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“Too bad most of those stats are in Philadelphia,” Steve Cooper said. “We could’ve won a couple more championships if you had stayed with the Stallions.” He flashed a hand with three fat Super Bowl rings on it.
Luke put an arm around me. “I hated to leave, but it was the right choice. I got two more Super Bowl wins with the Eagles, anyways.” He waved his hand.
“You’ve got three rings,” Dallas said, flashing his jewelry. “So do I, and Stevie.”
“I’ve got four,” Dominic said with a satisfied grin. The rings were crowded around his left hand. “Three with the Stallions, and one in Minnesota.”
Wendy Gardner, Steve Cooper’s wife, cleared her throat and stepped forward. “Five. Three as the Defensive Coordinator for the Stallions, and two more as the head coach in Minnesota.”
“Go Vikings!” I blurted out. “Us Minnesotans are grateful for your work, ma’am.”
“She doesn’t count,” Steve said.
Wendy put her hands on her hips. “And why not?”
“We’re talking about players. We only have a ten-year window where we are healthy enough to play. But coaches can keep earning rings into their fifties.”
“Bruce Arians won with the Buccaneers when he was in his sixties,” my daughter, Katy, chimed in.
Everyone swung to look at her. “He did, didn’t he?” Dallas said.
“She’s a magnet for sports trivia,” I explained. “I can ask her how many receiving yards Luke had in his fourth season and—”
“Eight hundred and ninety-six,” Katy said.
“—and she’ll be able to spout off the number,” I finished, gesturing proudly.
“We might need to get her an internship with the coaching staff in ten years,” Wendy said. She bent down and asked, “Who would you rather hang out with? A dumbmanwith four Super Bowl wins, or a woman with five?”
“The woman with five!” Katy replied emphatically.
“Atta girl,” Wendy replied with a nod. Steve Cooper rolled his eyes.
A photographer appeared next to us and said, “Sorry to interrupt, but can I get a group photo of all the former Stallions teammates?”
We stepped to the side and the men all lined up with their arms around each other. Dallas, Kincaid, Steve, Dominic, Double-D, and Luke. A group of incredible men who had accomplished so much in their careers. The wives—me, Wendy, Kim, and Camille—all stood to the side and watched proudly. Wendy joined the next photo, adding to the combined accolades of the gathered athletes.
Luke caught me grinning at him, so he gave me a wink. Just like he had when he winked at me during that first football game years ago, it sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
I love that man, I thought happily.And I’m never going to stop loving him.
