Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 87395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
"Leave him alone."
A black look twisted Riko's expression into something ugly and unrecognizable. He reached for Neil, but Kevin caught his arm to stop him. Riko slammed his elbow back into Kevin's face without missing a beat. Neil retreated as fast as he could, but there was only so far he could go before he would end up on stage again. He'd just started tripping over wires when Andrew appeared in front of him.
"Riko," Andrew said, spreading his arms as if he intended to hug Riko hello. "It's been a while."
Riko jerked back a bit in surprise, started to school his expression into something more civil, and gave up when he realized who had joined them.
"We were just talking about you," Riko said.
"With your fists, it seems," Andrew said. "Don't touch my things, Riko. I don't share."
He reached back without looking and pushed at Neil's shoulder. Neil took the hint and skirted around Andrew and Riko. He half-expected Riko to stop them, but all of Riko's attention was on Andrew. Neil grabbed Kevin's arm and hauled him down the hall, looking for the exit. They were almost there when the team caught up with them. Abby jogged the last couple steps to Kevin and crushed him in a fierce embrace. Kevin held onto her for dear life while the team hovered nearby.
Wymack looked at Neil. "Are you seriously retarded or something? You would have been safer back at Palmetto after all."
"Leave him alone, David," Abby said, muffled against Kevin's shoulder.
"When I said Abby and I would look out for you, I didn't mean you should pick a fight with Riko on national television," Wymack said. "Should I have spelled that out beforehand?"
"Probably," Neil said.
"It's fine, Coach," Andrew said, catching up to them. He touched Neil's back on his way by, fingers light enough to give Neil goose bumps, but didn't slow on his way to Kevin's side. He pressed a hand to Abby's arm in a silent demand for her to back off. "Kevin, we're going. Right now, okay?"
Kevin let go of Abby, and Andrew pushed him out the door into the parking lot.
"Coach says stupid, but I say you have balls of steel. I didn't think you had it in you," Matt said, looking Neil over as if wondering what he'd missed this summer. "I thought you were the quiet type."
"If Neil was quiet, Andrew wouldn't have brought him to Columbia," Renee said.
"True," Matt agreed.
When Neil looked between them, Renee smiled and said, "Andrew's welcome parties are his way of sizing up and eliminating threats. Not everyone gets invited."
"You went," Neil said, not believing it but knowing somehow he was right.
"The three of us were," Renee said, gesturing at Matt and Dan. "No one else was until you."
"Let's go," Wymack said. "I am going to drop you off at the dorm and spend the rest of the day drinking. Damage control can wait until tomorrow."
They caught up with Andrew's group at the bus. Wymack unlocked the door to let them on, and he got them on the road as fast as he could.
Neil spent the ride staring out the window and trying to figure out the consequences of what he'd done. Neil knew harmless conversation with his teammates was better than his dire thoughts, but he wasn't in the mood. He was too tense to play nice with them. Luckily Renee got the hint after a couple attempts and left him alone.
They were almost halfway back when Andrew had to take his medicine again. Abby went to the back of the bus to make sure he really swallowed it. Neil halfexpected Andrew to fight it after what had happened at Kathy's show, but Andrew was surprisingly compliant.
They stopped only to get gas and made good time back to campus. Neil was so relieved to see Palmetto State again it was almost painful. Wymack let the bus idle out back of Fox Tower and watched his team climb out. He said nothing until Andrew approached, then put a hand in Andrew's path.
"Be smart."
Andrew flapped a hand at Wymack. "I know, I know."
Neil didn't know if Wymack actually trusted Andrew, but Wymack nodded and dropped his hand. Andrew took the stairs down and didn't slow on his way to the dorm. Wymack didn't leave until they were all inside. They took the stairs to the third floor, and Dan stopped outside Andrew's room.
"Hey," Dan said as Andrew unlocked his door. "Let's have lunch together as a team. We don't have to talk about this morning if you don't want to."
Andrew pretended to think about it. "No."
He opened the door and stepped out of the way to send Kevin a pointed look. Kevin started into the room.
"Don't worry, Kevin," Dan said. "We'll figure this out together."
Kevin glanced back at her, but he didn't get to answer. Andrew put his hand to Kevin's back and shoved him into the bedroom. Dan scowled at Andrew as Aaron and Nicky followed Kevin inside. Andrew smiled and slammed the door in her face.
"Asshole," Matt said.
"They're upset," Renee said. "They couldn't help him today."
"They didn't have to," Matt said. "Neil did it for them."
They went to the men's suite and found Seth and Allison tangled together on the couch. They were watching a movie, dressed but just barely. Neither seemed embarrassed about being walked in on. The upperclassmen didn't bat an eye, as if this was a normal sight around these parts, but Neil averted his eyes from the pair. The most Allison did to cover up was to put one of the couch pillows on her lap over her pink thong.
"He's looking fancy," she said, pointing at Neil.
"Surprise guest on Kathy's show," Dan said. "Kathy wanted the exclusive and Kevin wanted the publicity. Did it record all right?"
"I haven't checked it yet. We were busy."
"You think?" Matt asked.
Dan elbowed him. "Pause that, would you? We have to talk. Something went wrong this morning."
"We're Foxes. Something is always going wrong," Seth said, but he fished the remote out from under a cushion and turned the TV off.