Page 11 of Call the Shots
“You don’t understand, she has this weird fixation on my brother?—”
“Bear, you don’t likeJune?” Elijah laughed.
I glared. “I didn’t ask for your input.”
“That’s like having beef with a girl scout.” His smirk widened. “What, are you afraid the homecoming queen’s going to hit you with a shoe?”
“I like June,” Montoya said, back at our side. “She’s nice.”
“That’s because you’re five years old and don’t know better,” I retorted.
“I’m seventeen.”
“Same thing,” Elijah, Denali, and I said at the same time.
“She’s manipulative,” I told them. “Just because she’s pretty doesn’t mean you should trust her.” I glanced over the shuffling crowd of hockey players to see June, head bent with Cleo. “This is an important life lesson, Montoya. My brother broke it off with her in January and now she has this grudge against him?—”
“January? Dude, your info’s wrong,” Elijah interjected. “She broke up with a football player in January. They dated for years.”
I didn’t believe him until Elijah showed the guy’s socials, a tatted-up football player named King. I didn’t know football that well but even I’d heard of him, a great defensive player. June was in all his pictures, always pressed close to him. That didn’t make any sense. June mentioned her and Xavier were dating, and Xavier said June totaled his car…how does King fit in the picture?
“So you think she’s pretty?” Elijah taunted. “I get what’s happening. Bear’s got a boner for June and the only way he can?—”
I waited until he walked ahead before I kicked the back of his knee. With a high-pitched grunt, Elijah slammed to the ground, and I stepped over him, continuing with the guys.
“Dammit, Bear!”
“No one gives a shit, Elijah,” I threw over my shoulder and stopped when Denali forced me to.
“Bear.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Denali?”
“We’re a team.” He eyed me, his voice cool. “That includes our teammates. That includesJune.And that includes Elijah.Your new defense partner for the season, first line.”
My jaw clenched. “There’s no way I’m defense partners with him?—”
“He’s the only one at your skill level.”
“Did you join hockey yesterday?” I demanded, not caring that the rest of the team could hear me. “You think I’d trust him to watch my back? Fuck no. Pair me up with anybody else, I’m not skating with Elijah.”
“Nobody’s at your skill level,” he repeated. “Tell me who else can match you.”
I didn’t have an answer. There were plenty of great forwards on our start-up but in terms of defense, there was only one name who could come close to mine. The only reason Elijah hadn’t been drafted to the pros was because he was a gigantic jackass.
“Why don’t you apologize for tripping him?” Denali said in my silence.
“Say sorry toRuthless?”
“Yes.”
I rolled my shoulders, measuring up to my pasty-faced captain. Denali didn’t waver under my glare. I was somewhat aware of how stupid this was because ultimately, he was right and I wanted to go back to my dorm, away from these dipshits.
“I’msorry,Elijah,” I spat out without even looking at him.
“Don’t worry about it, Moosefucker.” He patted me on the shoulder, moving past.
I thumbed towards Elijah. “Did you hear that?”
