Beau settles in, leans back, and crosses his arms over his chest. His shoulder is taped under his hoodie, the edge of white visible when he moves, his jaw set and his gaze tracking the aisle with quiet vigilance.
And the atmosphere shifts around him.
I’m starting to notice it a lot more, now: the way the noise levels adjust, the way conversations subtly orient themselves in his direction without anyone meaning to.
The way he grounds them, and they orbit him without thinking about it.
And I’m beginning to understand why Coach keeps saying he’s not the enemy.
Chapter Thirteen
Emery
The drive over to Red River isn’t particularly long, but it’s long enough for the team to devolve into chaos.
“MARCO STOLE MY HEADPHONES!”
“They were IN THE SEAT—”
“YOU SAT ON THEM—”
“YOU PUT THEM THERE—”
“ENOUGH!” Coach barks. “Jesus. You’re grown men.”
Theo doesn’t even look up from his crossword.
“They’re not.”
“I’m a scholar,” Connor says proudly.
“You’re a hazard,” Dylan corrects.
“Potato, potahto.”
Gordo leans over the back of Beau’s seat.
“Captain. CAPTAIN. Hypothetical question.”
“No,” Beau answers immediately.
“You didn’t even hear it!”
“No.”
Gordo huffs.
“Fine. I’ll ask Emery,” Gordo huffs. “Emery!”
I sigh heavily.
“I regret this already,” I mutter.
“If you had to fightonemascot in the league, who’re you picking?”
“The Riverton Raccoon,” I say instantly.
The entire bus gasps dramatically.
