On the Edge of the List

"Next time Lucas gets it, don't drop." Noah froze. "He'll beat me." "Of course he will," Mason said. "But if you drop, he'll accelerate. If you step up, he'll pause for one beat. I want that beat." Noah clenched his jaw. "And then?" "Then I cover behind you." In the thirtieth minute, Lucas received the ball again. Noah did what Mason had said and charged up. Lucas did pause for one beat, then cut inside with his right foot. Mason had already dropped from the middle and, before Lucas's second step, poked the ball away to the white team's holding midfielder. For the first time, the white team countered. The ball went left, and the reserve winger sprinted. Mason did not rush into the box. He stopped at the top of the arc.