Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 145402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
"Isn't this awesome?" Matt asked. "I want to move here."
"There's so much... nature," Nicky said. "I'd live here if I could stay indoors."
Allison rolled her eyes and slouched lower against the tub wall. "The only thing missing is a daiquiri."
"Funny you should mention that," Nicky said, and all four upperclassmen turned to stare at them. Nicky feigned shock, then hurt, and put a hand to his chest dramatically. "Seriously, you guys? It's like you don't know us."
"We try not to," Allison said.
At the same time, Matt asked, "What did you bring?"
"Ha." Nicky made a face at Allison. "What didn't we bring, you mean?"
"I got us the cabin," Allison said. "You make the drinks. There's a blender in the kitchen."
"Two, actually," Renee said. "I saw a backup one in the cabinet over the fridge."
Nicky took a quick vote on who wanted what and recruited Aaron and Kevin to help him bring the bags inside. Neil and Andrew went into the kitchen to investigate. The freezer had a built-in ice machine and the bucket was full, so Andrew slid it onto the counter and scrounged up the second blender. Neil stood out of the way while the others unloaded their liquor haul and watched with vague interest as Andrew and Nicky each set to work with the blenders. Kevin and Aaron sat at the table and cracked open a bottle of vodka.
"You doing Renee's?" Nicky asked as he poured the first drink. "It's against my religion to make virgin daiquiris."
Andrew didn't answer, but Neil knew he'd take care of it. Nicky recruited Kevin to carry drinks out as they were finished. Kevin and Aaron were fine drinking shots, but Nicky blended something colorful for himself when everyone else was taken care of. He followed Aaron and Kevin out to the deck, likely assuming Neil and Andrew wouldn't be far behind them.
Andrew stayed to clean the blenders out, then took two rocks glasses from the cabinet. He filled both to the brim with scotch and held one out to Neil. Neil looked from it to Andrew.
"I don't drink," Neil reminded him.
"You don't drink because you are afraid of losing control," Andrew said. "What do you have to hide now?"
That easy accusation brought Neil up short. He looked at the drink again. Andrew moved it closer, and Neil took the glass. Andrew lifted his a little in either challenge or invitation, and they knocked their drinks back together. The whisky burned its way down Neil's throat. Neil thought about too many nights on the road and too many bruises. He thought about Wymack putting him back together in his apartment this past December and letting Neil keep his secrets. He wavered between extremes, unsure if the heat pooling in his gut was nausea or relief.
Andrew pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket and traded Neil for his empty glass. Neil shook the pack, felt the distinctive weight of a lighter shifting, and went out back. He stood halfway down the porch from the tub so the others wouldn't have to smell the cigarette smoke and lit up. He turned the cigarette between his hands, dimly aware of the others' laughing conversation, more aware of the taste in his mouth. He ran his tongue along his teeth, wondering what to think.
In the end the cigarette was enough to tip the scales. Andrew smelled of cigarette smoke and whisky the night he gave Neil a key to his house and told him to stay. Neil was always going to carry his past with him, but he didn't have to be weighed down by it. With enough time he could smooth the wretched edges out and replace his triggers with better memories.
Andrew came up alongside him and set the bottle of scotch at his feet. Neil slid his cigarettes across the wooden railing toward him. In exchange Andrew set a refilled glass halfway between them. Neil watched sunlight flash off the rocking surface and flicked ash to the dirt fifteen feet below. He held the cigarette out of the way when he picked up the glass, and he downed the whisky in one slow go. It was just as harsh as the first shot had been, but it didn't taste like death this time.
"Oh my god," Nicky said, too loud. "Was that alcohol? Did you just give Neil alcohol, and did he really just drink it? Did I miss the memo that Neil was suddenly going to start drinking with us?"
Despite Nicky's stunned approval, Andrew didn't serve Neil a third shot. They finished their cigarettes away from the others, then drifted closer so Neil could join the conversation.
The office opened its doors for dinner at eight, so they walked a half-mile down a dirt road to the main building. There was more than enough food to satisfy the pack of hungry athletes and the property owners were on hand to greet each arriving group of guests. Their black eyes and bruises and Neil's extensive bandages drew more than a few curious looks, but the staff were polite enough to keep their mouths shut.
Dan hauled Kevin to a stop halfway back to the cabin. Neil heard Matt utter a low warning not to strike Kevin where it'd leave a mark, but it was a toss-up as to whether or not Dan heard him. Matt built a fire in the main fireplace when they made it back to the cabin, and the Foxes curled up on the couches and rocking chairs to watch the flames dance. Allison told stories of other resorts she'd visited, with an obligatory disclaimer that every place paled in comparison to her family's properties. She and Matt started a debate as to how the Foxes should celebrate when they won first place in championships. Neil didn't know if it was all in good fun or if they were making serious plans; he'd have assumed the former if not for how easily Allison had secured them this cabin.
As his teammates argued cruises versus Hawaii or Vegas, he thought of the money stashed in his safe at the dorm. Neil was done running and his father was never getting that money back. He couldn't think of anything better to do with it than repay his teammates' friendship. He didn't say anything, unsure what they'd think of a vacation bought with blood money, but listened carefully for the winning dream vacation. Their plans got more elaborate the more they drank until Neil was sure none of them would remember this debate in the morning.