Chapter 16

Ihad some explaining to do in order to go back to David's. It wasn't that my parents weren't cool – more like surprised. They didn't even remember him from the cookout, and I didn't go into all the details of why I had been there or why I was staying there. Not yet.

Why didn't I just tell them?

I wasn't ashamed or anything. I just thought dropping it all on them at once was too much. We'd gone out on a couple of dates and had become friends, and he was alone and in bad shape. Mom insisted on making dinner and bringing it over to him tomorrow, and I thanked her.

My brother knew everything and just high-fived me before going back upstairs to get high and play video games.

I barely slept on the floor right beside the couch on a pallet I created out of David's extra family quilts. Barely slept, I mean. David moaned throughout the night, and getting him to the potty was difficult. I know he was embarrassed by it, but there was no help for it. I was glad to do it for him.

Love? I mean, not yet. But infatuation? Yes. I was totally smitten even with all of the drama that followed our amazing evening of debauchery. Maybe even more because of it. I liked being needed, and he needed me more than anyone ever had before. I had a Florence Nightingale complex, apparently.

When Zane came back in the morning, I made breakfast for us all. I made David stay on the couch and added cushions behind his back so he could sit up and keep his foot elevated.

"Thanks for staying with him for a while, Zane. I won't be too long."

"You do not have to thank me for being a good friend, bro. I like you more than I did before, but the jury is still out. I'll be here, and I'll take care of her – don't worry."

"I think I like you more than I did before, too." I snorted. "Got it. Still, thanks. I really need to go do this today."

"No worries. But bring back some ice cream. Doesn't that sound good, David?" Zane smirked. "David loves ice cream. Did you know that?"

"I guess I do now. I'd ask if he likes vanilla, but I know better."

"Oh my God! Will you two please stop having a pissing competition? Peanut butter would be great. You both are here, and I appreciate it, but I don't need to hear your bickering. Got it?"

"Who's bickering?" I chuckled.

"Please, bitch. This is just foreplay." Zane shrugged and went to sit down in the chair, curling his feet underneath him. "Besides, he looks like he can take it. If you two are gonna do what you do – then he has to get used to what I do, too."

"Lord, someone please murder me." David shifted so Liza could snuggle deeper into the crook of his arm where he was cuddling her. She had barely left his side since we got back. She was a very sweet daddy's girl.

"Peanut butter – got it. Snarky best friend comments – check. Maybe a Greenie for Liza?"

David giggled. "They're in the cabinet. Trust me – I am prepared for stanky ass breath."

"I'll give her one." Zane stood up and went to the cabinet. As soon as Liza heard the door open, she flew out of sight to get her treat. She knew she had bad breath, too.

"Alright. I'll be back in a bit." I walked out and headed to my car. I was nervous, but I had tried so hard to hide it this morning that I had almost fooled myself.

It was a short drive to the stadium, and I drove to the rear just as Danny had told me to. He stood there leaning against his truck, looking like a model in a Ford commercial. His curly hair blew in the wind as he waved at me. I pulled in beside him.

"There you are! You ready. They're excited to meet you." Danny grinned happily as he slapped me on the arm.

"I can't believe their name is the Pheasants."

"The Pleasant has a unique sense of humor. Have you seen the mascot? He's actually sitting on a bench in the logo. It's hilarious."

"Anything more I need to know?" I asked as we walked towards the metal door.

"The guy you"re meeting is named Little Timmy. His best friend is named Big Timmy and he also works for the team. Little Timmy is huge compared to Big Timmy. It's a whole thing and just another piece of weirdness here in The Pleasant. Sometimes, I think we may all be a little mental." Danny chuckled as he opened the door. "I've known them both since we were kids. We played football together for a season or two. Little Timmy was a little older than me."

"Little bit of advice," I snickered.

"You catch on quick." Danny let the heavy door shut behind us with a loud clang. "He's a great guy, and the team does a lot of good around here. They write big checks for all of the kid"s sports teams and are a major sponsor for the high school athletic program. They may lose a lot – but they have the hearts of winners."

"That's great to hear. Do you have any other advice before I meet him?" My palms were damp, and I could hear the sound of my heart in my ears.

