Neil rummaged through the fan gear for South Carolina's major teams. There were only two Class I schools in the state, Palmetto State and USC Columbia, but there were also three Class II teams and the major leagues team, the Columbia Dragons. Major leagues Exy played during the summer, saving fall and spring for the more-popular college and professional teams. Neil watched their games but didn't have any favorites. He saved all his love for the NCAA and national Court.

"Come on," Nicky said, nudging Neil and jerking his chin in Kevin's direction. "He's going to be a while."

Neil looked to see Kevin now talking to an older man with a nametag. He was dressed more professionally than the cashier, so Neil guessed he was the manager on duty. Neil glanced around in search of the security cameras. He wondered if the cashier hit a panic button to call the manager up front or if the man had seen Kevin's face on his computer screens in back. Either way the lightning-quick response made Neil's skin crawl. He nodded and followed Nicky to the stairs.

The second floor was mostly gear: court shoes, gear bags, and books. Revolving shelves with key chains, jewelry, and charms helped break up the sections. Aaron and Nicky went to investigate the bargain bins, but Andrew turned Neil to the next set of stairs.

"Quickly now," Andrew encouraged him. "Let's get this over with."

"That eager to get to Nicky's place?" Neil asked as he continued to the third floor.

"We aren't going to Nicky's place," Andrew said, shaking a head at Neil's ignorance. "It's his parents' house now, Neil. Nicky has no place there. Hasn't in years. But the sooner we are done playing around here, the sooner we can go home. Columbia is boring on Sundays. You understand, of course."

"Since I'm not affected by blue laws, it doesn't really matter to me," Neil said.

"No team spirit," Andrew mocked him. "Alas. Oh, look."

Neil didn't have to be told twice. The walls of the entire third floor were lined with racquets. Neil spent enough time looking up everything Exy on the internet that he knew how many different kinds of racquets were available. Seeing them on a website and seeing them in person were completely different experiences, and for a moment Neil stood frozen at the top of the stairs.

To the left of the stairwell was a register. The woman standing there was threading a racquet's net. She looked up at their arrival and chirped out a greeting. Andrew waved her off without looking. Neil thought he might have answered but he was too distracted by the racquets to really pay attention. The sound of her voice got him moving, and he slowly made his way around the room.