Chan ducked his head. “Dresden Wynn is a great player.”
“There will always be someone better than you.” The coach’s voice grew louder. “Always. But there’s no excuse for playing like you did today. None!”
Chan nodded and kept his head down.
“Look at me, for fates’ sake.” Coach grabbed Chan’s shoulders and shook him. “You know I respect your family. Your brother was an amazing player, Chan. Quick, light on his feet. But he also had a solid foundation of sportsmanship. He didn’t resort to tricks. He had raw, natural talent. I thought I saw glimpses of that in you.” He released Chan, who stumbled backward. “I was a fool.” He turned away and muttered curses under his breath.
Chan slowly dressed, then sat on a bench, his back turned to the team. He waited until they’d all left before emergi
