“So, you’re saying David might have a better idea?”
Armani asked.
“I have a question of my own,” David said. “Starters don’t normally act as recruiting hosts. Who are these guys that Bryant asked you to do it?”
“I wondered when you would figure that out. It’s the two receiving prospects on USC’s want list, Ezekiel Rodriguez and Damion Roth,” Bill revealed.
The shock of discovery hit David full force. He was well aware of Damion’s talents. He’d almost single-handedly taken Wesleyan to state during high school, where they played David and Lincoln High. David had always thought Damion was a lock for the NFL someday if he could get his shit together. His grades were what had landed him in a JC.
In his first two years of high school, he was what you would call an uninterested student.
David had made him a promise that if Damion could turn it around, he would put a good word in for Damion wherever he was playing. David had always wondered what it would have been like if the two of them were on the same team. That was why he’d sent Bryant to Iowa Western Community College to talk to Damion.
Ezekiel ‘EZ’ Rodriguez was a man among boys at six-seven and 215 pounds. He was also from one of the roughest places in the country, Westmont. It was an unincorporated area just south of LA; Vermont Avenue, which formed its eastern border, was called Death Alley because of all the unsolved murders in that area.
Everyone was recruiting EZ because he was a freak athlete who showed a ton of potential. The thought was that he might be a high first-rounder in the NFL with the proper coaching and weight program.
“I’ve got a place you can take them that won’t get out of hand, and they’ll have a good time,” David promised. “Let me call and set it up.”
“Can the other recruits and their hosts come?” Bill asked.
David snorted out a laugh as he discovered what Bryant was really up to. Partying with David Dawson was the secret sauce that had prospective recruits begging for an offer from USC. If it got these two to say ‘yes,’ then David was all for it.
◊◊◊
David had talked to Crystal and Lars and invited himself and his ‘friends’ to the Phi Sig party that night. Lars was easy because he claimed that word of David showing up increased the quality of women who attended.
David met everyone at the John McKay Center, where Bryant had just finished giving the recruits and their families a tour.
“I want to introduce everyone to David A. Dawson, our starting quarterback,” Bryant said proudly.
David took the time to meet everyone and let them take pictures before announcing, “I am stealing your sons for the evening. Go out and enjoy LA while I corrupt them and show them what college life is all about. I’m sure many of you know what I’m talking about.”
That caused an uneasy chuckle from the parents, but once again, he was amazed when they all allowed their sons to go with him without a lot of questions. He knew if his mom had been there, she would have been a pain in the rear.
As they walked to the Phi Sig house, David noticed they had a girl with them. He did a double-take because he knew her. Destiny Crown had been his girlfriend Brook’s greatest rival in high school. He knew she’d latched onto Damion once she learned he was going places. David hadn’t known they were still together.
When they got to the Phi Sig house, the party was just starting to kick off, so it wasn’t crowded yet. Lars was at the door, handing out red cups to ensure the recruits weren’t overserved. He also gave out condoms for … well
… what they were for, with Lars telling them their penises would thank them later.
The Phi Sigs were huge USC football fans and loved that the recruits were there. Once he was sure they all felt at home, David found Damion and Destiny.
“Well, hello, stranger. The last we talked was at your graduation party,” David said to Destiny.
“If I remember right, you got drunk on vodka and passed out,” Destiny said.
“Dawson drinks? I thought he was a Boy Scout,” Damion teased.
David tried to disguise his annoyance. It reminded him why Brook had never liked her. He tamped down his desire to get into a verbal battle with Destiny. After all, tonight wasn’t about her, it was about getting Damion to enroll at USC.
“I wanted to thank you for keeping your word. I know you didn’t have to,” Damion said earnestly.
“You kept up your end of the bargain. I’ve always wanted you on my team,” David said.
“I’m going to be able to graduate after this semester, so I can enroll in the spring. I heard your brother also received an offer. Did you have anything to do with that?”
Damion asked.
“All I did was ask Bryant and the coaches to take a look at the both of you. They thought you two would be a good
fit, and I think you’ll love it here. It’ll give you a national stage to showcase your talent and get you into the NFL.”
“I told him you were a standup guy,” Destiny said.
He also remembered that Brook’s issues with Destiny weren’t necessarily his. While they would never be friends, he knew she wasn’t evil incarnate. She might be okay under the right circumstances.
“Introduce me to your new friends,” Crystal said as she slid in beside him.
David introduced everyone. He was grateful when Crystal took Destiny to meet her sorority sisters.
“I hadn’t realized that the two of you were still together.
What happens when you come to USC?” David asked.
“We’re getting married at Christmas. I’ve asked Bryant to see about helping her enroll. If it doesn’t work out, he said he can see about helping with other colleges close by.”
“You’re marrying her?” David asked, unable to keep the surprise off his face.
“I know. It blindsided me, too, but I’m the happiest man alive. Speaking of which … damn, man! Your girl is smokin’
hot.”
“Hands off,” David said with a mock scowl.
Well, not all that mock. Damion didn’t have the highest morals regarding other men’s women if history was any indicator.
Damion held his hands up to surrender.
“I’m not about to shoot the golden goose, but if you ever wanted to swap ….”
David shoved Damion.
“No, no, I get it. You’re not into sharing,” Damion conceded.
EZ walked up and introduced himself.
“So, that’s your girlfriend?” EZ asked.
Damion laughed. “Boy Scout isn’t into sharing. I already asked.”
“Damn. I don’t blame you, but that’s okay; the rest of the talent at this party is top-notch. If my crew back home ever found out, they’d be camped out waiting for the next party,”
EZ said.
David looked around, and EZ was right. Anywhere the Alpha Mus went, they alone would fill a party with good-looking women. But Lars had worked to invite the most stunning girls from all the other sororities. If David was single, Mr. Happy would have been confused about who they should go after.
“Don’t be shy. Go introduce yourself,” David encouraged.
“I think I will,” EZ said as he left them.
◊◊◊
“I said, drink!” David heard.
He turned to find Lars glaring at what must be a pledge.
“I don’t want to get fucked up. I have a math test on Monday that I still need to study for.”
“Pledge, if a brother tells you to drink, you drink. Now I think you should do two more shots,” Lars said.