I look at him properly then.
At the way he’s trying to frame this.
At the world he’s still standing in.
“I’m not worried about momentum,” I say, quieter now, but firmer. “I’m worried about her.”
There’s a pause.
A longer one this time.
Because that’s not the answer he wants.
“We’ll see how things go,” I add, cutting it off before he can push further, because I don’t have the capacity for this conversation right now.
His gaze shifts to Zach.
“And you?” he asks. “We need you back as well.”
Zach doesn’t move from where he’s leaning, his expression steady, but there’s something different in his eyes now, something more final.
“I’ll come back when I’m ready,” he says simply.
Not defensive.
Not uncertain.
Just decided.
Mark exhales slowly through his nose, like he’s holding back everything he actually wants to say.
Before he turns to Elijah.
“The league is keeping your suspension in place for the remaining games,” he says, more direct now. “But I’ve been informed all charges have been dropped.”
That makes something in my chest tighten slightly, even though I expected it.
Mark studies him.
Really studies him.
Like he’s trying to understand what he’s looking at.
“Whoever your lawyer is,” he says, “they’re very good.”
Elijah doesn’t shift. Doesn’t react.
“My lawyer is my brother.”
Mark lets out a quiet breath, something almost like disbelief flickering across his face.
“Well,” he says slowly, “he’s very good at what he does.”
There’s something else there.
A question.
I can see it forming.
