“You’re not a junior. You’re a football player. You just made three out of four awful throws—it doesn’t matter whether you’re a senior, a junior, or still in middle school, which I’m beginning to think you are. Those last two plays were all on you as the quarterback. Dang, boy. Set your feet and throw the ball. We got to look better than that. This is not middle school football.”
He turned around and saw David grinning. Coach Mason threw his clipboard at him. It was lucky for David that he was a high-caliber athlete, or that one would have gotten him.
Colt looked relieved when Coach Mason’s ire was directed at David and not him. That was why David had done it. Colt wasn’t like him. He was more of the feelings kind of guy who you couldn’t get onto hard, or it would get into his head. David, on the other hand, let the insults roll off his back and focused on improving.
◊◊◊
After practice, there was a session where the coaches all got together and discussed their charges. David wasn’t really surprised when a few coaches asked Coach Mason how to help a particular player fix a problem. It was evident that they all looked up to him as a mentor.
After that, the press came in, and each coach was given a chance to share their thoughts about their charges. David noted that besides the recruiting services, the audience was mainly college coaches. While the coaches couldn’t ask any questions, there were notes passed to the people who could.
When it was Coach Mason’s turn, he praised his four quarterbacks, touted their virtues, and pointed out what they each did well during the session.
“That Macklin sure doesn’t look like the best QB in camp. From what I saw, MacGregor and Ohlson showed a higher ceiling. What are your thoughts?” he was asked.
“If I only relied on one day to evaluate talent, I would agree. But if I did that, I would be kicking myself when Colt kicked my team’s butt when we played him. Don’t discount him or Phil Prince for one day’s practice. How about you wait to make those types of comments once camp is over?” Coach Mason suggested.
The coaches in the room chuckled. David recognized the young guy who’d asked the question, and he was known to be more wrong than right in his articles for one of the recruiting services. He was more of a fan than someone to be taken seriously. The guy was notorious for downgrading a recruit if they committed to a program not thought of as elite. On the flip side, he raised recruits’ positions if they picked an Alabama or Clemson.
David was wrapping up when his phone notified him of a new message. Kaitlyn was outside, ready to take him to dinner.
◊◊◊
David went out front and found Kaitlyn waiting for him.
“Are you up for something different for dinner?” she asked as they were pulling away from the curb.
“Maybe.”
“I know this hole in the wall where they serve dim sum. My friends aren’t adventurous … well, that might not be fair because I told them that they serve chicken feet.”
“Tell me more,” David said before committing.
“We’ll probably have to wait for a table—likely outside—and the service isn’t great. You should expect to be crammed into a table with your back pressed next to someone behind you. But the food is more than worth it,” Kaitlyn said and then added, “It’s where Asian people go to get dim sum.”
“Then, I’m in,” David decided.
When they arrived, there was a line out the door. Kaitlyn shoved her shoulder into him, and David wrapped an arm around her. She fit perfectly.
It didn’t take long before people recognized him. One girl got brave and asked if he was David A. Dawson, which he admitted to. Kaitlyn was alarmed when people crowded around, wanting to have their picture taken with him and the like.
David was relieved when the doorman noticed and quickly ushered the two of them inside.
“I should have used my fame card sooner,” David said apologetically after they were quickly seated.
After their drinks orders were taken, the owner appeared with several dishes.
“You try,” she insisted.
“I guess we aren’t ordering,” David said with a smile.
He popped a dumpling into his mouth and was surprised when it wasn’t pork or chicken.
“What is this?” he asked the owner.
“Dried scallops with bean leaves. You like?”
David nodded yes and tried the other dishes. Before Kaitlyn could get a taste, the plates were whisked away, and more were brought.
“You might want to get aggressive if you see something you like,” he said as he shook his head.
“I am a little hungry,” she admitted.
When the next round came, he served one of each item onto Kaitlyn’s plate before taking any for himself.
“Hang onto the deep-fried shrimp balls,” she said.
“Have you tasted the shrimp-stuffed eggplant?” he asked.
“Keep that too,” she agreed.
“This was a great idea. I love tasting different dishes,” David said and then turned the conversation to his date. “Last time I saw you, weren’t you dating someone?”
“That was eye-opening. Before you get any notions, I should say right now—this is not a story about how I fell in love with my best friend.”
“He was your best friend? I would think that would be a good match.”
“I thought so too, but nope. While he was great, and I cared for him, there was no spark. It was like dating your brother. So, no, it ended before it began,” Kaitlyn explained. “Besides, he worked for the Texans and hired me to be a tour guide, and then he fired me.”
“Was he being a dick because you broke up?” David asked.
“Nothing like that. Some mother said I was hitting on her high school son.”
“I bet,” David said sarcastically.
“Then I had a string of terrible jobs that included telemarketing—which lasted a day—and pet-food taster, which I quit on the spot. And finally, animal masturbator,” Kaitlyn said with a straight face.
“Bullshit,” David said instantly.
“I apparently have the ideal fingers, and the animals love me,” she said, showing him her hands.
“I bet they do, weirdo.”
“I’m complex.”
Her smile widened, showing off her perfect white teeth and dimples.
“I’m like an onion. I have a lot of layers,” Kaitlyn added.
Too late; the damage was done. Mr. Happy woke up from his slumber in his pants.
“Uh … yeah, sure,” he said as he tried to imagine her jerking off various animals.
Somehow it changed to her jerking him off.
‘Down boy!’
David was saved—temporarily—when the arrival of another round of food dragged him back into the moment.
◊◊◊
All through dinner, Kaitlyn kept him amused. The animal masturbator job was a joke—thank goodness. When they were done eating, they were both stuffed. David thanked the owner for her personal service. She refused to let him pay, so he left a large tip.
Kaitlyn pushed back her chair and stood up. David followed suit after he was sure that his semi-flaccid dick wouldn’t be making an embarrassing tent in front of her.
He reached reflexively for her waist to pull her back against him as a server nearly ran Kaitlyn down. But she saw the guy just in time, so David jammed his hands into his jean pockets.
‘Hands off,’ he reminded himself.
He kept it casual and friendly until they pulled in front of where he was staying. He was about to thank Kaitlyn for a lovely evening when she leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
One of his hands wrapped around her hip and pulled her closer, while the other wrapped around her neck. His fingers twisted into her hair, and without a thought, David’s mouth crashed down onto hers. Kaitlyn’s lips were so soft. So fricking soft that his just melted against hers.
He paused, waiting for her to put a stop to this, but she didn’t. In fact, her mouth opened, and her tongue forced its way into his mouth. She tasted like the mango pudding she had for dessert. Things escalated quickly as her hand grabbed his hair in turn, pulling David’s face even closer. That continued until their kiss turned so hard that their teeth clashed together, neither one of them letting up.