Page 51 of Run the Play
“Sorry, Coach, just saying hi to my girl.”
“I need your head in the game, Reynolds,” he says.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rowan enter the locker room with her therapy bag tossed over her shoulder. My eyes move to where Chaz is staring daggers at me. “That’s not an issue when I’m playing for her, Coach.”
Murmurs rise around the room because seeing me like this is new not only for me but also for my teammates. Coach even looks surprised.
“Fair enough. Preseason…” Coach Warner starts his pregame speech. I tune him out as I glare across the locker room at Chaz fucking Brown.
As each day passes, and I grow closer to Rowan, knowing that she’s anywhere near him, has rage boiling inside me. I don’t know how, but one day, he will pay for what he has done to her. I won’t stop until he does.
“So…” Knox says from where he’s standing next to me. “How’s it going?” We’re off to the far right of the sidelines, watching as our defense holds the Vegas Heat at the forty-yard line. It’s third and ten for this play, and our defense is doing a damn good job of keeping them from progressing forward.
“Amazeballs.” I grin. “How’s it going with you?”
“No complaints.” He rocks back on his heels. “You’re laying it on pretty thick for Brown, huh?” His tone tells me that he knows damn well this isn’t for Chaz’s benefit. Sure, it pisses him off, but she’s not going back to him. I’m certain of that.
“Nah, just showing my girl she’s important.”
Knox leans in close. “Is she yours, Landry?”
I turn to look at him. “She will be.”
He stares at me for several heartbeats and nods. “You got a plan?”
“Nope.” I laugh. “Hell, I don’t even know the plays. I’m going in blind, brother.”
“The play is simple. You treat her like your queen. Make sure that every damn day she knows what she means to you. The rest will fall into place.”
I nod. “Got it, Coach,” I say, slapping a hand down on his shoulder pads.
“Good, now run the play, Reynolds. Having a sister-in-law would make my wife extremely happy.”
Sister-in-law.
Damn. Could that be where this is headed? I don’t even have to close my eyes to picture it. Rowan in a white dress, walking toward me with those beautiful blue eyes of hers sparkling with love and happiness.
Lifting my hand, I rub at my chest. There’s an ache there I’ve never felt before. The picture in my mind is so vivid, it has to come true, right? Have I finally found my forever? Is that Rowan?
Fuck, this changes things.
“Offense!” Coach calls out, and I slip on my helmet and jog out onto the field.
We huddle up, and Knox calls the play, following it up with “You know, so Reynolds has a chance to impress his girl with a touchdown.” He smirks.
My teammates laugh and slap me on the back as we line up and take our positions. Knox calls the play, Keen hikes the ball, and I’m off. I'm juking the Vegas defense and pumping my arms and legs as fast as they’ll go. Looking over my shoulder, Isee the ball, and it lands beautifully, just as it was intended into my hands. Tucking the ball close to my chest, I sprint the final thirty yards, avoiding the defenseman on my way to the end zone. When I cross the line and the whistle blows, I drop the ball and turn to run back to the sidelines. I ignore my teammates’ cheers and the roar of the crowd. I don’t stop until I find my girl. I’m breathing hard, and my chest is rising from the rush of the adrenaline and the run.
“Nice play, number one.” She smiles up at me.
Holding out my fist, we launch into our handshake. By the time we’re done, we’re on the jumbotron, and we’re both smiling like we just won the lottery.
Tearing off my helmet, I lean in so she can hear me. “That was for you, beautiful.” I wink at her. She blushes, and I’m about to say fuck the fine from the league and kiss her.
The crowd roars, so I glance over to see that our kicker, Hank Martin, just got us the extra point. “Hell yeah!” I cheer.
“Go sit, and I’ll grab you a drink,” Rowan tells me.
“That’s not your job.”
