"There is a really good explanation for this," Andrew said. "I can't wait to hear it."

"You know why she's here."

"I don't, Coach. This isn't her business."

"Don't even start," Wymack said as he pulled in behind the unfamiliar car. "I know you didn't honestly think you could keep this from her for long. But bringing her along tonight wasn't my idea, so don't give me that look. I didn't know Abby invited her until we were on the road."

"I hate all of you," Andrew said, too cheerfully, and he got out of the car.

Their arrival hadn't gone unnoticed, and the front door opened before they were halfway to it. It took Neil only a second to recognize Betsy Dobson in the doorway and he ground to a halt in the grass.

Andrew stopped, too, and threw out his arms as if expecting a hug. "Oh, Bee! What amazing timing. We were just talking about you. I've got other things to do right now but Neil said he would keep you company in my stead. You don't mind, do you? I didn't think you would."

"I mind," Neil said. "I have nothing to say to her."

"I'm sure you'll come up with something." Andrew grinned over his shoulder at Neil. "You always do, right? It doesn't have to be the truth, you know. Bee's not expecting honesty from you. I told her not to trust a single word you said. Or have you started playing the secrets game with her, too?"

"I said no."

Andrew turned to face him completely and stuffed his hands into the oversized front pocket of his sweatshirt. "You misunderstand," he said, with a knowing nod. "I wasn't asking, Neil. You helped create this mess. The least you could do is help clean it up. Where's your sense of responsibility?"

A knife wouldn't hurt this much. Andrew's words punched the breath out of Neil's lungs; he took a stumbling step back in a desperate bid for balance. He wanted to say this wasn't his fault, but they both knew it was. Andrew hadn't told him about Drake, but he'd said Luther betrayed his trust. Instead of listening to that, Neil sided with Nicky's hopeful grief. He hadn't invited Drake to South Carolina, but he'd delivered Andrew into his waiting arms.

Guilt was a relatively new emotion for Neil, something the Foxes were teaching him through prolonged exposure to them. Up until this point he'd felt it in uncomfortable, fleeting bursts. Now it was a fierce, all-consuming heat that made him want to cut his own stomach out. He didn't know if he was going to puke or scream. Neither one was acceptable, so he clenched his teeth as hard as he could. Meeting Andrew's eyes was almost impossible. Looking away would be unforgivable.

He reached through the acid in his chest and found the only words he could: "Where is yours?"