“Practice started, and you’re not out there. I wondered if you would be at any of the practices today or in the future.” He grinned. “We’re used to you being there.”
Suddenly, the subject of Fin and I having a relationship came to me. “Um, how are things with the players?”
“The players are good.” He tilted his head. “Are you asking about a particular player?”
“Drew, if you don’t know, Fin?—”
He lifted his hand. “Vee, it’s none of my concern. I’m not judging. I’m in no position nor is anyone on the team in a position to tell you what to do with your private life.”
“You know about us.”
He nodded. “Tilson called Graham in this morning, and he talked to all the coaches. He said there’s a history between you and him. He took full responsibility for pursuing you upon his arrival to Lexington.”
Accountability.
My grin curled. “It’s mutual, Drew. Fin and I do have a history. I don’t want this to affect his play for the Coopers. It shouldn’t. I didn’t negotiate his contract; Dad and Royce did that. I don’t coach him. You, Tilson, and Garcia do that. I don’t care for the timing of people finding out, but it is what it is. During this time of loss, I’m happy to have Fin to help me.”
He nodded. “Calmer heads prevailed. Tilson checked Graham’s contract. This situation isn’t specifically addressed in the contract. No breach.”
“That’s good to hear. I’m glad it’s out in the open.”
“Practice?” When I didn’t reply, he said, “The players respect you, Vee. That’s not going to change because of who you’re seeing in your personal time.”
“It’s…I can’t do what I did and also do Dad’s job.” I didn’t even really know what Dad’s job entailed.
Drew nodded. “Just so you know, you’re welcome. The afternoon practice session will begin at 1:30 p.m.”
“Thank you for checking on me.”
He turned to leave and then turned back. “I saw the notice for Reid’s service.”
“We want to keep it small, but Daphne and I agreed that the people here at Maker’s Mark are family: coaches, players, and everyone who keeps the organization going. The service won’t be open to the public.”
Jen knocked on the doorframe. “I’m sorry to interrupt. Mrs. Marsh is here.”
Chapter 19
Fin
With my helmet in hand, I jogged out of the football center to the practice field. The afternoon sun had warmed the earlier crisp autumn air. Around the field, trees were giving up their green in favor of yellows and oranges. Coopers’ colors. The leaves were either cheering for our team or honoring Reid Hubbard.
My heart squeezed in my chest at the unexpected sight of the woman on the sideline. Vee had her trusty notebook against her breasts and was talking with Coach Pratt. The long brown hair with golden highlights that had been down this morning was now secured near the nape of her neck. With her back turned toward the end zone, she didn’t see me.
Moments like these when I could watch Vee without her knowledge invigorated me. That made me sound like a voyeur. I didn’t see it that way. No, I thought of my fascination as more of that of an art aficionado. Vee was a masterpiece, the pi?ce de résistance of the female variety. I’d spent too many years trying to get over her. Her worth was that of a priceless treasure. I happened to be someone who appreciated viewing the treasure that she was in her truest form.
Drew said something that made Vee turn. Even with her sunglasses, I could feel her focus on me as a smile curled her lips. There wasn’t a wave or even a nod, yet I knew she’d just seen me.
She turned back to Drew.
Of course, the coaches saw the social media. It was viral. Anyone with any social media account had probably seen it. When Tilson called me to his office, I was met by the entire coaching staff. Something Vee said to me during our argument came back. She said she took me for someone who took personal accountability. In that moment, she was correct that I was blaming her for what happened long ago. Walking in Tilson’s office, I was the man she thought I should be. I told them the truth. Vee and I had a history, and I actively pursued her once I was signed onto the Coopers.
It felt good to come clean.
Tilson informed me that he couldn’t find a breach of contract. I didn’t tell him Jackson, my agent, had already scoured the contract. I simply said thank you.
Our coaches spent yesterday dissecting the Raiders’ playbook and going over films from their last five games. The Raiders had a record of 4 and 1. Their only loss went to the Seahawks in a nail-biting 9–6 game that ended with a Seahawks’ field goal. The Raiders’ defense had only given up twenty-two points all season, and average of 4.4 a game. They were one of the top-rated defenses in the NFL.
That meant that our offense needed to overcome their defense.
