Junior Year Box Set

“I’m driving right now. I’ll have to call you back,” he said.

“Hey, Cora. How do you like the ranch?” I asked while ignoring the look Cal gave me.

“It’s fine. What were you and my dad doing?” she asked.

“Your mom and Pam got home, and he decided to make a run for the state line. My guess is your dad liked being a bachelor more than he realized.”

“Don’t listen to him. I’m thinking his lunch date with Pam may get canceled.”

“Okay, you boys have fun. I’ll call you and Mom in a little bit,” Cora said and then hung up.

When we pulled into the drive, Cal jumped out, and Pam came running out of the house. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then we were pulling out of the driveway.

◊◊◊

“Where to?” I asked.

“Monical’s!”

I had to admit, she had good taste in food, even if it wasn’t on my diet. I could probably suffer through eating a pizza. Pam had me take the long way around so she would be seen in my muscle car with the windows down and the music blaring. I tried to keep it under the speed limit, but this car was made to run.

Over lunch, we caught up. She’d enjoyed Range Ranch and loved Sandy, Devin Range’s sister. Pam said she was surprised at how happy Cora was. Pam’s trip to California had been hard on her. Her ex-boyfriend was now dating her ex-best friend, and Pam had a hard time accepting that gracefully, even after their not being together for over a year. I held her hand and moved to her side of the booth so I could wrap my arms around her.

I then told Pam about my football camps and how well I’d done. I shared with her about Jeff’s accident and his death. It was her turn to comfort me. Finally, I told her about Tami, and my desperate plan to give her a promise ring. Pam laughed at me when I told her about all the candles and how bad my apartment smelled.

“I know what we need to do. We need to spend some of your money, Rich Boy,” Pam teased me.

“What did you have in mind?”

She got a gleam in her eye.

“Do you trust me?” she asked.

“Hell, no!”

“Come on, you know you like me. I promise we won’t spend all your money and it won’t all be on me. I saw something in LA that all the cool kids have, and I know how important it is for you to be cool. I just want to make sure you’re cool enough to hang out with me.”

“I think there’s a song about the Cool Kids. Are you sure someone like me would qualify?”

“Baby, that’s what I’m here for. With me on your arm, you’re automatically a ‘Cool Kid’!” Pam explained.

I shook my head and paid our bill. She was excited that we were going shopping. I hoped her idea was something I would like, too.

◊◊◊

When we got to the mall, Pam literally grabbed my hand and dragged me to the cell phone store. I just shook my head when she made me give her my phone. She found a college guy to help us. I’d been waiting for the cute college girl to be free, but Pam made me approach the guy when he was done waiting on another girl.

“Welcome. What can I help you with?” the guy asked.

“He needs a new phone. Make that two, because my phone is getting old,” Pam said as she blushed.

“Nope, not happening,” I said.

“I thought you liked me. Plus, your old phone is small.”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t getting one. I’m saying I’m not buying you one.”

When the salesman brought out the latest version of their best phone, he showed me all the differences between my old phone and the new one. Feeling generous, I ended up buying a new recruiting phone as well.

I made arrangements for Kendal to come in so she could swap the old phone out. Our salesman assured me he would copy over all the contacts and apps. When Kendal came in, she took care of signing the new contract. We set it up as a business plan so it would be paid for out of my company, and everyone would get unlimited minutes and data. While waiting, I thought about it and got a phone for Lily, too. She had worked for almost nothing, and I figured a company phone was something that she needed to do all my tweets and other social media.

As we were about to walk out, something caught my eye. It was the new smart watch. I ended up buying myself one. There were a lot of different choices. I bought the sporty one that would hold up when I ran and sweated. Pam would work on her mom and dad to get a new phone. I had faith that a teenage girl could get what she wanted from her dad. I was glad I’d said no. I wouldn’t try to buy anyone’s love.

◊◊◊

“David, I know you’re still hurting about what happened to Jeff. Have you been back to the lake since the accident?” Pam asked, and I just shook my head no. “Take me out there so I can say goodbye to him.”

We were quiet on the ride out. She took my hand and led me to the water’s edge.