55. Lavinia #2
There are more penalties than any other game and most of them are for chirping, cross-checking, and one unsportsmanlike conduct for Josh when he starts a fight with Ford.
“You get a penalty for talking shit?” Elena asks.
“It's called chirping, and yes you get time in the sin bin for it,” I explain. “It's a stupid thing to do. Why would you want to take a penalty?”
The second period is even more tense as we are tied one to one.
The crowd is growing louder on both sides, and I’m sweating.
Whenever Roman has the puck or he’s assisting I have my phone out and I’m recording the footage.
I can feel Josh's gaze searching for me in the crowd and I refuse to look at him.
A Falcon purposefully trips Reese, and I bang on the boards.
“That’s a penalty!” I shout. “Come on, ref, are you biased?”
It's the first time I’ve ever yelled at a game while watching it in the arena. But this is getting ridiculous. The Falcons are out for blood.
The score is still tied one to one in the third period, and it looks like we’re going into overtime.
I look at Coach Cross and can see the tension in his shoulders.
As a player he’s won the Titans six Stanley Cups.
After a long dry spell, he led the Titans to win the Stanley Cup in his first year as Coach.
I watch Roman intercept a pass. He's off like a shot down the right wing and I’m on my feet before he even crosses center ice. Josh comes out of nowhere and they collide on the blue line, a brutal hit which sends both falling on the ice with Josh on top of Roman.
My heart in my throat, I wait with bated breath for Roman to stand up. Around me the crowd goes wild. Before he went down, he passed the puck to Ford, and he’s scored a victory for the Titans.
“I have to go and get a handle on this,” Sage says. “I'm sorry, but this is going to be a PR nightmare. I'll find you girls later.”
The horn sounds like a gunshot announcing the victory. I watch as Roman pulls Josh off of him and punches him right in the face. Someone from the Falcons grabs Roman, which leads to Ford grabbing them and then they’re all fighting.
My heart stops beating as Josh hits back and Roman falls, his head cracking against the ice.
“Oh my god,” Elena gasps. My body feels weightless as I stare at Roman, lying unmoving on the ice. My legs feel like they can’t support me anymore and as I start to fall, I feel an arm wrap around me.
“He’s going to be fine,” Jules whispers in my ear.
Trainers are rushing in from both teams to get the players checked out. There’s blood everywhere. I can barely hear anything over the roar in my ears. Roman is shifted to a stretcher and carried out of the arena.
“I have to go with him,” I gasp through my tears.
I struggle through the crowds, blood roaring in my ears, until we’re in the hallway and walking towards the medical room.
“I don't think there's anything to worry about. Roman has a thick skull,” Elena says, trying to ease the tension. Normally, I’d agree. Just not when I feel like I'm about to die. I’ve never been this terrified in my whole life.
As we’re about to round the corner to the medical room someone steps in our way. Up close, he looks even more like Roman, and his face is even harsher.
“I hope you realize this is your fault,” he hisses, his voice venomous. “Roman was on his way to having a clean slate and then you came into his life and ruined everything.”
“I don't know how much you know about your son uncle Asher, but he was never going to have a clean slate,” Elena says, drily.
Mr. Maddox ignores her like she hasn't even spoken. “I have a reputation in this town, little girl. I didn't play second fiddle to your father for my son to do the same with your brother.”
I wipe the tears streaming down my face, anger mixing with the fear. Does he even care that Roman might be seriously injured right now?
“This isn’t about Roman. This is about you reliving your glory days and somehow besting my father after all these years. Roman isn’t a puppet you can use for your plans. He's one of the best players in the NHL and he doesn't need you messing with his career.”
“He wouldn’t have a career if it wasn’t for me!” Mr. Maddox shouts.
“Yes, he would!” I shout back. “Everything he’s done has been on his own merit, not yours.”
“He wears my name on his back. He’s here because of me.” Mr. Maddox’s face is red and twisted with anger.
“Actually, he wears my name on his back, and I’m proud he chose to do it.”
