um lights

my ribs, a wild rhythm m

to go. State Champ

rasp in my helmet speaker, "Mill

defensive line

ik

lapped int

her, pushing throug

int flashed un

chd

physical force. Te

d w

ne spray and cheers, Mr. Henderson, the scout

mpressive. We need to talk.

s it. T

buzzed.

need you." Her voic

won! The scout from the Cowbo

bad day. It's his recovery celebration party tonight, remember?He was so

oy race car driver, now confined to a wheel

M meeting. Crucial.

, Ethan. He had another..

ll. The one I co

rth, used her family's vast resources to get Mom into that e

, frail but alive,

e elation draining fr

d have to wait. Or

ing Southern estate. Chandeliers dripped c

a cashmere blanket over his legs. He looked p

A small,

was afraid your... ga

t miss i

djusting his blanket. "Se

t Mr. Henderson an apology and a desperate plea to reschedule,

racking. "How can you have him here, flaunting your... your new lif

urned. The m

"Lucas, what are you sayi

han, please. Just... apologize. Tell him

influential people bored into

lked

ing here caused you any di

ing a path down his chee

?" he whispered, loud enough

is hand. "I know,

crowd. "Ethan is a dear fa

ly f

ollow feeling

e hospital, after Sophia's intervention. I

ll I ask. Let's say... ninety-nine times. Ninety-nine times you help me, or I.

then, a sad,

f any significance I might have had t

do

-eight