Fuck, these people repulsed me. But, I loved their daughter. I was pretty sure I loved her. It’d have to be love for me to sit through thisshit.
“Giving to the homeless takes away from your pocket,” her father’s eyes caughtmine.
I understood what they were doing. They were making sure I had financial priorities in mind so that I could provide for their daughter first before I gave a homeless guy acoffee.
“So, four semesters left. Five years spent for a four-year degree and at two institutions. Why didn’t you stay at USC? Grades get you bouncedout?”
“No, sir,” I said firmly. “My scholarship was up.” I thought back to the day that I walked out of the locker room, and my stomach started to ache as I recalled the reason for meleaving.
“They usually give scholarships for four years or full ride scholarships. Sounds like they wanted to use you just for a little while. Two-year deals are good for them to test driveyou.”
I thought back. It wasn’t like that. They wouldn’t have offered me the scholarship if they hadn’t believed in me. Though, it was just twoyears.
“What position did you say you played?” heasked.
“Thirdbase.”
He waved his hand in theair.
“A dime a dozen. Now, if you had been a pitcher, they may have offered you four years. If you were decent enough. So, the scholarship was up and then you transferred toUNLV?”
“Yes,sir.”
He laughed and wiped his mouth that I wanted topunch.
“Tuition costs too steep, huh? They are an arm and a leg over there,” headded.
I really dislikedhim.
“UNLV has some good programs,” Nikki’s momcommented.
“What program are you working towards your degree in?” heasked.
“Film.” When no one said anything, I elaborated. “I want to write scripts for movies. Maybe adaptations of books tofilms.”
“He’s a great writer. He co-wrote the spring play at UNLV,” Nikkiboasted.
Nikki’s father laughed, and his laughter became infectious. Soon both of Nikki’s parents werelaughing.
“You two are funny, you had us going. Film degree,” he laughed and slapped thetable.
“Dad, stop. Ryan’s getting his filmdegree.”
“Are you serious? Is that even a real degree? What do you need a degree in film for?” He stopped asking me questions and got really red in the face. He turned to Nikki and pretended that I hadn’t been in the room. “Nikki, a film degree? A Hollywood movie weirdo – Ryan what part of California did you grow upin?”
“Hollywood. North Hollywood,” the shame in my tone wasn’t hard to miss I wassure.
He looked back at Nikki, silently telling her to loseme.
“Hollywood dream boy over there is not going to be the kind of husband that will be able to support you and thechildren.”
Husband?Children?
“Dad, stop! He’s right here and can hear you!” Nikki turned to face me. “I’m so sorry, Ryan. I told you this would be amistake.”
Shortly after that outburst, Nikki and I left. I wasn’t sure if I was more angry or ashamed that I wasn’t what her folks had envisioned for their princess. We were both quiet in my pick-up for a few miles. I pushed aside the anger part of me and decided that Nikki was worth whatever crap I’d have to put up with from herparents.
“It’ll be okay, Nikki. We’ll work itout.”
