Page 54 of Run the Play
“Good thing I have gas,” I tease.
He shrugs. “I’d just take you with me. In fact, I prefer that. I should have picked you up today and brought you with me.”
“That’s out of your way and would have been a waste. I’m perfectly fine to drive here on my own.”
“I know, but I worry about you. I don’t trust him. My gut tells me he’s not going to let this go. He’s not going to letyougo. I mean, he requested to be traded here and took a pay cut because he knew this was where you were. He’s not going to just accept defeat.”
I nod. He’s right, and we both know it. However, the thought doesn’t scare me as much as it used to, not now that I’m no longer dealing with him all on my own. For the first time in my life, I have a support system.
“Let’s go find John and get out of here.”
“You don’t have to wait for me.”
“I’m waiting.” He reaches for my hand just as John enters the room. I try to pull away, but Landry holds firm.
“Good game, Reynolds,” John tells him.
“Thanks, man, appreciate it.”
“Rowan, you’re all set to head out. No injuries and no additional treatments are necessary. We all came out winners today.” John laughs.
“Thank you, sir,” I reply. He nods and turns to walk back out the way he came.
“Do you have anything to take with you?”
“Yeah, I always keep a change of clothes on me.” He releases my hand, and I walk over to grab my bag, purse, phone, and keys out of my locker before turning the combination to lock it back up. “All set.”
Landry nods, places his hand on the small of my back, and keeps it there until we reach my car in the parking lot. He makes sure I’m buckled in and tells me to wait to pull out so that he can follow me to his place.
His demands make me feel appreciated and cared for. Nothing like what I’m used to. I wasn’t sure what to think when he told Chaz that he and I were dating. Unknowingly, havingLandry Reynolds in my life is precisely what I needed. He’s healing me in a way I never thought possible.
“Oh shit,” Reid says, scrunching up his nose.
We all turn to look at him. He’s sitting in the recliner with Camden sleeping on his chest. He’s been a baby hog most of the night.
“What?” Baker asks.
“Shit. Literally. Daddy Sin, you gotta take him,” Reid says while trying not to breathe through his nose.
“What? Uncle Reid can’t handle diaper duty?” Baker jokes.
“How can something so cute and so damn cuddly make that stench?” Reid gags, and we all laugh.
Corie stands from where she’s been sitting on Knox’s lap. “Aunt Corie will do it.” She takes Camden from Reid and rests him against her shoulder. “I didn’t feel like kicking their behinds in Name That Tune anyway,” she tells the baby, and I grin. She really does kick our asses every damn time.
“I can get it, Corie,” Baker tells her as he starts to stand.
“No. Let me. Take the help while you can get it.” She places a kiss on Camden’s tiny head and disappears down the hall.
“Yeah, man, if you want to go take a nap or whatever, you know where the spare bedrooms are,” Landry offers.
“Thanks. My parents are still in town, and Mom has been great. They wanted to keep him tonight, but I told them to nap or go out to dinner. Besides, I didn’t see him much today.”
“Any luck on a nanny?” I ask.
“Yeah. Natasha and I hired an older lady. She’s sweet as hell. Her kids have all moved away, and she has no grandkids of her own. Her husband is a doctor who still works part time, andshe’s got an open schedule. She’s CPR certified and comes with great references, and her background check was clean.”
“That’s great news,” Sloane and I say at the same time.
