Page 43 of Run the Play
“I don’t want you to get into trouble with the team.”
“Hey.” I place my index finger beneath her chin and lift so her eyes meet mine. “I’m not going to get into trouble. He needs to know he has no control over you and that you’re not alone. You have me. You have all of us, and we’re not going to let him hurt you ever again.” I’ll be damned if I let that fucker lay a hand on her.
She nods and smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “You better go shower so I can finish up here.”
“Wait for me?” I ask. She’s right. She’s been eating meals with me since training camp started, and I’ve enjoyed spending time with her. I can feel myself changing in a good way. Rowan is all I can think about, and touching her, having her close to me, calling her mine… it’s hard to think that way without letting feelings get involved.
That day, family day, when I saw Chaz giving her a hard time, I didn’t think. I acted. One would think I would have regrets, but there are none. I like calling her mine. I like that my team sees her that way. The entire Rampage organization and the entire world, once it’s leaked, will think she’s mine.
I’ve always thought she was beautiful, and now, spending so much time with her, touching her, I’ve realized that maybe I didn’t say she was mine that day just to help her. Maybe, subconsciously, I’ve wanted her to be mine all along.
In the dining hall, I load up my plate and grab a table in the corner while I scan the room, searching for Rowan. When I see her also peering around the room, I stand up and wave. The smile that lights up her face when she sees me hits me in the chest. It’s not a smile I’m used to from a woman.
I’m used to smiles that say “I can seduce him and make him want me.” This smile, the one Rowan is giving me, says she’s happy to see me. She doesn’t see dollar signs or a quick rise to fame. To Rowan, I’m just a man, her friend’s brother, and someone who wants to protect her. She has no idea that with that single tilt of her lips, she makes my heart race. I’m pretty sure she could ask anything of me, and if it were within my power, I’d give it to her. Not because I’m a nice guy, which I am, but because she’s Rowan.
My Rowan.
Fuck. I’m falling for her.
“Is this seat taken?” she asks as she approaches me.
“Yeah, my girl’s sitting there.”
She laughs and places her tray on the table before sitting next to me. She opens her bottle of water and takes a long pull before turning to look at me.
“Thank you for earlier. I didn’t mean to seem ungrateful for all that you’re doing to keep Chaz away, but I’d feel terrible if you got in trouble because of me.”
“Roe, if I get in trouble, it’s because ofhimand his actions. Not you. Never you,” I say, reaching out and tucking a loose strand of hair that’s fallen out of her ponytail behind her ear. Her hair is so fucking soft, just like silk.
“Here.” I hand her an orange. “It was the last one, so I grabbed it for you.”
Her eyes soften. “Thank you, Landry.”
Leaning over, I peck a kiss on her cheek. “Anything for my girl.” I’ve noticed that every day for the last couple of weeks, she always grabs an orange. When I saw it was the last one, I didn’t want her to miss out. That’s what a good boyfriend is supposed to do, right? Hell, I don’t know. I’ve never been a boyfriend. Sure, I know right from wrong and how to treat people. My only experience is a few dates here and there. Maybe I need to start paying more attention to Knox and Corie to make sure I’m not fucking this up. Because the more time I’m around Rowan, the more chances I get to hold her hand and call her mine, and the feeling of rightness that settles in my chest with each interaction, I know that’s what she’s going to be.
Mine.
She just doesn’t know it yet.
“Are you finished for the day too?” I ask, shoving a huge bite of grilled chicken into my mouth. Training camp is all the healthy shit. I can’t wait to get out of here and eat a greasy cheeseburger. At least for me, my girl is here. I guess Knox has that, as well. Corie has been floating around taking pictures for the Rampage social media accounts.
“I am. Unless there’s an injury that needs tending to.”
“I can think of something you can work on for me,” I tell her, and instantly, that blush of hers that I love so much colors her cheeks.
“You just can’t seem to help yourself, can you?” she asks, shaking her head.
“Not where you’re concerned,” I admit. She thinks I’m teasing, but it’s the truth. With every moment I get of hers, I crave fifty more. It’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to me, but it also feels right. I’m supposed to be sitting here with her.
“I’m over grilled chicken,” Reid says, plopping down in a chair across from us.
I want to tell him to move along, but he’s one of my best friends, so I just shovel more healthy shit into my mouth instead.
“Funny, Landry was just saying the same thing,” Rowan tells him.
Reid nods. Out of all of my friends, he’s the most like me with food. “Why are you all hiding in the back corner? It took me forever to find you. I texted the others to tell them where we were.”
It hasn’t occurred to my friend that I was sitting here alone with the beautiful Rowan for a reason, you know, like privacy. I’m about to say just that when my sister and Knox show up, closely followed by Foster and Baker.
