Page 8 of Run the Play
“Ladies, are we tanning today?” Sloane asks. “I’m still exhausted. I don’t think I have the energy for much more than that.”
“You?” Corie asks. “I didn’t—” she starts, but Landry interrupts her.
He covers his ears and says, “La la la la la,” and everyone laughs. I turn just in time to see him wink at his sister.
I’ve always wanted a sibling. These two complement each other so well. The same goes for Knox and his sisters, Emma and Everly. I’ve never been able to experience it, but being with them has shown me that love and respect exist not only in relationships but also in families.
“Tanning sounds good to me. Rowan?” Corie asks.
“Considering I didn’t sleep well last night, that sounds perfect.”
“I know why I didn’t sleep. Why didn’t the two of you?” Corie asks, wagging her eyebrows.
“Listen, bestie. Just because you’re all loved up and losing sleep because of… activities, doesn’t mean the rest of us are,” Sloane tells her. “I slept just fine, just not long enough. I still have some alcohol that needs to be slept off.” She sticks her tongue out at Corie, making a silly face, and the two laugh.
I smile at their antics.
“What about you?” Corie asks me.
“Just had trouble falling asleep.” What I don’t say is that I don’t sleep well anymore. Not when I’m always worried about when the other shoe will drop. I know that I got away from him, but when you live two years of your life on pins and needles, a good, deep sleep is hard to come by. Time is all I need. I know that the scars he caused will fade in time, but they will always be there. I don’t know if I’ll ever trust another man enough to get that close to me again.
I’m certain the risks are not worth the reward.
No, I’m going to be the lonely cat lady with no husband and no kids to speak of. Though no cats because I’m more of a dog person. So I guess I’ll be the lonely dog lady instead. I’ll pave my own way.
“Everything okay?” Sloane asks. There’s concern in her voice, and I swallow back the emotion that causes. I was so isolated before. To have Corie and Sloane come into my life and enfold me in theirs, as if we’ve all been friends since we were little, warms my soul.
“Yeah, just couldn’t sleep.” I smile, hoping I can pull off the lie. “Strange place, I guess.”
“That’s the worst,” Reid chimes in. “I remember when I was first drafted and traveling all the time. It was hard on me too. You eventually get used to it.”
“I’ve never really traveled much. I guess I better get used to it,” I say, my eyes dramatically wide, and everyone laughs.
“Fair enough.” He nods. “But it does get better eventually.”
“So what are we doing?” Baker asks.
“Whatever we want,” Knox replies. “We’re in paradise, after all.”
“Well, us old fogeys are going to take it easy,” Knox’s dad tells them.
“Come on, old man,” Knox teases. “The five of you against the five of us.”
“What are we talking?” Tyler, Knox’s uncle, asks.
“Sand volleyball,” Foster suggests. “You know, since the five of us are professional athletes, it’s best not to play football because it’s an unfair advantage and all that.” He smirks.
“Oh, just because you get paid to play doesn’t mean we can’t hang,” Kent tells him with an arched brow.
“Bring it on, boys,” Seth says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I hope you’re ready to eat sand,” Mark boasts.
I smile at their banter. Their wives do the same, as if this is normal for all of them.
“We’ll cheer you on from our lounge chairs,” Tyler’s wife, Reagan, tells them.
“It’s settled. Eat up. The beach is waiting!” Corie says excitedly. Knox smiles at her like she’s his reason for breathing. There’s an ache in my chest when I think about never having that. At least I’ll be able to witness true love firsthand through my friends. I’m sure Sloane will find a man to sweep her off her feet, just as Knox did with Corie.
