Junior Year Box Set

After I showered, I checked my cell phone. Eighteen messages. I needed my personal assistant to take care of something like this. I saw he had called, and so returned his call first.

“This is Brandon,” he answered.

“Hey, I saw you called.”

“Yes, thanks for calling me back. Kendal received an offer for you to do a movie over Christmas Break called The Secret Circle. They need someone who can pitch for some baseball scenes and act like a jerk. Kendal said it was right in your wheelhouse.”

“Tell Kendal to bite me and remind her we have to do the publicity for Star Academy, so it can’t conflict with that,” I said. Then it came to me where I had heard that title before. “Wasn’t The Secret Circle a TV show a couple of years ago? It had something to do with witchcraft, if memory serves.”

“It lasted one season. The ratings dropped the second half of the season, and the cost of the special effects caused the cancellation. Rumor has it that one of the executives said the guys in the show weren’t good-looking enough to maintain the ratings,” Brandon said.

“That must be why they want me,” I said, tongue firmly in my cheek.

“Uh, sure,” Brandon said, not catching the sarcasm in my answer.

“Why don’t I have to audition for the part?” I asked.

“Kendal said one of the leads wrote it in her contract that you had to appear in the film. She also said it was Halle James. Kendal said Halle worked with you on the Star Academy film.”

Halle had a special place in my heart. In many ways she was like Kara Tasman: if either one of them were around, I would move heaven and earth to date them. Halle was the daughter of movie star Rita James. Halle’s brother was Trip; he and Craig Wild, the lead in Star Academy, were close. Hollywood Central had reported that Trip currently had some drug troubles. His family would be sending him to an undisclosed rehab center.

Brandon and I wrapped up our call as I reached my car. I put my cell phone in the car cradle and used the Bluetooth connection to call Mona next.

“Hey, Boyfriend,” she answered.

“Easy, Killer,” I shot back, which caused her to laugh at me.

“Are you taking me out tonight?” she asked.

“If you want to meet my new uncle, we can.”

“What are you talking about?”

I explained how Phil Prince had shown up at practice and claimed to be my uncle. Mona was curious and couldn’t wait to meet him.

◊◊◊

When I got home for lunch, both my mom’s and dad’s cars were in the driveway. I had noticed ten of the calls were either from them or my Uncle John, so it would seem my text had knocked over a hornet’s nest. I walked in, and Mom put a plate of poached chicken breasts, sliced tomatoes, and broccoli in front of me. I craved some carbs, so I put a potato in the microwave to cook.

I told them what I knew about Phil and how he preferred to be called ‘Prince.’ We all agreed that that wasn’t happening.

“He suggested we get together for dinner tonight,” I wrapped up.

“Your uncle and brother are joining us. Everyone wants to meet Phil,” Dad said.

“I’ll call Brandon and have him set something up for everyone tonight. Is Aunt Bonnie coming also? I need to know for the reservation,” I said.

“Planning on something fancy? I would think Monical’s would be fine,” Mom said.

“I hate to say this, but I’m trying to stay on my high-protein diet as much as possible. If there’s pizza around, I’ll want to stuff myself. I was thinking a steak sounded good,” I said.

“If we’re doing that, why don’t I have your Uncle John bring steaks, and we do them on the grill? It would be more relaxed,” Dad suggested.

“Sounds good; I’ll talk to Phil before practice to get a head count. I almost forgot, Mona will be coming over for dinner,” I said.

Crud! Mom’s head snapped up at that news. I swear she’s the biggest bloodhound when it comes to relationship gossip concerning her sons. Now that my Casanova of a big brother was no longer at home, I, unfortunately, was the sole source of her entertainment. I tried my big-boy-now stare, but she was having none of that.

“Why would Mona be coming over for dinner?” my mom innocently asked.

“She and I are dating,” I said with a sigh.

My dad bit his lower lip as he watched my mom pounce.

“What about Tami? I thought you gave her a promise ring. I even saw her wearing it on a necklace.”

“Apparently it doesn’t mean anything to her,” I snapped back without thinking.

My mom flushed, and Dad was suddenly finished eating and had to go call my uncle about some meat. I really wished I had gone with him.

“David, is Mona someone serious?” Mom asked after she took a moment to calm down.

“I made her a deal. Mona wants to be Homecoming Queen, and I want a cover to give me time to get over Tami.”

“You didn’t answer my question. Is she someone serious?”