“She wants to spar,” Nicky said unnecessarily.įor two seconds (Neil’s eyebrows furrowed), Andrew remained still. Raising one hand to wave at Andrew and Neil, she asked, “If you have a moment, Andrew?” Renee, her smile softened at the edges with sympathy, stayed at the door. Nicky waltzed through with a cheery hey, honeys, I’m home!, his smile strained at the edges. I think Andrew should be in…”Ī key jangled in the lock. I was just about to ask Andrew if he’d like to take a break and spar. It was only, he reminded himself, because Andrew wasn’t certain.Īndrew tapped a finger against his knee, his expression darker. “Don’t wait too long,” Neil warned, trying not to feel prickled that Andrew wouldn’t include him. Andrew had an idea of who - he just wasn’t certain, and so didn’t want to say. It was the least, he thought, he could do.Īndrew thought about it and, finally, shrugged one shoulder. Neil himself hadn’t known what to do, and put his all into making sure Matt’s lack wouldn’t see the Foxes lose. The upperclassmen fell apart over his pain, the twins’ and Kevin’s callous nature came into sharp relief, and Nicky was left scrambling on the in-between. He hadn’t realized how stabling of a presence Matt Boyd was until he’d been gone. They’d also have to know us really well.” “If I didn’t know better,” Andrew said after a long pause, Neil curled on one end of the couch with the tips of his socked feet stuck under Andrew’s leg, “I’d say we’re being sabotaged.”īut the thing was: “By who? They’d have to have full access to the Tower. (The new Foxes weren’t sure what to make of their upperclassmen’s close bond, and largely kept their comments to themselves on what to do with Kevin or Matt. Not for long, but enough to be maddening and suspicious. Everyone knew that.īut then Kevin was down, too. Matt had the tendency to forget to check his food’s expiration dates. Matt’s gaunt face watching from the bench during practice, strained and ever-tired, made drills tense for everyone from Dan to Allison to Neil himself.Īt the time, Andrew hadn’t cared. It had hit the point that Wymack put him on a specialized diet as recommended by Abby, but it would take time to shake off what damage had been done to his stomach. He was benched for the next two matches he could keep nothing down, and his physical health had deteriorated in time. Just as there was no reason Matt woke time and again with food poisoning. Kevin was meticulous in how he cleaned his gear there was no reason his shin guard should have snapped like flimsy cardboard twice on the first on-court hit. Once was an accident, Neil reminded himself. He’d been acting space-y since Kevin’s first injury even though it had been a clear and complete accident. Neil gave him time to parse through whatever it was he was thinking. After a moment, Andrew obliged him, though his gaze had fixated on the wall and the look in his eyes was far-away. Abby says he’ll have to sit out for a week if he doesn’t want to risk permanent bench time.”ĭropping his bag at the door, Neil waited for Andrew to scoot over and give him a clear space to sit.
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