"You know what they say about people who assume, Coach." Andrew grinned and stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets. "He's not bleeding, so I told him I'd be back later and we could talk about it then. It's technically the truth, yes? Let Neil deal with the fallout if Nicky doesn't like it. Bee, we're going."

Wymack let them get all the way to the door before calling, "Andrew. Don't leave me alone with these morons for too long. I'm getting too old to deal with their drama."

"Oh, you and me both," Andrew said.

Betsy closed the door behind them. Neil could just make out the sound of her engine starting, and then it was quiet. Andrew was gone.

The silence that descended on the house was almost suffocating, but it didn't last long. Wymack dug his cigarettes out of his pocket and shook a stick into his hand. He had it halfway to his mouth before he paused and looked at Neil. When he held it out in offering, Neil didn't hesitate to take it. Wymack let him use the lighter first. Neil passed the cigarette from hand to hand, trying to scatter the thin trail of smoke as best he could.

"Look," Wymack said. "I know I've always told you all to take your personal problems up with Betsy or Abby. I've said it's not my place to get into anything outside the court. I hope you've figured out by now I'm just blowing hot air. I'm not real good at being a shoulder, but I do have a working set of ears."

"There's nothing to say," Neil said.

"Maybe not right now," Wymack said, "but that offer doesn't expire. Figure out what you two need to cope with this and let us know. We'll sit down with everyone tomorrow to see how to proceed from here, but you don't have to wait until then to speak up. That said, I have some calls I need to make. Are you good in here for a while?"

When Kevin said nothing, Neil said, "Yes, Coach."

Wymack went outside to make his calls in the cold. Neil looked at Kevin's bleak expression and debated checking on Nicky. He didn't have the energy to deal with Nicky's reaction, so he went to the kitchen instead. He set the cigarette down on the edge of the counter and went back to making breakfast. He got a few more rounds of bacon done before Kevin joined him and sat at the table.

"Riko is going to tear us apart," Kevin said.

"Maybe," Neil said.