Chapter 2
Vee
Amember of the stadium’s security team escorted me up to the suite currently occupied by my family. With each step forward, my mind filled with the horrifying events leading the Coopers to victory. By the time we reached the entrance, my tears were flowing again. Wiping my cheeks, I stepped inside.
“Fuck, Vee,” Grant said in way of a greeting.
“Fuck is right.”
Uncle Darin and Aunt Rachel joined us, both with expressions of glee. “First seed.”
Inhaling, I smiled. “First seed. Next up is divisional championship.”
My aunt’s voice was light. “Reid would be so happy.”
“We made it to the conference championship last year,” I reminded them.
“But we had to play in the wild card,” Grant said. “This year we’re No. 1.”
Not one question about Fin.
I stepped away from the group and made my way to the bar. We weren’t in Crystal Light. This bartender wouldn’t know my game-day drink. When she came closer, I forced a smile. “Cosmo please.”
“Right away, Ms. Hubbard.”
This suite was nice, but not as nice as our family suite at Crystal Light, fewer seats and less space. Beyond the glass, there were regular stadium seats, not recliners. On the large TV screens, the post-game press conference aired. Coach Tilson was currently taking questions.
Taking a seat on one of the barstools, I let out a long sigh as I moved my elbows to the bar and cradled my head. Suddenly, I sensed the seats on each side of me become occupied.
“Jesus, Vee.”
Lifting my head, I stared into Lip’s green stare. Leigh was on my other side.
“What was Fin thinking?” Leigh asked. “How is he? The announcers said his shoulder was dislocated. Why did Pratt put him back in?”
“He asked to go.”
Lip laid his hand on my shoulder. “He wanted to go in?”
“I could only hear Drew’s side of the conversation. He was upset that Troy risked himself with the run and slide.”
“Yeah, but Troy is young,” Lip said. He grinned. “I’m not saying Fin is old.”
“He is in football years,” I admitted. “Drew called Troy off the field. Then he called for Josh Jackson, our new third string.”
The bartender set the pink cosmo before me.
“Thank you.” I lifted the glass and took a long sip. Setting it down, I continued my story. “From what I gleaned from Drew’s side of the conversation, Fin asked to be put in. After the game, Fin told me he couldn’t risk our season on Jackson.” Not an exact quote, but I could read between the lines.
“All he needed to do was run out the clock,” Lip said.
A rush of pride filled my circulation, overpowering my earlier dread and fear.
It could be the vodka, but I chose to believe it was pride.
Lifting my cheeks, I grinned. “I was so scared when he didn’t get up.
Then seeing him in so much pain…” I took another drink of my cosmo.
“When I realized he wanted to go back on the field, I was furious. Dad said I shouldn’t micromanage or make calls, but I wanted to scream at both Fin and Drew.
I swear, I was paralyzed standing on the sideline.
And then, when he threw to JD again...” I inhaled.
“Fin went back out on the field for me.”
“For you?” Leigh asked.
“He knows how much I want the Super Bowl win.”
Lip scoffed. “Next time he wants to do something for you, I suggest flowers or dinner.”
Uncle Darin tapped my shoulder. He had his phone in his hand. “Royce is on the call. He wants to talk to you.”
I took the phone. “Royce?”
“What Graham did out there—”
“Was stupid,” I said, interrupting.
“Was what legends are made of. I said the same thing to Don. I’m glad your daddy wouldn’t let you talk us out of signing him.”
“Me too.”
“This team is going to win all the way.”
A smile curled my lips. “For Dad, I hope you’re right.”
“For you, Vee. Now let me talk to Darin.”
“Thanks, Royce.” I turned and handed the phone back to my uncle. “He wants to talk to you.”
Uncle Darin took his phone and walked away.
I looked at my watch. “Shit, it’s almost one in the morning in Lexington.” The adrenaline the game created began to wane. “I’m suddenly exhausted.”
