Page 82 of Run the Play
“You can tell them. We’re all on your side, baby,” I tell her. She nods again and launches into her story. She tells them about growing up in foster care, meeting Chaz at college, and following him to Los Angeles. She doesn’t leave anything out, and by the time she’s done, her face is stained with tears, but the invisible weight on her shoulders has lifted.
“Thank you for trusting us with your story,” Roger says. “I know how hard that must have been for you, to tell us your history. I know you said you didn’t report him before because you felt like it was your word against his, but you have medical records for this hospital stay, yes?”
“I do. However, I told them it was an accident, although I don’t think they believed me.”
“You have this entire organization behind you. If you wish to pursue this, and we hope that you do, we’ll be there with you every step of the way.”
Rowan shakes her head. “I don’t want to bring bad press to the team.” She glances over at me. “Or to Landry.”
“This is not on you,” Coach Warner says. “If my daughter—” He pauses, clearing his throat.
I didn’t know Coach had a daughter. That’s definitely news to me, but then again, he’s always kept things professional. Though I’ve never seen her at a game, or even a wife or girlfriend, now that I think about it. There must be a story there, but right now, all I can worry about is my girl and how she wants to handle this moving forward. I want her to press charges for all of it, and nail his ass, but I’ll support her whatever decision she makes.
“We support you. The organization, the team, we’re all behind you,” Coach Warner tells her. “We don’t want to see him get away with what he did to you, or perhaps do the same to others.”
“I don’t know if there are others. I know he cheated on me, so I could only assume so. I wasn’t close to any of his friends in LA. I stayed to myself and tried to toe the line where Chaz was concerned.”
“Rowan, baby, what do you want?” I ask her. “Don’t think about me or the team. Think about what you want. Tell me, and that’s what we’ll do,” I tell her.
She pauses, staring down at her hands, one of which is entwined with mine. I can’t seem to let her go, even when I can see she’s safe sitting right next to me.
“I don’t want him to hurt anyone else.” She pauses, and we all stay quiet, giving her time to work through her emotions. Slowly, she lifts her head to look at me. “I’m stronger this time,” she tells me.
“Damn right you are. You were strong then too. You left him, Rowan. You’ve proven that you’re a strong, beautiful badass who can fight back.”
She looks over at Roger. “I’m so sorry for all the trouble this has caused the team and the organization.”
“I appreciate that, but I don’t accept your apology, because there is nothing for you to apologize for. You are innocent in all of this, Rowan. If my vote counts, I say we nail this slimy bastard with every charge they can toss at him. We are behind you.”
She sniffs. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate that so much.” She clears her throat and sits up taller in her chair. She squeezes my hand. “I want to press charges.”
“There’s my fierce girl,” I tell her.
“I don’t know where to go from here,” she confesses.
“That’s okay. I took the liberty of calling Officer Simpson, a close friend of mine on the Nashville force, and her partner to this meeting. They’re waiting outside. The team is also pressing charges for assault of an employee. We’re not going to let this go, Rowan.”
She nods, and Roger buzzes his assistant to bring the officers in. We move to the conference table on the other side of the room, and for the second time today, Rowan tells her story from start to finish. The mood in the room is somber, but there is a sense of relief that something is finally being done. He’s going to be stopped.
“Thank you, Ms. Mills,” Officer Simpson says. “This is enough to hold him.”
“Hold him?” Rowan asks.
“Yeah, he’s been in lockup. Officer Hughes delivered him to Nashville late last night.”
“So, he’s not—he can’t get to me?” Rowan’s voice cracks, as does my heart, hearing her fear.
“No. He can’t get to you. These charges, with eyewitness reports of Coach Warner and the other players present, he’s going away for a while. I can’t see any judge not making him pay. They’ll make an example out of him because of his status as a professional athlete.”
“Other players?”
“We all reported him,” I tell her. “Each of the guys, and well, I’m supposed to give mine now.” I nods at Officer Simpson. “The guys went down to the station first thing to give their reports on yesterday’s events.”
“Really?” Tears swim in her eyes.
“You have an incredible support system, Ms. Mills. Use it. Lean on them.” Officer Simpson smiles, although it doesn’t quite meet her eyes. I can’t imagine the things she sees in her line of work.
“Are you ready to give your statement?” Officer Simpson asks me.
