"Why would you wear yoga pants with an ass like that?" the girl behind me says, laughing.
"I'd take her boobs," I hear one of the girls say. "They're huge."
"Because she's fat. Fat girls always have big boobs."
I flip around and face them. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
They stare at me like they have no idea what I'm talking about.
"Why would say that shit about someone?" I ask.
They look at each other but none of them answers.
"You don't have anything better to do than sit here and make fun of her?"
"Cal." Lara grabs my arm, pulling on it.
"Just a minute," I tell her.
"Cal, you're embarrassing me," she says under her breath.
I yank my arm from her, my eyes still on the three girls. "You don't have an answer? You just make fun of people for no reason?"
"Why don't you stop listening to other people's conversations?" the blond girl says.
"I'd like to, but the three of you talk so damn loud half the coffee shop could you hear you."
"Cal, stop it," Lara says, tugging on my arm. "Turn around."
"I'm not done." I glance back and see Birdie at the register. "That girl is not fat. Not even close. She looks a hell of a lot better than some girl that's skin and bones like the three of you. Guys like a girl with curves. A round ass. Hips that don't have bones sticking out. If you think that girl is fat, you've got a real problem."
"Cal!" Lara says, digging her nails in my arm.
My eyes dart to her. "Let go of me. Now."
She can hear by the tone of my voice that I mean it. She lets me go and turns away from me. She's pissed, but I don't care. I'm not letting these girls talk about Birdie that way.
The blond girl stops laughing. "Oh my God, it's him. It's that guy from the photo."
"It is!" her friend says. "That's why he's being such an ass. He's sticking up for his fat girlfriend."
Lara whips back to face them. "I'M his girlfriend! Not HER!"
"Then why was he with her that night?" the blond girl asks.
"I had a conflict. I couldn't go. That girl is just a friend. They knew each other as kids."
"Whatever you say," the blond girl says, smiling.
Lara gets up. "Let's go."
"I'm not leaving because of them. I just got here."
"Stay." The blond girl gets up. "We have to go anyway. We have yoga at five."
We watch them walk out. They're all so skinny they look like they'd break if they fell down.
Lara hits my arm. "What the hell was that?"
"What?"
"Why did you attack them like that? You sounded like a lunatic."
"I don't put up with people talking about my friends that way."
"They weren't talking to you."
"They were talking loud enough that I could hear."
"So ignore them! You know how embarrassed I was having you make a scene like that?"
"I wasn't going to sit there and let them say all that shit about Birdie."
"They said she's fat. Big deal."
I turn to Lara. "You seriously think that's okay? For them to make fun of her like that?"
"No, but people make fun of fat people all the time. And it's not like they said it to her face."
"First of all, just because a lot of people make fun of someone for something doesn't make it okay. And saying it behind her back isn't any better than saying it to her face. They're both wrong."
"Since when are you all high and mighty? I hear you making fun of your frat brothers all the time. And you do it right in front of them."
"That's different. We're brothers, or at least that's how we act. When we do that shit, everyone knows it's a joke."
"Maybe those girls were joking."
"They weren't. They meant every word. And when I confronted them, they didn't even try to take it back."
She looks at me, her head tilted. "Are you into her?"
"What? Who?"
"Birdie. Do you like her? As more than a friend?"
"No." I laugh. "If I liked her that way I wouldn't be dating you. Why would you even ask me that?"
"You spend a lot of time with her. You're always talking about her. And the way you stood up for her just now, it's almost like you think of her as more than a friend."
"You're reading too much into it. Birdie and I are just friends. And sometimes enemies. Depends on the day."
"You sure that's all it is?"
"Yeah. Of course."
She kisses me. "I need to go. Let me know about tonight."
"Lara, I can't go. I really need to study."
She sighs. "Fine. But we're going out this weekend."
When she's gone, Birdie comes over to me. "What happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"I saw you talking to those girls. It sounded like you were arguing with them."
"We weren't arguing. We had a disagreement."
"About what?"
"About how to treat people. They were being bitches and I thought they should know."
"What were they doing?"
"Just making fun of people. I hate that shit. It's so fucking childish. Max is more mature than those girls."
"So what did you say to them?"
"I told them to stop talking about people. But they didn't listen. They don't care. I'm sure they do it all the time."
"It's cool that you told them. Not many people speak up like that." She checks behind her. "I have to get back to the register."
"We still on for Saturday?"
"Yeah. See ya then," she says, giving me a smile. It's her happy smile. The one I love. She wouldn't have that smile if she'd heard those girls talking about her. Birdie pretends that shit doesn't bother her but I know it does. Nobody wants to be made fun of like that.
As I watch her making the coffee drinks I check out her body. She is not fat. She has a few extra pounds but they're in the places I love the most. She has the body of a woman. Those bitches that made fun of her had the bodies of a little girl. No hips. Flat chests. Legs like twigs.
