Page 157 of The Americana Playbook

“What’s that?”

“The League’s investigation of Foller wasinconclusive.”

I don’t know why, but I feel oddly disappointed, considering I thought the investigation wasn’t necessary in the first place. But I don’t show that to Nick.

“I wasn’t really expecting it to show anything the team’s investigation didn’t already look into. But what does that mean?” I ask. “Everything goes back to how it was?”

Nick sighs. “Well, the League has basically saidWe wash our hands of thisand that the Rebels have the right to proceed however they want.”

I run my tongue against the inside of my lip. “So they could fire him?”

“They probably won’t is my guess, but I’ll keep my ear to the ground. You never know what could pop up, but even then, abuse like this”—Nick shakes his head—“it’s hard to prove. You either believe it or you don’t.”

For the first time, I realize maybe I believed it all along. Maybe I just didn’t want toseeit.

Nick claps my shoulder to wrap things up. “Either way, my message to you is the same. Don’t go out of your way for this guy. Not even awordout of your way.”

I press my lips together. “I’m supposed to sit down tomorrow with Foller and a reporter fromTheBoston Journal.”

Before he even takes his next breath, Nick is reaching for his inhaler. “I must’ve heard you wrong, right?”

“No.”

“Fitz!”

“You don’t need towhisper-yell at me!” I whisper-yell back.

Nick huffs. “Give me your phone.”

“What? Why?”

“So I can call your wife, and she can talk you out of this!”

I shake my head. “Parker told me to do what I have to do.”

“Ugh,” Nick groans. “She’s back on my shit list. Fitzy, cancel it, man. Don’t do it.”

“Don’t do what?” Coach asks.

We both swing our heads toward the tunnel entry leading to the hallway.

Coach gazes between us, and he tips his head, waiting for an answer.

“Leave my wife at home again,” I say, pushing past him. “And I won’t.”

* * *

I told myself not to panic before the plane took off and there was no message from Parker, still excusing it considering everything she had on her plate tonight. But when we land and I do get a message from someone not in my contacts, I worry.

617-555-3542

Hi Fitz. Sorry to bother you. I just wanted to see if you got a hold of Parker because I haven’t for the past few hours.

I freeze and then scroll up, realizing there’s an earlier message in the thread about Bernard. It’s Abby. Abby, who should either still be in my apartment or have left not all that long ago.

Weren’t you just with her?

I wait impatiently for the three dots to disappear and her message to come through.

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