Page 16 of 4th and Goal (Season of Change #4)

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” I can’t be hearing what I’m hearing.

Seeing what I’m seeing. I thought with the end of the regular season, that I might be able to relax a bit, smooth sailing until, hopefully, a bowl game.

But no. And honestly, it doesn’t matter what I’m feeling, Daya and Addy are what matter right now.

“Someone cut that feed!” I yell, hoping someone with a radio can get in touch with the jumbotron operator.

I run down the tunnel, through the complex, and smack the elevator button repeatedly until it finally opens.

I should have taken the stairs, but I don’t want to be out of breath and sweaty on top of rushed.

On my admin floor, I run into my office, grab my laptop, and run back to the elevator to go to the upper floor where the press boxes are located, and the audio/visual offices.

“Son of a bitch! So help me God, if you don’t start talking, you’re going home in a body bag.

” I pretend I didn’t just hear my boyfriend threaten someone’s life and slide into the small office full of screens.

I push aside empty pop cans and other debris and set down my laptop.

I give it a second to wake up, then I’m opening a blank document, and my fingers start flying across the keyboard.

I ignore Brody and the soon-to-be unemployed Glenn, as I draft a quick apology.

I skim through it, shrug that it’s the best I can do right now and send it to the announcer through the instant messaging system Eric developed for the back office.

As soon as I hear the announcer’s voice reading what I sent, I focus on the shit show that is going on a couple of feet away. I inhale a deep breath to calm down and instantly regret it as the stench of piss overwhelms me momentarily. Great. Brody scared the guy so bad he wet himself.

Mason comes through the doorway, zip ties in hand. He motions to Glenn to stand and turn around.

“Come on, man. That’s not necessary. I didn’t know what was on it! I thought it was a birthday tribute!”

“Save it for the judge.”

“JUDGE?!?” Glenn does not like the mention of criminal charges, but what he did here today is definitely illegal and whatever he thought it was, whatever lies he was told are irrelevant.

“Wait. Don’t zip tie him.” Glenn sags in relief at Brody’s words. He’s typing on his phone, then pockets it and looks up at Glenn. “Police are on their way up now.”

“Fuck.”

By the time half-time is over, Daya, Addy, and the rest of the cheer squad put on a hell of a performance, along with the band and others.

I’m happy to hear the crowd getting back into the spirit of the game.

Our first playoff game, at home, should be celebrated, not marred by the treacherous web of deceit, lies, and contractual sex that has occurred within this building, all in the name of perceived success.

Everything on the field is business as usual, but behind the scenes is a madhouse as security and admin scramble to make sense of what’s been going on for far longer than any of us knew.

I’m sick to my stomach and we’ve only untangled half of that web by the time I get an urgent message from security at the end of third quarter.

My feet ache from running all over the complex and stadium.

My brain protests as I think over everything that needs to be done, and a headache is building fast behind my eyes.

I hear yelling before I make it to the entrance I’ve been summoned to.

A sinking feeling forms in the pit of my stomach.

Conner is being barred from entering the stadium.

He’s obviously drunk and more unkempt than I’ve ever seen him.

“Lilly! Quit being a bitch and let me in! I have a ticket.”

I plaster a neutral professional expression on my face and stop next to one of the security guards preventing him from entering. “I understand you have purchased a ticket for tonight’s exciting game; however, you have been banned from entering due to previous egregious behavior.”

“Fuck you! You’re just jealous!”

“Thank you for your continued support of our university, however, we must ask you to leave now before—”

Faster than a drunk man should, Conner reaches out, wraps his hand around my arm, and pulls with all his strength.

I stumble forward, then fall to my knee and then down to my elbow.

Both burn and I know they’ve been scraped open, but it’s my shoulder that causes me to cry out in distress.

There’s a scuffle and I glance up to see two security guards trying to wrestle Conner to the ground a couple feet away.

“POLICE!” I yell, a little grateful that there is already so much police presence here tonight because of the high-profile game and the stunt that was pulled right before half-time.

Someone helps me up and though my left arm is useless and hurts like a motherfucker, I push through and stand over Conner as he lays on his stomach, hands secured behind his back.

“Your little girlfriends can’t help you sneak in, Conner, because they have quite a bit of legal trouble to contend with.

And now, so do you.” An officer takes my statement and is happy to provide me with the proper contact information to send over the files of text messages, voicemails, and mail I’ve received over the months from Conner.

Should be enough to add stalking and harassment to the assault charges he’s just earned.

I smile like a loon when I think of siccing Haylee Dalton on his sorry ass.

She’ll have him brought up on all kinds of charges that no one knew were still on the books, maybe invent a few new ones.

It's close to the end of the fourth quarter by the time the police are done with me. Cradling my arm, I limp back into the stadium and slowly make my way toward my office. “Lilly!” Brody comes running up to me, barely stopping before barreling into me. Now would not be a good time for a collision. “Lils, I’m so sorry, Mason just told me that Conner—”

“He’s been arrested.” His eyes darken as they drop over my body, lips pursing, and his jaw clenched, taking in my injuries.

“Jesus, Lilly, let me take you to the hospital.”

“No. Not right now. Have Lindsay and Jillian been taken into custody?” He nods, looking like he wants to argue with me. “Then we need to meet with Daya and Addy. But first, I need to change my clothes.”

“Your arm—”

“Isn’t going anywhere, Brody. It’ll still be there when we’re done reassuring Daya and Addy that we’re doing all we can to help them.

I can’t imagine how violated they must feel.

I want to be there for them. And I’ll need to start drafting all kinds of releases and talking points and scripts.

Remind me to tell Beiler we’re cancelling his usual post-game press conference. ”

“I don’t like it.”

“Ok.” I’m not going to debate this to death.

The game is almost over, and I need clean clothes to hide my injuries.

I don’t want to worry anyone, and right now everyone’s focus should be on Daya and Addy.

I limp past Brody a few steps before he falls in line next to me, wrapping an arm around my waist to support me on the long trek to my office.

On the way, Brody updates me on Lindsay and Jillian’s arrest, and what Glenn had to say.

In the elevator, I give Brody an unimpressed stare. “The number of people so easily bribed or conned is concerning. If I were a Nigerian prince in need of financial assistance I could probably clean house here.” The doors open and we step out. “So, Daya and Addy’s privacy is worth, what, $20?”

Brody shakes his head with a sigh. “No, more like 20 minutes on her knees.”

I huff in annoyance and disappointment. “God, the three of those walking used condoms are skanks.” I look up at Brody as we enter my office. “And men are dumb.” He just shrugs without an argument.

He insists on cleaning the bleeding wounds on my elbow and knee, then helps me pull dress pants over my legs. He slips the sleeve of a long sleeve blouse up my left arm, and buttons it for me.

“Your shoulder is probably dislocated.”

“The elbow might be too.” I close my eyes, give myself a second to accept the immense pain I’m in, then forcefully push it aside. By the time I’m walking out of my office, you’d never know I was ever hurt.

“I’m with you every step, baby girl.”

“I know, that’s why I love you.”

“I love you too,” he responds easily. This entire season has been painful in so many ways for so many people.

I know the love several of us have found within these sacred walls has made all that we’ve endured a little more palatable, but so much needless agony, physically and mentally, truly puts the saying to the test. All you need is love.

And body armor, a good lawyer, and a hardened heart.

But right now, it feels like Brody is all I’ll ever need.

“You know I’m gonna be looking at that footage later of you being a boss bitch and having him arrested. ”

I chuckle, pressing the button for the elevator. The doors open and I toss over my shoulder as we enter, “We can watch it together while you fuck me doggy style.”