my hero, but sometimes it takes me a minute to catch up. Also, I don’t want to talk about Cash King’s mouth. Besides, what would Donny think about you talking about the homecoming king that way?”
She wads up her napkin and tosses it on the table. “You know how cocky my husband is. His ego is big enough to handle me appreciating another man’s attributes.”
I laugh because she’s so right. I love Donny like a brother, but he does not lack for confidence. “You’re probably right.”
“Besides, he knows I’m hopelessly in love with him.” Her perpetual sunniness shines through her eyes. “I mean, I came back from the dead to be with him. What more would the man need from me to prove my devotion to him?”
She hadn’t literally died, but she came pretty damn close. Those few days when we didn’t know what would happen were the longest of mine and Donny’s lives. “We’re both grateful that you’re too darn stubborn to die.”
She raises her glass of water. “I aim to please. So, do we believe Cash?” she asks. “I mean, I don’t know why he’d make that announcement in front of everyone if it weren’t true.”
“How could he not know about that grant, Maggie? It’s the Cash King Foundation.” I pop the last bite of ice cream cone into my mouth. “If he doesn’t know, then he’s an idiot.”
“Or maybe he’s not involved in the day-to-day running. He does have a career,” Maggie adds.
I cut her a look. “Whose side are you on?”
“I think we’ve already established that.” The fierceness in her expression leaves no doubt it’s mine. “I’m trying to figure out how this whole thing might work out.”
I straighten my shoulders. “I wouldn’t take the money from him now if he begged me.”
“What?” Maggie shouts, and several people turn to stare at her.
“He’d only be giving it to us to save his reputation.”
Maggie leans forward and crosses her arms on the table. “Who cares why he’s doing it? We need the money if we’re going to keep the center open. You know this.”
“He had his chance to be involved, and he blew it. If we come together as a community, then I’m confident we can raise the money for a monthly payment. I’m sure Elva Clayton will let us make monthly payments. She’s not unreasonable.”
Maggie gives me a look that clearly communicates she thinks I’m being pig-headed, and maybe I am. But taking money from Cash’s foundation was clean and sterile. If he were to offer us the money from his own pocket, that would require me trusting him to hold up his end of the bargain.
And I don’t trust Cash King as far as I can throw him.
Nine
Cash
I punch the pillow on my mom’s guest bed and flop onto my stomach. I usually fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, then sleep like the dead until I wake up at six o’clock sharp. But tonight, I can’t calm my mind. Too much has happened today.
Sounds from Nan and Joe’s room next door come through the wall.
“Mmmm, Linny Rae.”
“Oh, Joe.”
A moan and the sound of giggling make my eyes fly open. That can’t possibly be what it sounds like.
“Yes, like that, Joe.”
“Oh, hell no.” I’m up and out of the room before my ears are assaulted by the geriatric lovemaking next door. I head to the kitchen. I swear my feet don’t touch the ground until I’m well out of earshot.
My nan and Joe are having sex.
I can’t tell if I’m disgusted or envious. I broke up with my last girlfriend six months ago. I use the word girlfriend loosely. We went out, she got to be seen on the arm of a pro football player, and I got regular sex with someone who was discreet. When it was over, there was no dramatic scene or tears, no hard feelings. She got a nice parting gift, and I got a drama-free breakup. Clean and simple, exactly the way I like a relationship.
I grab a can of fizzy water from the fridge and take a seat at the kitchen table. Damn, today’s been bizarre. Even with the fame, my life is relatively calm. I get up, eat, work out for several hours, eat again, watch a film or go to physical therapy for whatever injury is plaguing me that day. And after nine years in the NFL, there are plenty of aches and pains. Then I have another meal, watch some ESPN, and hit