“Did you want details?” Brook ventured.
“I’m sure I’ll see the video. Seriously, I wanted to touch base and make sure you’re okay. I know that Cindy can be persuasive and stretch boundaries.”
“Yeah, I’m okay. At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do anything. You’re right, Cindy’s a bad influence. I finally decided ‘what the heck,’ just seize the day and try something new. I guess I kissed a girl and liked it.”
“Do you want to do it again?”
“I don’t know. I guess if the situation is right and the mood takes me, I might be up for it,” Brook admitted.
Apparently, I needed to work on my acting because Brook saw I was a happy boy.
“You really are a slut. You’re imagining me with another girl and you joining in, aren’t you?” she accused.
“Only if it’s the right situation and the mood takes you,” I shot back, using her own words.
“I see. Do you have a list of girls you feel might fit this ‘right situation’?” she asked, doing the whole air quote act.
“Halle and Cindy would both be a good start, if I haven’t missed my mark,” I contemplated.
“I could stay over, and Halle and I could hook up again. I’m just afraid that you wouldn’t be able to participate, given how gimpy you are.”
She was evil. Mr. Happy was willing, but the rest of the body was sure we’d die if things got too enthusiastic.
“Maybe when we come back during Christmas break,” I suggested.
“What would you say if I got a girlfriend?”
“Probably the same thing you would say if I got one,” I said as I raised one eyebrow. “I suggest if we’re going to do this, we need to both be there when another girl’s involved.”
“That’s probably a wise plan. I don’t need Cassidy deciding she can molest you when I’m not around.”
“You got that right. I need you to protect me,” I admitted.
“What happened to you just wanting to be with me?” Brook asked as she cocked her head to the side.
“I’m 100% on board with that. I wanted to talk about what happened and see where that left us. Once, I had an experience where I had a threesome with a girlfriend and another girl. Everything was cool until the two of them hooked up without me. I admit I didn’t take it very well.”
I remembered how hurt I felt when Kara and Tracy had spent time without me at my first real photo shoot. Everything had worked out, but a quick conversation beforehand would have done wonders for me. Of course, Tracy had dumped me, like the next day, to make me even more unhappy.
“You’re worried I’ll find a girl and run off on you?” Brook teased.
“You would never leave all this,” I said, which made her laugh.
“What, you mean the dork sitting in a wheelchair? I get all hot and bothered just thinking about it.”
I deserved that one.
“What was up with you and Lexi?” I asked to change the subject.
“Halle gave me the heads-up. Miss Lexi has the hots for you. I wanted to make sure that she knew that if she worked for you, there could be no sleeping with the boss.”
My girlfriend could be such a buzzkill.
“Fine,” I huffed. “Caryn has already talked to me about that. She might have to talk to Cassidy, too.”
“Do you think for one minute that Cassidy cares about the rules when it comes to you? I know you both maintain this fiction about her dad forbidding you two being together. If she got even a hint that you wanted it to happen, there would be no stopping her. If you’re smart, you’ll think hard before you ever do anything with her again.”
She was right. We’d spent time together over spring break while island-hopping. I knew that she was a lot like Tami in that regard. If we ever got serious, it would be for the long haul. I would never be able to have Cassidy as a casual girlfriend. If I ever broke her heart, I might have to join the witness protection program. I could only imagine what she would do to me. This car-wreck stuff would just be child’s play in comparison.
“Getting back to threesomes. You know who we should ask? My brother’s girlfriend,” I said with sudden inspiration.
“You mean Angie?”
“No!” I scowled. “Numbnuts, my younger brother.”
“You cradle-robber. Jill Lacier is too young for you.”
She was right, but dang. Phil was a lucky boy.
“I should tell your mom about that,” Brook threatened.
“Go right ahead. Mom doesn’t claim that one. Now, my dad might have something to say about it.”
“What about your bro-code?”
I threw her a face. I needed a girlfriend who didn’t know me so well. My next one, I wouldn’t be friends with first. It would avoid all these little issues of her reminding you of what was right and wrong.
“I saw you were taking a lot of notes in the meeting,” I said to try to change the subject again.
“Not so fast. Is your brother aware you have an infatuation with his girlfriend?”
“I guess I don’t get it. Jill could date anyone at Lincoln High. Why him?”
“Do you think I could date anyone at Lincoln High?” Brook asked.
“No, no way,” I said, shaking my head.
From the look she gave me, I decided I better expand on that answer.
“If we ever broke up, you would never date a high school boy. You’d find yourself a college guy to torment me with. I would have to kick his butt, just because,” I added.
“You do know that Jill has the hots for you.”
Even I had figured that out. Jill had had her eye on me ever since I took her older sister out. I’d predicted that when she came to Lincoln High, she would be trouble. In my opinion, the males at our school were lucky Jill had latched onto my brother. If she hadn’t, there would have been a bloodbath to see who would date her. If Jill ever decided she wanted to model, it would take Adrienne all of two seconds to find her work.
“She’s aware that I think she’s too young, and that I would never hurt my brother. Jill knows the score,” I said, mostly to assure myself that it would never be possible.
I didn’t get the sense that Brook believed me.
“About those notes …”
She gave me one more look before she let it go.
“I found it fascinating to see how excited everyone was to build something. When I go to my grandmother’s board meetings, they’ve already made a name for themselves. It’s all about maintaining or growing market share. I liked the energy and how everyone felt free to contribute their ideas. I also think you have something here. In my opinion, you could expand this to go beyond the entertainment industry. I know a bunch of people who could use these kinds of services. This goes beyond wealth management,” Brook explained.
“Sounds like you might have some ideas of your own.”
“For starters, you could use someone to help with tax and estate planning. You probably also need a good lawyer to help.”
“Tell you what, when Caryn gets back next week, make an appointment with her and share your ideas. Maybe we can put a new spin on what wealth management is all about,” I suggested.
“I think I will. Now it’s my turn to talk about something else. How are you, really?”
“To be honest, I’m okay with my hip and rib injuries. Yes, they’re painful, but I know that with rehab, I can get back to the way I was. What scares me a bit is the head injury. This is the second time I’ve been knocked unconscious. Football is a high-risk proposition, as far as long-term head trauma issues are concerned. It’s probably for the best that I don’t play football for at least three weeks. Tami has sent me studies that show the links between football head injuries and not allowing them to heal properly. It’s not like a bruise where the damage is visible and you can judge when it’s better.
“My other concern is my arm. The doctor checked it out, but this is my livelihood. It’s my golden ticket to either the NFL or Major League Baseball. I’ve had swelling before on both my knees and my elbow. This is different,” I admitted.