That meant a lot to me. He’d come out of retirement to coach me. It was a big honor to have a mentor like him in your corner.
“I appreciate that, Coach. Over the last three years, you’ve become more than just a coach to me. I learned things I might never have been exposed to if it weren’t for you. If I make it to the NFL, a big part of it will be because you prepared me.”
“If? You mean ‘when.’ And who says you will end up in the NFL?” he asked.
“What? You don’t think I can make it?” I asked, a little shocked.
“Wait; I didn’t say that. I’ve been around you long enough to know that if you decide that’s where you want to end up, you will. What I am reminding you is that you have other options.”
I chuckled.
“I know,” I conceded. “But I would hate to have all your coaching go to waste.”
“Son, I hope you realize that I didn’t just teach you about football.”
“You’re right,” I admitted. “You taught me the proper way to throw a clipboard and some colorful phrases I can use when the need arises.”
“Maybe you should stick to remembering the football stuff.”
We both chuckled. I appreciated that Coach Mason thought enough to call and congratulate me. I would call him if I ever needed advice, and not only the football kind. He was someone you wanted in your life.
◊◊◊ Monday February 6
Cassidy had avoided me all day. When she didn’t want to talk to me during flight training, I started to believe it was more than her usual snit about something. I knew it had to be serious when Cassidy handed me the keys to the Demon to drive home. Maybe she was sick.
“Did I say or do something to make you mad?” I finally asked.
“No,” she grumped.
“Then why are you acting like I’ve announced I was going on tour as a Christian comedian, and you have to be my security?” I asked.
Her eyebrows drew together as she tried to imagine that.
“That would be less funny than Wolf already is.”
“I’ve been practicing my material,” I said proudly and launched into my routine. “God always answers kneel-mail … funny, right?”
She wasn’t buying it.
“Okay, I’m not going to hit all of them out of the park on the first try. I’ll work on that one. How about this one? Seven days without prayer makes one weak,” I said. “Weak spelled W E A K … get it?”
“David, it’s not funny if you have to spell it for your audience.”
“Good point. I’m sure you’ll like this one. No time to pray makes you easy prey,” I said hopefully.
She groaned.
“I don’t understand why you’re not rolling around on the floor laughing. Coby loves my jokes,” I complained.
“Coby’s a little giggle-box.”
“That he is. I know … you’ll like this one …” I started to tell her my best one.
“Stop! I’ll tell you already,” she said and hung her head. “Brook warned me. Tami told me that I made a horrible mistake. But I have to come clean.”
“You ate my cookies that were over the fridge in my apartment?”
I noticed they were gone, and I’d accused my mom. She’d denied it, so it had to be Cassidy.
“That’s not it … but yeah, I ate them,” she said, giving me her pouty face.
No wonder no one ever bought my drowned-puppy look.
“So, what’s so terrible?”
“I owe you a favor,” she said so fast I almost didn’t catch it.
I all but ran off the road when I figured out what she was talking about.
“The bet!” I yelled as I started to bounce up and down. “Tell me everything. Did Dare lose his virginity?”
“No!” Cassidy scowled. “I couldn’t make out with Don with Dare in the car. I’m afraid Don wants to break up with me.”
“Did he get to third base at least … OW! Don’t hit me.”
“‘Stupid Boy’! Darius was a gentleman. He did get a sweet goodnight kiss.”
“How did Chrissy react to it? Did he slip her the tongue?” I asked as I blocked her jab.
“I’m pretty sure she liked it. More might have happened, but her dad started flashing the porch lights when they went on forever.”
I smiled because I imagined Dare remembered me telling everyone at lunch last fall how to kiss a girl goodnight after a date.
“I can’t believe he didn’t tell me,” I complained, suddenly realizing this was the first I’d heard of this.
“What was the first rule your brother taught you?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah. Why didn’t Chrissy say something? I thought girls were the ones that blabbed.”
“She did. We girls don’t always share everything with the boys,” Cassidy said smugly.
“Gina always makes me talk. Why does Chrissy not get the same treatment?” I asked.
“Do you really need to ask that?”
“I guess not,” I grumped and then smiled. “So, you owe me a favor.”
“Just ask it. I don’t need this to drag out.”
“Hmmm … nope. I think I like you owing me a favor.”
Cassidy smacked her palm against her forehead and groaned. I wondered if she might be getting a migraine. My mom seemed to get those in situations like this.
◊◊◊
I dragged Cassidy up to my apartment so I could dress for dinner. Miss Joey Marshall, my hottie-hot-hot trainer, had relented and agreed to come to dinner tonight. I stripped down to my underwear and started rifling through my closet. By the look Cassidy gave me, she seemed to be enjoying the show.
