Senior Year Box Set

I spotted a special on egg-and-chorizo wraps. While I ordered what Manaia suggested, I also ordered several of the wraps to go. I knew some people at school who would appreciate them.

“I need to ask you a favor,” Manaia said when our food came.

“What’s that?” I asked.

I was learning not to automatically say ‘yes’ when someone said something like that. It was part of working on my life goals.

“Fritz is figuring out what our assignments will be once you leave to shoot your movie. The studios have convinced him they’ll have enough security in place that you won’t need us like you did for your movie in Cuba,” Manaia explained.

“I’d assumed someone would be going with me,” I said.

“Fritz will go with you to observe their setup. They’ve said that if it isn’t up to his standards, he can either make suggestions, or you’ll get someone on site,” Manaia explained.

“Oh.”

“I wanted to talk to you about what happens when you come back. The problem is, I don’t really want to move to Oklahoma. I would rather be based in LA, possibly even work at your Malibu house.”

While there were far worse places than Oklahoma, I could understand where an LA guy wouldn’t want to spend three to five years there if he had other options. I was going there to play football, not for the nightlife. Besides, I was also from a small town, not a city. If the plan had been to move to New York, I might have had a similar reaction because I wasn’t used to all the people.

“What’s the problem?” I asked.

“No one wants to move there.”

That implied that Fritz would either have to hire someone to be my security or force one of his people to take the assignment. With that in mind, I wondered if I even wanted or needed protection there.

“I’ll talk to my dad and Fritz about it and get you off the hook,” I promised.

I saw the relief on his face. Then it hit me: Manaia was the rookie of the bunch, and the low man on the totem pole got the shit assignments. It was a reality check to discover that I was that. I guess I could understand why: two of my guys had to be reassigned for different reasons while working for me. If I were looking at it without full disclosure as to why they’d been reassigned, I would figure it had something to do with the client.

This might actually be a blessing if it meant I could lose them for college. Believe me when I say that having them around as a high school boy wasn’t ideal. When I got to college … hell, no.

We collected my to-go order, and Manaia drove me to school.

I found Roc walking in with his sister, Zoe. I handed them each a bag of food.

“Go be popular,” I suggested.

They gave me confused looks until Roc opened one of the wrappers and tried one. When he didn’t die, Zoe felt better and took off with her bag.

“Thanks, Man,” Roc said as he left to share his windfall.

◊◊◊

Each class today was geared toward getting us ready for our finals next week.

At lunch, Dare made a pronouncement.

“Chrissy shared an article in a psychology magazine that said last-minute study sessions don’t actually help scores any, yet we all still do it.”

“So, Chrissy basically told you we don’t need to study for our finals. We can just kick back and party all weekend?” Wolf asked.

Dare looked confused and turned to his girlfriend.

“That doesn’t sound right. I would think partying would hurt because it kills brain cells.”

“Of course you shouldn’t party before finals, but you don’t need to obsess over them, either. The article said you already know the material,” Chrissy said.

I started to say something but caught the sideways look Chrissy gave me. I’d been about to point out that you could find an article to justify anything if you looked hard enough. Experts loved to make claims. Heck, you could get differing opinions on something as simple as rice. One group claimed it was good for you and would extend your life expectancy. Another would say it was high in sugar or something else and would kill you.

“I think Chrissy’s right,” I finally said. “You already know the material. I find that if I get plenty of sleep and don’t worry about it, I do just fine.”

I had to give this one to her, even though I thought shagging the little genius was a better approach to distracting him from obsessing about the upcoming tests. She’d come up with an alternative I could live with.

“I call bullshit,” Tim said. “Not all of us get straight ‘A’s like you do.”

I bit my lip because I thought of about ten comebacks to tweak both Tim and Dare at the same time. This becoming a better man stuff had started to cramp my style.

“Note that Dare said we study anyway. I’m saying we just don’t take it to extremes.”

“So, we should drink only ten beers instead of twenty,” Phil said.

Even Yuri shook his head at my dumbass brother. I just hoped spending the summer with my uncle would straighten him out.

◊◊◊

I’d noticed that Cassidy was missing in action when it was time to go home. When I got there, I found my dad and Coach Hope drinking beers on the back patio.

“What are you two doing out here?” I asked.