Senior Year Box Set

“Oh, crap. He wants us to go from table to table like he always does,” Ty complained.

“Did you know that I usually get a piece of pizza from each table I stop to talk to?” I asked, to sweeten the deal.

“What are we waiting for?” Wolf asked.

I didn’t appreciate that they shoved me out of the way so they could get started.

Dad came up next to me, and we watched as the guys started talking to people. Honestly, they already knew most of them because they were our neighbors. A lot of them were our schoolmates and their families.

“This is a good test run for them doing meet-and-greets,” Dad said, referring to the crowd.

“Want to go with me?” I asked.

“No, you’ve got this now,” he said and left me to it.

◊◊◊

Tami spent her time reacquainting herself with her former classmates. I found Lexi sitting in a corner, taking it all in.

“This a little different from what you remember?” I asked.

She chuckled.

“Honestly, my classmates would conclude they’d landed in the middle of Hicksville. I’ve seen more pickup trucks this weekend than probably my whole life in LA. And the way people dress here … my classmates would be appalled that everyone doesn’t have on the latest designer clothes and at the total lack of makeup.

“I’m not sure my classmates have ever experienced the ‘real world,’” Lexi shared after considering it for a moment.

“Last year, when I traveled to LA, Halle James packed my bags for me. She made sure I didn’t take my jeans and t-shirts for fear I wouldn’t dress nice enough to be seen with her,” I admitted.

“Trust me. LA girls don’t care what you’re wearing,” Lexi said, giving me a leer.

As much as I wanted to see where that was going, I spotted Destiny walking up to us.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said hesitantly.

Lexi and I just looked at her.

“Uhm … I was wondering if you could tell me about Damion,” she finally got out.

“Who’s Damion?” Lexi asked.

“The guy I was talking to from Wesleyan.”

“The tall, good-looking black man?” Lexi asked.

“He makes me lose my mind,” Destiny confessed as she blushed at the memory. “All I can think about is doing … uhm.”

Destiny stopped her babbling when she saw the amused looks on both our faces.

“Never mind,” she said, then twirled around and ran smack into Phil.

He was carrying a glass of soda, which drenched them both.

“What the …” Phil complained.

Destiny turned bright red, pushed Phil out of the way, and stormed off.

“What did I do?” Phil asked.

“Guys have been asking that question as long as there have been guys,” I said to give my sage advice.

He mumbled something and turned to leave.

“I heard that!” I called after him.

Lexi chuckled when Phil blushed. That line had been used on me all my life, and I strongly suspected my mom didn’t really hear what I mumbled. As a kid, I was convinced that she did.

“Kids these days,” I grumped.

“You’re going to be a great dad,” Lexi predicted.

“My little brother is good practice,” I agreed. “Now, where were we before Destiny rudely interrupted us?”

“Talking about how badly you dress.”

“I don’t think that’s exactly right. I remember it differently,” I teased.

“Just imagine how much more appealing you would be if you just dressed the part,” Lexi shot back.

“Thank you,” Mom said. Maybe she really did have super hearing. “When he was a freshman, he took much better care in how he dressed. He just doesn’t put in the effort he once did.” Then she turned to me. “I was talking to Greg, and he said you might be a lost cause. He worries because he says that since Brook dumped you, you’ve let yourself go.”

My mom was stirring the pot.

“There’s a good chance you had your last conversation with Greg. I hope you said goodbye. His life is about to end.”

“David, your brother just worries about you,” Mom said.

“I really like your mom,” Lexi said when she saw how my mom had twisted me into knots.

“Hang around long enough, and she’ll do the same to you,” I warned Lexi. “I have stuff to do.”

I got up to leave.

“Is he always so sensitive?” Lexi asked my mom.

“You have no idea. There was one time …”

Maybe I should have stopped their little gabfest. But I knew my mom wanted to get to know Lexi better since she would be with me when I was away shooting movies. I expected that before Mom was done, Lexi would be a willing spy for her. I suspected that was one of the reasons my mom and Tami had bonded.

◊◊◊ Sunday April 23

Manaia dropped me at Greg’s since all the parking spots were full. I knocked on the door, and it flew open. Standing there in a one-piece swimsuit and cowboy boots was Mac, my niece. She had a scowl on her face with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Why didn’t you invite me to your party?”

“Where’s your dad and your brothers?” I asked.

She pursed her lips, and her eyebrows came together. Oh, hell, were we about to have a meltdown before we even left for the day?

“It’s rude to have a party and not invite me,” she persisted.

“It was more of an adult party,” I tried.

“Mama said it was during the day. Adult parties are at night.”