On their walk at the floodplain this morning, Esta told him she had been accepted to the School of Journalism at Mizzou. He knew this was where Rudy was going also. He asked if she was seeing him. She said no but admitted that she and Rudy were becoming more than friends. For a second, he had wanted to find Rudy and beat him senseless. Frank had never lost a fight. He only fought when he felt he was right; then he would rather die than lose. Now he pressed his forehead hard against the steering wheel. He would lose to Rudy. Esta had chosen him. And even if he was in the right, he had a sense that this shit-wad with his sugary sweat would be the one person who could beat him. And Rudy would claim Esta’s virginity in the same way he scored his hoops or got on base, with a scowl, as if you were just being pigheaded to try to defend against his right to win.