I introduced them to Zak and Bec. Brook said she needed to go to the little girls’ room, and Bec joined her. Don’t ask. I have no idea what girls do when they go to the bathroom together.
“Are you and …?” I asked Zak.
He smiled.
“Bec and I have been dating for five months. We were cast in an episode of
“Say it isn’t so. I planned to model my LA persona after your ‘bad boy’ image,” I teased.
“David would never be considered a ‘bad boy.’ He’s too nice a guy,” Zak told Tim and Wolf. “All I had to do was tell a few people that he’d be here tonight, and we’ll have a packed house. By the way, if you need a room for a little fun, you can use the downstairs bedroom.”
I ignored the last comment.
“I did take advantage a little. That is, I invited a few people,” I said.
“It’s all good. I’m just happy to see you,” Zak said, which surprised me.
He and I had hung out, but it sounded like he thought we were closer friends than I realized. Not that I had a problem with that because I did like Zak. I guess I wasn’t sure what to think about that revelation. In LA, friendships felt more artificial. From what he just said, it seemed he thought it was real. I accepted it at face value.
“Speaking of party crashers,” I said as Bill came out back with other USC football players and their dates.
He spotted us and came over. Tim, Wolf, and I gave him hugs.
“Great game! Two touchdowns isn’t so bad,” Wolf said.
Brook and Bec came back as we began to talk football. They motioned for the girls to go with them, and they all walked over to grab drinks at the bar and go off to talk about us. I gave Ridge a hug and spotted Matt Long, the quarterback who’d been at the Michigan camp and planned to sign with USC. I think he was taken aback when he also got a hug.
“Now I’m going to have to get more luggage so you both can carry it for me,” I announced.
Ridge told everyone the story about when I beat him in a two-minute drill at USC’s football camp. The bet had been the loser had to carry the other’s gear.
“David was really classy in his win. He did the whole soccer thing where he ran around like an idiot, tore his shirt off, and slid on his knees. I couldn’t resist beaning him with a ball,” Ridge shared.
“I don’t think he’s outgrown that,” my ex-friend Wolf said.
“Then we’re at the end of the day, and the coaches are telling us what we can do for the evening. In walks an honest-to-God model, looking for him,” Ridge said.
“Speaking of which,” I said, pointing to Rose who came strolling in.
“Damn!” Matt said.
“Get used to it. Each one is better looking,” Ridge shared.
Rose and my eyes locked, and she rushed over and planted a serious kiss on me. She and I’d done a shoot for Range Sports. Mr. Happy instantly remembered this Hispanic beauty and how much fun she was. Rose pulled away and got a playful look as she glanced down at my bulge.
“I see you miss me,” she said, which caused me to groan. “I sure hope you’re single.”
“He’s not,” Brook said, appearing out of nowhere.
“We warned you about bringing your girlfriend on recruiting trips,” Tim said.
We all laughed when Brook popped Tim in the nuts and immediately got a sweet look on her face. I was afraid she planned to make Rose a frenemy.
“Be nice. I told you about Rose,” I reminded Brook.
“Sorry, I didn’t know he wasn’t single. I just got out of a relationship and was hoping he was free,” Rose explained.
“Any other time, I’d introduce you to my friends, but I think they’re all dating,” I said.
“I’m single,” Matt blurted.
Matt’s a good-looking guy at six-two, about 200 pounds, and athletic. He was Rose’s type. I saw her check him out, but Brook ruined Matt’s night when she invited Rose to meet the other girls. Personally, that wouldn’t have stopped me from joining the girls if I were Matt. It would have been better than listening to this bunch rag on him.
I left the guys talking football when I spotted Halle, Trip, and Sandy Range coming out the back door. Sandy bounded up and jumped into my arms.
“Hello, Stranger. I’ve missed you.”
“Me, too. How’s college life treating you?” I asked.
Sandy had enrolled at Berkeley, an almost seven-hour drive from here. I was impressed that she drove down.
“I love it there, even though I get homesick. Sometimes I wish I’d gone to school closer to home so I could go home on weekends.”
“How’s Devin doing?” I asked.
Pam had told me that he and her sister were doing better now that Cora had figured out that if she divorced him, she wasn’t getting anything. They were rapidly approaching their first anniversary. I’d given them six months, tops.
“He’s good. I told him I was driving down to see you, and he said to tell you that he has some new toys he wants you to kill yourself on. I told Devin you’re a daddy now and to forget about it,” Sandy said, ruining my night.
“Devin has new toys,” I whined.
“Get over it. I promised Pam I wouldn’t let Devin try to kill you again.”
