The letter arrived on a Thursday, three weeks after the first one, and this time Javier's hands didn't shake.
He was in the locker room, packing his bag after practice, when Mateo handed it to him. "This came for you. Looks important."
Javier took the envelope. It was thick. Cream-colored. The return address was Crestmont University.
His heart skipped. Crestmont. Leo's alma mater. The school where he'd won two national championships. The school that had offered Leo the head coaching job.
He opened it carefully, pulling out the letter inside.
Dear Javier Vasquez,
After reviewing your game film and speaking with your coaches, we are pleased to invite you to visit our campus for an official recruiting weekend.
While we are not yet in a position to offer a scholarship, we believe you ha
