Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 145402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
"Take them on a couple laps," Wymack told Dan. "Let them get a look at the place."
The University of Texas stadium was comparable to the Foxhole Court in size. The Longhorns and Foxes shared the same team colors, too, so the packed rafters looked familiar and comforting. Neil just had to ignore the crowd's challenging roar as they noticed the Foxes in their midst.
Dan stopped them after a mile, and they jogged back to the locker room to stretch it out. Abby had water waiting for them. Wymack was guarding the rest of their gear. Aaron and Nicky steered the stick rack out to the inner ring when it was time to take their spot on the benches. The Vixens had shown up and somehow found the section reserved for Palmetto State students. Dan had her team wave an energetic greeting to both the squad and their ardent fans. The Foxes were rewarded with enthusiastic cheers.
A few seconds later the Longhorns passed them in an infinite stream. The Foxes had come in their orange-on-white Away jerseys, and the Longhorns wore their white-on-orange Home uniforms. It was disorienting watching them go by on their laps; Neil hoped no one got confused in the heat of the moment. Even the smallest hesitation on the court could cost them a point.
When the Longhorns were ready they'd be on the court for drills, so the Foxes collected their racquets. Wymack gave them a few moments, then clapped his hands to get their attention.
"All right, listen up. It's time to get serious. These guys might look like friendlies in our colors but they're here for one reason only: to eliminate you right out of the gate. They are wannabe champions and they know what it takes to get to the next level. Your job tonight is to make them look like fools."
Abby scowled at him, but Wymack didn't even look at her. "We've been over their line-up a hundred times. You've read Neil's notes. I showed you what you needed to see. These guys are quick and dangerous but they are not impenetrable. The trick is holding center court. For the love of all things unholy, watch those dealers."
"I'll watch them limp off my court," Dan said.
"Do what you have to do," Wymack said, "but don't you dare get red-carded. That goes for all of you." He shot Matt a pointed look. Matt's grin did nothing to reassure anyone, but Wymack didn't waste his breath warning him a second time. "If you ladies start losing ground, call on defense to lend a hand. I don't care if it means putting one backliner on two strikers long enough to get some breathing room. The goalies are going to lock our goal down. Right?"
"We'll do our best," Renee said with a bright smile.
The crowd's screams escalated to an excited, feverish pitch. Neil assumed the mascots had shown up to rile the stands. He glanced past Wymack, still half-listening to the lecture, and followed pointing fingers. A bracketed VIP section was alongside the press box between the Foxes' benches and the Vixen squad. A couple bodyguards were checking the crowd for potential threats, but they moved back out of the way when their charges were comfortable. Neil's world slowed to a crawl at the sight of black tattoos and dark hair.
Wymack snapped his fingers in Neil's face. Neil flinched so hard he rocked back into Kevin. He darted a quick look up at Wymack, mouth open on an apology he didn't have the breath for, but Wymack didn't wait for it. He whipped around to scour the inner ring. It took him almost no time at all to spot Riko and Jean. When he turned back his expression was darker than Neil had ever seen it.
The Foxes saw them too, and Matt was the first to react with a furious, "What are they doing here?"
"I'll ask, "Andrew said, and started that way.
Wymack hauled him to a stop before he could get more than a step away from the Foxes' huddle. "You are not allowed to kill anyone the first game of the season. Worry less about him and more about your offense line, got me? Focus, Kevin. You too, Neil. Neil," he said, louder. "Eyes on me."
Neil realized he was looking at Riko again. He dragged his gaze back to Wymack's face. Wymack looked angry, but Neil knew Wymack too well by now. That anger was born of genuine worry. Neil chose to interpret it as disappointment instead because that was easier to motivate himself with. The Foxes needed him tonight. He couldn't let Riko get to him. Neil caught tight of every bad memory that was snarling at his ear and shoved it deep.
"I'm starting to think he likes me after all," Neil said with forced nonchalance.
Nicky's laugh sounded fake and his smile didn't reach his eyes, but at least he tried. "Who can resist a looker like you for long, right? You're lucky I'm taken, because damn. Maybe we can convince Erik to share me?"
"Would it kill you to leave the freaky shit off the court for once?" Aaron asked.
"If I have to watch you ogle Katelyn, you have to watch me lure Neil to the dark side."
"I do not ogle Katelyn."
"Okay, sure, you don't ogle. You long-distance pine, which is a thousand times more nauseating."
"You have two seconds to shut up before I send you all on laps," Wymack said.
Nicky subsided with a lightning-quick grin in Neil's direction. Neil managed a small smile back. The familiar bickering had taken the edge off the Foxes' outrage, and now the upperclassmen looked to Neil instead of Riko. Andrew made himself comfortable on Neil's left, a one-man barricade between Neil and the crowd. The next time Wymack looked at Neil, Neil nodded a silent okay.
"Where was I?" Wymack asked.
"Offense, I think," Neil said, and looked at Kevin. Kevin was staring white-faced at Riko, but Neil nudged him until he had Kevin's attention. "Fair warning: if they put Beckstein as my mark I'm going to have to do side passes all night. He's got a foot on me, so if he catches my stick on an upward swing it'll pull me too far and I'll tear something."