Page 38 of Scored

Vee looked up at me with the most assured beautiful gaze. “Nice of her to seek you out.”

“She said she heard I was here.” I lifted an eyebrow. “I would suspect we have Patrick to thank for that.”

“She was wearing a diamond and wedding band,” Mom said.

“I didn’t notice,” I admitted. And the lack of envy told me what I already knew. I didn’t care if Gail was married or not. She was my past. My present and future were in my grasp.

“The second half is about ready to start,” Mom said. “I’m going to get another glass of wine. I might need the whole bottle.”

Vee and I laughed.

I held on to Vee’s hand as Mom walked away. When she looked back, I whispered, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Vee leaned closer. “I have you now and also a promise or threat for something later tonight.”

I lifted her hand and pushed back her sleeves, revealing her fair-toned wrists. “A promise.”

With a grin, she brushed her lips over mine. “You know, you can sit with Lisa and me. We won’t bite.”

“Maybe later on the biting.”

Vee’s grin grew.

The Vikings started the second half by receiving the kickoff. While I hadn’t gone down to their locker room, by the way Rowlings was passing, the coaches had the same opinions as I had.

The Packers’ zone coverage was hard to penetrate.

Minnesota took seven minutes off the clock and had the football in the red zone. And then the play calls reverted to more conservative.

“Ugh,” Vee said. “Throw the ball.”

My lips curled into a smile. “Listen to my woman making play calls.”

“I don’t understand,” she said, “when something is working, why pull back?”

While I agreed with her assessment, I felt the need to play devil’s advocate. “Using more clock. Less chance of a turnover.”

“Oh!” Mom yelled.

Rowlings was under center. Zane quickly snapped the ball. Rowlings faked a handoff to his running back. The Minnesota wide receiver was open in the end zone. “Throw,” I yelled.

Rowlings threw.

“Touchdown.” Looking around, it appeared there were only five Vikings supporters in the suite. “My little brother is out there.” Everyone knew that.

With the extra point, the Vikings were up by one point.

Green Bay answered with the same aggressive offensive strategy. While the first half was relatively low scoring, the second half was a test of offensive wills. With only seconds remaining in the game, Lambeau Field was still filled to the brim. Outside, the temperature had dropped to the mid-teens, negative if windchill was factored into it. Yet no one was leaving early.

The Vikings were up with a score of 27–24. The Packers needed a touchdown to win or a field goal to tie. It was second and goal. Green Bay had the ball on the Vikings’ eight-yard line. The stadium held its collective breath as the Packers ran a crosser. The wide receiver ran horizontally across the end zone. Hughes threw.

The ball was caught.

“Touchdown.”

I let out a breath and leaned back. “It was a great game. Zane can be proud.”

The crowd’s cheers turned to boos, their displeasure rumbling like thunder.