“Hey, David,” Jan said, confirming she was still the ringleader.
“Hey, girls.”
“Now that we’re on varsity next year, do you plan on being our friend?” Jan asked.
“Do you still get high?” I asked.
“Sure, want to sneak out and get a buzz on?”
I didn’t need to be anywhere near these three girls, especially now with football camps coming up.
“I don’t touch the stuff now, so I’ll pass. I would also ask you to not try to corrupt any of the guys. We’re in training,” I explained.
Jan stuck her bottom lip out to pout. I think she thought she was being cute. I wasn’t the same middle schooler she had wrapped around her finger when we were younger. She gave me a confused look.
“Are you still mad about me breaking up with you? If I had it to do over again, I would have stuck with you instead of Justin.”
I really wanted to be a jerk and tell her off. I had several lines jump into my head which begged to be said. I took a deep breath and got my emotions under control. It really said something that she was able to get a rise out of me still, after our breakup over three years ago. In teenage years, that was a lifetime.
What stopped me was what both Tami and Coach Trent, from Elite 11, had said about being an example. This was doubly true for me because I didn’t have to just be a quarterback. I had to be careful because of the movie coming out, and my modeling. I didn’t need to give people a reason to think I was a jerk.
The final reason was simple: she wasn’t worth it.
“Jan, that’s ancient history. You decided Justin was the better man and I respect your decision. I would hope we both moved on,” I said.
I seriously doubt she ever looked back once Justin agreed to go out with her again. I couldn’t help the subtle jab about her picking the guy who took her virginity and dumped her, rather than me. I was still a teenager, after all. I saw Ronda flinch, but Jan seemed okay with what I said.
“I agree, we both moved on,” she said, dismissing the idea that I could still be irritated by how she dumped me. “We’re having a small get-together tonight. I’d love for you to come.”
“Will there be drugs at this event?” I asked.
“You and drugs! I remember when you’d take or smoke anything I put in front of you,” she said.
“I’m not the same guy trying to impress you anymore.”
She stepped forward and ran her hand over my chest. Thankfully, Pam picked that moment to come latch onto my arm. Jan took a step back and gave me a coy smile.
“If you’re free, stop by,” she said, and then the three of them left me.
“What did they want?” Pam asked.
“To join them at a get-together tonight,” I answered.
“I might have a better offer.”
“Don’t hold out on me.”
“I thought you could take me out on the date you’ve been promising me.”
“Can’t we just go have sex?” I teased her.
“No. Remember, you like me.”
She cracked me up. We both knew we were just friends-with-benefits. She had been slowly showing the true Pam as she got to know me better. I liked that she had a sense of humor.
“Did I really say that? An actual promise? I bet it was after sex. Talk to Cindy about the ‘twenty-four hour’ rule. You can’t be held to anything you say right after sex,” I said.
She jabbed me in the ribs.
“Hey,” I protested.
“Do I need to plan everything?”
“I only have one question: am I allowed in your house after what happened with Cora?”
Cora had hooked up with Devin Range and they were now engaged. She had worked quickly to lock him up. I hoped Devin and Cora made it, but I had my doubts. I was betting it would cost him a pretty penny to get rid of her.
“Dad is still a little twitchy when your name’s mentioned, but I think he knows it wasn’t your fault. Devin is starting to grow on him. The jet water board he gave Dad went a long way towards appeasing him.”
“I hope Cal doesn’t think I have to buy him gifts, too. I always thought it was the girl who had to come up with the dowry.”
“Did you just propose to me?” she said, jumping up and down.
“Uhhh ...” was my witty response.
“I think you did. It’s also not during your twenty-four-hour grace period. I’ll tell Daddy. The two of you can talk before our date,” she said, and then went to tell her friends.
I hoped to God she was kidding.
I had a great afternoon catching up with my friends. Ty decided he was no longer my friend after sixty minutes of hell. I had warned him.
ALAN SENT ME A TEXT saying the plays and Bo’s comments on them were loaded into the software. I logged onto the Internet when I got home and opened it up. The most helpful part was Bo’s description of the plays. One of the hardest parts was learning the terminology they used to name the plays. Bo did a good job explaining what they meant with the play-naming conventions. The first part of the play name was the formation, then any pre-snap movement, and finally where each player went.
Once I understood that, it became easier to figure out the play. I then could watch the video of each time we ran it today. I spent an hour studying and then went down to see Mom and Dad. I found them talking to Angie as she cooked dinner.
“Dad, I need you to call Cal, Pam’s dad,” I said.
“Why’s that, David?” Dad asked.
“It has something to do with arranging a dowry for Pam.”
Mom fixed me with a look and I couldn’t keep a straight face.
“Devin gave Cal a jet water board to buy Cora. I explained to Pam they had it backwards. The father of the bride was supposed to pay the groom to get the troublesome girl out of their house,” I explained.
“So, you’re planning on marrying Pam?” Angie asked.
“If the price is right, sure. That’s why Dad needs to call Cal. Maybe we could get some goats,” I said.
“Why would we want goats?” Mom asked.
“From looking at the yard, your oldest son has been falling down on the job. The goats would help keep it trimmed up,” I said.
This time Dad shot me a look. I got out my cell phone and called Wolf. He agreed to mow the yard and whatever else my parents decided to pile onto him.
I ARRIVED AT PAM’S and rang the doorbell. Cal answered.
“I hear you’re looking for a dowry,” he said with a straight face.
“If you expect me to get rid of this one too, I need to get paid,” I said.
“Every now and then there are days when I think her mother and I would consider it. Today she’s been bearable, so I think we’ll keep her,” he said, letting me in the house.
“What’s the plan for my youngest daughter tonight?” Lacy said as Cal and I walked into the kitchen.
“Tonight is an official date night. I guess we can’t do group dates anymore, not after the last one,” I said, reminding them of us taking Cora with us. “Pam said she was planning this one, so you’ll have to get the details from her. I was just supposed to show up. Hey, if she’s picking where we go, shouldn’t she pay?” I asked.
“You poor thing! Were you dropped on your head as a baby?” Lacy asked.
“Actually, I was. My dad did it.”
She patted my hand. Cal was staying out of it. Pam joined us. I was glad I wore jeans and a nice shirt to match her. I had hoped she would be wearing something similar. There just weren’t that many places a teen would want to go where you got dressed up.
“Are you sure you want to go out with David?” Cal asked.
“I’m right here,” I complained.
“Don’t worry, I think our daughter sees other things in him,” Lacy said, causing Cal and me to blush.
Who knew Lacy could be naughty? I was ready to leave. Like, right now! I grabbed Pam’s hand and we made a hasty exit.