“Dunno yet,” he said. “I’m just telling you what I’ve been hearing.”
“Well, until you have something solid, don’t waste my time with stupid rumors,” I growled.
“See, this is why I don’t tell you shit,” he said accusingly. “You get all worked up and pissy.”
“I’m not pissy, I’m trying to make sure this goddamn game goes off without a hitch,” I said feeling irritated that he’d even brought Payton up. “I’m wondering if we’ve got enough security for this one. The Lions fans are Detroit all the way, and I’m thinking we may have some trouble on our hands.”
“So, stop selling beer during the third quarter,” Finn shrugged. “Ninety percent of the bullshit is connected to beer sales, and you know it.”
“If I tell them to stop selling beer during the third, we’ll have a fucking riot on our hands,” I said. “And not the fans, the vendors.”
“Just a suggestion,” Finn said without emotion before adding. “I’ve got a meeting with the CAA people on Tuesday, I’ll keep you posted.”
“You aren’t staying for the game?” I asked.
“Nah, I don’t give a shit about how they win the game,” Finn said. “I just want them to kick some ass. Catch ya later, man.”
Finn was gone before I could say another word. I turned back toward the stadium and thought about what he’d said. I didn’t like the fact that there were rumors about Payton floating around, but I was fairly sure it was nothing more than speculative gossip. I quickly pushed it to the back of my mind as I considered what Finn had said about alcohol sales. I didn’t want to stir up the crowds, but I also didn’t want to fuel the drunken brawls that had become part of the stadium culture. And I definitely didn’t want to piss off the vendors.
“Dammit,” I muttered as a door opened and Payton entered.
“What’s the dammit for?” she asked. I turned away from the window and found myself speechless for a moment. Payton was wearing a V-neck, navy sweater that clung to her curves with the tightest pair of jeans I’d ever seen. I swallowed hard and smiled.
“Just a few challenges in the new stadium,” I said as I crossed the room. “Do you want a drink?”
“Maybe a beer?” she said. “If you’ve got a cold one.”
“Where have you been?” I asked as I pulled a bottle from the fridge and popped the cap, holding it out and pointing to a glass.
“Bottle’s fine,” she said taking it from me. “I was at the office going through a few more scouting reports. You know that Cal McKenzie is a free agent?”
“Should I know who that is?” I asked as I popped the top on a second bottle and took a long drink.
“Only one of the top-rated second-tier quarterbacks in the league,” she said shaking her head. “You really don’t give a shit about this team, do you?”
“Lady, I have 99 problems, and a new quarterback isn’t one of them right now,” I said grinning as I tried to lighten the mood.
“You’re hopeless,” Payton chuckled as she shook her head. The door opened and several young men dressed in black entered with Gram following close behind. I gestured to the door that led to the kitchen and the servers quickly disappeared.
“David, I’m so excited to watch the Storm play their first game,” she said as she looked around the room. “My God, this is the epitome of tricked out!”
“Gram!” I laughed. “Where did you learn that?”
“What? Did I say it wrong?” she asked in a voice so earnest that both Payton and I burst into laughter.
“No, you got it right, Sally,” Payton said. “It’s just funny to hear you using such a term.”
“The kids in the neighborhood have been teaching me their lingo,” she said proudly. “I’m picking up on some of it, but other things I just don’t understand.”
“Well, we can go over it later if you like,” I offered. “Can I get you a drink, Gram?”
“I’ll take a Manhattan,” she said. I stepped behind the bar and got to work mixing. “This really is quite beautiful, David.”
“Thank you; I tried my best,” I said as I measured the liquids and mixed. When I had it right, I brought the glass to her and said, “A toast. To our first win in the new stadium!”
“To the first win!” Payton and Gram chimed in smiling.
The game started out slowly with the Lions taking the lead at the end of the first quarter. The fans were vocal and the team Storm responded to their cheers with a touchdown pass from Johnny Riggs to the outstretched arms of Jamal Williams, just minutes into the second quarter. Payton and Gram sat in the front row of the skybox seats and cheered loudly every time the Storm made it close to the end zone. I chatted with a few of the honored guests and kept the drinks flowing and the food moving in and out of the kitchen. I was happy when the team scored, but my heart wasn’t in the game, and now that the stadium was finished and the team was playing, I was ready to let go and start my new adventure. The problem was that I had to keep acting interested until I could get all the pieces in place for Finn and me to start the management company.