Thinking about Wymack putting up with Neil, alone, during his senior year. None of the other foxes are there to deal with his antics. Kevin isnāt there to talk about everything Exy related. Andrew isnāt there to keep him grounded and sane. Allison and Nicky arenāt pushing him out of his comfort zone with his style, appearance, etc. Matt isnāt there to be a friend. Dan canāt help him captain his team. Aaron isnāt there to annoy him. Renee isnāt there with her gentle, reassuring smile.
I know that some of the freshman from the EC become Neilās friends, but it isnāt the same as the OG Foxes.
So, he turns to one of the few people he trusts, Dad Wymackā¢ļø. Neil joins him in his office for lunch and tells him all about Andrewās most recent Exy game. āDid you see how many saves Andrew made last night?ā 38. It was beautiful.ā *heart eyes* Coach returns his attention to the paperwork he was working on when Neil walked in. He half listens as the striker explains a movie that Nicky said he needed to watch to understand current trends.
After a game night, Neil goes home with Wymack, who now lives together with Abby, and stays for dinner with the couple, yapping about everything that plagued him that day. āI talked to Andrew last night and he was telling me about this drill his pro team does at practice. He thinks itās stupid, of course, but I think it could help us get through the other teamās defense easier.ā He goes on to explain the drill between bites of pasta and sauce.
When Neil leaves, Coach looks at Abby, feeling slightly dumbfounded, āI never knew the kid could say so many words in such a short time.ā Abby lets out a chuckle.
āI donāt get any paperwork finished anymore with him around so much.ā He explains with fake annoyance. She gives him a soft smile, āHe just misses Andrew and the rest of our Foxes. I think itās says a lot that he trusts you with the details of his private life. We all know how hard that is for him.ā
Dad Wymack sits in his thought for a quiet minute, thinking back to the locker room in Millport with the brown-haired, brown-eyed boy who was scared to live. To the airport before the new year with the red-haired, blue-eyed boy who was fighting for his family. To a cheap motel in Baltimore with a boy covered in scars who fought to stay and live. Neil has come a long way and Wymackās chest swells with pride and love for the striker.
Two days later, on Monday, Neil shows up right on time for Wymackās lunch hour, but the older man doesnāt mind the sound of Neilās chattering over their shared lunch. āAllison told me my hair is getting too long, but the shampoo she sent me is making my curls look ādeliciousā. I donāt know what she means by that, how hair can look edible, but Andrew says not to worry about it. Speaking of Andrew, do you know how much he has been bench pressing in the gym? Heās up toāā
Wymack lets out a quiet, exasperated sigh as he leans back in his chair, accepting his fate for the next year as Neil continues talking. He may act annoyed about his new lunch time guest, but it means a lot that Neil feels safe with him, even if that means learning about pop culture and Neilās distaste for broccoli.