Lara thinks I'm attracted to Birdie. Is it that obvious? I told Lara I see Birdie as a friend, and I do. Being attracted to her doesn't change that. It's a challenge to not act on that attraction, but it's how it has to be.
At four I leave the coffee shop and stop over at the frat house. When I walk through the door, Jared is there, holding his gym bag.
"Heading out?" I say to him.
"Yeah. I'm doing a workout, then going to rehearsal."
"What are you rehearsing?"
"I'm in a play. You should come. Opening night is in a few weeks."
"I'm not really into plays, but thanks for the invite."
"You going to the party this weekend?"
"Probably not. I promised my girlfriend I'd take her out. How about you?"
"Have to fly to LA for an audition."
"For a commercial?"
"Movie. It's small budget but I'm still hoping I get the part."
"What happens if you do? You have to drop out of school?"
"Just for a semester or however long it takes to film. But if I get a part in a major film, then yeah, I'm outta here for good."
"Well, good luck."
"Thanks!" He goes around me and out the door.
"He is so hot," a girl says from behind me.
I turn and see Alecia, my ex, sitting on the couch.
"What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for Stone," she says, chomping on her gum while she files her nails. "We're fucking now."
"I heard."
I go to the board on the wall that has the schedule of house meetings. I missed the first one and Stone got on my case for it. I'm not sure why I joined a fraternity. I don't have time for it and all the forced activities. I'd rather be out golfing or doing something else.
"Where the hell is Stone?" Alecia says, tossing her nail file on the table. "He said he'd be here at four."
"Stone is never on time. Half the time he doesn't even show up. You might want to find someone else to fuck." I look at her and see her smiling. "Not me."
She kicks her legs up on the table. "Maybe Jared. He's young but I could teach him."
"Go for it," I tell her. "Far as I know he's single."
She jumps up from the couch. "What gym does he go to?"
"I don't know. Probably the campus gym."
She walks to the door. "Tell Stone I left." She pauses. "Actually don't tell him anything. I might still need him if this thing with the freshman doesn't work out."
She's so shallow. And she sleeps around. Why did I date her for so long? I'm lucky I didn't catch some disease.
Stone walks in from the garage. As house president he gets to park in the garage while the rest of us have to park in the back lot or on the street.
"The Calster's here on a weekday?" he jokes, tossing his backpack on the floor.
"I was just checking the meeting schedule."
"About that." He comes and stands next to me. "You need to start showing up. It looks bad to the freshmen when upperclassmen don't show up to the meetings."
"I'll be at the next one."
"What about the party this weekend?"
"Can't be there. Lara wants to go out."
"Hey." He smiles. "Got an assignment for you."
"What kind of assignment?"
"I need you to come up with something for Razoni."
Nick Razoni is one of the freshmen. I've only talked to him a couple times.
"Everyone else has been given their orders," Stone says, "but we haven't decided anything for Razoni."
"Do we really have to keep doing this hazing shit? It's so damn stupid."
"It's tradition," he says, smacking my arm. "You don't fuck with tradition."
"You do if it's dangerous."
"Nobody's died in the history of the house."
"Yet," I mutter.
"Come up with something and let me know."
"Just put a spider on his bed. I heard he hates spiders."
"A spider?" He huffs. "This isn't fifth grade, Tuckerman. We need something big. Something that'll scare the shit out of the kid. Tonight we're taking Manson up to the tower, blindfolded, and putting him on the ledge. The kid's scared to death of heights." He laughs. "We're gonna make him spend the whole night there."
"That's fucked up."
"Exactly." He smiles. "Which is why it's so perfect. Find something like that for Razoni and let me know next week." He walks off, going up the stairs to his room.
That's another reason I don't like the fraternity. The hazing rituals. Some are just stupid but some are dangerous and I don't want to be part of it. Stone knows that, which is why he's making me do this. I should just quit the fraternity so I wouldn't have to deal with this shit anymore.
As I'm leaving the house, my dad calls.
"Hey, Dad."
"I'm just calling to let you know we're all set for tomorrow. They offered to give us a tour of the facilities around two, then we'll play the course."
"Want me to meet you there?"
"Why don't you come to the house and we'll go together? I just sent you information about the course from the seller's agent. Look it over before we go tomorrow."
"I will. See you then."
I'm still not sure what's going on here. My dad suddenly wants to buy a golf course? He's talked about it before but never actually taken action to do it. Now he's actively looking and inviting me along.
Is he doing this because of Birdie's comment at dinner the other night? When she said it, I was so freaking angry at her for telling my parents I wanted to manage a course. I wasn't ready to tell them that and I didn't want her being the one to do it. But because she did, my dad's looking at courses to buy. My dream might actually come true, and with my dad's support.
I thought he'd kill me for not going back to professional golf but maybe he's okay with it. Maybe I've been worried this whole time over nothing.
If I could forget about professional golf and move on with my life, I'd be so freaking happy. I didn't think it would happen. I thought I'd have to try again and fail before I could convince my dad a career in professional golf just wasn't for me. But that might be happening sooner than I thought. And it's all because of Birdie. Because she said the words I couldn't say. She did what she knew was best for me. I kinda love her for that.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cal
"What'd you think?" my dad asks as we're driving home from the golf course Friday.
