Page 44 of Run the Play
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Corie says, putting her tray down and leaning over to give Rowan a hug. “This is my first training camp, and I thought I was going to be surrounded by sweaty men.” She wrinkles her nose.
“I thought you liked me sweaty?” Knox asks her.
“Ahh,” I say, dropping my fork to my plate and covering my ears.
Rowan laughs, placing her hand on my arm to lower it. “They’re married, Landry,” she says softly.
Dropping my hand below the table, I grab hers and lace our fingers together. I’m not left-handed, but I pick up my fork and go to town on my food with my left hand. If hearing Knox talk about my sister gets me to hold her hand, he can say whatever he wants. I’ll just block him out as I think about how soft her skin is and how right it feels to be sitting here with her like this.
Dinner is loud, with all of us talking and laughing. When it’s time to call it a night, I walk Rowan to the parking lot. “You can stay with me,” I tell her. I have a single room, being a veteran on the team.
There it is, that damn smile that lights me up from the inside. “Thank you, but I need to go home and shower.”
“Text me when you get home?”
“I will.” Sensing someone watching us, I lean in and bury my face in her neck, wrapping my arms around her. “Be safe, baby,” I whisper. She hesitates for a few seconds before wrapping her arms around me and returning my embrace.
“I will,” she says when I finally step back. She turns to walk to her car, and I watch her until she’s inside and driving away.
“It won’t last,” a deep voice says from behind me. I don’t have to look to know who it is.
“Oh yeah?” I say, turning to face him.
“She’ll come back to me.”
I can’t help it. I laugh. Right in his face. “You’re delusional. Do you think she’ll go back to you so you can control her? So you can isolate her? Oh, no, I bet it’s so that you can put her back in the hospital.” With each word, I step closer until we’re chest to chest. “Rowan is mine. You had your chance, and you fucked it up. Too bad for you. I’m a smart man, and I make damn sure every day that she knows how amazing she is. I know her worth, and I’ll make sure she knows it too.”
“We have history,” he says through gritted teeth.
“History of mental, emotional, and physical abuse. Walk away, man. Just fucking walk away. Don’t push this or her.” I’m barely holding onto my anger. I keep thinking about how upset Rowan will be if I punch this fuck face. Not to mention Coach Warner’s wrath. He needs to throw the first punch, then it’s game on.
“Everything okay here?” Brian Stout, the defensive coordinator, asks.
“All good, Coach. Chaz here was just leaving.”
Chaz glares at me but turns and stalks off.
“There’s something off about that one,” Brian mutters.
“You have no idea,” I tell him, slapping him on the shoulder and heading up to my room. Kicking off my shoes, I strip down to my boxer briefs and plop down on the bed with my phone in my hand, waiting for Rowan to text me. Five minutes later, my phone vibrates.
Rowan:I’m home.
Me:Good. Lock up.
Rowan:Yes, sir.
My cock jumps, and fuck texting. I hit her contact for a video call and wait for her to pick up.
“I just saw you,” she says, laughing as she answers.
“Like an hour ago.”
More laughter, the musical sound calms my frayed nerves. “More like twenty minutes. Thirty tops.”
“Fine, I missed you.” It’s not a line. I do miss her when she’s not with me.
“Wizardry,” she mumbles.
