It wasn't that hard to figure it out, even with her vague explanation. There were only two women on the Court's roster. One was a dealer from USC. The other, Theodora Muldani, was a backliner from Edgar Allan. Her ascension to the national team two years ago drew a lot of attention since she was the only player who'd turned down her initial invitation. Her official reason was she didn't want the Court schedule interfering with her fifth year at university. No one expected the national team to give her a second chance, but the Court's representative was waiting for her at her final championships game.

Thea would have been starting her fifth year with the Ravens when Kevin started his freshman year, but Kevin and Riko grew up at Evermore around the Raven line. Kevin would have known Thea her entire five-year career as a Raven. Neil wondered how long it took them to fall for each other and what Thea thought of Kevin's transfer to the Foxes. He was more curious how Kevin found room in his heart for someone else when he lived and breathed Exy. It seemed impossible that a man could be so devoted to more than one thing.

Maybe Nicky and Kevin were both right, then. Neil's thoughts spun back to Andrew, and he said, "No one else knows about Andrew's sexuality."

"As far as I know, you and I are the only ones," Renee confirmed. "Andrew told me last year when the others started talking about us. He didn't want me getting any ideas from their gossip, he said."

"But Aaron and Nicky," Neil protested. "I know they've only known him a couple years, but they're with him all the time. How could they not have figured it out by now?"

"I assume Andrew's medicine makes him a hard read for even them," Renee said. "More importantly, Andrew does not want them to know. He and Aaron aren't ready for a conversation this serious yet. They have too many other problems to work through first. And you know as well as I do Nicky can't keep a secret to save his life."

Yet, Renee had said, which meant Andrew intended on fixing things with his brother at some point. Neil didn't know if that was her optimism speaking or if she knew it as fact. He didn't know what she and Andrew talked about when they stood off by themselves. Thinking it was Exy strategies was laughable. Imagining them having a serious conversation—as serious as a drugged Andrew could be, anyway—about Andrew's closeted sexuality was equally impossible.

"Then why can I know?" Neil asked.

"Perhaps he knows you won't use it against him," Renee said.