Page 181 of Saving the Halfback

“If you do, I expect a dance in the end zone.”

He laughed. “Deal.”

Chase tucked his coat a little more firmly around me. “I still don’t think we can win this without you. Statistically speaking.”

Nolan rolled his eyes. “What statistic?”

Chase smiled. He seemed to like egging Nolan on lately. “Four out of three chances we need Bailey out there to keep our asses in gear.”

Ethan shook his head. When he saw me watching them and loving their banter, he gave me a smile that was just for me, and I knew exactly what that meant. He winked at me, and I tried to hide my blush as I looked away.

The game was the worst ever. I didn’t think I could survive it. We won, of course, because the team wasn’t all about me, and we had some real kickass players on it. But forcing myself to sit in a chair while they blocked, tackled, and ran was torture. I wanted so badly to catch the ball, to run it to the end zone, to feel thevictory fill me with triumph. Almost as much triumph as I’d felt while watching the light dim from Ed’s eyes.

Lachlan’s victory dance was pretty good, though. I was likely out for the next few games, if not for the season. The bruised shoulder was painful enough, but Nolan’s dad offered to work with me to make sure it got better. It took a lot of convincing until, one day, the guys finally said it would be fine. Apparently, they came up with a schedule to ensure at least one of them would always be with me during my rehab sessions.

I didn’t expect Rob to hurt me or push me, like he had Nolan. He was actually a good guy, just full of grief he still didn’t know how to channel.

Even without the bruised shoulder, there was the massive concussion I had sustained. The hits to the head had caused a hairline fracture to the skull, and I’d had to stay in the hospital overnight to be monitored for swelling and a brain bleed. Luckily, no such thing happened, though the nurses seemed a bit disappointed when I left with all four guys in tow, Nolan pushing me in a wheelchair while Ethan fussed, demanding he take the turns easy, so as not to dump me out.

Nolan had a mild concussion, which he somehow convinced Coach it was nothing and he could still play.

Freshly showered after the game,the guys met me outside the school doors. The four of them walked toward me. Lachlan and Chase were talking animatedly to one another about some computer game coming out. Nolan held on to a football and was showing Ethan something about his grip. Ethan was laughing and shaking his head.

They were all mine. Four hot, panty-dropping guys, all walking out to see me. I went to bed every night, knowing at least one would slip in and hold me. I woke every morning tangled upwith another. I lived every day knowing I would never be without again. I would never be isolated. I would never be the plain ghost of a girl anymore.

Chase slipped his arm around my shoulders as they reached me, careful of my injured shoulder. “Let’s go, short stuff. We have homecoming plans.”

We were walking through the parking lot, where my parents waited for us, when a well-dressed man stepped in front of us. “Charles Jacobs, you do not look the least bit deceased.”

Chase dropped his arm and stepped in front of me. “Pardon?”

“Excuse me. I’m Benedict Hemricks, a lawyer for the Jacobs estate. Is there a place we can go and talk?”

Chase crossed his arms defensively. “No.”

Benedict’s eyes shifted between the five of us before landing on Chase. “Very well. I am here to close the last will and testament for the late Vincent Jacobs.”

“I don’t carry the Jacobs name anymore. My father had me written out of the will. There’s nothing left for me,” Chase said. He moved to walk around the lawyer, but Benedict was persistent, stepping in front of him.

“Ah, but your father doesn’t have the power to do so. I am acting on behalf of Vincent Jacobs. Senior.” I saw some movement to the right of us and relaxed a bit more when my mom and dad came walking between the parked cars. The lawyer looked at them briefly before taking a step back with a breath. “You see, Charles—”

“Chase.”

Benny nodded. “Chase. It is so written in the will that you would receive the inheritance on the eve of your eighteenth birthday. As I prepared the documents, your father, Vincent Jacob, Junior, had a death certificate couriered to me.”

“You’re going to have to repeat that.” My dad took a step forward. I had to agree.

“Yes, I, too, was skeptical. Nevertheless, I had the certificate in hand. The last bit before signing the inheritance to your father had to be approved by an employed lawyer located in the small town of Cloverton. Imagine my shock when I arrived in said town, and I saw your name on posters and storefronts, congratulating you on winning a football game. Dead boys don’t win football games, now, do they?” Benedict said to my father.

My dad just shook his head in disbelief.

Benedict continued. “Tracking you down proved to be difficult, but the locals assured me of an upcoming game you were sure to be attending. And thus, I am here. And you seem alive and well.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would my father go through all that trouble just for a few thousand dollars?” Chase asked.

“Hundred thousand,” Ethan corrected.

“Uh, no, no, no. Chase, your grandfather has left you the entire inheritance. This is including, but is not limited to, stocks, bonds, financial accounts, properties owned and leased. There is a stipulation that you attend university—a program and course outline has been preselected to prepare you for your position of CEO for Jacobs Incorporated, however we can go over all of that. You won’t come into ownership until you’ve completed the necessary training.”

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