Page 58 of The Billionaire Benefactor

By the time the players had disappeared back to the locker room, come back through the tunnel with cannons and smoke and fireworks, and everyone stood for the National Anthem, Jenny wasn’t sure she could make it through the game. It was simply too much. The noise and furor of the crowds, combined with the exchange with Roman, left her feeling nervous and off-balance. She was sweaty and shaky. Pressing her lips together, she worked to keep still in her seat as the game began.

Mid-way through the first quarter, she was beginning to feel a little more settled. But every time Roman went on the field, she held her breath. She understood now what the articles and posts on messages boards meant when they said he was dangerous. He was out for blood, with seemingly no concern for himself. The crowds loved it and went wild with every tackle, but Jenny’s heart stilled whenever Roman threw himself at another player. He had an energy about him, but it seemed like something more. From what she’d read, the main players didn’t get as much field time in preseason, so she hoped the coaches would pull him soon.

A few times she caught coaches and other players like Blake or Tony talking to him on the bench, but Roman seemed to always be waving them off, or shaking his head no. The announcers loved it as much as the crowds, saying that Roman was poised for his best season yet. The Roughnecks had gotten two touchdowns and kept the other team scoreless.

“They’ll probably start playing some of the scrubs and new guys,” Matt told her during the second quarter. Jenny nodded, hoping he was right. If anything, Roman’s intensity increased as the game went on, like he was recharging rather than running down with each play.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Lucy said, grabbing at Jenny’s hand.

“Want me to take her?” her mom offered.

Jenny’s eyes flicked to the field as Roman ran on. “I can do it.”

Her mother smiled and followed her gaze. “I’ve got it. You sit.”

Jenny pushed her knees to the side to let her mother pass by with Lucy. In the moment when they blocked her view, she heard the crowd react with something like a groan and then quiet. Beside her, Matt gasped and grabbed her arm.

“Mom?” He leaned forward in his seat, grabbing the rail in front of them.

“What?”

Jenny’s eyes slid from Matt’s still face to the field. Medics were already running onto the field and coaches knelt by a figure sprawled out on his back. She sucked in a breath. She knew it was Roman before the announcers confirmed it. She clutched Matt’s hand and he didn’t fight her off. She stood, leaning on the rail. Blake was out there too, kneeling. The stadium was eerily quiet. Still murmurs from the crowd, but even the guys selling beer and cotton candy had stopped their shouting. More people were on their feet, watching Roman’s still body. He hadn’t moved. Was he unconscious?

The emotion that she’d been holding inside through the game spilled over. Jenny felt the tears on her face and her father moved next to her, squeezing her into him as her body began to shake.

Move, Roman. Wake up.

Oh, God—please. Let him get up.

Jenny’s worries mingled with her silent prayers as the medics brought out a stretcher and one of those boards that they slipped under Roman carefully, strapping him down so his body wouldn’t move. Still limp. Jenny let go of Matt’s hand and the rail and put her palms up to her cheeks.

The announcers spoke in solemn voices: “We’re watching now as defensive end Roman Bennett is being loaded onto a stretcher.”

“It looks like he’s still unconscious. He took a wicked hit to the head, helmet to helmet and just went down.”

Jenny couldn’t watch the replays and after a few times, they stopped showing it and went to sponsors and ads on the jumbo screen.

“I’m sure he’ll be okay, sweetie,” her dad said, giving her another squeeze. She nodded but couldn’t look at him. Players from both teams removed helmets and took a knee on the field and the sidelines. The stands were murmuring more now, but still quiet with worry. The change from a few minutes before was palpable and the air seemed charged with concern. The medics removed his facemask, but kept the helmet on, taping it down to the board.

An ambulance drove onto the field and the medics wheeled Roman’s stretcher to it. As they were loading the stretcher into the back, Jenny thought she saw slight movement in his hand. Oh, please…

“Jenny!”

She dropped her hands and looked around for the voice shouting her name. It was Blake, standing behind the benches below her seats, his helmet off, waving up to her. Jenny leaned over the rails.

“Blake!”

“They’re taking him to Methodist!” Blake shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth. “I’ll message you later. You should meet me there!”

Meet him at the hospital? Jenny nodded, but doubt plagued her. Roman wouldn’t want to see her. She probably couldn’t get in. Hordes of fans probably tried that all the time and he’d be locked securely somewhere she couldn’t access. No one would believe her that she knew him.

“You should go,” her father said. He nudged her shoulder.

“I couldn’t,” Jenny said.

He looked at her squarely in the eyes, holding her gaze. “Stop being afraid. Just do what you know you need to do. I’ve seen you suffering the past month and watched you through this game. You care about Roman. Go to him. We’ll take the kids home after the game. Catch a cab or those rideshare things people are always going on about. Don’t just look at me. Go!”

Jenny nodded again, firmly this time. She would go. Even if it meant camping out in the waiting room with other fangirls. Blake said he’d message her, so maybe he could get her in, or would at least meet her there and tell her what was going on. She had to know Roman was okay. If she could see him, even better, but she wouldn’t hold her breath. He just needed to be okay. Grabbing her purse, Jenny said a quick goodbye and bolted from her seat, running up the concrete steps and out onto the mezzanine. It was her turn to be there for Roman, whether he wanted her there or not. She’d do it, just for him.

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