“It’s a family name. I think you’ll have a good time with him. He’s one of the nicest guys I know,” I assured her.
I guided everyone back to the banquet room. That way I wouldn’t get distracted with people in the restaurant. I wanted everyone to get to know each other.
Jim and Johan showed up and were introduced to their dates. What was funny was that Johan treated Leah just like a regular girl, and they got along great. Jim was the nervous one. If anything, I thought it would be the other way around. I’d never seen Johan with a girl before and had assumed he’d be a little unsettled.
Tracy showed up and acted as my date as well as mother hen to the group. I sat back and had a good time while Tracy made sure everything ran smoothly. When she and I worked together, we did make a good team. I made sure the guys didn’t talk too much football. Overall, the evening was a success.
◊◊◊ Friday May 6
When I came into the kitchen for breakfast, Megan pointed at the newspaper. There was a photo of the four of us from last night and another picture of Leah. The article said we were meeting pre-prom to get acquainted. Someone in our group must have let the cat out of the bag. It went on to talk about who else was coming today.
I had a feeling either Frank or Adrienne was the source of the information.
When I was done reading, Megan handed me Coby because he wanted his breakfast. She knew I liked to do this in the morning and, if he wasn’t too fussy and could wait, she made it a point to let me do it. Little David was wide awake, chattering away. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought he was a girl.
“I want to thank you again for helping us out during finals. Peggy’s looking like she’s catching up on her sleep.”
“They’re a handful, but I’ve enjoyed taking care of them,” she said and then smiled. “Did you see the pictures of the boys and Pam?”
Pam had been going a little crazy on social media, though I guess I didn’t have much room to talk. I felt a little guilty when I had to admit that I hadn’t looked in a few days. I pulled my phone out and brought up her accounts first. My eyes got big when I looked at the pictures.
Pam and Peggy had taken the boys to Pam’s, and they were all in the pool. What about gave me a heart attack was seeing Little David and Coby with their heads sticking out of inner tube-like flotation devices. Coby didn’t seem too sure about this, but Little David was older, and he looked happy. Pam and I had talked about her desire to teach Coby to swim early, but I guess I hadn’t realized how soon she wanted to start introducing him to water. At this rate, he might be able to swim before he could walk.
Peggy came in the back door with Duke. They’d gone running this morning.
“Slug,” she called me, then gave me a kiss before going upstairs.
Duke ignored me and followed her upstairs to get his morning loving from my parents. I just shook my head because he was such a creature of habit. God forbid you messed up his routine.
◊◊◊
Fritz dropped me off at school along with Halle, who’d ridden with him today. I never really understood why she was able to drive herself to school, and I wasn’t.
Still, every once in a while, she caught a ride with Fritz.
Tracy had waited for me. Before we could say hello, Alan came storming up.
“Screw you, asshole!” he seethed.
“Well, good morning to you too,” I said.
“I didn’t think you’d really do it. You gave my date away to that big oaf Johan.”
“You make it sound like I owe you something,” I said with an edge to my voice.
Tracy reached over and smacked him in the forehead like Tami used to do.
“Ow!”
“You shit …!” he managed before Tracy punched him in the nose. Alan wasn’t afraid to hit a girl. Tami had had to be saved a time or two. I was on the fence as to whether Tracy could take him because she was no shrinking violet. Alan’s face turned dark as he found his nose was bleeding.
“Run away,” Pam said behind him.
Alan was smart enough to figure out that that sound meant Pam had her Taser out. He headed for the school building. I ran and caught him at the door. If I didn’t, he’d head straight to the office and tattle.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I asked.
“Up yours, David. Tracy hit me, and you’re not going to protect her.”
I couldn’t help myself … I laughed at him.
“Screw you,” he said and jerked his arm out of my grip.
“You dumbass. I’m trying to protect you, not her,” I said.
“I don’t need your protection!”
“Alan, you’re your own worst enemy. Can you guess what’ll happen when you go and tell on Tracy?”
“She’ll get suspended.”
“During finals,” I said and looked at him pointedly. “Think about it. What’ll happen when you get a
He stiffened when I said “girl.”
“I don’t care,” he retorted.
I wasn’t convinced.
“Everything that’s happened to you has been your own fault. You know my mom, yet you decided to defy her. Even I’m not that stupid,” I said.
“Bullshit,” Alan shot back.
