Page 50 of Fair Play
I cover my mouth with my hands when he tries to get up but immediately falls again.
“Please,” I whisper to myself. “Don’t let it be a head injury.”
From what I could see, it seems like Buddy’s right, but things happen so fast it’s hard to know for sure.
“Okay, he’s skating off with help,” Buddy says. “At least they didn’t need a stretcher.”
We both sigh in relief.
But Rome’s head is down and Ivan is leading him off the ice while Rome balances on one leg.
Dammit.
He’shurt.
Bodi and I have an arrangement that if he’s injured in a game, even something as minor as a split lip, he calls me themoment he comes off the ice. Rome and I don’t have a deal like that.
I never even thought of it. I know he’s a professional athlete, which comes with risks, but the time we’ve spent together has been so far removed from anything to do with hockey, it never occurred to me that we needed to discuss a potential injury.
“Billie? Your big table is looking for you.” One of the other waitresses nudges me.
“Yeah, I’m going.” I grab their drinks and head in that direction slowly, looking over my shoulder at the TV. Luckily, it’s gone to a commercial now so I can focus on my job, but there’s a hollow pit in my stomach, worry gnawing its way through me.
“Someone’s hurt,” Ally announces as soon as I get there.
“It’s Rome,” I whisper, hoping I don’t sound as sick as I feel.
“He’s Bodi’s roommate, right?” Stevie asks, looking up at me.
I nod. “My roommate too since I’m living there right now.”
“He needed help off the ice,” Ally says, wrinkling her nose. “That means it could be serious.”
An injury means Rome may not be able to play, which I know will be frustrating for him.
“It was such a pretty goal,” Ally continues, looking at what I assume is the replay on her phone.
“I just hope he’s okay,” I say, blowing out a breath. “My brother and I have a deal about injuries, even something minor, where he knows to call me immediately after the game. Obviously, that’s not the case with Rome…”
This sucks.
I desperately want to tell them how worried I am, how scared, but I have to keep my mouth shut.
“He’ll be okay.” Stevie seems to sense how upset I am and gently squeezes my forearm. “It’s part of the life. But you know that.”
“I guess I’ve been lucky. Bodi’s lost a tooth and had a few stitches, but nothing like this, where he had to leave the game. He pulled a muscle years ago, when I was still in high school, and missed a few games, but I guess I was too young to appreciate how scary injuries can be…”
Christ, I’m babbling.
“I’m waiting to hear from Rowan,” Bristol says. “She usually updates me on injuries in case I have to write up a press release.”
“Oh, uh, could you let me know too?” I ask.
“Of course.”
“So, do you guys know what you want to eat?”
They tell me their orders, we chat for another minute, and then I hurry to the back. We’re not allowed to use our phones while we’re working but I keep mine in my pocket anyway. I slip into the bathroom and pull it out, immediately open the texting app and send Rome a message.
