Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
“Bad news is she kept the bit about your parents,” Jeremy said. “The whole thing is cut to make it look like that’s why the interview was stopped, which—not the best look when done that way, but anyone who doesn’t understand why you walked off is beyond our help. The rest of it is surprisingly well stitched, and she added a bit of commentary at the end where she tries to break down some of your responses. That, too, is generally in your favor. I was right: your reaction to Zane’s bit looks perfect on camera. Loyalty and grief despite the Ravens’ crusade against you.”
“But,” Jean said.
Jeremy wagged his hand, undecided on whether his but was negative or not: “The microphones were on the set itself, not you. They couldn’t catch everything you and Kevin said to each other, but what they did hear, they made sure to translate and subtitle. At the very least it establishes that Kevin knows the truth about your parents.”
“And that you speak Japanese,” Cat piped up. “I was so far off with my guesses.”
“An interesting choice, learning Japanese before English,” Laila said, studying Jean with disquieting intensity.
Jean hadn’t prepared an answer for that, and he felt that misstep keenly. Luckily for him Kevin was used to lying to cover for the Moriyamas, and he answered with a dismissive, “Unsurprising. Exy started in Japan and the master was Japanese. I doubt Jean was the only obsessed child who picked up the language along with the sport.”
“Good lord.” Cat scrubbed at her arms. “Don’t call him that. Queens have no masters.” When Kevin only lifted one shoulder in a shrug, Cat turned a considering look on Jean. “Wonder what happened to him, anyway?”
“If we’re lucky, we’ll never know,” Kevin said. He took a swig from his cup, grimaced when he remembered too late it was only water, and flicked Jean a mean look.
Jeremy nudged Jean’s knee before standing. “I’ve got to update Coach. Are you ready for round two?”
“No,” Jean said, but he got to his feet and washed the cleaner off his hands.
Jeremy smiled. “One more call, and then we’re done for the day, okay? We’ve done all we can for now. Let Coach handle the rest of the fallout without us. We’ll pretend this morning didn’t happen and attempt to have a little fun before Kevin abandons us for South Carolina. The rest we can deal with tomorrow, yeah?”
Jean would always be a fan of emotional procrastination, so he said, “Yes.”
This call was much shorter, as they were just tweaking their earlier approach to account for what did and didn’t make it into the cut. Rather than ask Rhemann if it was okay to leave the bulk of the aftermath to him, Jeremy simply said they’d be going dark the rest of the afternoon. The audacity was enough to have Jean leaning away from him on the couch, but Rhemann agreed it was for the best.
And then Rhemann asked, “Have you warned your parents yet?” and Jeremy’s easy smile faded right off his face.
Jeremy tapped the butt of his phone against his temple for a few moments, then admitted, “No. Once they hear about it, I’ll have to go home, and if I do that I won’t be back tonight. Kevin’s only in town one more night, so...” He trailed off as if expecting an argument. When Rhemann said nothing, Jeremy said, “I’ll deal with them after I’ve gotten Andrew and Kevin on the plane.”
“It’s your call,” Rhemann said. “I assume you’ll be turning off your phone, then.”
“Think I’ll have to, yeah.”
“Then I’ll call Laila if I need to follow up with you. Do you need anything else from me before I let you go?” Rhemann said, and waited for a negative before stressing, “Stay safe and look out for one another.”
Jean studied him as Jeremy turned off his phone. It wasn’t his business or his place to press; Ravens weren’t supposed to talk about families when they weren’t allowed to have any. But he wasn’t a Raven, was he? He waged a quiet war with himself until Jeremy turned a too-calm look on him. Jeremy said nothing, but his expression was expectant. He knew Jean was working himself up to something, but he said nothing to dissuade him.
It was permission enough, so Jean said, “You won’t play in Texas because your grandfather is there.”
“He is not—” Jeremy caught himself, but Jean quietly stored that automatic rejection away to mull over later. “He’s my stepfather’s father; that doesn’t make him family. But yes—and no. He’s been living in DC since he was elected to Congress, so he’s not in Texas now, but he’ll have to go back sooner or later.”
Jean’s American geography hinged on knowing where important teams played, but even he knew roughly where Texas was. “It is a long way from California.”