“Let me throw out a hypothetical or two. The first one is, what do you expect will happen when I cancel my date with her? AND I tell her it was the two of you who talked me out of it?” I asked, and they both flinched, thinking about the repercussions from that.
“The second one I want to throw out there is, is there
They both scowled at me and then looked at each other.
“Okay, you can take her out, but you better treat her right,” Bryan said.
I just nodded. It seems brothers are harder to get past than fathers. They both smiled and walked away, pleased that they had put the fear of God in me.
“Want me to hurt them?” Cassidy asked.
“Maybe a little.”
“Hang on, boys!” Cassidy called out.
Bryan and Brock saw me grin as Cassidy began to stalk them. The smug smiles left their faces, and they ran for it. Cassidy just smiled and joined me in line for lunch.
◊◊◊
Jane had replaced Paul as my driver/security when Fritz wasn’t available. I came down from my apartment and was surprised to find Tracy waiting for me.
“Brit bailed on you, so you get to take me to dinner,” she announced.
I was confused.
“I’d just assumed she wanted to go out with you. Turns out she has her eye on someone else. We’re picking them up,” she explained.
I guess I wasn’t that special after all. I’d take Tracy as a consolation prize any day, though. It turned out I was okay with the guy Brit wanted to date: Tim. On the car ride to the T-Bird, I explained that we’d be eating at different tables. I didn’t want them to feel like Tracy and I were horning in on their date.
I had to smile when we walked into the T-Bird and saw Harper and Mike having dinner. He must have asked her to come home with him for the weekend. Mike didn’t seem happy to see me. I noted his hair was coming back in, but he still looked funny. Fortunately, Jim wasn’t with us, or there might have been a fight before all was said and done.
I ignored him and planned to have a nice dinner with Tracy. The place was packed, so I invited Jane to eat with us since this wasn’t a real date.
“I’d go with the Italian beef or prime rib,” I told the women.
“Fritz told me I only had twenty bucks for dinner,” Jane said.
“Fritz is cheap, and I’m buying. Get what you want,” I said, knowing I was paying anyway.
“Brook said you were poor now and have been put on a budget,” Tracy teased.
It was already halfway through the month, and I hadn’t really spent money on anything. Then I remembered the pictures. I hoped that Caryn hadn’t decided that was part of my monthly budget, or I might be in trouble. Pulling up my bank app, I checked my debit card available balance, and I was golden as long as I didn’t buy beers for the bar.
“We’re good,” I announced.
Both girls smiled and ordered the prime rib. I couldn’t pass it up, either. Tracy got Jane to tell her about what I’d been up to in LA while Tracy told her Lincoln High stories about me. They went back and forth all through dinner. I think the two of them were becoming friends. After dinner, the band started.
I danced with both of them and made a point to dance with Brit. A couple of college guys got brave and asked Jane and Tracy to dance. I came off the dance floor to find Harper at my table.
“Hi,” she said shyly.
“Hey, I see you’re dating Mike.”
I wanted to get this out of the way. It wouldn’t surprise me if the shit were dating her just to rub it in my face. I figured Tami had warned her, but if Harper wanted to date him, it wasn’t up to me to stop her.
“Yeah, you okay with that?” she asked.
“Not really, but I’m in no position to tell you what to do.”
“He’s been nice to me.”
I just shrugged. Mike could be a charming guy when he tried.
“Did you have anything to do with getting him drunk?” she asked.
“I was in another apartment when it happened.”
“That didn’t answer my question. Mike believes you were behind it.”
“Mike should think that through. He tried to snake one of my friends’ girlfriend. If he were honest about it, he would know that it was payback for what he did,” I explained.
I wasn’t happy when Mike sat down at my table.
“What’s up, Dawson? Having to recycle your girlfriends?” he asked.
“Harper, you better take your boyfriend and leave,” I said.
I don’t think Harper understood how much I disliked Mike.
“David, that was rude,” Harper said.
Mike gave me a snarky smile that I wanted to wipe off his face.
“I’m serious, unless you want to watch me kick his ass,” I said.
Jane suddenly appeared.
“Is there a problem?” she asked.
“Oh, my. You have a girl do your dirty work,” Mike said.
“I asked them to leave,” I said.
Harper finally came out of her shock and grabbed Mike’s wrist.
“This was a mistake. I’m sorry, David,” she said and dragged him away.
I had a little smile when she made him settle their bill and leave. Harper didn’t look happy.
◊◊◊
