Page 126 of Call the Shots
“You’re worth so much, Junie. I can’t understand…I swear, I don’t know you anymore.”
CHAPTER 46
BEAR
THE BEAVER DAM’S LADY HOLE NIGHT
Three hours to Round Rock,and I couldn’t take the right video to save my life. I needed something to say we were having a great time, but nottoogreat of a time to miss partying with June.
“Stop touching the radio.” Nick swatted my hand.
“I need cool music to film to.” I fiddled with the dial, trying to find the right song. Eh, this would do. I filmed Nick in the driver’s seat, the only guy I’d trust with my car, and showed Fridge and Montoya in the back. I nodded along to the song, grinning hard. “Time topaaaarty…”
“Time for June to watch yourstoooories,” Nick sang back. “Because my face hurts from fakesmiiiiling.”
“Dammit, Nick, you ruined the video?—”
“Cut that part.”
“Oh. Yeah.” I flipped through the filters, picking the only one that said Austin, Texas, even if we were in Round Rock. “That’s cool, right?”
Fridge sighed from the back seat.
Nick shot me a look. “No part of this is cool, Bear.”
“I think it’s cool?” Montoya volunteered.
“Oh, awesome, we’re saved. Kid’s Toy thinks it’s cool.”
I ignored Nick and refreshed my views. Plenty of our teammates were pissed we didn’t invite them, but I wasn’t posting to get their attention. I refreshed it again, muttering.How were there so many views andnoJune?
Montoya’s phone rang, and when he answered, Elijah’s voice shattered the peace of the car. “You’re a bunch of douchebags—you didn’t think to invite the rest of us? Inviteme?I’m way better at ping pong than Nick!”
“Fuck you,” Nick threw over his shoulder.
I groaned. “Elijah?—”
“Moosefucker, you hurt my feelings.”
We had ten other phone calls like that. Buttons made us swear we didn’t hate him for not bringing him along. I didn’t think the guys would want to go to some ping pong tournament so badly.
“I’m sorry, damn. How was I supposed to know everybody wanted to go?”
“Captain wants to talk to you.”
Denali’s voice came over the line. “Are you okay, Bear?”
“I’mfine.”
The concern was worse than if Denali was pissed. He cleared his throat. “It wasn’t my decision. I tried to talk to Vernon, I did. If you want to take some time?—”
“That’s not what I’m doing. I just want to hit up a ping pong tournament.” I grunted, uncomfortable. “I know you talked to him. And I…appreciate that. We’re not purposely cutting anyone out?—”
“Oh. Then thisisa dick move.”
“Goddammit, I’m sorry!”
The car slammed to a stop and Montoya’s phone tumbled out of his hand. Fridge snapped at Nick but before I could agree, Nick ended the call to Denali and whirled to me. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
