Nora Sakavic

"You do understand by now that your cowardice is what's keeping you and Andrew apart, right?"

"I am not a coward."

"You're a spineless asshole," Neil said. "You let the world happen to you and don't bother to fight back.

He started to reach for Andrew again but stopped himself halfway there. Andrew snagged that hand too and held it down out of the way.

"Stay," Andrew said, and leaned down to kiss him.

"I didn't say anything then because I knew I'd look out for only me when the world went to hell. I don't want to be that person anymore. I want to go back for you."

He didn't know what this thing between them was anymore. He didn't know what he wanted or needed it to be. He just knew he had to hold on for as long as he could.

Aaron was one of the first off the court. He shoved his racquet at Nicky and dropped his helmet and gloves on his way to the cheerleaders. Katelyn tossed her pom-poms aside at his approach and jumped into his waiting arms to kiss him. The Vixens bounced around them, cheering and waving to the crowd

"Morning, sunshine," Matt said with exaggerated cheer.
"Fuck you," Kevin said.
Dan yawned into her hand. "Glad to see you're still a morning person."
"Fuck you too."

"Please don't take this the wrong way, but it's not you I'm worried about," Nicky said. "If you're going to play dealer who do we have in goal second half?"

Wymack looked at Andrew. Andrew looked over his shoulder as if checking for a third goalkeeper.

"The next time someone comes for you, stand down and let me deal with it. Do you understand?"
"If it means losing you, then no," Neil said.

said.
"I hate you," Andrew said casually. He took a last long drag from his cigarette and flicked it off the roof. "You were supposed to be a side effect of the drugs."
"I'm not a hallucination," Neil said, nonplussed.
"You are a pipe dream," Andrew said.

"Give me one good reason to not push you off the side."
Neil shook a stick out and lit it. "I'd drag you with me. It's a long way down."