“What about you and Preston?”
I stood, my hands slapping my thighs. “How exactly is my personal relationship a factor?” Before hecould answer, I asked, “Did you pose the same question to Grant and Lip?”
“They aren’t seriously dating anyone to my knowledge.”
Lip was dating, but that wasn’t my place to announce it. “Dad, I don’t know what’s happening between me and Preston. He invited me to move in with him and” —I inhaled— “I don’t think I want that.”
“Then don’t do it.”
He made it sound so easy. “Leigh says I have commitment issues.”
Dad stood and took a step toward me. “I disagree.”
I hadn’t expected this conversation to go so personal; nonetheless, I wanted to hear my father’s point of view. “You don’t? …Think I have commitment issues?”
“No, Maeve, you’re committed to this family and the Coopers. When the right person earns the privilege to be part of that commitment, you’ll know. If it’s not Preston, then it’s not him.”
“I’ll be at the ten o’clock a.m. meeting and attend the one with Fin and his agent. I doubt he even remembers me.” I scoffed. “Grant admitted he doesn’t recall everyone he went out with in college.”
“If Griffin Graham doesn’t remember you, I’d hesitate to offer him a more lucrative contract. No matter how well he can throw a ball, I’d question his cognitiveabilities to remember plays because my daughter is unforgettable.”
My cheeks rose. “Thanks, Dad. It doesn’t matter what he remembers. If you, Uncle Darin, and Royce think the Coopers will be better with Fin Graham, I’m behind you. Personally, I want to keep Dennison healthy. And what the hell was happening yesterday with Holt?”
Dad shook his head. “I’m certain that’s a discussion with the special teams’ coaches. Do we concentrate on the fifty-seven-yard field goal or the two missed points after?”
“Grandpa always said it’s not about winning or losing. It’s about improving.”
“Sometimes, I’d like to walk into the office and find him sitting behind my desk. I’d ask for his advice.”
I walked with Dad toward the door. “I’m glad I still have you to talk with.”
He winked. “Don’t worry. Despite Daphne’s pleas, retirement isn’t on my short list.”
“She wants you to retire?”
“It’s not happening.”
After Dad left my office, I went to my desk and collapsed onto the white leather chair. I’d told myself that today was a free pass. With the players in meetings all day, that meant I had zero percent chance of running into Fin. That likelihood just went up—way up. It was time to put on my big-girl panties and be thewoman I’d become—Maeve Hubbard, vice president of the Lexington Coopers. No longer was I a smitten twenty-year-old girl.
My thoughts briefly went to Preston.
Was Dad right?
Was my commitment issue more about what I was committing to than my ability to commit to anything or anyone?
CHAPTER 6
Vee
“Calls andonline sales for tickets tripled yesterday,” I reported to the people around the table, “and the trend is continuing as we speak. Season tickets have been sold out since last March. The available seats are getting snapped up. There’s a good chance that every home season game will be a sellout.”
“I still think we should consider expanding the stadium,” Grant said.
Dad lifted his hand. “We’ve discussed that. Crystal Light Stadium is only eight years old. Only Las Vegas and Los Angeles have newer facilities. Ours holds over seventy thousand fans. It’s the fourth largest stadium with aretractable roof. Instead of discussing expanding the relatively new facility, let’s talk about how to make each fan’s experience better so they want to renew next year and the year after. The way to do that is to have a winning team.”
Grant pressed his lips together and tapped the end of his pen against the table. It wasn’t the first time Dad had put a stop to his idea of expansion. Even a sideways glance to his dad, Uncle Darin, did nothing to propel the discussion.
“Vee?” Royce said, looking my direction. “Reid said you’re going to be spending more time with football operations this season.”
