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 was the first out and he caught Andrew's door before Andrew could close it. Andrew didn't move, but there was just enough room for Neil to lean in and get his binder. He straightened and turned to find Andrew had shifted closer. There was nowhere for Neil to stand except up against Andrew, but somehow Neil didn't mind. They'd been apart for seven weeks but Neil keenly remembered why he'd stayed. He remembered this unyielding, unquestioning weight that could hold him and all of his problems up without breaking a sweat. For the first time in months he could finally breathe again. It was such a relief it was frightening; Neil hadn't meant to lean on Andrew so much.
At length Andrew took a step back and slid his gaze to Nicky. "You stay. The rest go."
Neil looked to Nicky to see if he was okay being alone with Andrew. At Nicky's slight nod, Neil went around the car to join Aaron and Kevin. Kevin stared hard at Andrew over the roof of the car as if he could see through Andrew's blank mask. Neil had to forcibly turn him toward the dorm.
They took the stairs up to the third floor. Aaron got the suite door unlocked, but Neil shook his head at Kevin's gesture to join them. He waited until they closed the door behind them before going to the end of the hall and powering up his phone. When the flashing logo finally gave way to his home screen, he dialed Wymack.
"I was starting to think he'd killed you and left you to rot on the side of the road," Wymack said in lieu of hello.
"Not yet," Neil said. "We're back now."
"If anyone needs anything, I have my phone on me. Attempt to keep yours on."
"Yes, Coach," Neil said, and turned his phone off again as soon as he'd hung up.
He'd given his keys to Andrew, so he had to knock to get into his room. He carried his binder into the other room and dug his safe out of the closet. The safe held only a well-worn letter now, but he tucked that into his binder and locked it away for safekeeping. He went back to the living room to see Matt waiting for him on the arm of the couch. Neil returned Matt's searching look with a guarded expression of his own. He waited for the inevitable questions and accusations, but when Matt finally spoke, it was only to say,
"You okay?"
"I'm fine," Neil said.
"For the record, I don't believe you," Matt said.
Neil lifted one shoulder in a tired shrug. "You probably shouldn't believe anything I say."
Matt huffed, too strained and quiet to be a real laugh. "I get the feeling that's the most honest thing you've said to me all year. But Neil? We're here when you want to talk about it."
"I know."
It surprised him that it was the truth. He knew just from looking at Matt that Matt would accept any truth Neil gave him right now, no matter how cruel or unbelievable. He'd done the right thing by going to Evermore; he was making the right choice in standing his ground here with the Foxes. It didn't matter how much his reflection freaked him out. If this was the only way to keep his teammates safe from Riko's cruelty it was an easy price to pay.
Neil said, "I've never been to New York."
It wasn't what he needed to say or what Matt wanted to hear, but Matt didn't push it. He regaled Neil with stories of their holiday, from the cousins' awkward first meeting with his mother to Nicky's crazed shopping sprees. Matt took Neil into the kitchen to show him the whole beans he'd brought back from a local coffee shop. It was late in the day to have coffee, but Matt was tired from traveling and Neil was still out of sorts. Neil dug filters out of the cabinet while Matt ground enough beans for a pot.
Neil was filling the pot with water when there was a knock at the door. Matt was closer, so he went to answer it. Neil couldn't see their guest from this angle, but when Matt stepped back in silent invitation Nicky stepped into the doorway. He looked unharmed but nervous, and there was no hiding the guilt in his expression as he faced Matt.
"I'd uh, lie low for a while if I was you," Nicky said. "Andrew just found out who put the bruises on Kevin's face. I tried defending you because Kevin deserved it and you paid Aaron's bail, but I don't know how much good it's gonna do. Logic and Andrew aren't exactly on speaking terms."
"Thanks for the heads-up," Matt said.
Nicky looked to Neil. "He sent me to get you."
"How much did you tell him?" Neil asked.
"Nothing about you." Nicky stuffed his hands in his pockets and gave an uncomfortable shrug. "He wanted an update on everything else, Aaron's trial and Kevin's face and the Ravens. I told him we made it to championships and told him about the fight at Christmas banquet. I didn't tell him you weren't with us in New York."
Neil nodded and went back to his bedroom. He grabbed his pack of cigarettes first and tucked it in his back pocket. Andrew's armbands were under his pillow where Neil hid them last November. Nicky grimaced at the sight of them.
"Maybe not a good idea to arm him right now," Nicky said.
"It'll be fine," Neil said, and headed down the hall for the stairs.
Andrew was waiting in the stairwell, arms folded loosely over his chest and back propped against the railing. His gaze dropped immediately to the dark cloth in Neil's outstretched hand and he took them without a word. Neil had already seen Andrew's scars in passing, but Andrew turned away to tug the bands on. When his sleeves were hiding the bands, Andrew headed upstairs instead of down.
The stairwell dead-ended at a door marked "Roof Access – Maintenance Staff Only". Neil assumed it would be locked, but Andrew only needed to give the handle a couple hard jiggles to get it open. Judging by the neat cuts on the door and frame, Andrew had sabotaged the lock long ago. Neil didn't ask but followed Andrew out into the chilly afternoon. The wind felt stronger this high off the ground and Neil wished he'd been able to wear his new coat.