Senior Year Box Set

“That’s what our dad tells us when we mess up,” the younger one replied.

“Sounds like you should listen to your dad,” I said.

I spotted him behind the boys, and he tipped his cap to me. Honestly, that was the best part of my day.

◊◊◊

Chapter 28 – Act Like You’ve Been There Thursday May 4

For the sectional finals, we finally had to travel. We were facing number-one seed Lemont, located in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. On the positive side, we were getting out of school early to travel the two-plus hours it would take to get there.

When we all exited the field house, I was reminded again how much I loved our booster club. We found a charter bus waiting for us, rather than the yellow school buses most high school teams traveled in. After putting my bag with my baseball gear underneath, I climbed on. I looked around to find the perfect seat and spotted my brother sitting next to Roc. I couldn’t think of a better distraction than being able to torment Phil for the ride.

“Go sit with Yuri,” I told Roc.

“He had chili last night and smells,” Roc complained.

“You live on a farm,” I reminded him. “I’m sure you’ve smelled worse.”

“You wanna bet on that?” Phil asked.

“Just move. I need some bonding time with my brother.”

“Really, there’s no need …” Phil started.

Roc thought it was a great idea and made Yuri move so they were across the aisle in position to watch me wind my brother up. Phil’s best friends apparently thought this would be something to marvel at, like a distant and wild storm that was about to hit. He eyed me like I was the cheese in a mousetrap that attracts its prey and then whacks them dead.

“Hey,” I said to break the ice.

“You’re squirrelier than a bag full of squirrels, sometimes,” Phil said.

“Dude,” Yuri said as he shook his head in disappointment. “That was your best one?”

Phil leaned forward to see the amused looks on his friends’ faces and flipped them off.

“I’ll make this fast,” I said to get us back on track.

“Make it faster than fast,” Phil grumped like my three-year-old niece would.

“Did you finally man-up and ask … wait for it,” I said as I held up a finger. I gave my brother a look that said his ex was like dry brush to the flame of my imagination. “… Jill to Prom?”

As soon as the words hit the air, I realized it was precisely the wrong thing to say. Phil’s face turned bright red.

“I’d tell you what I really think of you, you illiterate piece of crap, but I’d have to use words bigger than two syllables, and you wouldn’t understand,” Phil huffed.

Yuri looked at Roc, and they nodded to say that was better than the squirrel shot.

“If you had,” I continued, ignoring his little snit, “I wanted to let you know I reserved a hotel room for you.”

Phil’s mind must have locked up because he just gaped at me. Big brothers weren’t supposed to surprise little brothers with excellent gifts, like a room to get busy in after Prom.

“Give me the key. He would just waste it,” Yuri suggested.

That made me laugh. Phil told me I was number one with his middle finger as I left to go sit with Wolf, Tim, and Johan.

◊◊◊

Before the game, our bus stopped down the street at Turnabout Pizza so we could eat. I walked in and spotted a group of teenage girls. One, in particular, caught my eye. She was cute as hell, with pixie-like features topped with huge blue eyes and strawberry-blonde hair twisted along her nape. Something about the quirk of her mouth said she wasn’t as innocent as one might think at first glance.

“Oh, crap. I’ve seen that look before,” Tim said.

“I’ll bet you a dollar you can’t act like a jerk and get her number,” Wolf challenged.

“Don’t encourage him. He’s taking Cassidy to Prom tomorrow night, and she would kill us all if we ruined that for her,” Johan reasoned.

Our Mennonite friend cracked us up when he acted as the voice of reason.

“He’s not planning to take her to the bathroom and have his way with her,” Tim said and then turned to me. “Are you?”

Wolf whacked him in the back of the head for me.

“Thank you. Now let’s see if I can get those digits,” I said confidently.

All four girls’ heads snapped around as I strolled up to their table. With her in a group like this, it would be infinitely harder for me to pull this off than if she were alone. The pixie looked at me in an appraising way that made me want to turn and run, but I’d been challenged. I knew hot chicks like her were used to guys falling all over themselves to get close to them. That was why they fell for the bad boys.

“I like your look,” I started with my eyes locked on my target. “A lot of girls are cute, but you’re not concerned about that. You have character.”

“Character?” she asked as her eyebrows rose high on her forehead.

“Yeah. It’s like your clothes; they tell me you don’t care what anybody thinks.”

The other three girls looked mortified, and I heard one of the guys behind me all but swallow their tongue to keep from laughing.