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First, Troy’s respect for Chuku Moore grew like Jack’s beanstalk. Second, try as he might, Troy couldn’t help liking the kid and his friendly, nonchalant manner. To Troy life seemed like a fight against the tide, while Chuku seemed to be going with the current, carefree and easy, just enjoying it all.
    Finally Chuku’s dad emerged from the facility alone. “Chuku! Come on, boy!”
    Chuku ran over to Troy, smiling. “Nice to meet you guys.”
    â€œYou’re a pretty good receiver,” Troy said.
    â€œPretty good?” Chuku’s smile widened. “I was just fooling around out here. A. J. Green’s got nothing on Chuku Moore.”
    Chuku shook Troy’s hand, then Ty’s, before grabbing his jersey and the tickets and scooting off toward his dad, who had already turned and was trudging toward the gate.
    Father and son disappeared before Ty asked, “You think his dad is gonna get signed by the team?”
    â€œI have no idea.” Troy tossed the ball in the air and caught it.
    â€œCan you imagine if he did move here?” Ty wiped the sweat from his forehead. “And then, after you get everything worked out, the three of us at St. Stephen’s in a couple of years? Man, we could do some damage. Win a couple of state championships. All three of us five-star recruits. We could go visit all the big schools together. Maybe make ourselves a package deal?”
    Troy winced at the sound of St. Stephen’s. “Yeah, well, who knows. It’s no big deal. We got each other. We don’t need that kid.”
    â€œYeah, but you know better than anyone that teams can double-cover one guy with deep speed, but not two . It doesn’t take a genius to know that.” Ty paused. “Sorry about your tickets.”
    â€œI’m sorry for you.” Troy patted Ty’s back. “Who do you think I was bringing with me to that concert?”
    â€œReally? Man. Well, I ran as fast as I could and he beat me by a full stride. I’ve never seen anyone that fast.”
    Thane appeared at the doorway to the facility and shouted much the same as Chuku’s dad had done. “Let’s go, guys!”
    They joined Thane and walked through the offices toward the front. When they left the lobby, a Mercedes SUV pulled up in the circle. The window rolled down and Mr. Cole leaned toward them.
    â€œTroy, you bringing these guys with you to the concert?”

CHAPTER TWELVE
    TROY DIDN’T MISS A beat. “Sure.”
    â€œGreat, I’m off to Europe for a few days, but I’ll be back in time to see you all there.” Mr. Cole waved and the Mercedes sped off.
    Troy swallowed. He wouldn’t be bringing anyone to the concert, but the lie came off his tongue slick as spit. He couldn’t even help it. It bothered him no end that he was like that. It reminded him of his father, smooth and slippery and sliding through the cracks in life. That was no way to be. Now he had an even bigger problem.
    â€œThat was as friendly as I’ve ever seen him.” Thane stared at the SUV. “What concert?”
    â€œMr. Cole gave me some tickets and backstage passes for the Helena concert at Yankee Stadium,” Troy said.
    â€œBut he lost them on a bet.” Ty acted as if Thane were one of them.
    Troy winced. “I’ll get them back.”
    â€œOh. Wow. Well, okay.” That was all Thane said about it, but Troy could see the concern on his face.
    They got into Thane’s Escalade and headed to Troy’s place for dinner. On the way, Thane treated them to more Dairy Queen, then picked up two loaves of fresh Italian bread and a cheesecake at a local bakery.
    â€œDon’t want to show up empty-handed,” Thane said.
    Even in the evening light, Troy’s rental house seemed shabby, and when they pulled up behind the VW Bug in the gleaming new Escalade, Troy thought of the new Mustang he told Ty about wanting to get for his