I didn't hear from Laura for several days. I grew nervous thinking that she may have had second thoughts about fooling around with a guy my age. I tried to convince myself to be patient, as she'd continually reminded me. She was a busy lady and I was not the only thing in her life I reminded myself. I couldn't wait to see her again and not hearing from her increased my anxiety.
Mowing kept me busy and I spent most of my evenings with my friends since Mom was always working late. We spent a lot of time hanging out at my best friend Bryan's house, as he had a pool table and his dad didn't mind us helping ourselves to a beer or two, provided we weren't driving. We'd all known one another since middle school and spent a lot of time breaking one another's balls.
I'd made the mistake on Wednesday night of telling them that Coach Williams from State had called asking me to reconsider his scholarship offer. He'd said they were lean at defensive end and said if I'd redshirt and put on some size, I'd be starting the following year. He said I had potential and could play on Sundays if I wanted it bad enough. It was the same pitch he'd delivered many times before. I told him I'd consider it and I'd let him know.
"I still can't fucking believe you," Bryan said. He'd been our high school quarterback and accepted the only scholarship offer he had from Ohio. "You've got at least a dozen D1 schools dying for you to play for them, and you want to fucking study."
"Man, it's just not going to be the same as us playing in high school. I've got to get through school and I don't know if I can play ball and study engineering," I countered. It was the same argument I'd used for the last year with them. It hadn't swayed them, though.
"Fuck, I wish I'd been born with your physical abilities," D.J. said. He'd played alongside me as a defensive tackle since our sophomore year. He'd blew out his knee in our loss in the state semi-finals when the opposing team cut blocked him.
"Dude, think of all the pussy you're throwing away," Erick added to the shaming. "I bet you could have a different chick every night if you were starting up there. Calculus and chemistry never got you in Clarice Jennings' panties."
"Neither did football," I laughed. I thought about what I what I'd gotten myself into this summer. I'd been smitten with Clarice for years, but she paled in comparison to Laura. I only wished I could tell my buddies it.
"Whatever," Bryan said. "Dude, she was fucking gaga for you. I can't believe you never noticed."
"Oh, bullshit," I replied. "She wouldn't give me the time of day."
"If you'd just asked her out, I bet you could have got more than the time of day," Erick chuckled.
"You should call her, man," D.J. added.
"I'll think about it," I said.
"Seriously, though. Why don't you take the scholarship? You're the only one of us that has a shot at the big time," D.J. continued.
"I told Coach Williams I'd think about it," I replied. There was no sense going through my reasoning again. They didn't understand my decision and probably never would.
Just then Bryan's dad, Rick, walked into the pool room. He'd coached all of us in little league and had been one of my dad's best friends since they'd played ball in college together, along with Coach Williams.
"So, Billy's still after you," Rick asked.
"Yes sir, he is," I said.
"I think that's a sign of his desperation," Rick said.
"Yes sir, I know," I replied. "But like I talked to you about, I'm not sure about playing." I'd talked to my Dad about my decision while he was in the hospital. He'd been accepting and supportive but he'd also been so doped up on morphine that I'd felt the need to get a second opinion. Rick explained that he was disappointed since few guys had the opportunity that I had, but that he understood and was behind me whatever I decided.
"Mikey, I understand. You've got to do what you think is right," Rick said. "After you get to school though and realize you can do both, you should talk to Billy. He's eager to have you on the team. You would really make a difference for them." Coach Williams had been offended when I told him after my Dad passed away that I didn't think I'd play college ball. He was sure I was entertaining the offers I had from Cal and Stanford. While they were both attractive, I promised him that if was going to play it would be at State. True to his bulldog-like appearance and demeanor, he hadn't let up. I'd not read the NCAA rule book, but I was sure that Coach Williams and my prospective position coach broke every one of the contact rules as they called several times a week.
"Yes sir, I will," I said.
"Fair enough," Rick said, as he walked out of the room. The guys picked back up where they'd left off. I was trying to defend myself, but the three of them were merciless. I felt my pager vibrate in the pocket of my shorts. I pulled it out and saw that it was Laura's number. Hot damn, I thought.
"Hey man, can I borrow your phone," I asked Bryan.
"Sure, what's up? You got some chick on the line," he laughed.
"No, probably someone needing their yard mowed," I laughed back. The three heckled me about that, saying that seemed appropriate. I walked to Bryan's bedroom and picked up his phone.
"That was very quick," she answered.
"I can't make you wait," I replied.
"I like that. That's very considerate," she laughed.
"How have you been," I asked.
"Busy. And you," she replied.
"About the same," I said. I was excited to be talking to her and hopeful about the reason she'd paged me.
"Do you have plans tonight," she asked.
"I was hanging out with my buddies," I joked.
"Oh, I see," she laughed. "That sounds like more fun than anything I could offer."
"I doubt that," I said.
"Why don't you come over and we'll see if we can entertain one another," she said.
"Okay, I will," I said.
"Hopefully, your friends won't be too disappointed," she purred.
"They'll get over it, I'm sure," I added.
"Good, see you soon," she said.
I hung up the phone and walked back to the guys. I explained that I needed to go see the yard before it got dark. They gave me shit and I really wished I could tell them the real reason, but I knew I couldn't. I said my goodbyes and headed out.
My heart beat rapidly as I drove to her house. What was going to happen? Would we make love? Or would we still take things slow? I couldn't wait to find out. I rang the doorbell and she answered almost immediately. She wore a satiny, white blouse with a black skirt. Sexy Mary Jane style heels adorned her feet.
"You have a key, now," she reminded me.
"I know, I forgot," I replied.
"Mmmm, hi," she said, as I took her in my arms and kissed her. My hands roamed over her lower back and ass.
