Page 32 of Big Man on Campus

Church introduces me and Brick and Fitz to Hill, an avid supporter of hockey and football. Hill slaps my back and shakes our hands off.

“I know who these boys are, Rev. I’ve been to a few of these shindigs over the years. I tell Timmy he ought to be keeping company with the likes of you, but he’s too serious about his studies and his girl.”

“Timmy’s cool,” I say because it’s true. Hill turns his attention to Glory.

“And who do we have here?”

“This is Glory Rose.” I barely get the intro out before he takes her hand and I cringe, hoping he doesn’t squeeze it hard enough to break her bones. My arm wraps around her shoulder automatically.

“You’re famous here, Mr. Hill. Did you know you were voted the most fun alumnus over thirty?” My lips clamp down on the laugh that wants to escape because she totally made that up. But the old man, true to form, is taken in by Glory Sunshine.

“Aren’t you a peach?” he says and gets the bartender’s attention. “Give me a glass of your best champagne for the lady.” Now I’m really cringing because I know for a fact that Glory detests champagne. But her effervescence doesn’t falter.

“You’re the peach, sir. A very generous one.” She accepts the champagne. Church catches my eye and winks before he leads Hill away to meet more of the student athletes.

“You nailed that one,” Brick says to Glory. A rare serious compliment from him. He doesn’t smile, but one corner of his mouth turns up in a smirk.

“Great job.” Fitz clinks his beer glass to her champagne flute and she surprises me by taking a deep sip. I don’t get a chance to question her about it because a couple of guys from the football team come by, though not to get a drink from the bar because they’re no doubt underage.

Brick and Romeo greet their three teammates before they turn their attention to me and Glory. They’re all from the offensive line and I don’t remember their names. The largest one wearing the turquoise tie eyes Glory up and down, and then looks at me with an expression resembling a snarl.

“Hey, Jennings. What’s up with you? You’re making us look bad, man. Drinking and driving and smashing up a car like that.” He waves a hand in Glory’s direction and watch out any flies that get in the way of that paw. “What’s your girl gonna think of you?”

“I think he’s perfect,” Glory speaks up.

“A perfect idiot,” the red-haired lineman and smallest of the three says.

“You realize this is my friend you’re talking about,” Brick says conversationally, brushing nonexistent lint from his jacket before he looks up and gives a shark stare to each of them.

“Yeah, but—”

“No. Buts.” Brick raises his voice slightly. A couple of people turn in his direction. Fitz shifts from one foot to the other, but says nothing. I don’t say a thing because I know he’s not done. Brick never does anything by half measures, especially not intimidation. He lowers his voice and says, “You know my man did not drink and drive?’ He pauses. Silence. “Right?” He cracks the word out and I swear I see the ginger man jump. I feel Glory lean in. More people glance in our direction and then the tension snaps when someone announces that it’s time to take our seats for dinner.

The three offensive linemen beat a hasty retreat and I survey the room to check on the hostility meter. I’d thought I was safe from it here.

I notice Lassiter watching me. He’s standing with Tim Hill Senior, telling him who knows what. Hill glances over at me and gives me a nod, but not the usual grin. Shit. The last thing I need is a bad reputation among the alums, or anywhere outside the campus gossip.

We make our way to the table Fitz staked out for us earlier and I’m surprised when Hill Senior intercepts me and takes me aside, motioning for Glory to go on to the table without me.

“What’s going on?” I ask, watching Glory as she keeps an eye on me over her shoulder.

“I heard you might be in some hot water and wanted to give you some advice. And this.” He hands me a business card and I glance at it. His name and some law firm I don’t recognize are printed in bold ink. He’s a fucking attorney. I snap my head up.

“My advice is to lie low. Don’t drink in public. Call me and call this friend of mine the second the police contact you. Don’t say a word to them.”

I stare for a full second, immobilized with a nasty combination of surprise and dread.

“Thank you, sir, but you don’t understand. None of it’s true. I did not drink and drive—”

“I believe you, son. The question is whether the rest of the world does. Sometimes authorities like to make an example of someone who’s in the spotlight, as a warning, a show of power, or to gain the confidence of the public.” He slaps my shoulder and strides away, not back to his table, but to the bar. I almost bark an incredulous laugh, but I keep control, gather my wits, and get to the table.

Shoving myself onto the empty chair next to Glory, I hug her with one arm and kiss her temple. “We have a serious problem,” I whisper. She turns to me and waits, her eyes wide and sad and far too used to life and death problems. I dial my panic back and take a deep breath.

“Lassiter believes the rumors about me drunk driving. Put the idea in Hill’s ear. It sounds like they’re buying into the hype, or at least the possibility of an investigation.”

“What exactly makes you think that?” she whispers, her voice sounding frail.

“Hill gave me his card. He’s a lawyer and said to call him when the police contact me.” She jumps back like I’ve struck her and I look around the table with a smile ready in case anyone’s paying attention. Luckily Romeo is regaling the table with a story about his recent dating exploits.