“Fin is short for Griffin. Only my grandma calls me that.”
“Fin it is then. Thanks for coming to my rescue. Honestly, I’m pretty sure I could have taken Sean. It’s being outnumbered that I didn’t appreciate.”
The sky grew a darker shade as we continued walking into the park, my shoulder rubbing against his arm.
“I don’t doubt you could kick Sean’s ass,” he said. “I would have been happy to do it, but that could have fucked up my scholarship.” He smiled. “It would have been worth it.”
I bumped against his arm. “And I thought chivalry was dead. Tell me about your scholarship.”
Time lost meaning as we sat, the two of us, on a park bench just outside the globe of a tall streetlight and talked. During that conversation, Fin asked if I knew anything about football.
Starting a conversation with ‘my dad owns an NFL team’ wasn’t my go-to. Instead, I nodded. “I know some. My major is sports management. I’ve volunteered with the athletic trainers to help with water for the team.”
“A water girl.”
“A waterperson,” I corrected. “I’m hoping that next year I’ll get an internship with the football team, working with the trainers.”
“We may have a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Sean and those other assholes at that table…”
I was listening.
“They’re on the football team. So am I.”
My eyes opened wide. “You are? I guess without the jersey…”
Fin shook his head. “You wouldn’t remember me. I’m a transfer this year. I played two years at Kentucky State.”
“Division II.” I’d heard about this new quarterback. “Are you the redshirt I heard people talking about?”
“That would be me. I’m a junior in credits, a sophomore on the team.”
“I’m a sophomore in credits.” I recalled what he’d said earlier. “What’s our problem?”
“I just told that table you’re my girl.”
“Oh,” I said with a laugh. “And that my name is Abby.”
“Those assholes won’t remember your name. However, they’ll remember you when they see you on the field. You’re too pretty to forget.”
Warmth filled my cheeks. “So should we tell them we had a big fight over them and now it’s over?”
Fin reached for my hand.
His touch was warm and secure.
“I’d rather we stick with our story.” He tilted his head. “Unless there’s someone else. I mean, I could kick his ass.”
I shook my head. “No one else. Besides, we don’t want to jeopardize your scholarship.”
“See, my girl is looking out for me already.”
As my phone in my back pocket began to vibrate, I pulled it out. The name on the screen readEmma. “I need to get this. It’s my roommate. She’s back at the party.” I hit the green icon. “Emma?”
“Where are you?”
