Catching Up

Carl's boat was huge when he mentioned we would be going out on a boat. I thought it would be a small runaround boat. He should have said he had a small yacht, not a boat. It even had a small bedroom.

"Impressed?" Carl asked as we got cruising out on the open ocean.

"Yeah," I said, unable to hide what I was thinking. "You've done well for yourself."

"Yeah," Carl nodded.

While he was teaching me how to steer and navigate, Alicia was on the front of the boat, laying out sunbathing. Her blue bikini drew the attention of every male that we had passed, and even some of the women.

Carl knew a spot where we could mingle with others, and we sped off. Others, to me, meant a few people when we turned a corner off the coast. There was a private cove filled with other boats, yachts and even what looked like a floating bus. Carl laughed at me as he saw my eyes go wide.

"See what money gets you," Carl said as we slowed to a crawl.

The music was loud, and people were dancing on their boats. Small plastic floatable were everywhere.

"Carl!" a man shouted from one of the other boats.

"Dennis!" Carl shouted back.

Others shouted and called for Carl to pull up to them. "He is sure the life of the party," I said as I sat down beside Alicia, who seemed unimpressed.

"He shows up, they talk, that's it," Alicia shrugged. "They never call or talk to him unless he shows up."

It seemed Carl was the same as he was in college. He knew where the parties were, even if he wasn't invited. When he did, people always knew him, but that's where it ended.

"Fun, huh?" Carl said with a drink in his hand.

"Where did you get that?" I asked, looking around.

"Come, I will show you," Alicia smiled as she got up.

I walked behind her as we stepped off our yacht onto another, then another. It was like a floating maze of boats that got roped to each other.

Finally, we got to one with a large bar. It was also where the music was coming from as there was a D.J. behind a bank of tables. I could barely hear myself think, let alone order anything.

As we walked back, people smiled and wanted to dance with Alicia. She was also well known. She kept introducing me.

"Hey," a man said as we got to another boat. "You're Rod Griffin!"

"Yeah," I nodded with a slight smile.

"Dude, that game against Clemson," the man said with a smile. "You did those one hand catches before they got popular."

"Right!" I said with a bit more enthusiasm than I thought was possible.

"And we didn't have the gloves like they do now."

"Exactly," the man said.

"Hey, Jackson," the man said, calling another over.

He introduced me, and again we talked about the old days of college football. It was good to talk to people that understood where I was coming from. Then the subject turned to what I was doing now.

"No way," the first man said. His name was Derek.

"Dude, if you're ever looking for a job out here, I can definitely hook you up," Jackson said. "We do motivational speeches for young athletes, and you would be a hit, someone that's been there in the trenches."

He handed me a card, and I walked with Alicia back. Carl was still there talking to some young women and a few guys. "You're back!" he yelled.

"Yeah," Alicia said as she looked at him. "Rod was a big hit, it was hard to get back."

"Oh yeah?" Carl asked.

"Yeah, Jackson offered him a job," Alicia smiled as she walked past him.

"Jackson, huh?" Carl asked as he looked at me. For the first time since I was out here, there was a bit of anger in his face.

"Yeah, Derek was the one that noticed him," Alicia said as she laid out on the deck and lowered her sunglasses.

"Derek and Jackson," Carl nodded.

"Yeah, no big deal," I shrugged as the others walked away.

"Derek's one of the scouts for the University," Carl said.

"University of South California," Alicia added.

"The Trojans?" I said, nearly spitting my beer.

"And not just a scout, one of the scouts," Alicia said as she emphasized the word the as she looked at me. "People usually listen when he speaks."

"Holy shit!" I said, looking back at the maze of boats.

"But, no big deal, right?" Carl said as he shrugged and stared at me. "I've only been trying to get Jackson to let me on his podcast for two years now."

Carl was fuming. "You've only been here what a day? And he offers you a job!"

"I didn't ask for it," I yelled back at him. "He offered, and it's not like I took it."

"Whatever," Carl said as he unhooked his boat from the other. "I didn't want to be here, anyway."

Carl took off, and I sat beside Alicia as we rocketed back to the dock. Alicia was smiling the whole way.

"You're bad," I said as I looked down at her.

"He needed to be brought down a peg," Alicia shrugged.

"You plan this too?" I asked.

Alicia lowered her sunglass and winked at me, then raised them back up.

"What's next?" I asked.

