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Abby couldn’t help the small smirk at Kelly’s comment. She hadn’t been a partier, herself. Work and school had taken up far too much of her time, and she’d never needed to wade into the bar scene to find a date, so there hadn’t been much point. But fresh out of college and straight into the NFL, she could imagine how that might impact someone’s lifestyle.
“It’s about thirty-seventy,” Kelly continued. “Although, during the season, most of them are too busy or too tired to go out much. Those who do, anyway, don’t last long. It ends up showing on the field, especially by November or December.”
“I would have expected it to be higher.”
The Raptors, now across midfield, ran the ball six yards for another first down.
“Partying, not so much. Now, check out the parking lot on your way out tonight. You’d think the NFL owned stock in luxury cars. Hannah said Pierce wanted to get an Aston Martin with his signing bonus and she had to talk him down to a Maserati.” Kelly rolled her eyes.
“Scott’s Audi is pretty nice. I always feel guilty when Gen sheds all over it.”
“Yeah, and still under a hundred thousand, so don’t you worry your head about it. He’s one of the smart ones.”
“He is?”
Kelly snorted. “Well, life bit him pretty hard. It’s difficult to bethat guywhen you’re a single parent. Everyone else goes out after the game, but you have to be home for bedtime stories.”
“He’s an amazing dad.”
Kelly glanced around, then, seeing no sign of Dylan yet, muttered, “Dylan deserved at least one good parent. Lisa and John helped out a lot when they were still in San Diego, but Scott’s been on his own since moving home.”
“Lisa and John?”
“Scott’s parents. They stayed in San Diego after Scott came to the Raptors.”
Abby’s brows knitted. “I thought Scott grew up here.”
“He did, but when the Chargers drafted him, they moved to California to be closer. A good thing, too, after Dylan came along.” Kelly’s mouth snapped shut and her eyes flicked over Abby’s shoulder.
Turning, Abby understood why Kelly had stopped talking.
Garlic and fries wafting around him like an olfactory halo, Dylan plopped back into his seat.
“Here, I brought you some, too.” Dylan presented a small cardboard container with a flourish. “Derek’s makes them best. Stadium Fries doesn’t do a bad job, but don’t ever get them from Endzone.”
Abby nibbled one, then grinned at Dylan as he crammed them into his mouth, fries hanging out at odd angles until he could work them in and swallow.
It had been a long drive down the field, but they were within striking distance. Scott took the snap, dropped back, then flicked the ball, connecting with Finn, who ran the last few steps into the end zone.
The entire section leapt to their feet, cheering and shouting, and the stadium full of fans, so disappointed through the first two weeks of the season, screamed their excitement.
As if responding, the Raptors stopped Seattle and, again, took the ball all the way down and scored. By the half, they were up twenty-one to seven.
The third passed with all the drama of a baseball game in its seventh inning; that is, none. Both teams jockeyed up and down the field, but no points were scored, and by the fourth, Abby let herself hope they’d finally be able to bring a win home.
The Seattle quarterback scrambled and broke free, earning more yards in one play than his top running back had all day, then they scored on the drive, but the Raptors responded, and as the clock ran down, Abby breathed a sigh of relief.
They’d won, and it had been a solid win. Not a runaway, but not by the skin of their teeth, either, so maybe the commentators would calm down a bit.
“They’re in Charlotte next week, but the Panthers have an evening game tonight against the Vikings.” Kelly gathered her things into her lap and waited for the crowds to thin.
Abby stood and stretched, slinging the strap of her bag over her shoulder. “They’re one and one at the moment.” Abby wracked her brain to come up with the right statistics. “And they’ve had some injuries already. It could be a few weeks before they’re strong again.”
“Here’s hoping.” Kelly lifted an invisible glass and pretended to clink it. “C’mon, it’s clear enough, now. I’ll show you how to get down to the guys.”
“Dylan could show me, too.” Abby gave Kelly an easy out if she wanted it.
She’d been so nice all afternoon, but Abby worried it was only because Scott had asked her. Starting a new friendship from such an uneven foundation didn’t quite feel impossible, but certainly close.