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)
“Young love is the best,” she declared, depositing their helmets on the nearest bench.
Jean couldn’t make sense of it. From these outside distractions—Cherise, Tori, and Diego—to Cat and Laila, Xavier and Min, and whatever strangeness was going on with Cody, the Trojans seemed to fall in love so easily. He said as much to Cat as they collected their water bottles, and she peered up at him in renewed interest.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never been in love,” she said.
“Ravens are not allowed to have relationships,” Jean said. “They can sleep around as they like to work out aggression and need, but allowing emotions into the mix could have catastrophic results on regulated partnerships and the overall hierarchy. The team’s success must come before all else.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Cat said.
Diego was taking Bobby for a ride on his makeshift horse. Jean couldn’t hear her laughter from here, but he saw it on her face as she clung to him. Jean tasted bile and blood. He sucked in a slow breath through the aching burn on his tongue and said, “It doesn’t matter.”
When he dragged his stare back to Cat, the lighthearted teasing was gone from her expression. For a moment he thought she’d give up and grant him peace, but then she cautiously asked, “What happened?”
A knife at his throat; cruel fingers in his hair. “Queers do not belong on my perfect Court. I will bleed this out of him within a week.”
Stupid, beautiful Kevin had tried his best to defend Jean. After all, he was blindingly obsessed with the Trojans; it was reasonable to assume Jean would also find a Big Three team captivating. He’d only dug Jean’s grave deeper with that argument. Riko hadn’t even known Jeremy was a factor then—it wasn’t the Trojans he’d caught Jean staring at with such unsubtle and idiotic devotion. Riko hadn’t wasted his breath correcting Kevin, not wanting to give him any more reasons to protect their worthless third wheel. Jean hadn’t tried either; what good would it do to confess to such an oblivious fool?
“Jean,” Cat said, almost too soft to hear.
“I got caught,” Jean finally said. “I do not want to talk about it tonight.”
“Okay,” she said, and looped an arm around his waist. “Okay. I’m sorry.”
Jean moved without thinking, pressing a close-mouthed kiss to her temple the way she did whenever she thought he was unraveling. Cat’s arm went so tight around him he felt two vertebrae in his spine pop, but the smile she turned on him was bright. If she had anything else to say on the matter, she was interrupted by Laila’s arrival. Jeremy had gotten flagged down to speak to the reporters so Rhemann could return to his duties.
The Trojans drifted on their side of the arena, alternating jogging in place with slow stretches and easy twists. At ten minutes to serve, White took the offense line off to one side and Jimenez rounded up his defense. The freshmen listened with utter seriousness, never mind that his words weren’t for them. With five minutes left to go, Jeremy was sent on court for a coin toss against the Bobcats’ captain Thomas Ennis. He won serve, and Ennis chose the traditional Away court for his team’s start.
Rhemann collected everyone as soon as Jeremy was back. “You’ve faced this team before. You know what they’re capable of. They’re fast, and they’re good, and they’re likely going to do their best to get under your skin. You know their game, and you know yours. One step, one push, one duck and weave at a time,” he stressed. “You can overcome everything they throw at you. Trust yourself and your teammates, and don’t hesitate to call for help where and when you need it.”
He glanced from Jeremy to Jean at that, and Jean remembered Xavier’s warning that the Bobcats would try to hurt them both. Jean wasn’t concerned for himself; he could play through whatever these useless children threw his way. Jean assumed Jeremy was less reckless after having to deal with this team for the last four years, but he fixed a cool stare on Jeremy’s face until Jeremy returned it. Jeremy’s smile was lightning-quick and full of teeth, and Jean decided to trust him for now.
Overhead the announcer was going on at full volume, welcoming the fans to the Gold Court and declaring the game a sold-out success. With two minutes left on the clock, he finally read off the starting lineups, calling the Bobcats to the court first. Jean watched as they entered one at a time and took their places along the far-fourth and half-court lines. Xavier collected his first-half teammates and led them to the door.
“Starting line-up for your USC Trojans,” the announcer said, and the crowd screamed so loud Jean could barely hear the roster. “On offense, strikers Derek Thompson and Derrick Allen. Starting dealer is your vice-captain, Xavier Morgan. On defense, backliners Cody Winter and Patrick Toppings. In goal, Shane Reed.” Here he paused, knowing the band would launch into the Trojans’ fight song.