"Well, that was fast," Carlos said dryly from behind Gael, and after a moment he grabbed the back of the forward's practice jersey. "I would have figured that bitch fight would have lasted longer." But then again, he thought, Keegan's mother was in the hospital, and Keegan might have a full ride to Indiana University and a potential spot on the USMNT, but that didn't mean money wasn't tight and that another returning American from one of the European clubs wasn't going to piss him off.

Not that Gael needed to know that; most of the team didn't, but Carlos and Keegan were two of the few who didn't come from middle class to privileged backgrounds. He figured Keegan thought he'd get it.

"Have they given up hazing in Europe?" He asked. "Amazing. I'll have to let my agent know, he keeps telling me I'm too soft for Ligue 1."