"You will just have to wait and see," Alicia smiled as she turned onto her stomach.

I walked back to see Carl, who was still angry. "Look, I didn't mean to...." I started to say.

"Nope, it's my fault," Carl said, holding up his hand. "I shouldn't have shouted at you, it's just frustrating. I have tried and tried to get them to take me seriously."

"But you've got all this," I said. "A huge house, a fucking yacht, a booming business. What do you need from them?"

"You've been out of the football world too long," Carl shook his head.

"Derek, just doesn't scout," Carl shook his head. "He knows people, he has connections all across this state, if I got him to endorse me once, even mention my name to a few people."

"What?" I asked.

"I could be back in!" Carl yelled. "I could be a scout, or even a coach, but instead I am flipping houses."

"You want back into college?" I asked.

"Yes!" He yelled again. "The rivalry, the atmosphere, the games."

"The crowds and the cheering," I nodded.

Carl loved the spotlight. He always wanted to be on the field to kick the winning point. Forget the usual points or the kickoff. No, he wasn't happy unless he was kicking for the win. And he was good at it.

"It's over," I said. "We had a good time, but you're not going to get that back."

"Why not?" Carl said, looking at me. "I could coach the next hall of famer; you don't know what I am capable of doing."

I stood back and looked at him. "How far?" I asked.

"What?" he asked, looking at me.

"In debt, how far are you?" I asked.

"Don't know what you are talking about," Carl said, shaking his head.

I shook my head and looked at him. I knew this man. He hadn't changed.

Some peaked in high school. Others peaked in college. Carl was the second one. He used to have it all. "Wow, so the boat and the house, what else?"

Carl turned to me and shook his head. "I spent it all," he said in barely a whisper. "All the money I made, I spent it all."

"Alicia?" I asked.

"She doesn't know," he shook his head. "If I don't make a lot of money soon, it's all going to get taken away."

I shook my head. Now everything made sense. "I got a few ideas, though," Carl said, turning back around. "I just need to put a few ducks in a row, and I will be good. Especially now that you're around."

"Why me?" I asked.

"Your name, makes things happen!" Carl nodded. "I see that now; things are going to get good!"

I shook my head again. I walked away from him as we docked. I stayed silent on the trip back to the house, then headed straight for my room.

It was late in the evening when I heard a knock on my door. "What?" I asked as I saw Carl's head pop through the door.

"So, I was thinking," Carl said as he sat down on the bed. "I should make you a partner with me in my business, this way when you take the job with Jackson, you can...."

"Who said I was taking it?" I asked as I sat up on the bed. "I have a job."

"You work night security at a private airport," Carl said. "You said it yourself, you basically ride around in a cart with a flashlight."

"I have a life," I said.

"You have a cat, and a fish tank," Carl replied. "You have nothing."

I stared at him with enough anger to light a fire. "You can be mad at me all you want, but you have been lying here, thinking about it. If I am lying tell me, right now, and I will apologize," Carl said.

Just like I knew him, he knew me. I had been thinking about it. I had been flipping the card Jackson had given me over and over in my hand for most of the day. "You're right," I nodded.

"Let me get things moving," Carl smiled. "This is going to be huge! You watch!" Carl said excitedly.

"Still hasn't changed," I said, shaking my head.

It was late night when I decided to go downstairs and see what was going on. Alicia had gone back to her place, and Carl was smiling from ear to ear.

"You look like you just won the lottery," I said, sitting down.

"I just got off the phone with my investors," he smiled.

"I better get a drink for this," I said.

I poured myself a drink and sat back down.

"Adding your name to my business is a win, win," Carl said, smiling.

"Why?" I asked.

"You don't owe anything," Carl said.

It was true. I didn't. I rented my apartment, bought my car with cash, and didn't own a credit card.

"You're like the golden goose!" Carl said.

"This golden goose doesn't lay eggs," I said, shaking my head.

Carl had it all planned out. Even me moving out of my state and moving over. I sat back and stared at him. "What does your soon to be wife, have to say about this?" I asked.

"Who cares?" Carl replied. "She still hasn't said yes," he shook his head.

"I thought you said she did," I said, putting my drink down.

"I lied," Carl shook his head. "She said she will think about it."

"Oh," I nodded.

"It doesn't matter," Carl said. "I have this other one, you should see her, she used to be a playboy model...."

