Page 12 of Playing to Win
“Okay, first, you took it out of context.”
Roomie guffawed harder.
“How, pray tell, could I take the fact that you called me a heifer out of context?”
“When I was growing up, any time me, my sisters, my dad, our cat, our dog, anyone, did something to our mom, she called us a heifer. She said it was her way to keep from cussing. Or calling my dad a jackass in front of us kids. So, when I was about four, my sisters and I started doing it, too. Now, anytime someone does something to me, it’s a reflex. Without thinking, I call them a heifer. Ask Jenkins. I even call him a heifer! Scout’s honor! I’ll give you his number and you can ask him!”
Callie glared at him from under a mop of curls that had fallen out of her ponytail when she jumped up from the ground after the heifer debacle.
“I think I believe him,” Roomie said. “He threw that out there too quickly for it to be a planned comment. Besides, why on earth would he call you a heifer if he wanted to impress you? Think about it, Cal. Besides, I really want some pizza.”
He could practically see the wheels turning in Callie’s mind as she weighed the pros and cons of letting him stay. He gave her what he thought was an endearing smile he knew showcased his dimple in the hopes that it would put him back in her good graces. If he was ever there to begin with.
“Fine. You can stay. But only because you brought pizza. Otherwise, you’d be history, mister. I bet you were never even a Boy Scout. Scout’s honor, my ass.”
“Hey, I’ll take what I can get. So, are you ready to study?” he asked, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. He totally avoided her Boy Scout comment because she happened to be completely correct in her assessment.
“I don’t even know where to start,” Callie said with a groan. “There’s so much material to cover and so little time to do it.”
“Well, let me help. I told you. Duke. Honors. I’m a wunderkind.”
“A what?”
“A child prodigy,” Curly’s roommate said.
“Great. I’m surrounded by geniuses,” Callie said with an eye roll.
“I also put study drugs in my pizza,” Kyle added. “Let me work my magic.”
“You better have a whole lotta magic there, buddy, because it’s going to take a miracle for me to pass that test.”
