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"You feel certain that Jake did this?"

"I do," I say "If you could have seen his face, seen how defensive he wasyou would too And even if he didn’t set out to do it, even if she hen they went in the roos differently He wouldn’t have left her there like that And I know fighting him probably wasn’t the answer, and it’s ht to kick ot to say, I’d rather be off the teaside Jake This teae, and he doesn’t deserve to taint that"

Coach is quiet for a long while He looks at hs, before turning his gaze soain Finally, he stands and moves across the roorassy area of caames or study when the weather’s nice

"You knohen I suspended you from the team, I told you I needed you to be a leader I wasn’t sure then if you had it in you I knew you could play, knew you loved the game But I couldn’t tell if you only cared about your own future, or the tea what you just said, I knew the answer before you ever opened that door You kno?"

I shake ed in ht after he explained what happened was that I couldn’t suspend you again He said the team needed you Brookes and Torres showed up atht in the middle of dinner He busted into my house, interrupted my date, and told h, hter told me in no uncertain terms that if I didn’t support you, she wouldn’t speak to me for the rest of the season People love you, Silas They respect you They trust you, and I do, too And I probably shouldn’t say this, but I’lad it was you that found Stella instead of so wasn’t the best way to handle it, but I’m not sorry that’s hoent You shouldn’t be, either That girl" He stops for ahis words "I love Stella like she was hter out of her shell, and she’s" He trails off and looks out thefor a while He doesn’t say anything, but I can see hi to keep his coain, his expression is serious "You’re a good lad to have you on this teaet eal authority to address what happened this weekend, but I do have authority overa university investigation, will likely be disether All I need is the athletic director’s okay, and I proet that One way or another"

I grip the arhtly and nod my head "Thank you, sir Thank you so much"

He comes around the table, and I stand to meet him when he holds out a hand He shakes my hand, firm and quick, and it has all the softness of a cobra strike, but it’s what nearly puts e

I s hard, nod my head, thank him one more time, and then head for the door

"Silas," he calls before I’round Pretty inventive idea"

I shrug "I guess"

"I sure do hope this game works out for you, son But if it doesn’t, I think you could make a damn fine coach"

I close the door behind h my shoulders

I swear to God, it’s like the whole tea workout today Torres and Brookes are pretending to watch gaht outside the office, and they pounce as soon as I’uys slink in froive them the news Coach Oz and even Coach Gallt nod at ht room

It still doesn’t quite feel real when I leave the athletic complex and head for my pickup so I can make my first class on the other side of caray number parked next to my rusty piece of junk, and Dylan climbs out of the driver’s side

The wind catches her hair, tossing it up in this golden column that catches the sun She crosses to me quickly and huddles in close so that my body blocks some of the wind