Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 117363 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117363 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Jimenez nodded when Rhemann glanced over at him, so Rhemann said, “You and Shane are on press duty. After that and after you’ve had a chance to wash up, come find us. We’ll wait.”
Jeremy would’ve preferred to never stand up again, but as the Trojans’ captain he was dutybound to face the press and defend his team’s unexpected loss. He led Shane back into the inner court. Interviews were actually the easiest part of game night, since the Trojans’ script was unrelenting and predictable. It was easy to be proud of his team’s effort, and even easier to compliment the Foxes’ inhuman resilience. It was the truth, even if it wasn’t all of it.
The unavoidable parts would have to wait until the coaches could sit them down on Monday, splitting them along offense and defense to review plays. A loss was still a loss, even if none of them would have done tonight any differently. They were going to have to address that disappointment where no one could see them. Laila was going to be aching well into next season about having the worst scored-against shift in USC history.
“Neil Josten said it last fall, didn’t he?” Shane said into the mic, picking up where Jeremy left off so Jeremy could catch his breath around all the smiling and praise. “It’s easy to be the best when you can throw numbers at any problem you come up against. We really wanted to see who we were when we didn’t have that to hold us up.”
“It was the most fun I’ve had in months,” Jeremy said, “but if you’ll forgive us for fading on you, we are absolutely wiped.”
“Of course,” the man said, obediently withdrawing his mic from their faces. “Thanks for stopping by to talk to us, and make sure to get some rest. We’re all cheering for you next week.”
“Thank you!” Jeremy said and trailed Shane back to the locker room.
The shower felt so good on his aching body he would’ve stayed there all night if his coaches weren’t waiting for him to explain himself. Jeremy waved goodbye to Shane as he headed out, then went down the side hall to where the coaches’ doors were. Lisinski was the Trojans’ fitness coach, whereas White handled offense and Jimenez defense. That third door was open, but the room was empty, and Jeremy found Jimenez sitting at Rhemann’s desk in the final office. They’d told the Trojans they’d deconstruct the game on Monday, but Jeremy wasn’t surprised to see them already going over their notes.
“Coach, Coach,” Jeremy said in greeting, and took a seat when Rhemann pointed to it. Rhemann pulled a notebook over on top of their work: not to hide it from Jeremy, but to ensure it didn’t distract either coach from whatever potential problem Jeremy had brought to them. Jeremy folded his hands together in his lap and twirled his thumbs around each other as he tried to figure out where to start.
At the beginning, he told himself, and squared his shoulders. “I have a huge favor to ask.”
-
The trick to starting Saturdays off on the right foot was to get out of the house as early as possible. He’d realized years ago that he’d never be the first one awake, but Jeremy had a quiet theory that William Hunter never slept. Maybe his parents paid their butler to stay awake twenty-four seven. Either way, he was unsurprised to slip into the kitchen at five in the morning and find a full travel mug already set aside for him. Jeremy made a face at William, who knew better than to take it personally as he sipped from his own mug.
“Early even for you,” William said, without explaining how he’d known Jeremy was up and about.
“Lot to do,” Jeremy said evasively. “Anything I need to know before I head out?”
“Dinner is scheduled for seven. Seeing how Bryson got into town last night for the fundraiser, you’ll be expected to make an appearance.”
Jeremy winced. “That was this weekend?” William’s calm stare was a little too knowing to be sympathetic. Jeremy raked a nervous hand through his hair as he looked away. He’d wasted years arguing against such events, as he had absolutely no relation to his stepfather’s father, but his mother refused to budge. If the Congressman needed a picture-perfect family for photo ops, the Knox family was duty-bound to dress up and smile bright for an exhausting number of cameras. “Yeah, I should’ve kept better track of it, I know. But I really do have some things to take care of this morning, so if they ask where I went—”
“I’ll inform Mr. Wilshire you’ll be back by six,” William finished for him. “Try to enjoy yourself until then.”
“What would I do without you?”
“What would any of you do?” William returned primly as he went back to his morning paper.