"Just be you, Hot Stuff. They will fall in love with you the same way that we did." Danny stopped outside the offices and put his hand on my shoulder. "Be you and be honest. They are willing to put in the time and money for someone they like. You can get paid and get your Master's in Therapy all on the team's dime. It's a win-win for everyone and for me too. It's nice to have another friend in town. Ready?"

"As I'll ever be." I took a deep breath before turning and walking into the main office.

Twenty minutes later, and a little sweaty, I exited the office feeling great. I hadn't exactly been given a job on the spot, but it seemed to go well. I would have to finish my degree faster than I had planned, and that would be a lot of classwork to finish in one semester – but it could be done. Of course, I'd be training for this job at the same time. But a pro team! It was what I had always wanted, and even better, I could stay here in The Pleasant. My life had taken a turn that I had not expected.

It wasn't just David – though he was definitely a part of it. He was sweet and funny, and I was super attracted to him. The way his body responded to me was mind-shattering, as was the sex. But it was more than that. I had made friends here that were totally different than the ones I left behind. They made me better by just being around them.

Then there was being near my parents. I wished I didn't live with them, but being close by would be great. I hadn't appreciated them the way I should have when I was younger. I wouldn't make that mistake again. If John did get his masters in Denver, then we would be close to each other, and I had missed him more than I realized.

It was also this fucking town. I loved it, and I could easily see myself staying here and growing a family that… Woah! I needed to slow my roll… I was nowhere ready for that shit – but I wanted to be. I wanted… this.

Now all I needed was a fucking miracle. A job offer and one semester of doing nothing but taking classes – could I do it? Yes, John would keep me on track if I asked him. David would keep me stable.

I liked my life, and that was a mind fuck. All I wanted to do when I got here was get away. Now – I would be devastated to leave.

I backed out of the parking space, and my phone rang. I fished it out of my jeans and answered.

"Dude. I couldn't wait to call you." Danny sounded excited.

"I'm just leaving. I think it went…"

"I'll say! Little Timmy just texted me and said you were amazing and exactly what they had been hoping for. Dude! You need to go ahead and register for summer classes and get that shit rolling. I'd expect to hear from him by the end of the day. Congrats, Hot Stuff. I can't tell you how happy I am that you're gonna be sticking around. Ok, I gotta go. Blake's yelling about something."

I hung up and drove back to David's. I needed to find a way to pay for a full semester. Somehow.

If I told Mom and Dad why I had to do it – they would find a way to help me pay for it. But that wasn't what I wanted. They worked hard and I didn't want to be any more of a burden than I already was. There had to be another way. I just had to find it. The team would pay for my masters, but I'd need to find a way to finish my Bachelors.

I went home and ran upstairs to my room, and turned on my computer. I didn't want to say anything to anyone about my interview until I had a firm offer. Danny's call made me think that it might actually happen. But until I got that call myself…

I logged in to my student portal and pulled up my enrollment for the summer. I had only signed up for one class. I had finished all of the classes in my major now except for one, and all I had left were some general education classes that I had put off for too long.

I pulled out my credit card. This was going to hurt, and it was probably a very bad decision to go into credit card debt for my degree, but what choice did I have? There were two sessions of summer classes, each six weeks long. I added twelve hours to session one and then twelve to session two—but the class I needed to complete my major wasn't offered.

It had been offered this semester online. I clicked around and saw that it was being offered in person for the second session. In person? How would that work?

I mean, I could handle being gone for six weeks if I had to, but… Did I really want to go back there? Would I fall into my old patterns? Would I fail once again? I didn't even have a place to live! I couldn't go back to the frat. That would be complicated, and over the summers, those guys never stopped the party. So that was out of the question. Besides, it wasn't like it was a quick drive. It was quite a long way away.

I went ahead and signed up for the classes I could take and entered my credit card. Ouch…

But I had no idea what the hell I could do about the other class.

Had I just fucked my life? I should have waited until I…

My phone rang

And it was a number from here that I didn't know.

"Hello, this is Justin."

"Justin! It's Little Timmy. How'd you like to work for the Point Pleasant Pheasants?"