Page 8 of Scored

“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?”

CHAPTER 3

Vee

The sky was still dark as I made my way to my frost-covered car. While the cooler temperatures woke me, the hour and a half of sleep I managed on the plane had me dragging. Thankfully, I turned on my phone to a message from Don Tilson, saying he’d told the team to take today off, postponing the week by a day, and asked if I minded postponing our meeting until tomorrow morning.

If he hadn’t asked, I would be headed to Maker’s Mark instead of my condo.

My watch read 4:26 a.m. as I flashed my keycard before the sensor outside my condo. A smile lifted my cheeks. Our condo. Hurriedly, I entered the code into the security panel, hoping I wouldn’t wake my new official roommate.

To my surprise, Fin was lying on the sofa, his eyes closed and his hair tousled. It was as I wheeled my luggage into the kitchen that his tired blue eyes opened.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Fin grimaced as he sat forward, moving his legs to the floor. As the blanket fell, I saw his toned bare chest, the sling holding his left arm, and a wrap covering it.

I dropped my leather bag and hurried toward him. “What’s the diagnosis?”

He leaned closer and brushed my lips with his. “I thought you would have gotten the report.”

My pulse sped faster in my ears. “I slept on the plane and haven’t checked emails. I wanted to get home.”

“It’s almost time to get up. Are you meeting with Tilson?”

“No.” I shook my head. “He sent a text saying he is postponing the week by a day and asked if I’d be okay with meeting Tuesday.”

“Dislocated,” Fin said. “Like I told you in the text message, I had immediate relief once they popped it back into the socket.” He looked down at his shoulder. “They have me icing it on and off.”

Cupping his scruffy cheek, I tilted my head. “I love you. You should be in bed asleep.”

“I was waiting for you.”

“Did they give you any medication? What are they saying about long term?”

“Nothing strong, just over the counter. I’m supposed to meet with Lacy Reynolds at Maker’s Mark this afternoon.”

I dropped my palm and reached for Fin’s warm right hand. “On the way home, I was thinking about you.”

His lips twitched. “Me or my cock?”

A giggle escaped my lips as I shook my head. “You. Fin, you secured us the first seed. If you’re on the IR, you won’t be able to play postseason, but that doesn’t mean you’re not part of the team. We’re here in postseason because of you.” I pressed my lips together in a smile. “Thank you for getting the Coopers here.”

“I’m not going on the IR. No fucking way.” He stood, the blanket falling to the floor, revealing his muscular legs and nylon basketball shorts. He spun toward me. “I can throw. The trainer who set my shoulder, fixed me up with this contraption, and put it in the sling told me that normal activity can be resumed in two to three weeks.”

Standing, I met him chest to chest. “Professional quarterback is not normal activity.”