“Oh, hell no,” he mumbled.
The description of his character read: ‘Bisexual drug addict and con man …’
The first script described him having sex with a man and snorting cocaine. That was the exact opposite of the All-American boy image he’d been crafting since he began acting. He knew that Hollywood was going woke. Even the next James Bond looked like it would be played by an LGBTQ+ actor, so it was becoming more mainstream.
While the bisexual part gave him pause, the drug addict and con man parts were the deal-killer. If David wanted to continue doing action films where he was the hero, doing a role where he was strung out and the villain wouldn’t work.
He called Kendrick Knaggy.
“KAP Agency, how may I direct your call?”
“Kendrick Knaggy, please.”
“And whom may I say is calling?”
“David A. Dawson.”
“One moment, please.”
He was put on hold. At least they had decent music to listen to.
“David! Did you get a chance to read the script?”
Kendrick asked.
“I did, and I’m out.”
“What? Why?”
“Did you read it?” David asked.
“Uh … I was told it was edgy and you would shine in the role,” Kendrick deflected.
“Call me back when you’ve actually read it,” David said, adding, “And Kendrick, if you’re going to represent me, I expect better.”
David hung up on his agent.
Ten minutes later, Kendrick called back.
“You’re right. Let me talk to them and get your part rewritten. I let this one fall through the cracks,” Kendrick said, falling on his sword.
“The other concern I have is that they want full nudity, and I’m not doing that for a soap opera, even if it is on cable. Now, a major motion picture, we can discuss it, but I’m not going naked if I’m not being paid,” David added.
“Got it. Anything else?”
David chuckled. This was the most agreeable Kendrick had been since he met him.
“No, we’re good. Let me know if they’ll make the changes so we can move forward,” David said and then hung up.
David looked down at Duke.
“Come on, buddy. I get to start working out and practicing today.”
Dr. Liao had called and told him that he could resume working out with the team, with the only restriction being to have no contact this week. It looked like David would be back to full contact next week.
◊◊◊
Matt Long had just gotten the word that David was returning to practice, so he called his dad.
“Dawson is back,” Matt said as his dad answered the phone.
“That’s good.”
“No, it’s not. The press and the fans are calling for a change at quarterback.”
“Then it’s a good thing that Coach Merritt makes those calls. Didn’t he tell you David’s redshirting?” his dad asked.
“Actually, no; I overheard some of the coaches talking. I guess Coach Merritt forgot to inform David of that. He found out from a couple of our boosters.”
“That isn’t good. If he pulled that with you, I would be in Coach Merritt’s office, reading him the riot act.”
Matt felt good to know his dad was on his side.
“I have to wonder, what is David doing talking to boosters? Why would he even know them?”
“I don’t know. What should I do when David comes to practice?” Matt asked.
“Just what I’ve said before: be the good teammate and welcome him back. I would also ask him if he has any advice to help you. If he does, take it to heart. Just because the two of you are fighting for the same job, in the end, if you want to play in the NFL, you have to at least go through the motions of being a good teammate.”
“I get it, but I worry if he ever starts, I might never get to play another down of football at USC,” Matt finally admitted to his dad.
“Damn it, Matt! Quit selling yourself short. You’re every bit as good at Dawson throwing the ball. Yes, he is a better runner, but see what that got him? Running quarterbacks get injured. Even if you lose your job in the short term, keep your head up because David is one play away from never playing again.”
Matt knew that was true, but Coach Merritt would play whoever gave him the best chance to win. His dad was right in that if he were benched, Matt would have to show he was a good teammate, or he would never see the field.
“Okay. I’ll make an effort to welcome him back,” Matt agreed.
“Now, focus on Washington State. USC has to have this game, or their season will go down the toilet. Starting 1
and 3 would be a disaster.”
Matt chuckled.
“Way to put the pressure on, Dad.”
“You can handle it.”
◊◊◊
David left Duke in his suite when he went off to football practice. Getting on the practice field and taking some snaps felt great. Jim had been working at the center position under Willy’s tutelage since the offensive line captain would graduate this year. Jim teamed up with David to get extra work in. David was joined by Chuy and Big Cat to act as his running back and receiver in mock RPO plays.
“Could you have Crystal put in a good word for me to Wren?” Chuy asked.
“Hang on. David has been my friend longer. If anyone gets the first shot at her, it’s me,” Jim complained.
David looked at Big Cat, who found it all amusing.
“I already asked her to dinner. We’re going out Thursday night.”
“What the hell?!” Jim cried out.
“You sly devil,” Chuy added.
“You four! Get back to work!” Coach Thomas yelled at them.
Jim was so flummoxed that he snapped the ball over David’s head. David had to agree because Big Cat was the most innocent of the four of them. Granted, by all reports, he’d performed well last Friday night.
“If Wren is such a prize, maybe I should ask her out?”
David teased.
David found himself under a pile of his three teammates.
Coach Thomas came storming up, thinking David was dead.
What he found was everyone roaring with laughter.
“The four of you are running until the end of practice!”
Coach Thomas decided.
“Yes, sir,” David said as he led them to the edge of the field to run wind sprints.
It felt good to be able to stretch his legs. They were all about to die by the end of practice but had smiles on their faces.
◊◊◊
When David got in, he had a conference call with Grace Davenport and his dad to discuss Ron Pennington’s offer.
“Rob tells me Ron has offered to pay off the loan and buy you out at over market by a considerable amount. Do I have that right?” Grace asked.
“Yes, and Ron said two other things. First, that he would help me mitigate my tax bill for the capital gains. And second, that he was doing it this way to avoid having to file his increased stake to the Security and Exchange Commission,” David shared.
“The SEC requires everyone to disclose if they buy a substantial number of shares. It prevents someone from secretly buying a controlling interest in a company. It sounds like Ron wishes to become the chairman of the
board of Holistic Wealth Management,” Grace said and then asked, “How much is he offering?”
David told her and explained that it was what Ron projected the stock to be worth in five years.
“I shouldn’t be telling you this, but he’s taking you. We just ran our projections for the next ten years, and he’s giving you a third of the estimated value,” Grace informed them.
“So, I shouldn’t sell to him?” David asked.
“If I were you, I would,” Grace said.
“Why?” Rob asked.