Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
"So must yours be if you spend so much time on us," Neil said.
"They were," Wymack agreed.
"Oh," Neil said. "Are they both dead?"
Wymack looked amused by his tactlessness. "My mother OD'd almost ten years ago and my father lost a prison fight the first year I started here at Palmetto State. I hadn't spoken to either of them since I left D.C.."
Neil's heart skipped a beat. "You grew up in D.C.?"
"Interesting that that's the part you got hung up on."
Lying was easy, but Neil had never felt this guilty about it. "I was born in Alexandria. My mother worked in D.C. for a while. I just think it's funny we both started there and now we're here. Sometimes the world feels so big, but then I'm reminded how small it is."
"Big or small, just remember you're not alone in it," Wymack said. "You have your team, but that's a double-edged sword. They're there for you any time you need them, and they'll hold you up if you want them to, but your actions have consequences for all of them as well. The more you antagonize Riko, the harder you make things on them."
"Like with Seth," Neil said. "I know."
Wymack stared at him for an endless minute, then said too quietly, "The fuck did you just say to me?"
Neil realized too late Andrew hadn't shared his theory with Wymack. "It's convenient timing, isn't it? I insulted Riko on TV and applauded the Foxes' small size, and that same night Seth overdosed and made me starting line. Even Kevin thinks Riko orchestrated that."
"Even Kevin," Wymack echoed. "Do I even have to ask whose idea that was? Look at me, Neil. Are you listening? Seth had a lot of problems and no good solutions. We always knew he'd make it to graduation on a wing and a prayer. In his first four years he overdosed three times. It was past time for him to try again.
"I don't care what Andrew said to you. I don't care what Kevin thinks. If—and that's a big if, Neil—if Riko really was behind it somehow, the blame is all on him. He chose to take out his petty rage on Seth. He chose to cross a line. You didn't. You hear me? You didn't. Don't ever blame yourself for Seth's death. That is too dangerous a road to walk down. You keep your eyes on your own path and keep moving forward."
"Yes, Coach."
Wymack didn't look convinced, but he didn't push it. "So do we need to talk about last night?"
"No, Coach."
"Then come on. Andrew said you're meeting them at the stadium this morning. I'll give you a lift." Wymack emptied the rest of his coffee in one swallow and led the way out of the apartment.
Neil sat silent in the passenger seat on the short drive to the stadium. Andrew's car and the usual squad car were the only ones in the parking lot. Wymack dropped Neil off near the curb. Wymack motioned to Neil before he could shut the door and leaned across the front seat to look out at Neil.
"Tell Andrew to keep his bullshit theories to himself."
"Yes, Coach." Neil pushed the door closed and didn't watch Wymack drive away. He punched in this week's security code at the Foxes' entrance and went down the hall to the locker room. The lights were on, but all the rooms were empty, so he continued through the back door into the stadium itself. Kevin was sitting in the middle of the court on the fox paw logo. He wasn't dressed for practice. Neil wondered how long he'd been sitting here waiting for Neil to wake up.
It didn't take long to find Andrew; he was running the steps further up in the stands. Neil dropped his travel bag near the Foxes' benches and went onto the court to confront Kevin.
Kevin was facing him, but he didn't look up or say anything as Neil approached. Neil sat down just out of his reach and searched Kevin's face for a truth he still didn't want to know. Kevin didn't look any happier about this inevitable conversation, judging by the pained twist of his mouth, and that only made Neil feel worse.
"Why did Riko say he bought me?" Neil asked.
Kevin was silent for so long Neil almost hoped this was all a sick dream, but finally Kevin spoke. "You're not really him," Kevin said, so low Neil barely understood his words. "Tell me you aren't really Nathaniel."
Neil tried not to flinch at the sound of his real name and didn't quite succeed. "Don't call me that. It doesn't matter who I used to be. I'm Neil now."
"It is not that simple," Kevin said, louder and dismayed. "Why are you here?"
"I had nowhere else to go," Neil said. "When you showed up in Arizona I thought you'd come because you recognized me, but then you gave no sign you remembered me. I thought maybe I could stay until you figured things out."
"You thought," Kevin said, voice sharp with something too hysterical to be scorn. "You are a fucking idiot."
"I was desperate," Neil shot back.
"I can't believe your mother agreed to this."
"My mother is dead," Neil said. Kevin opened his mouth, but Neil didn't want to hear it. "She died last year and I buried her on the west coast. I have nothing and no one else, Kevin. That's why I signed with you. I figured the chances of you remembering me were slim and I gambled on you not knowing the truth about my family."
"How could we not remember you?" Kevin asked.
Neil shook his head. "I didn't know when I came here that the Moriyamas and my father were business partners."
"They were not partners." Kevin sounded almost as offended as Riko had.
"I didn't know," Neil repeated. "Until Coach told me about the Moriyamas this May I knew nothing about Riko's family. After that I thought maybe that's why we met so long ago. I thought Riko's father and mine were discussing territories and borders. But last night Riko said my father belongs to the Moriyamas. What did he mean by that? Why did he say he bought me?"