Page 50 of Anyone But Her

Cal arrives just after seven. We go out for dinner and as we're waiting for our food to arrive, he says, "So I talked to my parents."

"About what?"

"You."

"What about me?"

"I told them what happened and how you don't have a place to live. They wanted to help."

"Help how?"

"They want you to live with us this summer, or however long it takes for you to get enough money to find a place of your own. I know Phoenix isn't home but it'd just be temporary. You could always come back here, or maybe you'd decide to stay. It's a lot cheaper to live there than here."

"Your parents really said I could live there?"

"Yeah. You could have the guest house out back. It doesn't have a kitchen so you'd have to come to the main house for meals but it's got everything else you need. And you'd have privacy. So what do you think?"

"Are you kidding? This is awesome. Tell your parents thank you and that I'll do whatever they need to earn my keep. Lawn work. Cleaning the pool. Whatever they want." I pick up my phone. "Actually, I should call them myself and thank them." I search for his dad's number.

"They're not home. They went to a movie. I talked to them before I got to your house. And as for doing shit, you don't have to do chores around the house. As long as you don't trash the guest house my mom will be happy."

"I'd never do that. I'll keep it spotless. I promise."

"As for my dad, he just wants you to keep working on your golf game. He really thinks you can go pro this year."

"He told you that?"

"Yeah, and he can hook you up with a coach."

"I don't think I can afford the kind of coach he'd pick out for me."

"You could if you did some commercials."

"Nobody will hire me for that."

"You're a rising star, asshole." He says it jokingly and smiles. "Of course they'll hire you. Didn't you already get an offer from that sporting goods store?"

"WaveField, but that was only if I went pro. You know the rules. As an amateur I can't make money off anything related to golf."

"Maybe they could still use you. You could be shown doing something else, like working out at the gym."

"I guess. I'll talk to Garret about it. He might be open to it. He really wants to work with me."

"Because he knows you're going to make it big. Companies love rising stars. And if you get in with them now, they're more likely to give you a sponsorship when you go pro. My dad said you should find a business that won't just support you financially but will also give you the type of promotion that'll help get your name out there."

"Yeah, I remember him telling me that when I was at your house."

"He really wants you to do well. He said you have a lot of potential."

"I think it's great he's so supportive of my golf career but I don't really understand it. He should be helping you, not me."

"He does. But he likes you and knows you didn't grow up with support from your parents so I think he wants to make up for that. He's one of those dads that acts like a dad to everyone, not just his own kids. He treats Birdie like a daughter. She even takes trips with us. Anyway, you can move in as soon as you're ready. I can take some of your stuff in my car if you need me to."

"I don't have much. It should all fit in mine." I take a deep breath and relax back in my chair. "I feel like I can finally breathe again. I was thinking I'd be living out of my car. I can't thank you enough for doing this."

"You okay leaving San Diego?"

"I'll miss it but I think it's time to move on. And you're right. Phoenix is a lot cheaper. I might just stay there after the summer. In my own place," I clarify. "Tell your parents I'll be out by the end of the summer. I don't want to overstay my welcome."

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