Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
He clenched his hand and lowered it to his lap. "Is that enough, Coach? It's a truth on credit to hold you until spring."
"Yes," Wymack said. "It's enough for now."
Wymack wrapped up Neil's wounds with fresh bandages, then reclaimed his chair. The pair sat in silence, Wymack watching Neil and Neil studying his hands. Neil fought with his uncooperative memory, trying to recall his stay at Evermore. When the most important piece clicked into place Neil could finally breathe.
"I didn't sign it," Neil said, looking up from his hands. He lifted his fingers to his face. He couldn't feel his tattoo, but he'd seen Kevin's often enough that he knew exactly where it was. "He gave me a contract but I wouldn't sign it. He couldn't make me. This doesn't mean anything. I'm still a Fox."
"Of course you are," Wymack said.
Neil nodded and looked at the clock. It was five 'til midnight. "Are we going to watch the ball drop? I want to make a wish."
"You make wishes on shooting stars," Wymack said. "New Year's is for resolutions."
"That's okay too," Neil said.
Wymack dug his remote out from under a couch cushion and turned on the TV. Noise and music filled the room. Cameras panned across the crowd as a band performed on stage. Neil searched the crowd for his teammates' faces, knowing he wouldn't see them but needing to look anyway.
He checked his phone, found the battery blinking critically low, and opened his messages box anyway. He didn't read them. He didn't have time and the battery wouldn't last long enough. He had enough power to compose a group message, though, so he tapped out a simple "Happy New Year" to the Foxes. Betsy had told them Andrew's phone was confiscated for the duration of his stay at Easthaven, but Neil added his number anyway and pressed SEND.
The response was almost immediate. By the time the midnight countdown started on the screen, by the time Neil looked up and watched the flashing ball start its descent, he'd already heard back from his entire team, most of them in caps-lock and with extraneous exclamation marks. He'd ignored them through Christmas but they seemed excited to hear from him now. He was their family. They were his. They were worth every cut and bruise and scream.
Neil watched the ball hit bottom. It was January. It was a new year. It was two days until Andrew's release, eleven days until the first championships match, and four months until Finals.
Facing the Foxes on the court this spring would be the last mistake Riko ever made.