Carl kept talking, but I didn't listen to them. All I could think about was that Alicia hadn't said yes. No wonder she told me the jury was still deciding.

When I finally went back to bed. I sent a text to Alicia. I knew I shouldn't be playing with fire, but if Carl didn't seem to care, then why should I.

I thought she was fast asleep and wouldn't reply. 'Hey,' was her quick reply.

'Thought you were sleeping,' I replied.

'Not yet' she replied.

'He just told me you haven't said yes,' I sent back.

'Did he tell you I said no?'

I re-read the text back and forth.

'Why?' I replied.

My phone rang, and it was her. "Stupid question, don't you think?"

"I wasn't sure," I said.

"I am not going to be arm candy," Alicia said. "You saw him today; he is out of his league and is still trying to be the life of the party!"

I nodded my head as if she could see me.

"Face it, the only reason you are thinking of helping him, is because you have a sense of loyalty to an old teammate," Alicia stated. "You should be thinking about yourself."

"That's why you planned for me to come here?" I asked. "Seems everyone has a plan for me."

"Because you don't plan anything," Alicia responded.

"That's a bit harsh," I said.

"Truth hurts," Alicia said. "Last night, you were thinking about missing that shot, weren't you?"

I didn't respond. "I knew it," Alicia said.

"He's my friend and ....."

"You didn't want to take the risk, just like you dropped the pass at the championship game, and faked an injury your senior year, you didn't want to risk going to the NFL, just in case you wouldn't be as good."

"How?" I asked.

"I told you, I had a crush on you, I did my homework," Alicia said. "I talked to Jackson and Derek about you, and only you, now you want to go in with Carl, just because you don't want to risk it alone."

"Carl is my...." I started to say.

"Bullshit!" Alicia responded. "Carl is a sinking ship, I only stayed with him this long to get to you, period."

"Why?" I asked.

"Why what? Exactly?" Alicia asked.

"I just want to ......"

"Bullshit! Try again," Alicia shouted.

"I think that...."

"Nope! Try again," Alicia said. "I said exactly."

"Why me?" I asked.

"About fucking time," Alicia responded. "You've been asking that question your whole life. Why should the scouts look at you, when others are supposedly better, why should you get married, when she could do better than you, why get the promotion at your job to get off those stupid night shifts, why, why, why, instead of just fucking do it!"

It was like she knew me. I did drop the go-ahead touchdown pass. I looked in the stands and saw those scouts. They were looking at me instead of my friend, the wide receiver, so I dropped the pass, then in my senior year, I kept getting asked if I was going into the draft, I faked a knee injury, and the talks ended. I broke up with my girlfriend of two years after she asked about marriage. Then didn't apply for the promotion at work.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Alicia asked. "Stay at your dead-end job or take a risk and move out here and do something?"

"I will help...."

"Wrong," Alicia said. "Like I said, sinking ship, you put your name to his dying business it will ruin what you have built. Did he tell you the contractor he uses is under numerous investigations? Or that he hasn't sold the last four houses because they failed inspection? He is chasing the white rabbit down a hole. Just to feel important and be the Carl the kicker that never missed."

"What do you think I should do?" I asked.

"I can't tell you, but I will make it easy for you," Alicia said. "Just like last night. Ready?"

"Okay," I nodded.

"I will be outside in an hour," Alicia stated. "But, here is the catch, you come outside it means you are packing your shit, you are leaving Carl in the wind, by himself, and you're taking the offer on the table. You're not outside when I pull up, I am driving away, and you can stay in your bullshit life for good."

Alicia hung up. I laid in bed for what seemed like hours. But it was only minutes. I turned and looked at the clock. I had just under a half-hour left.

I got up quickly. No more what if's, no more why's. I thought to myself as I packed. 'Just do it,' I thought as I walked down the stairs.

The house was dark and silent. "Just do it," I said casually as I opened the door.

I stood outside and let everything fade away. My job was a dead end. All I had to do was get my cat and fish tank, that's it.

Alicia's car pulled up. "Get in," she ordered.

Her cold eyes stared at me as I got in. She looked at me and didn't say a word as she pulled away. "Feels good, doesn't it?"

"Scary," I nodded.

"Welcome to the real word, Neo," Alicia smiled. "You just took the red pill."

I sat back and started to wonder about how things would go.

"Your brother," I said.

"Still around," Alicia nodded. "He is a private investigator now."

