The genuine sincerity of Fin’s sentiments was evident in his deep tenor. That emotion filled me with a complex combination of admiration for the home life his parents created and a sense of loss at what my family evolved into.
“Their new place is bigger,” Fin said, “not as in a mansion or a hundred rooms.”
“Daphne’s place doesn’t have a hundred rooms.”
Fin scoffed. “Their home is newer construction than their old one—less maintenance or upkeep. The yard work is taken care of by the community, but Mom can still plant her flower gardens. It’s a smaller neighborhood, and all the neighbors are close. Mom plays mah-jongg every Tuesday night with ladies, and Dad golfs on Wednesdays in a neighborhood league. It seems like in the summer there’s always a cookout, and in the colder months they do something called First Friday. The first Friday of the month the neighborhood meets in one house, everyone pitching in food and wine.”
Leaning back, I watched the trees along the highway. The only green came from the occasional pine variety. The deciduous trees were bare skeletons blowing in the breeze. While the late November day was cool, the sun shone through a cobalt sky. A sigh came from my lips.
Fin’s large hand came to my slack-covered thigh. “Deep thoughts?”
“Not really. Is your family what a normal family is? I mean, one day, do you want to retire to a small community and play golf?” I turned toward him, taking in his handsome profile. “I need to confess: I don’t know how to play mah-jongg. I’m not sure what it is.”
He laughed. “I don’t know what I see for retirement. I think we’re a little young to consider it. I know my days as a player are limited. I guess I always thought I’d do something else in football.”
“Like what?”
He shrugged. “I have my degree in communication. Maybe broadcasting.”
“Have you thought about coaching?”
“Funny you should ask. This week Troy and I have been working with Josh Jackson. I feel more like a coach than a player. I wish I could say he’s as quick at learning plays as you.”
I scrunched my nose. “Oh no. Is he not good?”
“Fuck. Forget what I said. This is Fin talking to Vee,” he said, shaking his head, “not a player to the owner. Josh is good. He’s talented. Has a hell of a throwing arm. He just needs practice with the plays. Erhardt-Perkins is complex.”
A grin teased my lips. I knew it was complex. “What would he do with ‘Gun right – Jet 36 X-option?’”
Fin turned my way, his blue eyes simmering with something that made my core twist. “That’s fucking hot.”
I laughed.
Fin repeated the play. “He’d be calling for a halfback pass, replacing the handoff with a pitch, allowing the running back to throw the ball downfield.” His eyes again flashed my direction. “Have you seriously been working on plays with all that’s on your plate?”
“After that strip play calling we did a while back, I decided I needed to either work on plays or accept that I would be the one undressed.”
“I like you undressed.”
My smile grew as I imagined the man at my side as he was this morning in bed and the shower. “Same. Besides you cheated.”
“I did not cheat.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I hummed. “You resorted to trick plays.”
“The play you just called is a trick play.”
I squared my shoulders. “I know. I asked Drew to give me some trick plays.”
“Who’s cheating now?”
We were now off the interstate and winding through local streets filled with stoplights. Traffic was relatively light considering the holiday. A large stone sign signaled that we entered a neighborhood. The homes were all very nice with about a half acre of property each. He pulled into the driveway of a lovely red brick ranch with white trim.
Fin moved his grasp to my hand. “It’s too late to turn around.”
I squeezed his hand back as the front door opened and Theo, Lisa, Zane, and a woman I didn’t recognize came outside. “This is exactly the break I need.”
Fin leaned over and kissed my cheek before getting out of the car. By the time I opened my door, Fin was there. However, it was Zane who was the first to offer me a hand.
