Page 85 of Scored

“Naked by the fire,” he clarified with a grin. “But that wasn’t what I forgot. If after all that, we can’t come up with anything else to do, today Coach Pratt brought out some new never-before-seen plays.”

“He did?”

“Maybe we should save those for tomorrow night. Strip-play-calling loses some of the excitement when we start out unclothed.”

Getting up from the stool I walked around the island and wrapped my arms around Fin’s waist. “Thank you.”

I laid my head on his hard chest. The steady beat of his heart calmed my own. As his sandalwood scent filled my senses and his arms wrapped around me, he strengthened our cocoon.

Fin kissed the top of my head. “I love you, Vee. I always thought you would prevail in securing ownership of the Coopers.” He brought his touch to my chin and lifted it until our eyes met. “I didn’t know how scared you were that you could lose it. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I was scared, but at the same time you’ve been with me every step of the way. If I’d spent night after night here alone…” I inhaled. “I don’t want to imagine that.”

“The water is almost ready for the pasta.”

I flashed him a seductive smile. “Then I’ll go get ready for our unique dining experience.”

CHAPTER 34

Fin

Friday afternoon, Coach Pratt had Dennison, Jackson, and I repeatedly run the newly designed plays. Houston relied heavily on man coverage, keeping speedy, versatile players on the field ready to stop the run and the pass. We needed to outdo their defense in every way possible, physically and mentally. The new plays were specifically designed to thwart their efforts, alternating between short and long passes. The run routes would capitalize on their wide-9 alignment.

That defense positioned their edge rushers extremely wide on the field. That helped them in the backfield while making them vulnerable in the short game.

“Again,” Pratt yelled to Dennison. “This time, option C.”

The new plays were also designed with flexibility. Our receivers and backs were all targets. Every one of them had a job to do. As with all plays, these began with the formation. Option A started with lining up in shotgun formation. Our tight end, JD, went into motion across the formation, a fake handoff to our fullback, Treshawn Morgan, and an underhand pass to our man in motion.

Option B began with lining up in I-formation. Our QB, Dennison, faked a toss to our running back, Dijon or Jamir, while pulling a backside guard to lead block, and then a shovel-pass to either our fullback, Treshawn, or our tight end, who initially pretended to block or pass protect, and quietly drifted out into the open, shallow area near the sidelines.

That meant a gain of short yardage and the ability to go out of bounds.

Option C, the one Pratt just called, was an offshoot of a play-action post. The offense lined up in I-formation. Our receivers ran horizontally. After taking the snap, Dennison executed a sharp, exaggerated fake handoff to the running back, Dijon. The running back tucked the imaginary ball to draw the defense’s linebackers and safeties. As that was happening, our wide receivers ran deep down the field in crossing post routes within the poorly defended yards downfield.

Coach Pratt sent the call audibly. On Sunday, it would only come through Dennison’s or my helmet. Then it was up to the QB to relay it to the rest of the offense. “Brown right f-flex ghost 364 play-action.”

The ball was snapped to Dennison.

“Patel and Lewis,” Coach Pratt yelled. “You’re too slow. As soon as Spencer snaps the ball, you are running. Do it again.”

While I wasn’t involved in every play, by the time we returned to the locker room, I was worn out. Closing my eyes under the shower’s spray, I saw the new plays. I envisioned the field as if I were seeing it from Vee’s office. Like her checkers in her office, the pieces of the offense moved the way the play was designed.

Vee made it to part of the morning practice. She was balancing tonight’s fan-appreciation event with Sunday afternoon’s game. The same as for the players, the behind-the-scenes work was a never-ending process. Tonight, the inside of Crystal Light would be transformed into a county fair, complete with a Ferris wheel and sound stage where a well-known country-music performer would sing.

Entrance was free to season ticket holders with another thousand free tickets that were snapped up within minutes after the sale’s link went public. I knew for a fact that Vee spent hours and hours to give every fan an experience like no other, while also securing their safety and well-being. No doubt, she was already at Crystal Light. I’d be on my own tonight. Last Friday’s event wasn’t as grand with the building of a Ferris wheel inside the stadium. It also started earlier and ended by eight o’clock. The crew then transformed the festive gathering into a football stadium for Saturday’s game.

Since this week’s game was on Sunday afternoon, tonight’s event wouldn’t kick off until seven and was scheduled to end at ten. The workers at Crystal Light had all day tomorrow to tear down the fair-like atmosphere and return it to the home of the Coopers. That meant that Vee wouldn’t be home until late.

Troy slapped my shoulder as I sat on the bench near my locker. “Tough practice.”

I scoffed. “This old man is exhausted.”

“Tomorrow will be less physical.”

“Just as mental. I swear to God, I’m running these damn plays in my dreams.”

Straddling the bench, he sat facing me with his shoulders slumped. “What do you think about changing up our game for the next game?”