Patton insisted on taking the entire team out to dinner. DeShawn went because people might notice if he didn’t, but once again, the rest of the team elbowed him out of the way. They had a definite hierarchy, and at that moment, Patton sat at the very top. DeShawn lingered at the very bottom. He felt bruised and unsure—two things DeShawn never was.
DeShawn returned to the room first, regretting the stupid challenge he’d tossed at Patton’s feet earlier. Patton hadn’t recognized it as a challenge—of course—and so DeShawn regretted it all the more. Would he come back that night? Or would he stay out, celebrating and enjoying his victory? Well, celebrating as he much as he could given the circumstances. DeShawn knew that Patton would rather not play at all than play due to somebody else’s inju
