‘Shut up,’ Harry moaned, before Matt explained for Rie’s benefit.

‘When Harry first came from London, he didn’t even know what a quarterback did.’

‘But if you came to Britain, you wouldn’t know what the wicket keeper does in cricket,’ Harry said defensively.

Sofia tutted at her brother, then started explaining. ‘Deion Powell is a senior and the Rockets’ starting QB. JJ Janssen is a year younger. He’s backup quarterback, but a lot of fans say he’s more talented.’

‘Way better,’ Rie said.

‘Just because you slept with him in tenth grade …’ Sofia teased.

Rie tipped her head back and smiled. ‘And it’s not just his muscles that are big!’

‘Jesus!’ Matt said, thumping the armrest and laughing as Harry flushed with embarrassment.

‘Deion Powell has a chance of a college football scholarship,’ Sofia explained. ‘Coach Henning is a decent guy, so he’s kept Deion as starting QB, because this is his senior year. The college scouts will be out looking for prospects and Coach wants to give the kid a shot. Next year, JJ will be a senior. He’ll be starting quarterback and get his shot at college.’

‘Seems fair,’ Harry said.

‘But Deion hasn’t been playing great,’ Sofia continued. ‘He’s thrown eleven interceptions and just one touchdown in his last three games. Lots of folks say JJ should be made starting quarterback now if Rock Spring is gonna have any realistic shot at state championships.’

‘Like JJ even needs a football scholarship,’ Matt hissed bitterly. ‘The Janssen family are rich.’

‘You’re not exactly on food stamps,’ Harry noted, as he flicked the back of Matt’s head rest.

‘Our parents are doctors,’ Matt said. ‘But Jay Janssen Senior owns casinos, hotels, and …’

‘He owns that strip mall on Flamingo,’ Rie added. ‘JJ hooked me up with an employee discount card …’

‘But that’s not how Janssen Senior started off,’ Matt said. ‘JJ’s old man spent time in jail for cocaine dealing, and his casinos are the kind of places where you wipe your feet on the way out.’

‘I’d bet my last ten bucks on JJ’s girlfriend, Fawn Croker, being involved,’ Rie said as Sofia stopped at a red light.

‘I hate Fawn Croker,’ Sofia said, shuddering. ‘It’s so creepy. JJ’s in eleventh grade and she’s, like, twenty-five.’

‘So JJ, or JJ’s dad, or his crazy girlfriend could be behind the bomb,’ Harry said thoughtfully as the light turned green.

‘What if it’s nothing to do with football?’ Rie suggested. ‘Deion’s a bully, but nobody would dare snitch on a football player.’

‘Why not?’ Harry asked.

Matt loved it when he knew something Harry didn’t. ‘If you snitch and a player gets kicked off the team, you’ll have every football fan in Rock Spring lining up to beat your ass.’