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)
“Your traditions are irrelevant,” Jean said. “You are going to play after graduation.”
“There’s no harm in at least taking the test.” A transparent lie, but one Jeremy couldn’t afford to linger on right now. He pushed his books aside and leaned against the island with a bright smile. “You ever think about where you’ll be signed? I imagine you’ll get offers from just about everywhere.”
Jean considered it for only a moment. “No.”
“Really? No preference at all?” Jeremy waited a beat but was undeterred by Jean’s reticence. “I used to think I wanted to stay here in California, but Oregon or Arizona might not be that bad. I’m not sure how well I’d do on a southern team, but I guess anywhere but New York or Texas would still work. Not that I’d turn them down if they were the only offers. Any port in a storm, and all that.”
Jean made a derisive sound in the back of his throat. “You waste our time pretending to be modest. We both know your statistics and records. They will fight to the death for you, and Court will be waiting in the wings.”
He’d heard such reassurances from his friends over the years, but they were his friends; filling in the holes his family carved out of him was something they’d always done because they loved and supported him. It was different, from Jean—not that Jeremy didn’t consider Jean a friend, but that Jean said it with such impatience. Jean didn’t know or care about the rest, the Wilshires or their expectations or the ugly manipulations happening behind the scenes. He saw only Jeremy Knox, captain of the USC Trojans, and he knew what Jeremy was worth on his own.
“There you are,” Jean said.
It was jarring enough to shake the warmth out of him. Where Leo had said it with hungry satisfaction, Jean only sounded thoughtful.
“Jean?” he asked.
Jean turned a considering look on him. “You go away when you go home.”
Jeremy studied him, but there was nothing curious or prying in his expression. He didn’t want to get into it after the day they’d had, but he risked saying, “You never ask.”
“Ravens do not have families.” It wasn’t the first time he’d said as much, but Jeremy was sure he’d been calmly dismissive before. The sharp edge biting at his words now was startling, and Jeremy couldn’t miss the way Jean dug his fingernails into his bandaged wrist. “You are my captain and my partner. You are my teammate. Who you are outside of that is irrelevant.”
“You are not a Raven,” Jeremy said.
Jean nearly tore the bandage off as he dragged his grip loose. “Take me to the court.”
“You’ve been sidelined,” Jeremy reminded him, as gently as he could. “Would you settle for a run around campus?”
“Bad idea,” Laila said as she joined them.
Rather than explain, she gave Jeremy her phone and smothered a jaw-cracking yawn behind one hand. A text from Xavier was open for him to read: the news was out that Grayson Johnson was dead. He’d apparently been found in his hotel room by housekeeping when he failed to check out on time, though Xavier said cause of death was still being withheld. All the article had said was he’d passed away sometime in the middle of the night.
Beneath that was the warning that had Laila urging caution, so Jeremy passed it on to Jean: “Coach says the press’ve been by the stadium looking for a statement. He turned them away, but Shane saw one or two of them near the dorms. Guess they didn’t care for Coach’s official statement.” He returned Laila’s phone and grimaced an apology at Jean. “It’s late enough in the day they should’ve given up, but I don’t know if we want to risk it.”
“They aren’t here,” Jean pointed out.
“Of course not.” Cat wandered in and went straight to the fridge to look for her pitcher of pineapple juice. “As far as anyone knows, only three Trojans live off-campus during the school year.” She twirled her finger to indicate Jeremy and Laila. “It’s been established that Jeremy lives at home, and no one’s going to blindly assume you live co-ed with me and Laila. The team knows to be vague and unhelpful if anyone asks where to find you.”
“Remember that my uncle owns half of the houses right around here,” Laila added. “Even if our neighbors have figured out who you are, they know better than to snitch. But once you’re on campus you’re fair game.”
“I am not allowed to speak to the public,” Jean said. “Their presence changes nothing.”
“You’re allowed to talk to people who aren’t Trojans,” Jeremy said in patient correction. “So long as you’re careful with how you represent the team, I mean. But you don’t have to talk to anyone you don’t want to, at least not until your interview next month. We don’t mind running interference for you wherever we can. I’ll have to say something as team captain this weekend, but they can’t make me bring you along.”