On our ride to our mystery destination, we did the typical first-date routine and told each other about ourselves. It was good to hear that Destiny’s brother Don was happy they’d moved here for football. He’d started to get recruiting letters from schools like Northern Illinois and Western Kentucky. Both were excellent football destinations if you weren’t headed to a Power 5 school.
We pulled into the marina at a local lake.
“I rented a pontoon boat. There’s an island where we can have a fire and cook dinner,” Destiny told me.
What a perfect first date.
Chuck drove the boat as Destiny and I sat in the bow and enjoyed the ride. I hadn’t realized how much tension I felt about tonight. I began to relax and enjoy our evening. The island must not have been a big secret because there were other couples there. They’d built a bonfire, and we joined them. Most were in their twenties, with a few older couples mixed in.
Destiny had brought hot dogs, and I found some small branches for us to stick them on so we could heat them up over the fire. After we ate, I suggested we take a walk to enjoy the sunset.
“This is fun. I’m glad you thought of this. It’s a great idea for a date.”
“I’m not the monster that Brook thinks I am,” Destiny said.
“I suppose not. It’s too bad you two don’t get along.”
“We just got off on the wrong foot. Sometimes I wish we had a way we could reset everything. We’ve both said and done stuff that I wish we hadn’t,” Destiny admitted.
“So, you don’t actually have plans to seduce me tonight?”
“Only if you want me to,” she shot back. “No? I didn’t think so. I would like it if we were friends, though I understand if we can’t be because of how Brook feels.”
“That’s probably true. Why don’t we agree to enjoy tonight, though?” I offered.
“I talked to Tracy to get her advice. She suggested that you might put the word out that I’m not completely terrible. I really would like to enjoy my senior year. I think Brook and I can keep from coming to blows from here on out.”
“That would be key to something like that working. If you mean it, I can say something.”
“Thank you.”
We got quiet and watched as the sun began to set. Destiny told me we had to get going so we could enjoy our second part of the date.
◊◊◊
“My cousin Jocelyn is in a sorority at State. She told me that the two of you actually met last spring before one of your baseball games, and she invited you to a party. When she heard we were going on a date tonight, she insisted that I invite you. I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s better than the time I had to dress up as a cowboy and go to a young girl’s birthday party,” I said.
“I think this group will be more age-appropriate. I bet they would rather see you dress up as an underwear model,” Destiny suggested.
“You really are trying to cause problems for me, aren’t you?”
“I never said I wasn’t interested,” she fired back.
“No, no, you didn’t, but I want to be clear that nothing like that is happening tonight.”
“Fair enough. I had to take my shot, though, or I would’ve regretted it.”
On the ride to State, we settled into discussions about what we planned for Christmas break. Destiny and her brother were going to go visit their grandparents in Florida. I told her about my trip to LA.
Our state university has a long history of fraternities and sororities. Over the years, their alumni had funneled money to build large houses that seemed to be all bunched together on what they called Greek Row. It was easy to spot the one hosting tonight’s party by the stream of people heading toward it. Destiny directed us to park at a different house, a block away.
When we had parked, Destiny sent her cousin a text. Jocelyn responded by coming out of the back door with five other girls. Destiny walked up and gave a hug to a girl who I remembered as the ringleader of the girls wanting us to go to a party last year.
“You do know that I saw him first,” Jocelyn said to torment her cousin.
“From what I’ve heard, he turned you down. At least I got him to go out with me,” Destiny countered.
“The night is still young.”
“He has a girlfriend, so good luck with that.”
Chuck and I stood back and took in them going back and forth. I figured it was harmless fun if they were talking about me with me within hearing distance. I smiled when the other girls checked out Chuck. Maybe I’d have to protect him before the night was over.
The two cousins put me in between them, and we began our trek to the party. It amused me when they each grabbed a hand. Jocelyn looked down and then up at me.
“How big are your hands?” she asked.
“Ten inches,” I said.
At one of the football camps, they did measure our hands. I couldn’t figure out why they needed that information, so I’d asked. It seems that quarterbacks with bigger hands can grip the ball better.
“Is it true what they say about big hands and feet?” one girl asked.
It took me a moment, but it finally came to me what she’d asked. My face got warm.
“I don’t really know,” I admitted.
