Page 19 of Anyone But Her

Chapter Five

Luke, Age 20

"Good to see you, man." Cal gives me a quick guy hug, then backs away. "How've you been?"

"Can't complain." I set my duffle bag down. "My game's better than it's ever been."

"You should go pro this year. You definitely have the talent."

"You're talented too," I say. "You'll play pro again."

Cal looks down and clears his throat. He's not comfortable talking about going pro because he tried it last year and failed. He was so bad he lost playing eligibility and ended up going back to college. He's a great golfer but he gets nervous during tournaments and it messes with his game. When he went pro there was so much pressure on him to do well that Cal's nerves took over and he came in last in every tournament.

"Haven't decided if I'll play again," he says. "Gotta finish college first."

Cal goes to Arizona State, which has an awesome golf team. He scheduled all his classes Monday through Wednesday so he could golf the rest of the week. It's worked out well for when I come visit him. Like now, it's Wednesday night so he's free until next week.

"You ever regret dropping out?" he asks.

"No. College wasn't for me. I knew it wasn't but when they offer you a free ride, you take it. At least it gave me a place to live after my parents kicked me out."

"You ever talk to them?"

"Not really. My mom will say hi but that's about it. My dad hasn't spoken to me since I left."

Cal shakes his head. "That sucks, man. I don't understand why they're not happy for you."

"My dad wants me to be just like him, working at the shipyard the rest of my life, struggling to pay my bills."

"Why would he want that? He hates his life. Does he want you to hate yours too?"

"Pretty much. I don't understand him. Never have."

"His loss. Most dads would kill to have a future pro-athlete for a son." Cal starts walking. "C'mon out back. Just leave your stuff there. You can put it away later. We'll hang out by the pool until my parents get home. My dad made reservations at some fancy place for dinner."

"I didn't know you had plans tonight."

"The dinner's for you, dumbass."He opens the sliding door to the back patio and we go outside.

"Why would the dinner be for me?"

"Because you're here in town and we're friends and my family likes you."

"They do?"

He hits my shoulder. "Don't be stupid. You know they do. If my dad could adopt you he probably would. He'd have not just one, but two sons who are awesome at golf. It'd be a dream come true for him. And my mom loves you. She thinks you're sweet." He laughs.

"She said I'm sweet? Why does she think that?"

"Who knows?" He pours himself a drink from the poolside bar. "It's probably those damn dimples. Makes you look sweet."

"I've been told the dimples make me look hot, by more than one girl."

"Oh, yeah?" We sit at the table that's next to the pool. "So tell me about these girls."

"There's nothing to tell. I was just making a comment."

"Are you dating someone?"

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