"It's a great course, but you should probably look at some others before you decide anything."
"I will, but I'd like your help." He glances at me. "You mind coming along when I check out some other courses?"
"Not at all," I say, trying to hide my enthusiasm. I still don't feel ready to talk to him about this, mainly because I'm still not sure if he expects me to go back to professional golf.
"If you have other courses in mind, let me know."
"There's one in Scottsdale that might be good. You know the one we played at the first time Luke was here?"
My dad nods. "That's a very nice course."
"It's a good location. Projected earnings are way above average. Only problem is the asking price is twice as much as the one we just looked at."
"But if the potential earnings are as good as you say, the extra price would be justified. That course was in excellent shape. You wouldn't have to do any major renovations. The course we just looked at is going to need some work. The cost of that could bring it up to the price of the one in Scottsdale."
"I was thinking the same thing. The clubhouse at the last one needs to be totally renovated. That alone could cost over a million."
"Maybe we just take that one off our list and look at the ones you think have the most potential."
"I'm happy to help but you're the one buying the course. You should be the one making the decision."
He pauses. "Mind if we make a stop?"
"Where are we going?"
He doesn't answer. A few minutes later he pulls off the road to a parking lot for a public golf course. It's not a great course. It was originally private but the owner died and left it to the city. They didn't keep it up over the years so it looks pretty bad. The clubhouse is old and run-down and the course itself has weeds and patches of dead grass.
"This is a city course," I say to my dad. "It's not for sale."
"Yes, I know." He parks the car and gets out.
"Dad, where are you going?" I ask as he walks to the course.
He doesn't answer. He just keeps walking, a big smile on his face.
"Didn't you used to play this course as a kid?" I ask.
"I did. Back when it was still private." He stops on top of the hill overlooking the course. "Sit down."
"Here?"
He sits down on the grass so I do the same.
"I remember coming here with my father. Watching him play. Wishing I could play as well as him. My father knew the owner. They went to high school together."
"Really? I didn't know that."
My dad nods. "Martin McCombs. He and your grandfather would play a round here at least once a week. Martin would let me come here after school and play for free, even though he knew my father could afford to pay. Sometimes I'd just sit here on this hill and look out at the course and imagine myself in a tournament. I could see the crowds. The announcers. The TV cameras. I could see myself winning. I wanted it more than anything. And not for my father's sake but for my own. I knew golf was what I was meant to do for as long as I can remember."
"You definitely succeeded," I say, looking out at the course. Even with the spotty grass and weeds, it's still a nice view.
"I don't expect you to follow in my footsteps," my dad says.
Surprised by his words, I turn to him. "Dad, I—"
"Let me finish." He takes a breath. "I know I've pushed you over the years. I've pushed Tay
lor too. I wanted both of you to have a career in golf. I knew how happy it made me and I wanted you and your sister to have that too. But only if it's what you truly wanted." He pauses. "I didn't realize until just recently that playing professional golf wasn't your dream. I know you haven't been happy since going back to college, but I thought it was because you were disappointed that you weren't playing golf anymore. But that wasn't it, was it?"
"No," I mutter, looking down at the grass.
"I don't expect you to try again, Cal. If being on the pro tour isn't your dream, then don't do it."
"But you've invested so much into this. My lessons. My coaches. Golf camps. You and Mom spent my whole childhood preparing me for this."
"Because we thought you enjoyed it."
"I did. I loved all that stuff. I loved golf more than anything else. But when I had to actually compete on a professional level I started to not like it so much." I keep my eyes on the course, not wanting to see his reaction. "Actually I started to hate it. I hated the game I used to love. It became all about impressing the commentators, the fans, potential sponsors. And there was so much damn pressure to be just like you. Or better than you."
"I know. And unfortunately I can't change that. I had the same kind of pressure on me when I was your age because of your grandfather."
"So what did you do?"
"I didn't worry about it. I knew golf was what I was meant to do and it had nothing to do with my father. I never tried to imitate him. The way we played was completely different. When the sports media caught on to that they stopped comparing me to my father. I became my own person instead of Gerald Tuckerman's son."
"I'm not sure it's like that anymore. The sports media wants me to be just like you or better. They won't let the golf legacy thing go."
"But you can. Cal, you need to make the decision that's right for you. I don't want you doing this for me."
We sit there quietly for several minutes. Even after all he said, I'm still afraid to tell him this, but if I'm going to do it, now's the time.
"I don't want to go back," I say, looking out at the course.
"Then it's settled. You want to talk to your agent or should I?"
"I will," I whisper, an overwhelming sadness coming over me. It's more for my dad than for me. Because I know how much he wanted this. This was his dream for me and I just ended it. "Dad, I'm sorry. I really am."
Kinda Hate You: An Enemies to Lovers College Romance Page 21
