Page 9 of Scored

“It is for me. Hell, I’ve been doing it for thirteen years.”

“I don’t want to risk your long-term health.”

He reached for my shoulder with his good hand. “Vee, don’t think of me as me. Think of me as a quarterback on your team. Dennison is fantastic. You talked about depth. With Simpson out and Jackson as third, you—the Coopers—need me.”

“I need you, Fin. I need you to be healthy.”

“You want a Super Bowl win.” Before I could answer, he went on. “I do too. I’ve never felt this sure about a team, a team I am a part of. Fuck, thirteen years and I want a damn ring.”

“I don’t have any say in the injury reserve list. I wanted you to know that if you end up on there, you have already done your part.”

He ran his hand through his messy dark hair. “I want you to know I’ll walk over hot coals to help the Coopers win it all. I don’t need my left arm. I proved that last night.”

Inhaling and exhaling, I met his stare. The intensity of what I saw made my heart squeeze. “You scared me, Griffin Graham” —my words were choked by memories and sleep deprivation— “when you didn’t get up.” I gasped for breath. “It was awful.”

Fin wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer. Looking up into his eyes, I splayed my fingers over his warm skin. Beneath my touch his heart beat a steady rhythm. “When you asked Drew to go back on the field, were you being the Coopers’ quarterback or my boyfriend?”

“I can be both.”

“You can. I worried you put yourself out there because you didn’t want me disappointed. All Jackson had to do was not⁠—”

“I ran through the scenarios,” he interrupted. “Get a pass tipped, an interception, or get sacked.” His volume rose. “We were up by one point. If the Texans had gotten the ball back with a minute to go, Anthony would have scored.”

“Do you really have so little faith in Josh Jackson?”

“No, Vee. I have that much faith in me.”

A lump formed in my throat as I nodded. “I do too.”

Fin kissed my hair. “What are your plans?”

“After I read Don’s text message, I moved our executive meeting to tomorrow. I need to go into Maker’s Mark.” I sighed. “But I’d like to get a little more sleep first.”

His smile quirked. “Then follow me. I couldn’t get comfortable on the plane. I need to be there by one for Lacy. Let’s try to sleep.”

“Did they put you on any pain med?”

“Tylenol. It’s sore, not hurting.”

Our fingers intertwined as we walked down the hallway toward the bedroom.

Fin stopped walking at the doorway and looked my direction. “Are you sure about what you said in your text message?”

Pressing my lips together, I nodded. “I want you to move in.”

“It’s not freaking you out? You’re not spiraling?”

“I’m not. I told Dad that Preston wanted us to move in together, but I didn’t think I was ready. He said then don’t. He also said when I find the right person to commit to, I will.” I blinked away the sting of tears. “I don’t think it was that I hadn’t found the right person. It was that I lost the right person.”

Fin squeezed my hand. “Me too.” His lips curled. “Now we’re found. I love you, Vee.”

After setting an alarm for eleven thirty, I stripped out of my blouse, skirt, and boots. After losing my bra to the floor, I climbed under the blankets and scooted close to Fin. “Will I hurt your shoulder if I lie next to you?”

With him to my left, I was next to his right arm.

“I don’t want you any other place.”

With a cyclone of thoughts rushing through my brain, I didn’t expect to fall asleep. Nevertheless, the sound of my alarm pulled me from a deep slumber. Daylight shone beyond the open plantation blinds. Easing out of bed, I peered between the slats.