds is bringing his A game.” Sloane nods approvingly.
“Good. I’m glad he’s helping you. But, as his sister who only wants to see her big brother happy, keep an open mind, yeah?”
“Trust me, that’s not where this is going.”
“She’s all loved up with her new hubby, and now she wants everyone around her to be in the same boat,” Sloane explains.
“I don’t know that being loved up is anywhere in my future.”
“Count me in. If I ever find a man who looks at me the way Knox looks at our girl here, I’m all in,” Sloane says.
“Just be careful,” I warn her. “Make sure those looks are real, and—never mind. I know I’m jaded, and I hope one day that will change. I ignored so many signs because I didn’t want to be alone. It took him sending me to the hospital to realize I wasn’t living and that bad attention isn’t better than no attention. I wasn’t getting comfort and affection, but it was all that I knew, so I put up with it. Please, just make sure, before you take the leap, that he’s truly one of the good ones. Like them.” I nod to where the guys are as they head in our direction.
“You’ll find him,” Corie tells me. “And when you do, give yourself the freedom to try again. To put your trust and your love in someone who deserves it.”
I nod because there’s a knot in my throat, making it impossible to speak.
“You ladies about ready to head out?” Knox asks. He walks over to stand behind Corie and places his hands on her shoulders.
I feel two strong hands on mine as well and tilt my head back to see Landry standing behind me. “You ready to head home?”
“I drove.” We’re not together, but he’s pulling this off. I’ll give him that.
“I know, but you aren’t leaving here when he can follow you. As far as we know, he doesn’t know what you’re driving. I’ll drive you back to my place. We’re all headed there anyway to swim and chill. I’ll bring you back later.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“You’re my girl.” Landry shrugs as if those three words don’t send my heart racing.