Leigh smiled. “We should have Susan set up the bed in the back for you.”
“No way am I taking four seats.”
“You’ve had a roller coaster of a night.”
I nibbled my lower lip. “I’m worried about Fin.”
“Vee,” Daphne called. “Can we go home?”
“Is she asking me?” I whispered.
Leigh covered my hand with hers. “You’re the owner.”
Her title reminded me about the trust Cammy believes was set up, naming me as sole owner.
I stood and nodded at Daphne. “I’m ready,” I said, finishing off the rest of my cosmo. “Uncle Darin, do we have cars here?”
“They’re waiting outside the private entrance.”
“Let’s go home.”
As we stepped outside, a chill in the air replaced the earlier afternoon heat.
We filed into the cars as if we had assigned seats.
Leigh, Hayden, Lip, Chris, and I were in one car.
Uncle Darin, Aunt Rachel, Daphne, and Grant were in the other.
Hayden was up front and the four of us were sitting two and two.
I turned back, smiling at Chris. “Will we see you at any more games?”
He looked to Lip and grinned. “I hope so.”
“The next two will be at Crystal Light,” Leigh said.
The stadium operations part of me was already scrambling with our two new home games. Tickets were set to go on sale at the end of tonight’s game. I hadn’t thought to check.
“Vee?” Leigh questioned.
“Yeah, two at home and then onto SoFi Stadium for the big game.”
Where the Rams play.
Where Fin sat the bench.
As we drove closer to the private airport, my phone buzzed. I looked down and read the text message from Fin.
“THE TEAM IS ON THE PLANE.”
“YOUR SHOULDER?” I texted back.
“BACK IN THE SOCKET.”
I grimaced. “PAINFUL?”
“NOT AS PAINFUL AS DISLOCATING IT. ARE YOU STILL UPSET WITH ME?”
“YES.”
His response came immediately. “I’LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU.”
“I’M NOT UPSET. THAT WAS MY ANSWER TO YOUR EARLIER QUESTION. YES, I WANT YOU TO MOVE IN.”
Fin sent back a heart emoji.
I sighed.
Leigh jutted her chin toward my phone. “Fin?”
“Yeah. The team is on the plane. They’ll beat us back.”
“How’s his shoulder?”
I inhaled. “He said they got it back in place.”
Leigh scrunched her nose. “Sounds painful.”
I lowered my voice. “Fin is moving in with me.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh my God, Vee,” she shrieked.
We now had the attention of everyone in the car.
“What happened?” Hayden asked, craning his neck toward us.
“Our girl Vee is going to willingly cohabitate.”
I felt the warmth fill my cheeks as I turned to Lip. “I seem to remember a recent conversation where I was told that I’m not getting any younger, and I should embrace what’s right in front of me.”
Lip grinned as he squeezed Chris’s hand. “Solid advice.”
Leigh bumped my shoulder with hers. “You’re going to have to give up your other job.”
“Which one is that?”
“Poster child of commitment issues,” she replied with a giggle.
A sad smile spread across my face as I remembered what Dad said when I told him Leigh thought I had commitment issues. He said he disagreed. Dad said I’m committed to this family and the Coopers. When the right person earned the privilege to be part of that commitment, I’d know.
“I guess I found the right person to commit to.”
The steps of the Gulfstream were down and the door open as the driver brought the car to a stop on the tarmac. The other car full of passengers arrived before us. As the driver unloaded our luggage, we climbed the steps.
Daphne met us near the door. “Vee, tell Susan to make the bed. It’s simply too late to sit in one of those seats.”
I met my stepmother’s stare. “We’re all tired. I’m sure you can be comfortable in a seat like the rest of us.”
Her nostrils flared as she huffed and turned to Grant. “I told you she wouldn’t concede.”
I met my cousin’s gaze. “Sounds like you lost the bet.”
Leigh pushed by us and made her way to the table. “Anyone else ready for a nightcap?”