Free NORMAL by Danielle Pearl

parents are all members, sure, but for high school students to be having dinner there is kind of a big deal. I'd have heard about it if he'd brought dates there before. It occurs to me that he's actually trying to impress me, and I can't help but smile to myself.
    "What's that pretty little smile for?" he asks, and I chew my bottom lip to force it away.
    "Nothin'. I just didn't realize you took dates to the club for dinner is all," I admit.
    Now it's his turn to smile. "I don't, sweetheart. But you're not just some date, are you?" I search for the jest in his tone, but he sounds so sincere.
    "I'm not?"
    "'Course you're not." He doesn't elaborate, and I don't ask him to.
    Robin pulls up in the club's circular drive and waves off the valet who comes to open my door in order to do it himself. He places his hand in the small of my back to lead me inside and I'm surprised by the way it makes me feel. I'm still nervous, but I feel special, like I matter. And the feeling is new to me. I like it.
    "Hey, what did Cam mean? When he said to remember what y'all talked about?" I ask, recalling the curious exchange. It's not like Cam to keep something from me, especially a conversation that obviously concerned me. Robin smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes.
    He leans into me like he's going to tell me a secret. "He meant for me to remember that if I hurt you, he'll kill me."
    My jaw drops. Cam said what? Robin sees my shock and chuckles.
    "He cares about you, sweetheart. You're not just the prettiest girl in this town, but you're innocent - like an angel. He's worried I'll take advantage. If I was him, I'd 'a been worried too. But I told him that you're special, and that I'm not stupid enough not to know it."
    It's a sweet thing to say, and with his words, my nerves melt away. Robin smiles and takes my hand as the hostess leads us to a table overlooking the golf course.
    Dinner is way more comfortable than I'd anticipated. Conversation flows naturally, and Robin tells me about the team this year, about our opponents for next week's game and strategy. He talks about college scouts that'll be at the games and the recruiters that have been hounding him since last year. Robin explains that while it's polite to entertain them all, his dad would never even consider him going anywhere other than UFL. I already knew that. It's where both our dads went for their undergraduate pre-law degrees.
    "Where would you wanna go? I mean if you weren't already committed to Gainesville since birth," I ask.
    He looks back at me, bemused. "Ya know, sweetheart, I think you may just be the first person to ever ask me that."
    "Really?" I ask, and he smiles.
    "Really. But I suppose it doesn't matter, does it? What about you? Your daddy sendin' you to Gainesville too or do you get a choice?"
    I shrug. "I don't really know. When I was little he always talked about me going to Gainesville. At least for undergrad. But lately he doesn't really seem to care what I do. I've thought about goin' to New York. NYU. Like my mom. I don't think it'd matter to my dad either way now, but I suppose I'll end up at UFL." Just in case it might please him , I add silently. Robin nods sympathetically.
    "I bet you're wrong, ya know. He cares. How could he not?" Robin murmurs.
    I shrug again I've often wondered the same thing myself lately. "Tonight's the first night in a long while that he even seemed to give a damn what I was doin', and that's only 'cause I was goin' out with his favorite high school football star," I grumble, and then flush bright red when I realize I've just said that out loud. Robin signals for the check. He reaches across the table for my hand and his touch surprises me again. It's comforting. Sweet.
    "If that's true then he's a damn fool."
    ****
     
    When Robin pulls up into my driveway, I'm disappointed. I've been having such a good time, and really, I don't want it to end quite yet. He opens my door and offers his hand and I climb out. He glances at my house and