With that, I step around him and rush to the medical room. The guys are standing outside, their helmets off, but still in their gear.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“The doctor is examining him,” Ford says.
“He was talking when they brought him in,” Drew adds. He sounds so casual about it all. I love my brother, but god he’s infuriating sometimes.
“Oh, if he was talking, I guess that makes the potential head injury okay,” I say, each word laced with sarcasm. I push them out of the way and open the door for the medical room.
I hear Jules and Drew arguing on the other side as the door closes.
“Ew, your arm touched mine,” Jules whines.
“Fuck’s sake. Are you happy now? Do you think I have cooties?” Drew sounds frustrated.
“You might! I don’t know where you’ve been,” Jules replies.
The door shuts and I’m in the room. Roman’s lying on a bed as the team doctor checks him out. Coach is standing against the wall, watching as the doctor examines Roman. When Roman sees me, the biggest smile steals across his face. He looks absolutely fine, and I feel a little relieved.
“There she is,” Roman says. “Doc, have you met my wife?”
Dr. Goldberg looks at me and nods. “She's been in here a time or two with her brother.”
Roman’s smile doesn't dissipate. “Isn't she beautiful and absolutely brilliant? Have you ever seen her play?”
“Yes, I watched the Olympics,” Dr. Goldberg says.
“Is this really the time for this conversation?” I demand. “I'm freaking out here.”
Roman’s face softens and he ushers me towards him. I walked to his side and put my hand in his. He feels warm and solid under my hand.
“I'm sorry you were worried,” he whispers.
I laugh humorlessly. “Worried doesn't even begin to encapsulate what I was feeling. I was terrified you weren't going to wake up and I swear my heart stopped.”
He watches me with gentle eyes, understanding stealing across his features. Slowly he lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it. “You'll never have to be without me. I'll find you in all our lives.”
Logistically, I know it's not a promise he can keep. Life is too cruel for promises like that, and no one knows what happens after it. Still, it fills me with the comfort and relief I’m seeking. Talking to him, having his hand in mine, is helping to calm down my rapid heart rate.
Dr. Goldberg asks me to step aside because he has to test Roman for a concussion. I refuse to leave his hand, so I give him as much space as possible.
“I'm going to file an official complaint with the Commissioner’s office,” Coach says. “What Josh did on the ice was a malicious attack and not in the spirit of the game.”
“I'm pretty sure Josh has had other complaints filed against him and he's gotten off with a fine,” Roman says. “For some reason, the Commissioner has a real hard-on for him.”
“Well, the Commissioner also has a signed Aiden Callahan jersey hanging in his office,” I say. “Your attack plus the videos will have to ensure that Josh is suspended.”
Roman’s had snaps to look at me. “What videos?”
“Mr. Maddox, please let me do my examination,” Dr. Goldberg chides gently.
“I'll tell you later,” I whisper.
I stay in the room during the rest of the examination until Dr. Goldberg confirms that Roman has a mild concussion, but everything else is fine.
Coach goes out to tell the rest of the team.
Mild concussions are expected and while I feel like I want to kill Josh, I’m also immensely relieved that Roman doesn't have a serious injury.
I've had a mild concussion before. It's something I can deal with.
Dr. Goldberg recommends that Roman be transported to the hospital for an MRI.
He doesn't want to take any chances and neither do I.
After four long hours the doctors at the hospital also confirm that Roman only has a mild concussion.
As he walks out to the waiting room, a couple of nurses ask for his autograph. He's almost shy about it like it’s not something he's used to. A part of me loves that he doesn't take this all for granted and the other part wishes that he would because he's amazing and he’s worked hard for this.
“For two days, you’re all mine,” I say, as we get in the car. “I'm going to bar the door so no one can come in.”
“Are you going to kidnap me, Blossom?” Roman asks with amusement.
“If that's what I have to do. No more excitement for at least two days.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but I can use a little less excitement in our lives right now,” Roman agrees.
I drive us home to our cats.