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The sun was up over the buildings beyond the practice field, but they were still waiting for it to do them some good. Every breath came out white. Behind him, somebody kept stamping his cleats against the grass while Coach gathered them around. The field smelled like wet dirt where they’d torn it up, and his shirt was starting to cool against his back.

Coach went over what he wanted cleaned up tomorrow. Drew listened, helmet hanging from his fingers, while sweat crept down between his shoulder blades. He knew what they needed to work on. Right now, he would’ve appreciated hearing the rest of it somewhere with heat.

“Go eat,” Coach finally said. “Happy Thanksgiving.”

That got everybody moving. Drew fell into step beside Dayshawn on the way inside, already thinking about standing under hot water until he could feel his hands again. “You heading straight home?” he asked.

“Gotta pick Lauren up first.”

“Your mom cooking?”

“She been at it since yesterday,” Dayshawn said. “She called me last night asking if Lauren eats chitlins.”

One of the guys ahead of them looked back. “Your mama checking what she eats now?”

“Man, she called about my girl before she even asked what I wanted.”

The guy laughed. “Shit, you know who she really wants to see.”

“Long as she feeds me, she can see whoever she wants.”

Drew followed them inside. The locker room smelled like sweat, damp gear, and somebody going too hard with the Right Guard, but at least it was warm. Guys dropped onto benches and started peeling off their gear, talking over each other about where they were eating and how soon they needed to leave. Kirby had a two-hour drive ahead of him. Cash was already calling dibs on leftovers he hadn’t been offered yet. Tanner asked if Dayshawn needed to check with Lauren before he could come out with them anymore. Dayshawn told them to kiss his ass and headed for the showers.

Drew grabbed a towel and hit the showers too. Under the hot water, he tipped his head forward and let it run over his neck, staying there a little longer than he needed to.

When he got out of the shower, the locker room was emptying. Guys pulled on sweatshirts and jackets, checked their pockets for keys, and shouted their goodbyes on the way through the door. Before leaving, Dayshawn told Drew he’d bring him a plate if his brothers didn’t eat everything first.

Drew had finished dressing and was zipping his bag when Jed came in.

“There you are. You got a minute?”

Drew looked up. “What’s going on?”

“Come down the hall with me.”

He slung the bag over his shoulder and followed him into a small office. Jed pushed the door nearly closed, then moved a stack of folders off the chair beside the desk.

Drew stayed standing. “This about Saturday?”

“I heard from the campus paper. They’re running that picture of you and your girlfriend on Monday.”

“Figured they would.”

“It’s going on the front page.”

Drew had wondered if they’d put it there.

Jed settled against the edge of the desk. “You could’ve mentioned she was Melvin Wright’s daughter.”

Drew set his bag down. “They know that?”

“Nicole Wright. That’s her, isn’t it?”

“What are they putting in the article?”

“They’re running a story about you and Nicole with the picture. From what he told me, they’re putting her father’s name in the headline.”

Drew pushed his fingers through his hair and left his hand against the back of his neck. Jesus Christ. “How’d they find out?”