The King's Men

That lethargic peace lasted up until Neil left the shower and found Kevin sitting on a bench in the changing room. The stern look on his face said he wasn't waiting out of courtesy.

"Did you fix it?" Kevin asked.

"Fix what?" Neil asked.

"Don't act like an imbecile. If you are here, I expect you to be here," he said, emphasis on the last word. "The second your problems with Andrew interfere with our game they become our problems. Do you want us to win or don't you?"

"Don't lecture me like I don't know what's at stake

. "I think it's better this way, with you as the last line of defense. You let us run ourselves into the ground and clean up behind us. You play the game like you play life. That's why you're so good at it."

Why'd you even start playing if you weren't willing to practice?"

"It was a bigger cage than the alternative."

didn't realize Kevin was saying his name until Kevin finally pushed his shoulder to get his attention. Neil jumped like he'd been shot and jerked his attention to Kevin. Whatever Kevin saw on Neil's face, it was enough to kill his curiosity. Kevin slowly closed his mouth, withdrew his hand, and went back to drinking.

"I didn't think I was a personal problem. You hate me, remember?"

"Every inch of you," Andrew said. "That doesn't mean I wouldn't blow you."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"It is the answer," Andrew said. "Rephrase the question if you don't like it."

"I want to play another round," Neil said. "What's outside Coach's pay grade?"

So Andrew finally gave in, huh?" Roland said. "That looks pretty bad."

Neil almost reached for his face, but Roland was looking at his wrists.

Neil didn't think he could climb that high without pulling something, but he didn't have to worry. Allison stuffed him into her pink convertible as soon as he was within grabbing distance.

Neil braced himself for questions, but Allison didn't speak to him the entire ride. Neil thanked her as he got out, got a bemused look in response, and waited on the curb for the others to arrive.

was misplaced courtesy. Andrew wasn't likely to care if his teammates had better breaks than he did and Neil didn't begrudge them their happiness.

Kevin reached behind Andrew to smack the back of Neil's head. Every awkward ounce of empathy he'd managed yesterday was gone; he returned Neil's annoyed look