“I heard about that. You seemed to be right in the middle of it. As my momma always says, if you’re going to run with the big dogs, you need to get off the porch. I hear you’re a big dog. Weren’t you All-State?”
“Second team.”
“Not too bad for the third-best player on our Little League team. How is the second-best player doing, anyways?” Eve asked.
“I saw Tami last night. She got a scholarship to go to Wesleyan, a private school. It’ll help her get a jump on being a doctor.”
“I’d love to see her.”
“Why don’t you come over for lunch? Tami and her mom are eating at my house. You can meet my new nephew Kyle.”
“You mean to tell me that your horndog brother knocked someone up?”
“Yeah, right, go figure. Didn’t you date him for a bit?”
“Yes, I did. He taught me a few things,” Eve said, and she blushed again.
“He taught me a thing or two also,” I leered.
“Oh, my, little David Dawson grew up. Are you sure you should be flirting with an older girl?”
“That’s right, you’re an old maid now. I bet your dad is going to have to come up with a huge dowry to get you married off,” I joked.
She gave me a superior look.
“When I’m famous you’ll regret that comment. You could have told your grandchildren that you dated me.”
I looked confused.
“I never dated you.”
“Not yet,” she said.
It took me a moment and then I realized she was hitting on me. I burst out laughing. She gave me a look.
“What’s so funny, Chuckles?” she asked.
“Eve, you’re never here, how am I supposed to date you?”
“Well, Smartass, I just happen to be coming back next semester,” she said.
I could tell she wasn’t happy about it.
“I’m sorry. I guess things didn’t work out in Nashville.”
It was a shame because Eve ‘Country Girl’ Holliday was the real deal.
“Can we just say that it hasn’t worked out right now?” Eve asked. I could see the determination in her eyes. “I will make it. The timing just wasn’t right.”
I was starting to cook in the hot tub. I stood up and watched Eve check me out.
“David, you are one sexy boy. When did you grow up?”
“Come to lunch and we can talk about it.”
I could see her thinking about it. Then she said, “Can I bring my friend Richard?”
I thought about teasing her but decided I wanted her to come regardless if she had a boyfriend or not. What was I thinking? I had Tracy and I wouldn’t trade her for anyone.
“Of course, I’d love to meet your friend.”
She followed me to the locker room, and when we came to the point where we had to split up, she pinched my behind.
“Nice butt, Dawson.”
I checked out her butt and said, “To bad the name ‘Big Country’ is already taken.”
“You shit,” she said as she tried to swat me. I dodged her and ran into the men’s locker room. Tami was going to be thrilled that Eve was having lunch with us.
AS HAD BECOME OUR HABIT, we had a houseful for lunch. Tracy brought her mom and dad, Beth and Mrs. A showed up, and Tami and her mom came. I set the table, and Tami was giving me shit about having two too many place settings. I was listening to her call me ‘stupid boy’ when Eve snuck up behind her and covered her eyes.
“Guess who?”
Their squeals got Kyle going. He turned into a little giggle box, and the next thing I knew all the girls were cooing over the baby. A man in his early 30s had come into the kitchen. I walked up and shook his hand.
“Richard, thanks for coming. Any friend of Eve’s is welcome in our home.”
He gave me a look of disdain.
“You must be the pretty-boy Eve told me about. I guess you’re what’ll pass for a stud in this hick town,” said my newest buddy Richard.
His New York accent caused my mom to laugh. Oh dear, Mr. New York was about to get a ration of shit. I looked at my mom and gave a little shake of my head to let her know he wasn’t worth it. She just winked at me. I figured he had a 50/50 shot at making out of here alive.
I made my excuses, not wanting to talk to Richard anymore. I found Tom, Dad, Greg and Uncle John watching the Bears game.
“Hiding from the jerk Eve brought?” Greg asked.
About that time, we heard a commotion in the kitchen. Mr. New York was backing out.
“You can take your attitude and hit the road. I will not be talked to in that manner in my own home. Do I make myself clear?” Mom asked.
Eve came running out.
“Richard, you jerk, we’re done. I’ve never been so embarrassed in all my life.”
“Bitch, find your own ride home,” Richard said, not knowing what shit-storm he had just unleashed.
Mom slugged him right in the nose. Greg and I were there to escort him out before he got feisty. Tami had Eve in her arms as she cried, and Dad was holding Mom. She wasn’t crying. Mom was actually smiling from ear to ear. She loved stuff like that; it gave her stress relief. When Eve saw that, she calmed down and apologized.
“Richard is the worst manager in the world. I’m so sorry he decided to make an ass out of himself.”
I grabbed Eve’s hand.
“Come here. I want you to meet your next manager. I use him for a couple of things, and I think he can help you.”
She looked confused but followed me to Mom’s office. I pushed Tom in and let them talk. When lunch was ready, I had to drag them out to come eat. Tom took me aside.
“I swear you need to hurry up and graduate. I need you to be in charge of talent acquisition. Her agent was charging her 50%. She’ll be in on Monday to sign with us. She has some ideas on how you and she can work together. We’ll talk about that when you get back from your ski trip.”
“Just let me know what I can do to help. I believe in Eve; I think she just needs a break.”
Lunch was great. Mary made fried chicken and biscuits. Mrs. A did the homemade mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. Angie made a butter pecan cake. I was in comfort food heaven.
Eve was disappointed when she found out that Tracy and I were dating, but she, Tami, and I picked up where we left off as being friends. I told Mom my joke about calling her butt ‘Big Country.’ Mom went up to her after dinner and said in front of everyone.
“I think David’s wrong. You have a cute butt. Don’t let him call it ‘Big Country.’”
I suddenly had that deer-in-the-headlights look as every woman in the room turned to glare at me. I heard Greg as he backed out of the room.
“Be afraid, be very afraid.”
I turned in time to see every guy in the house beat a hasty exit to go watch the Bears. I went for the tried-and-true.
“She started it.”
{whack}
Mom caught me in the back of the head as I decided to join the guys.
“Nice help.”
“I’m so disappointed. Have your parents not taught you any better?” Uncle John asked.
“Women are precious jewels and should be treated as such,” Tom said.
“Are you both off your medication? They can’t hear you sucking up in here,” I growled.
“I heard that,” Tracy yelled from the kitchen. They both grinned at me. I just shut up and watched the game. At least the Bears were doing better than I was.
Chapter 27 – Did You Pay for Those?
Monday December 23
FIRST THING IN THE morning, I found myself back at the gym. Eve and I arranged for her to pick me up, and I would teach her how to use the equipment. With her singing career, her now ex-agent had suggested that she get in shape. It wasn’t that Eve was overweight; she was like many teens, and she needed to firm up if she wanted to be in the public eye.
She wore a pair of tights and a loose t-shirt. Eve had always been a tomboy when we were growing up. She was five-eight with silky dark brown hair that hung to the middle of her back. Her best feature was her butt. She had a runner’s butt (round and firm), and muscular thighs. She saw me staring and winked at me.