When I got back to the locker room, everyone had already left except Moose and Coach Haskins. Moose thanked me for stepping up, and Coach Haskins thanked me for proving him right. Moose suggested that he keep his mouth shut in the future. I didn’t think Coach Haskins much cared what other people thought, which was one of the reasons I liked him.
I drove home still wearing my uniform. When I got there, we had dinner. Afterward, Mom and Dad took me to the office.
“Your mom went to see the doctor last week and got her results back,” Dad said.
I looked at both of them and threw my hands up when neither was talking. They both laughed, and I knew the news was good.
“Thank God!” I said as I gave Mom a hug.
“I just need to be careful, stay out of the sun a little more, and get regular checkups,” Mom said.
“Please do; I don’t know what I’d do without you. And I don’t want to find out,” I said, suddenly getting emotional.
“I know. I love you too,” Mom said.
◊◊◊
Chapter 36 – Nut Shots Wednesday April 27
After our run, Peggy, Duke, and I walked into the kitchen to find Megan feeding Little David. I picked up Coby and kissed his forehead.
“Good morning, Daddy,” Megan said.
“How was he last night?” I asked.
“I could almost set my watch by him waking up and fussing. He’s a good baby, though,” Megan said.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you being here. Getting a good night’s sleep is exactly what I need right now,” Peggy said.
“That reminds me. Megan, I want to get you a thank-you gift, something nice, for giving me the heads-up about Brandon and helping us out through finals. Think about what you want and let me know,” I said.
“Can I go to Japan with you?” she asked.
This was turning into an entourage. First Cassidy, then Brook, and now Megan.
“If that’s what you want, I have no objection. Cassidy and Brook also want to go. Let Caryn know to add the three of you to the list of who’s going,” I said and then remembered one other person. “Oh, and my interpreter, Hana Yamamura, needs to be added as well.”
“She’s the one working with Shiggy to teach you Japanese?” Megan asked.
“Yeah.”
“Okay. I put Hana on the payroll, so her contact information is already in my file. I’ll need the info for the other two.”
“No problem, I’ll text it to you. Brook and Cassidy already have their passports. Make sure Hana has hers. It takes longer than you might expect to get one,” I suggested.
“I have to get mine,” Megan admitted.
“Will this be your first time going out of the country?” I asked.
She nodded.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Japan,” she confessed.
Mom and Dad came down. I handed Coby to Dad and stepped into the kitchen to make breakfast for everyone. I think it was my turn.
◊◊◊
Tracy met me when I was dropped off at school.
“What’s the status on our dates?” she asked.
For about the hundredth time, I wondered why it was my responsibility to set up my high school friends with my friends in the business. Of course, Frank was excited about it. Kara must have told Adrienne because she had started to work on dressmakers to donate their creations for the night. Somehow, Adrienne would make money on this for us, I was sure. I was almost afraid to tell the girls what she’d planned. I knew better than to get in the middle of dress discussions.
When I talked to my celebrity friends, I’d gotten a positive response from everyone, but one: Aden Reich wasn’t willing to listen to me. He was pissed that his friend, Tilly Abbott, had spent the night with me. Both of them claimed they were just friends, but I could see how, if he’d bedded Tami a year ago, I would have had a problem.
“We need to find someone for Pam. Aden wasn’t interested in going to Prom.”
“What about Blake Seaver?” Tracy asked.
That douchebag singer wasn’t going to crash my Prom.
“How about I cancel all this?” I shot back.
“No, no. Just checking to see if he was available.”
“Well, don’t even suggest it in front of her.”
“You mean you’d make the call if she asked.”
I growled at her. Tracy took a tentative step back.
“It would mean the world to her,” Tracy said and then dodged me as I made a grab for her.
She shrieked, which got everyone’s attention, and I began to chase her around the front of the school. I scooped her up and threw her over my shoulder.
“Put me down, or I’ll pee!”
I smacked her butt.
“David!”
Suddenly Cassidy stood in front of me and gave me a curious look. I leaned down and kissed her cheek. Cassidy smiled and walked away. You’d better believe that got filed away for future reference.
“Cassidy! Help!” Tracy called as she saw she wasn’t getting any assistance.
“You ready to behave?” I asked.
“Never!”
Luckily for her, the bell rang.
◊◊◊
At lunch, Pam found me.
“I hear you won’t call Blake Seaver for me.”
“You do realize what a douchebag he is?” I asked.
“I do. We’re just giving you a hard time. What I’m concerned about is no one wants to go with me,” she said with a pout.
I sighed.
“Tell me who you want to go with.”
“I think Ridge Townsend is cute.”
“When did you meet him?” I asked.
