Chapter 24
Vee
“Great game,” the security guard said as he walked me to the elevator.
“Fantastic.” I read his name tag. “Richard, how long have you worked at Crystal Light?”
His smile beamed. “This is my tenth year. Football season is my favorite season of the year.”
“Mine, too.”
“We have another home game next week.” He tilted his head. “Chiefs or the Texans.”
The elevator doors opened. Richard held them open for us to enter. A swipe of his badge and we were whisked toward the sixth floor.
“I guess we’ll find out when they play tomorrow afternoon.” I had a thought. “Has the Vikings and Seahawks’ game started?”
“Yes, ma’am. Seahawks are up by seven. They came out strong.”
The elevator doors opened. “Thank you for the escort, Richard.”
“My pleasure, Ms. Maeve.”
The security guard outside the suite nodded. “Ms. Maeve.”
“Did you see the game?”
Her smile grew as she tilted her forehead toward the television monitor in the hallway. “Every chance I could. It was amazing.”
“I agree.”
“Vee,” Leigh called as I entered the suite. She waved me toward the buffet.
I looked around, searching for the Grahams.
“They’re out beyond the windows,” Leigh said, reading my mind.
Uncle Darin came closer, carrying a glass of light-colored beer. “We’re one win away from the big game.”
A smile came to my lips. “A home game.”
“And No. 1 seed,” Grant added to the conversation.
“Vee,” Lisa said with her eyes wide. “This suite is amazing. I was impressed with the one in Lambeau. She slowly spun completely around. “This is like a living room.”
My smile grew. “Have you met my Uncle Darin?”
“Oh yes. Everyone’s been so kind.” She smiled. “You have the nicest family.”
Really?
“Uncle Darin,” I said, “and my dad traveled from stadium to stadium throughout the country so they could design Crystal Light with all the best features.”
“That must have been exciting,” she said.
“It was eye-opening,” Uncle Darin replied.
“Dad wanted a true family suite. We never rent this space out.” I eyed Grant. “No amount of money will ever make us go against his wishes.” I spoke to Lisa. “We’re glad you could be here, even if Fin didn’t play.”
She laughed. “It was easier to watch without worrying about him. I wasn’t sure he’d be cleared to play.”
“The training staff made a last-minute decision. Thankfully, he didn’t sustain much in the way of ligament or tendon injury. If they had torn, he probably would’ve been out for the rest of the season.”
“Lisa.”
We turned to see Theo coming our way. “The Vikings’ game is back on.”
“How does it feel to have both of your sons playing in the NFL?” Leigh asked the Grahams.
Theo and Lisa looked at one another and back to Leigh. “Nerve-racking,” they said in unison.
“Have you eaten?” I asked, gesturing toward the buffet.
Theo laid his hand over his stomach. “Too much.”
“It’s up to you,” I said, “but I’ve arranged the suite to stay open late to watch Zane. I thought we could head back to our place at halftime and finish the game a little more comfortably.”
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Lisa said with a gentle squeeze of my arm.
Leigh followed me to the buffet as Theo and Lisa sat on the curved sofa by the firepit. The Vikings and Seahawks were playing on all the televisions except the one over the bar. Don Tilson was on the screen answering questions from reporters.
My cousin leaned close. “Did you just refer to your condominium as our place?” Her light-colored eyebrows danced.
I nodded as I reached for a plate. “Fin’s apartment lease is up in March. Honestly, I don’t know how I would have made it through the last three months without him.”
Leigh’s smile bloomed. “You’re going to make a liar out of me. Maybe you can commit.”
“To the right person.”
“Vee.” A fingernails-on-chalkboard voice called my name.
Turning, I met my stepmother’s gaze. “Daphne.”
“I’ve been trying to reach you.”
Leigh opened her eyes wide and walked away. My earlier appetite was waning.
“You know my cell phone number. Why not call me on there? I’m busy when I’m at work.”
“Detective Oldson came to my house.”
My house.
“Grant told me,” I replied as I continued to add different foods to my plate.
Her voice hardened. “We need to discuss their investigation.”
Looking over at the firepit, Leigh, Hayden, Lip, and Chris were seated with the Grahams. “Honestly, not tonight. The Coopers just won a hard-fought game. Fin’s parents are here.”
“There’s always an excuse, isn’t there?”
I set my plate on the edge of the buffet and met Daphne’s gaze. My voice was a stern whisper. “You do not want to push me on this right now.”
“It’s the only time I see you or you’ll talk to me.”
Grant appeared at Daphne’s side. “What’s going on?” he asked.