"That's how!" I smiled.

"I told you," Alicia said. "I didn't lie, I wanted to help you, so did he."

"He did?" I asked, turning to look at her.

"He was absolutely furious when he found out you faked your injury and didn't go into the draft," Alicia said as she drove. "He was the one that turned me onto Carl, and then onto you."

I nodded. "Social media," I shook my head. "Winston Grail."

"That would be him," Alicia smiled.

I remembered him adding me, and we talked about football. He was pissed that I hadn't gone to the NFL. I thought I had blocked him after we talked, and he cussed me out about the injury.

He wasn't the only one that cussed me out. I remembered the look on my coaches face when he tricked me into running, and I used my supposedly bad knee. It still haunted me at night, the way he looked at me.

"No more," I nodded. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me," Alicia said. "Thank him."

Alicia had stopped at a large building. Standing outside was a tall, dark-haired man. I remembered him, even though it was many years ago. He was still built like the linebacker that I faced many times.

I got out of the car and walked towards him. "Winston," I nodded.

"Roland," Winston replied.

No one had called me Roland in a long time. They always called me Rod.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Sure," I nodded.

"See you tomorrow sis," Winston said.

"See you," Alicia said as she drove off.

Winston took me upstairs. He handed me a pair of keys. "All yours," he said as he pointed to a door.

I opened it and was greeted by a large condo. "If you ask why, I will hit you," Winston said as he stood by the door.

"You did this," I asked.

"Nope, just the messenger," Winston pointed to a letter on the table.

I picked it up.

I guess you got this by now. I owe you more than I can ever pay you. You took a fall for me that I never asked you to take, and even if it came out, no one would believe it. This is the least I could do. Don't mess it up this time.

K.H.

"He paid me in full," Winston said. "This is where my obligations end."

Winston turned around and left.

The wide receiver I had dropped the pass for and faked the injury. It was his way of paying me back. I had watched his professional career. He had retired a few years ago.

It was more than I could ask for; it was a fresh start.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Very nice," Alicia said as she walked into my condo.

It had taken a few weeks of planning, but I got all my furniture and even some other things to make it to me, but it finally felt like home.

"Thanks," I said as I walked her around.

When we got to the bedroom, she sat on the bed. "Have you broken it in yet?" Alicia said as she looked at me.

"No," I said as she pulled me close to her, using my belt.

"Well, I think we should change that," Alicia said as she started to unbuckle my belt.

I had no intention of stopping this dynamite of a woman from taking what she wanted.

"Seems you were thinking the same thing," Alicia said as she took my hard cock in her hand.

Alicia's mouth opened as she took my cock into her mouth as started to bob her head back and forth. She looked up at me with my cock in her mouth.

She let it go with a loud pop, her eyes locked onto mine. "Ever fucked a pair like these?" Alicia said as she bounced her huge boobs.

I shook my head as Alicia climbed back onto the bed. She pulled on her top. Revealing a red laced bra. Even incased the confines of the bra, they looked huge. Her tanned skin begged me to stare at her.

"Come on," Alicia said as she laid down.

I laid my dick between her breasts as she entrapped it. I started to fuck her chest. Alicia lowered her head and sucked on my dick as it popped out of the top of her cleavage.

The faster I fucked her tits, the more she licked the head. I loved the feeling of her big tits wrapped around my cock. The better look was Alicia looking up at me. Her huge fake tits bounced up and down my cock as I fucked them.

"Cum on my face," Alicia said with a naughty smile.

I couldn't think of a better way to finish. I grabbed my cock and aimed it directly at Alicia's face. With each throb, I shot my cum on her face. Alicia didn't blink or move her face away.

"Now, isn't that a good way to break your bed in?" Alicia smiled as her tongue got any of the cum that was near her mouth.

"Definitely," I nodded.

"Well, there will be more of that," Alicia said as she traced her finger around her face to get the rest of it.

"I hope so," I nodded.

"Not tonight, stud," Alicia said. "I just popped by, to see your place. I have a plane to catch."

"Damn," I said as Alicia got out of the bed.

"I have a movie shoot in Florida, will be gone for a while," Alicia nodded as she got dressed. "But I am hoping to be back soon, and we can do more of what we just did," Alicia said as she approached me. "A lot more."

I walked her out and closed the door behind her. My cat stared down at me from the perch that I had set up. "Things are looking up." I smiled.