“You can’t pull the friend card on day one,” David pointed out. “That’s like asking to be a starter the first day of fall practice.”
“So, what you said about family was a bunch of bullshit?”
“Let me ask you this. Would you want me to set you up with some crazy bitch who might cut your dick off in the middle of the night?” David asked.
Oliver looked confused.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Until we get to know each other better, I’m not about to unleash someone I just met on my friends. After we all get comfortable, I would have a better idea of who would be a good fit.
“But nothing is stopping you from striking out on your own. I bet you all have the skills to chat a girl up; don’t let me stop you,” David added to not look like a complete jerk.
“You should listen to him. At the very least, he invited some exceptional talent to this party. I would bet that Dawson has dropped more dimes than any of us will ever meet in person,” Jesús said.
“Dimes?” Jerry asked.
“Tens. Hot chicks,” Nick clarified.
Oliver was still grumbling, but David was glad that Fritz had clued him in on the Aussie’s dubious track record with women. Even though David didn’t really know all the Song Girls, he wouldn’t want them to think he would recommend someone who might hurt them.
◊◊◊
David’s little ones enjoyed the music. Their cousins talked him into dancing with them. Mac must have been paying attention when the Song Girls did their routine because she showed some serious moves for a four-year-old.
It didn’t take long for them all to wind down so their moms could take them home. That allowed David to dance with more age-appropriate women. He became quite popular when the Song Girls remembered that he could actually hold his own.
During a break, he found his new security girl waving him over.
“Sir, we have a situation,” she announced.
“And,” David prompted.
“One of the football players left and tried to come back in with alcohol.”
“Oliver?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. What do you want us to do?”
“Tell him that he can come back in if he surrenders the alcohol. You can give it back to him when he leaves. Or he can go home. This was billed as a family event, and most of the parents are still here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Later, David was somewhat happy that Oliver had decided to bail on his ‘fucking lame party,’ as his security reported.
David then made the rounds once again. He was happy to find that everyone was having a good time. He did find his grandmother chatting up one of the big boosters, Ron Pennington.
“What are you two doing? Plotting the takeover of the world?” David asked.
“We’ve just been talking. Your grandmother is a delightful person,” Ron volunteered.
Grandma Dawson gave her grandson an unreadable look. He decided they were both old enough to figure it out, so he smiled and left them alone. Could there possibly be a budding romance? David decided it would be a good time to check in with his dad.
“Dad.”
“David.”
“Congratulations.”
Rob gave his son a curious look.
“For what?”
“For getting a new daddy,” David teased as he pointed toward his grandmother.
“You do know that my mom can be way scarier than yours, don’t you?”
“What?! I’m grandma’s favorite,” David tried.
“Mess with her love life, and you might find out differently.”
David gave his dad an amused look and moved on. He’d done what he intended, giving him a heads-up. Not that he was worried about Ron. It was just so his dad wasn’t blindsided if his mother did, in fact, begin to date.
Then David went to find his fellow players. A few had gotten brave and were talking to some of the Song Girls. He did notice that Nick was holding back. He seemed to be using his aloofness on the exterior as a shield. Underneath his liquid brown eyes, there was a hint of sadness. The guy had suffered plenty of tragedy in his life to this point, so it was understandable.
Then he would join in, and a part of his authentic self would emerge. His whole persona would change when he laughed, even though the sadness remained.
David’s observations were interrupted when Rachel appeared at his side.
She was about to say something when Todd and his dad came up.
“We have a plane to catch. I have to go home and pack and be back by Sunday night,” Todd said.
“Just pack what you’ll use the first week. Have the rest shipped,” David said to give him a pro tip for traveling.
“That makes sense. I was worried about lugging everything here,” Todd said.
“Thank you, David. This was nice,” Mr. Davis said.
“I’m glad you had a good time. Call me when you get settled, and you can take me to lunch,” David said.
“Will do. I’ll see you Monday,” Todd said and then left.
“My dad sent me over. He wants to have a word,” Rachel said.
David followed her to where her dad was saying goodbye to the other coaches. David said his farewells, too. When it was just the three of them, Coach Farrow told him what was on his mind.
“This was nice. We need to do this each summer.”
“I figured why not welcome them to campus while letting their parents know that they’ll be okay?” David asked.
“I was surprised you invited the boosters.”
“Really? I would think you would want to make nice with the two men who have the greatest influence on your boss’s boss.”
David saw him think it through, and then he gave a slight nod that he agreed.
“Can I tell you something, and it stays between us?” Coach Farrow asked.
“Sure.”
“Coach Clayton is moving you to quarterback.”
“Whatever’s best for the team,” David said with a straight face.
“Did someone tell you?”
David shook his head.
“Nope. But with Travis leaving, it was the only option,” David reasoned.
“What about the Clemson kid?”
“Please. Coach Clayton would never let his pet feel threatened.”
“Pet?”
David realized that he might have let too much of his true feelings come through.
“I guess. What would you call it?” David replied.
“Yeah, you’re right; I think that pretty much sums it up. You do realize that Matt will start as long as Coach Clayton is around.”
David just shrugged. They would see.
◊◊◊
When the party wrapped up, David found his new teammates getting ready to walk to their dorms.
“We’re taking off. Umm, feel free to take your time coming home tonight,” Jesús said to Nick with a wink.
“Great, now I’m sex-iled.”
“Crash here. We have an extra room,” David offered.
“You don’t mind?” Jesús asked.
David was glad that Jesús didn’t just abandon his new roommate for a hookup. David thought he might have when he saw the Song Girl that Jesús was taking home.
“Just for tonight,” David said to let them know that this wasn’t to become a regular occurrence.
“Thanks, man,” Jesús said and gave David a bro hug, then turned to Nick. “And thanks for being cool about this.”
“No problem. I’ll be home around eleven tomorrow morning,” Nick offered.
Jesús was all smiles. David said goodnight to the rest of the guys and then showed Nick where he was sleeping.
When David got to his bedroom, he found Cassidy in his bed.
He got undressed and joined her without a word. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her forehead.
“I missed you too,” he said.
Cassidy looked happy as she snuggled against David. This was just two friends—well, more than friends—telling each other how much they meant to each other. For the first time in several months, he had a woman in his bed that he deeply cared about.
It didn’t take long for him to fall into a contented sleep.
◊◊◊
Chapter 15