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)
Neil touched the bandage on his cheekbone that hid his new tattoo. "This?"
"All of that," Wymack said, and nodded when Neil moved his hand to his hair. "I don't know why Riko did it but I'll wait for my answers. What you tell them is on you."
It was almost enough to thaw the ice in his chest. Neil didn't know what to say, so he nodded and looked at the clock. He didn't have to pick the others up from the airport because Matt had paid to leave his truck in long-term parking. Neil was supposed to meet them at Fox Tower, but if they were just now getting their bags it'd take them another twenty minutes or so to get to campus from Upstate Regional.
"Should I come with you to referee?" Wymack asked.
"To the dorm?" Neil asked.
Wymack spared Neil a brief, pitying glance. "I meant to Columbia."
Andrew was being released today. As soon as the others dropped their things off at the dormitory they'd be on their way to Easthaven Hospital. It'd been seven weeks since the Foxes last saw him and nearly three years since Andrew was clean. Two of them knew what Andrew was like when stone-cold sober; the others knew only unpleasant rumors and speculation. It was highly unlikely Andrew would care that Neil was half-carved to pieces, but Neil had broken his promise to stay by Kevin's side in Andrew's absence. Neil doubted Andrew would take that well.
Despite that, Neil wasn't concerned. "We'll be fine."
"If not, at least Abby will be back in town tomorrow to patch you up." Wymack checked his watch and slid off his perch. "Let's get going, then."
It was a short drive to the athletes' dormitory. The parking lot behind Fox Tower was mostly deserted, but a couple of the Foxes' cars were still parked there. Supposedly security guards made rounds to ensure the cars didn't get broken into during their owners' absence, but Neil still had Wymack pull up next to Andrew's car. He tried the door handles first, then checked the windows for cracks or vandalism. He kicked the tires and decided them satisfactory for the trip. Wymack waited with his engine idling until Neil was done.
"Do I need to stay?" Wymack asked.
"I'll be fine," Neil said. "I'll have Kevin call you when we've got Andrew."
"Charge your phone and call me yourself," Wymack said. "Good luck."
He pulled away, and Neil went into the dorm. The hallways smelled faintly of air freshener and cleaners; someone had been by during the break to tidy the place up. His room was on the third floor, the furthest of the Foxes' three rooms from the stairs. He let himself in, locked the door behind him, and made a slow lap of the suite. Finding nothing out of place, he plugged his phone in to charge and unpacked his duffel. The last thing he pulled out was a pack of cigarettes. He carried them to the bedroom window and lit up.
He was on his second cigarette when the front door opened. The quiet told him Matt had come alone; Nicky couldn't be sneaky to save his life. Neil heard the thump of a suitcase being set down and the click of the door catching in its frame. Neil took one last deep breath of smoke and stubbed his cigarette out on the windowsill. He forced the tension from his shoulders, prayed his neutral expression held, and yanked the window closed. When he turned around Matt was standing in the bedroom doorway with his hands deep in his coat pockets.
Matt's mouth moved soundlessly for a few moments before he finally managed a choked, "Jesus Christ, Neil."
"It's not as bad as it looks," Neil said.
"Don't. Just—don't, okay?" Matt said. He carded his fingers through his hair, mussing his gelled spikes, and turned away. "Wait here."
Neil went to the bedroom doorway as Matt left the suite. Almost as soon as the door closed, there was the heavy sound of a body hitting the wall. Neil heard Matt's furious tone as he lashed out at someone, but the walls were just thick enough to hide his words. Neil shifted from one foot to the other and made the mistake of looking to his right. The bathroom door was open, giving him a good view of his reflection. The technicolor bruises splattered across his face were awful, but the blue eyes staring back at him were a thousand times more frightening. Neil swallowed hard against a rush of nausea and tore his gaze away.
He went back to get his phone and tugged it off the charger. It wasn't anywhere near done, but hopefully there was enough power in it to last until Columbia. Neil turned it off until he needed it and slipped it in his pocket. The temptation to crawl into bed was almost overwhelming. He was exhausted already and he still had seven teammates left to deal with after Matt was done with him. There was no way he'd survive if the girls were coming back today; luckily the three were flying in tomorrow morning. He'd have the night to retreat and recharge.
He made himself go into the main room to wait. Matt rejoined him a minute later and closed the door firmly behind himself. He made a visible effort to calm down, but there was still an edge in his voice when he spoke. "Did Coach already yell at you?"
"Loudly and at length," Neil said. "It didn't do any good. I'm not sorry, and I'd do it again if I had to. No," Neil cut in before Matt could argue. "The Foxes are all I have, Matt. Don't tell me I was wrong for making the only call I could."
Matt stared at him for an endless minute, then said, "I want to break his face in six places. If he ever comes within a thousand yards of you again—"
"He has to," Neil said. "We're going to play the Ravens in finals."
Matt shook his head and grabbed his suitcase. Neil stepped off to one side so Matt could pass, but Matt cast one last look at Neil's face on his way by. Surprise took the edge off his outrage. Neil didn't return the look but started for the door. He almost made it; he had his hand on the knob when Matt spoke up.