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)
"Yes, Coach," Nicky said.
"You good here for a minute?" Wymack asked, and at their nods went in search of the rest of his team.
There wasn't much left to do then but wait. It took the cops over an hour to get through everyone and the tow trucks longer to make a noticeable dent in their workload. Wymack came back when the cops were done talking to Allison and Matt. The upperclassmen weren't far behind him, to Neil's surprise. Dan and Matt still looked a little angry, but they all looked more tired than anything. Allison made a point of meeting Andrew's gaze, a silent declaration of defiance and fearlessness.
"Andrew and I are going to pick up some lunch for everyone," Wymack said. "Any preferences?"
Neil doubted anyone was hungry after drowning in the parking lot stench all morning, but no one was going to pass down free food. They took an unenthusiastic vote and Andrew followed Wymack away. The Foxes were left staring after them in awkward silence. Finally Neil risked a look at Allison. He opened his mouth, needing and wanting to say what he should have said months ago, but all this time later he still didn't have the right words.
"Thank you," Allison said stiffly.
It was so undeserved Neil was stung into saying, "I'm sorry."
It was woefully inadequate for what he'd cost her, what he'd cost all of them by deciding to stay, but it was all he had. The look Allison sent him said she knew what he was trying to apologize for. She pursed her lips, like she wasn't sure what response she wanted to waste on him. Before she could make up her mind Dan spoke.
"We knew when we signed you there were going to be problems," she said, looking from Aaron to Nicky. "We took you in despite the rumors and the protests because we believed in you. We've defended you and stood by you and forgiven a lot of shit no one else would have understood. We've tried to be your teammates and tried to be your friends and have reached out to you over and over and over again.
"But there is a line here where it all stops. If you ever cross it again we are done. You will not, will not," she said again with fierce emphasis, "hurt another person on this team again. Do you understand?"
Nicky's characteristic cheer was gone. He looked almost defeated as he glanced between Dan and Allison. "I understand, and you're right, but I'm sorry. I can't promise anything. Andrew's—Andrew. We can't predict him or control him."
"He can," Matt said, jerking his chin at Neil. "Why can't you?"
"Fewer survival instincts?" Nicky guessed, but his attempt at humor fell flat.
"More," Neil corrected, knowing Nicky wouldn't understand.
Matt turned on Neil, expression intense. "Even Renee wasn't getting through to him. What did you say to him to make him stop? If you're not there next time, someone else needs to know how to talk him down from the edge."
Neil couldn't explain without getting into things that weren't their business. "Don't let there be a next time."
"Neil, I'm serious," Matt said.
Neil shook his head. "So am I."
"Allison," Kevin said. "Did he hurt you?"
Allison knew Kevin too well to think he was concerned for her well-being. She sent him an impatient glare and didn't answer. Kevin interpreted the silence how he liked and sent a considering look at Neil. After a moment he reached out and covered Neil's tattoo with his thumb. The result made him frown, not in disappointment but confusion, and Kevin dropped his hand again. Neil waited, but Kevin said nothing.
"We're going in," Dan said, and the dejected Foxes trudged inside.
Aaron, Kevin, and Nicky disappeared into their room. Neil put a hand in the doorway before Nicky could close it behind them. The women were following Matt to his room further down, but it only took them a moment to realize they'd lost Neil. Neil held up a finger to promise he'd be right over and slipped past Nicky. Nicky closed and locked it as soon as Neil was safe inside.
Aaron dropped into one of the beanbag chairs and didn't bother to look up when Neil stopped in front of him. Neil shoved his hands in his pockets so he wouldn't use them on Aaron and sank to a crouch. Aaron curled his lip at Neil, unapologetic and defiant. Neil clenched his hands into fists. He tried counting to ten in his head but only made it to six.
"Tell me you're not that stupid," Neil said.
"This isn't your room," Aaron said. "Get out."
"What did he promise you?" Neil demanded, ignoring that. "He didn't say he'd keep you safe. If he had he wouldn't have let Kevin stay last year. So who did he promise to protect you from?" He gave Aaron a minute to cooperate before guessing. "He moved back in the house and found out your mother was beating you. He said if you couldn't defend yourself against a woman he'd have to. Didn't he? All you had to do in exchange was stick with him until graduation."
"It doesn't matter."
"Obviously it does," Neil snapped. Aaron scowled but gave up denying it. "You've always known why he killed your mother. Why did you make me spell it out for you?"
"No," Aaron argued immediately. "That had nothing to do with me. He made that promise his second night home with us, but he waited five months to kill Mom. You didn't see the bruises she left on him when she thought he was me that night."
"Andrew didn't care that she hurt him. He cared that she hurt you. It only took him that long because accidents take time to plan."
"You don't know that."
"I do. So would you if you'd paid attention to how he treated you in Columbia," Neil said. "You knew before I did why he turned on Allison today. The only one who can stop this is you. Figure out what you have to do—what you have to forgive—to make him let you go."