Page 4 of Scored

“Can I wait until the final buzzer?”

Coach Pratt followed my line of sight and turned back to me. “You probably freaked her out.” He scoffed. “You freaked me out.”

“I want to tell her I’m okay.”

Pratt nodded.

The buzzer sounded.

The Coopers were officially 16–1 and the winners of the AFC South, giving us first seed for the playoffs.

We would have a week to rest as the Texans played in the Wild Card. Fucking crazy that a 15–2 record didn’t guarantee them a spot in postseason.

With a wince, I stood and walked down the sideline.

Reporters were beginning to flood the field.

Vee turned, her simmering emerald eyes met mine. Her expression was unreadable. “Are you crazy?”

I nodded. “Most definitely.”

“Are you trying to be in the hospital?”

“No.” I slowly shook my head.

She closed her eyes as her nostrils flared. When she opened them, I was in front of her. “You scared me, Fin.”

“The Coopers are on their way to the Super Bowl, Ms. Hubbard, No. 1 seed. I couldn’t sit when there was a chance that protecting Troy would fuck up the entire winning season.”

Vee swallowed and nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Graham.”

“Fin.”

I turned to the Texans’ quarterback, Sam Anthony. He patted my right shoulder. “Good game.”

“Good game.”

“When are you going to retire?” He smiled. “Seems like you’ve been a thorn in my side since you played at Green Bay.”

“You were with the Lions.” I looked down at my useless arm and back. “The mind and heart want me to say never. The body—yeah, getting old.”

He smiled. “We’re going to have to meet again.”

“The road to the Super Bowl.”

“Mr. Graham. Mr. Anthony,” reporters called.

“Fin,” a petite blond holding a microphone said.

When I turned, Vee was walking away toward the tunnel.

“No hard feelings between you and Sam?”

I grinned. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks I’ve had the honor to play against.”

“How did you do it?” she asked with a microphone in my face.

“It wasn’t all me. The Coopers are a team.”