Page 96 of As You Ice It

“You look like you should come to dinner. You look like you need to come to dinner.”

“And why would I need that?”

“Because you’re acting hangry,” Dumbo says.

“Hush,” Tucker says, giving Dumbo a shove. “Don’t poke the honey badger.”

“I think the expression is don’t poke the bear,” Felix says.

“Yeah, but honey badgers are meaner than bears. I’d rather poke a bear.”

“Maybe it would be best not to poke Camden at all,” Logan says.

“Hey, Nikki. Have you got a Russian phrase about poking bears?” Van asks.

I try to tune them all out while starting to take off my gear. I’d like to get out of this building, get back to the hotel and … wallow, I guess.

Actually, that sounds terrible.

For the last few weeks of road games, I had Naomi’s texts and calls to look forward to. But the idea of opening the unread messages from her sitting on my phone fills me with dread.

Is it fair that I’ve been avoiding her since the other night? No.

Can I even give a good reason? Also no.

But am I still doing it? Yup.

“In Russia we don’t say poke the bear,” Dominik says. “We say jokes with the bear are bad. Or don’t tease the dog when it’s behind the fence.”

“Huh,” Van says, running a hand through his wet hair. “Kinda close, I guess.”

Dumbo looks thoughtful. “The question becomes: Is Camden behind a fence?”

“And is he a bear, a honey badger, or a dog?” Tucker asks.

“I’m just a guy who wants to be left alone,” I snap.

And so they do as I ask.

Which leaves me even more miserable than before.

* * *

They don’t leave me alone for long.

I’ve almost fallen asleep when I hear a shuffling noise outside my door. Then the sound of someone swiping a card. The door swings open and a slice of light fills the room. It reveals several tall silhouettes before the door slams shut again.

I don’t even have time to untangle myself from the covers before the first body lands on top of my legs.

“Ow!” a familiar voice says. “Watch my knee.”

Grunting, I try to sit up and push Van off. “You’re the one who jumped on me!”

Another person jumps on my chest, knocking me back, pinning my arms beneath a heavy body. “If you stop struggling, this will be over faster.”

“Nathan?! Why are you—ow.”

Someone turns on a phone light, blinding me. Then the lamp switches on. Aside from Van and Nathan, who are lying across my body, Logan, Felix, Eli, and Dominik are in the room.

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