Page 81 of Learn the Play
We all take our seats as the opening ceremonies begin. We’re playing the New York Tigers, and they get the ball first. On the first drive, Cody Martin, a defenseman, catches an interception and takes off down the field. He’s tackled at the thirty, but everyone in Rampage Stadium goes crazy. This team has fought hard all year, and they want this. They want another league championship with their name on it. If this is how this entire game is going to go, it’s going to be a nailbiter.
The game is back and forth. We’re holding strong, up by a touchdown, and we’ve all been on the edge of our seats the entire game. Well, not technically. I’ve been shifting this way and that, trying to find a comfortable position, and my head feels a littlefuzzy. I’m sure it’s all the excitement and lack of sleep I’m getting these days.
Reid was right, though: tired and happy is about to be our new normal, and it’ll all be worth it when we get to hold our baby girl in our arms.
“Go!” Rowan cheers as she holds Camden’s arm in the air. His baby giggles fill the suite around us, and I grin. Next year, that will be me. Our daughter will be here with us, and Camden will have a friend to play with. It’s not lost on me that I ran, scared of this life, and now, I’ve fully embraced it. I have Reid to thank for that. He’s shown me time and time again that our daughter and I are first with him.
It’s nearing the end of the second quarter, and the Rampage are still up by seven. It’s been an intense game so far. I’ve already made what feels like fifteen million trips to the restroom. Thankfully, our suite has its own. I was trying to hold out until the end of the quarter, but baby girl is right on my bladder, and I have to go. Defense is on the field, so I won’t miss Reid play.
“It’s that time again,” I tell the girls, and they smile and nod. When I stand, I do so quickly, and I feel a little lightheaded. That’s happened a lot in the past couple of days. I slow my steps as I make my way to the small restroom that’s just ours.
After handling my business, I wash my hands and pull open the bathroom door, and another wave of dizziness hits me. Suddenly, I feel more lightheaded than before, and my legs feel weak. I think I’m going to need some help to get back to my seat. I open my mouth to call for one of them to help me, but before I can, everything goes black.
Chapter Twenty-One
Reid
“Hell yeah!” Landry cheers as we make our way to the locker room at halftime. He hops onto my back, and I carry him a few feet before he jumps off and races ahead.
We’re up by two touchdowns. Landry caught a perfect spiral from Knox with twenty seconds to go, strengthening our lead. If we win today, we'll play again next week for the championship in our conference. If we win that, we'll move on to the league championship. If we make it, this will be our third year in a row, and we’re all salivating for this chance. We’re breaking records, and I get to do it with my best friends, my family, and this year, my girl is here, and soon, our daughter.
As we make our way down the tunnel, everyone is in good spirits until we all spot Corie, pacing in front of the locker room doors. Knox rushes to his wife, with Landry hot on his heels. Baker, Foster, and I stand behind them, building a wall.
“Corie girl, what’s wrong?” Knox asks, pulling her into his arms. She immediately pulls away, ignoring her husband and her brother to come and stand before me.
My heart drops to my cleats.
“What?” I ask, my voice breaking.
“Bellamy collapsed. She was coming out of the restroom in the suite, and she just fell to the floor. We called the paramedics, and they took her to the hospital. Sloane is with her,” Corie rushes to tell me with tears in her eyes.
“When?” I grit out. My body is numb. My heart feels like it could pound right outside my chest.
Please let them be okay. I can’t lose them.
“There were about four minutes to go in the quarter. They were taking her out when I raced down here to tell you.”
Shoving my helmet at Baker, I strip off my pads, drop them to the floor, and take off running into the locker room to grab my keys.
“Montgomery!” Coach bellows. “What the hell are you doing? Why are you not dressed for game play?”
“I gotta go,” I tell him. I’m not even sure he can hear my reply. Blood is rushing in my ears, and I feel like I’m in a tunnel.
“The fuck you are. We still have two quarters of a game to play,” he rages.
“Fucking fine me. Fire me. I don’t give a fuck. My family needs me, and that’s where I’m going to be.” Swiping my phone and my keys, I rush out of the locker room to him calling after me. Fuck him. I understand that I’m under contract, and I also understand that I’ll get fined for this, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let the love of my life and our unborn child be in danger and not be there. I won’t make his mistakes. If it costs me my career, then so be it. I’ve invested well, so we’ll be just fine, but I won’t be. Not if I lose them.
In the hallway, Corie’s there. She takes my hand and leads me away, with the guys calling back to keep them updated. I don’t bother to reply; I just let Corie lead me out to her car. She insists on driving.
“You'd better have a lead foot,” I warn her.
“Trust me, I’m just as worried as you are.” She nods to the police car that’s in front of us. “I called ahead. They’re going to escort us there. There are perks to being a Rampage,” she says, trying to make light, but I can’t even crack a smile.
“They have to be okay, Core. They have to be. I can’t lose them. She doesn’t even know that I love her. I didn’t tell her. Why the fuck didn’t I tell her? Fuck, what if I never have the chance to tell her?” I’m spiraling as I rest my elbows on my knees and bury my hands in my hair.
Please, please, let them be okay.
“Her mom. Amanda. I need to call them. Fuck, I didn’t even tell Coach why I was leaving.”
