An uncomfortable warmth caused my temperature to rise. “I don’t remember. Besides, he wanted to move to LA. He got that offer from the Rams.”
“He asked you to move with him.”
“And leave Lexington?” I asked aghast. “Leave the Coopers and all our family fun?”
“As I recall, he offered a long-distance relationship, and you said no.”
“Those don’t work.”
“All right,” she said, “how about Josh? He was fun.”
“Too fun.” I pursed my lips. “With too many women.”
“Yeah, Josh doesn’t count. I wanted you to break up with him sooner than you did. Oh, what about Noah?”
Noah was fun to be around until he wasn’t. I shook my head. “Your point?”
“My point is you and Preston have been together for about two years, and that’s your breaking point. You find a reason to break things off.”
Nibbling my lip, I looked again at Preston. His headwas back in a dramatic laugh. “He asked me to move in with him.”
“Oh my God,” Leigh said overdramatically as she clenched her hands over her chest. “He obviously doesn’t know you. I’m surprised you didn’t break it off right then. I can’t believe you brought him to the game.”
“Are you saying I have commitment issues?”
“Girlfriend, you are the poster child for commitment issues.”
Before I could give that more thought, the suite erupted in cheers and applause.
Leigh and I took a step back, turning to the large screen.
Touchdown Coopersscrolled across the screen.
“Holy shit,” Uncle Darin screamed. “Anyone who didn’t see that pass, watch the replay.”
“Number seventeen?” Leigh asked as the camera showed the formation from behind. “Graham.” She was talking about the quarterback. Another camera zoomed in on his face.
I sucked in a breath at Fin’s blue stare. His concentration was intense as he called the play. His deep voice echoed in the large stadium. The ball was snapped at the Dolphins’ twenty-yard line. Despite knowing the outcome, my heart fluttered with the palpitations that accompanied watching our team.
Fin received the ball. He stepped back, his eyesscanning the field as the Coopers dispersed into formation. Back and forth he danced, his footwork only improved from our days at Kentucky. A Dolphins defender came close. Fin didn’t flinch as our offensive player pushed him back.
Fin’s arm went back. He released the ball; it spiraled through the air over the heads of the Dolphin defense. Tight end JD Downing picked the ball from the air near the Coopers’ thirty-yard line and tucked it safely against his body. It seemed as though none of the defenders anticipated that long of a pass. JD was all by himself as he sprinted into the end zone.
“Well, shit,” I mumbled.
“Shit?” Leigh asked as she jumped up and down. “That was fantastic. Who the hell is Graham?”
“If he keeps this up, he’ll be our number-one backup quarterback,” Lip said, coming to where Leigh and I were standing. He nudged me with his elbow. “Damn, just like when he played for Kentucky, right, Vee?”
“Someone tell me who this guy is,” Leigh asked again.
To my surprise the voice at my side was Preston’s. “Griffin Graham.” His arm encircled my waist, pulling me toward him. “Who I just learned is an old beau of Vee’s.”
Craning my neck, our eyes met. “He’s not?—”
“Griffin…” I turned back. My cousin had that faraway look. Then her eyes met mine. “Shit. Fin?”
I straightened my neck and shoulders. “Yeah, it’s Fin. We haven’t spoken in nearly fifteen years. Nevertheless, my opinion is that he’s too old. One good hit and he’d be out for the season.”
