Chapter 14

Merie was waiting beside her car for Brock in the parking lot.

“So, did you learn the difference between real and pretend?” she said with a laugh when he got out. “Is she live? Or is she Memorex? My dad always says shit like that. Does that make sense to you?”

“Not a lot, no,” Brock answered. “Sorry. But to answer your question...

“Are you free this weekend? If you are, perhaps we might spend some time together.”

Merie pumped her fist.

“Yes,” she said triumphantly. “I was praying for Memorex all evening.”

She grasped Brock’s arm as they walked into school. Brock felt as though half the student body stopped to watch and then started talking about it as soon as they past.

“They wonder if you’re going to score The Cherry,” Meredith said. “I hear there’s a wagering pool. Let me know what day you get and we’ll split the pot.”

“They might be thinking the same thing about you,” he said. “Despite my dashing good looks and charming personality, I have yet to find pleasure with an actual female.”

Merie stopped in her tracks.

“You’re kidding me,” she said. “You’re not kidding me. Wow! Never would have guessed that one. Star quarterback unwilling to take one for the team.”

Brock looked at Meredith quizzically.

“What the hell does that mean?” he asked.

“Sorry,” she said with another laugh. “I get that from my Dad, too. Sometimes I rattle off proposed newspaper headlines. I promise they’re really funny in my head.”

“Well they seem to lack a little something in translation,” Brock said. “I thought you might be insulting me there for a minute.”

Merie punched him on the arm.

“When you’ve been insulted, you’ll know it,” she said. “Well, maybe you will. You jock types sometimes are a little slow on the uptake. But if I’ve insulted you and you don’t get it, I promise to try again using smaller words. I’m joking by the way. That was not an insult.”

“I think I understand where your nickname comes from,” Brock replied. “You might have given it up years ago if you could keep boys from running away from you when you start to talk.”

“Touche,” Merie replied. “That was a pretty good one.”

“However, now you’ve hurt my feelings,” she added with a mock pout. “You haven’t even taken me out on a date and already you’re mocking my virtuous nature.”

Brock was beginning to wonder if there was anything mock about the pout after all.

“Sorry, Meredith,” he said sincerely. “I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings. I was just, you know, joking back at you.”

Merie beamed brilliantly.

“Got ya,” she said. “I was right. You are going to be a little slow on the uptake. It was the word ‘virtuous’ that threw you off, huh?”

“Fuck you,” Brock said before thinking.

“Maybe,” she replied with a wink. “But don’t you think we should at least go to a movie first. I mean, I have a reputation to uphold. But afterward, well, you bring the Kentucky jelly and I’ll bring the video camera.”

There would be nothing boring about this date. That was for sure.

“So, tell me about your normal Saturday night,” Merie said when she plopped down at the lunch table.

Jen jumped in before Brock could answer.

“Let’s see,” she said with a gleam in her eye. “Jeopardy is on at 7:30, then Cops at 8. By 10 he’s usually fast asleep. He’s a real animal, this one.”

Meredith glanced at Brock, who shrugged.

“OK, I can understand Jeopardy,” she said. “But why in God’s name would you watch Cops? Looking for old friends?”

Brock’s eyes snapped open wide.

“Sorry,” Meredith said quickly. “I never seem to know my limits. I’m really sorry, Brock. That was a terrible thing to say.”