Too many thoughts were fighting for attention.
The fact the two people in front of me were screwing each other.
Daphne’s contention of Dad’s will.
Her brazen attitude.
The pillbox.
I looked at Grant. “What’s going on? We just won.
Now, I’m going to sit down by Fin’s parents and watch Zane play for his chance to move on to the championship round.
” I turned to Daphne and spoke as sickeningly sweet as I could muster.
“You’re welcome to stay or go. If you want to talk…
” —I lowered my voice— “call my damn cell phone.”
The NFL game entered the second quarter with a score of Seahawks ten and Vikings seven.
My food was gone, and I was nursing my second cosmo.
After my encounter with Daphne, I could drink more, but I wouldn’t.
I didn’t want to have someone else drive me home.
The suite door opened and the handsomest man I knew entered. “Fin.”
His cerulean stare came to me as his lips quirked into a grin. “Nice place you have here, Ms. Hubbard.”
I jumped up and walked to him. “That’s right, you’ve never been up here.”
“No, we mere players are kept downstairs.”
Kissing his cheek, I grinned. “Consider this an open invitation.” I shrugged. “In all honesty, the sideline is better.” I met his gaze. “Great game.”
“I didn’t play.”
“You were there for Troy if he needed you.”
His grin was back. “Best seat in the house.”
I showed Fin around the suite, taking him to the balcony. The field lights were still bright as workers cleaned the rows and rows of seats.
“Recliners?” He laughed.
“All the comforts of home.”
A loud cheer came from within the suite. We hurried up the few stairs.
“Vikings?” Fin asked.
Theo was on his feet. “Interception for a score.”
We made it to the television in time to watch the replay. The Seahawks’ quarterback went for a quick screen pass to his wide receiver. The Vikings’ defense didn’t take the bait. Their cornerback ran right through the play, caught the ball like it was meant for him, and took off for the end zone.
“Ouch,” Fin said. “That hurts.”
Two by two, members of my family left. I thought Daphne and Grant were the first to leave. Honestly, I wasn’t paying that close of attention. By halftime only Lip and Chris, Lisa and Theo, and Fin and I were left. The score was tied 17–17.
“If we leave now,” Fin said, “it will be close to the second half by the time we get home.”
My cheeks rose at the sound of home coming from his lips.
“We left our overnight bag with the concierge at the Vine, like you said, Vee,” Theo said. “Will the young man still be on duty?”
I nodded. “Someone will, but I told him to take your luggage up to our condo after you dropped it off. We should be all set.” The field was now dark.
The only illumination shone from the emergency exits and our suite.
I turned to Lip and Chris. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.
We all need to exit through the door by the elevator. Most of the stadium is blocked off.”
Chris looked over to Brett, who was still manning the bar and buffet. “We’ll head out too. I’m sure Brett would like to get home.”
Our bartender smiled. “I’m happy to stay as long as necessary.”
“Thank you for your devotion, Brett,” I said as I placed my empty glass on the bar. While most of the game-day staff of Crystal Light had gone home, the cleaning and maintenance crews were hard at work.
It was the behind-the-scene aspects of stadium operations that most people never gave much thought.
Theo rode with Fin and Lisa with me on our way to the Vine.
We listened to the halftime broadcast in the car.
Throughout our drive, Lisa told me about my family.
In some ways I didn’t recognize them. Then again, I was thrilled that she didn’t perceive them as a den of vipers.
Either they could be cordial or Lisa saw the world through rose-colored glasses.
“It was sweet of you to invite us to stay with you,” she said as we met Fin and Theo in the parking garage.
“We could have gotten a hotel room,” Theo said.
I laughed. “Lexington is a little short on those for home games.”
Fin’s smile caught my eye. He knew all about Dad’s plans for a Super Bowl at Crystal Light.
“Besides,” Fin said, “it’s good luck for us to watch Zane’s games together.” He looked at me and winked. “Vee is two for two.”
“Let’s hope my presence works as well through the television.”
As Fin unlocked the door, I turned to the others. “You now have an invitation for next weekend. I don’t know who we’ll play, but the AFC plays the early game next Sunday.”
Stepping inside our condominium, I disengaged the security system and turned on the lights. In the foyer, near the front door was a small suitcase. “See. Your luggage is here.”
Lisa and Theo walked down the hallway toward the living room as Fin and I hung up our coats.
“This is gorgeous,” Lisa called from the kitchen. “Oh, and Vee, these roses are beautiful.”
My gaze met Fin’s as goose bumps scattered over my flesh. “Roses?”
“Fuck,” he murmured.