Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
“Talk shit, get hit,” Telsey agreed.
“The Foxes’ antagonism is understandable,” Xavier said. “The Ravens started this fight when Kevin transferred. Their fans did, anyway, and Edgar Allan only once called them to order. Arson?” he asked when the Utes looked unimpressed. He counted it off on his fingers. “Defacing Palmetto’s campus and stadium? Police raids? Remind me how many cars got destroyed at the athletes’ dorm last spring.”
Telsey waved him off. “The Ravens aren’t liable for what their fans do. Put the blame on the Ravens’ administration and their crazy followers, not on them. It’s not their fault their talent and popularity put them front and center of all this madness. I don’t blame you when USC and UCLA tear each other’s campuses up over your football rivalries, do I?”
That accusation was leveled at Jeremy, who weighed his options as carefully as he could. “Being a victim doesn’t automatically absolve someone of their wrongdoings,” he said at last. “I can regret what they’re going through now, but I am not required to forgive them for what they’ve done to people I care about. I genuinely hope they get the help they need, and I hope it happens as far from the court as possible. Josten was right: none of them are ready to be back yet. It isn’t fair to them or anyone they’re up against.”
“That’s bold,” Telsey said, and added an unkind, “and self-serving, since they’ve always stood between you and the crown. It’s in your best interests if they’re taken out of the running.”
“All due respect, we’ve always been less concerned with who we play than how we play,” Jeremy said. Telsey didn’t look convinced, but it was such a secondary argument Jeremy saw no need to push it. Instead he asked, “Split the court for drills?” The Utes only numbered eighteen, which meant it’d be crowded but doable to have both teams out at once. “If someone can come by and unlock the door on our side, we’ll take the Away court.”
Winslow motioned to Jeremy. “True story Reacher tried to kill Moreau last week? I saw the pictures.” He mimed choking himself one-handed and searched Jeremy’s expression for the truth. “Long way to go to kill a guy who’s supposedly so innocent, don’t you think?”
“Thank you for your concern,” Jeremy said.
When it was obvious they were getting nothing else, Telsey sighed and gestured. “Yeah, we’ll have someone get the door for you. See you for the coin toss.”
Xavier waited until they were half the court away from the Utes before saying, “I think I hate him.”
It was unexpected enough Jeremy almost tripped over his own feet. “Telsey?”
“Coach Moriyama,” Xavier said. The hard tug at the corner of his mouth said he was fighting a scowl. The stadium was empty this far out from serve, but after three years with the Trojans Xavier was used to schooling his expression in public. “He shouldn’t have up and disappeared like that. The intrigue behind that abrupt exit makes it impossible for anyone to let him go and move on. The Ravens are still his darling proteges, the wounded ideal everyone should aspire to. No one can think critically about them; everyone’s keeping a light on for a man who’s not coming home.
“But speaking of the Ravens.” Xavier caught hold of Jeremy’s arm and dragged him to a stop. “Who the hell is ‘the master’, Jeremy? Someone with rank, someone with the final say on who could or couldn’t captain that team, I know, but tell me I’m not connecting the dots right.” Xavier searched Jeremy’s face for answers, but Jeremy’s grim expression did nothing to reassure him. Xavier let go of him like he’d been burned. “You aren’t serious.”
“The more I learn about Edgar Allan, the more creeped out I get,” Jeremy admitted.
“You think?” Xavier rubbed away a sudden chill and stared up at the stands. He tended his angry thoughts in silence for a minute, then jabbed a finger into Jeremy’s chest and said, “Jean’s got no real filter when he’s pressed. Make him say that on TV. It’ll get a conversation going, I guarantee it.”
“No,” Jeremy said, and insisted, “No,” when Xavier only frowned at him. Jeremy grasped for something to say to deter him, but the best he could offer was the truth: “Xavier, he’s scared of Edgar Allan.” It wiped that annoyed look off Xavier’s face immediately, and Jeremy pressed his advantage with, “He doesn’t want to challenge them. I don’t have to like it, and I won’t stop encouraging him to stand his ground, but I’m not going to force him into a confrontation he’s not ready to have. He’s learning how to trust us. I can’t betray him.”
Xavier grimaced but didn’t argue, and they set off toward the Away benches once more. They were nearly to the locker room when Xavier said, “If Coach Moriyama was up to some shady nonsense there, Edgar Allan was covering for him. Walker practically said it, didn’t she?” He frowned as he thought, then said, “Palmetto State promised President Andritch discretion.”