Page 148 of Call the Shots
“Can you keep a secret?” I asked.
“Uh-huh. Always.”
“You’re my favorite person on the team. Even more than Montoya.”
“You’re my favorite person,” Bear said quietly. A beat passed before he cleared his throat. “On the team—hockey—you’re my favorite person connected to the Gladiators.”
“I don’t think they won’t like you,” I said truthfully. “But if some of them don’t, it’s because they haven’t known you long enough. Sure, you have a…thorny exterior but you’re thoughtful and hard-working. I see it. Your teammates see it?—”
“That’s because of you. If you didn’t volunteer me for the captain?—”
“No, Bear. That’s because of you. Your teammates like you because you’re you and you rise to the occasion. That’s who you are. That’s what you do.” I motioned toGianna’s. “Are you ready to go inside?”
“I’m really proud of you,” he said suddenly.
“Thank you.” I smiled. “I’m proud of me, too.”
Even if campus was quiet,Gianna’swas still busy, and the hum of the crowd surrounded us while we made our way to the table. The easy conversation faltered, everyone turning with hopeful faces. Adam started to say something about being concerned when I left the trip so suddenly and the table shushed him.
Oh.
This was Austin all over again.
I introduced Bear and my friends turned to safe, comfortable topics. They clearly had a conversation beforehand, there was a protective bubble wrap over our words.
“It’s super good to see you,” Piper confessed, squeezing my hands. “We’re doing mani-pedis Thursday if you—if your schedule—” She winced. “Um, if you can?—”
How many plans did I cancel to make the preamble a necessity?
I put my hands in my lap and slowly explained why I’d been so withdrawn since January. The uncomfortable, perfect smiles faded from my friends’ faces as everyone listened with rapt attention. Before I finished, Piper threw her arms over me, and I kept going, brushing away the tears.
My eating disorder was like my breakup with Xavier. It weaseled its way into every facet of my life until I couldn’t separate them. The longer I talked, the more hugs I received, and the more the ice broke at the table. I could breathe again.
When the pizza arrived, I had a concrete goal. One slice and the salad I ordered but when Bear offered half of a breadstick, I took that too—extra credit.
“I’ll never eat anything in front of you ever again,” Adam swore.
A giggle escaped me. “Not how it works, Adam. But thank you anyway.”
Before dinner finished,I had new things for my planner. I’d get lunch with the girls on Wednesday, and we were going mini-golfing on Friday—Bear agreed to tag along. I couldn’t get the time back and that was okay. That didn’t take away from the days ahead of us.
The parking lot meant a lot more hugs and I found King by his truck, watching me, silent.
“Hey,” I whispered.
He wrapped me in another hug. “I don’t get it—why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to take on a problem that wasn’t yours,” I explained. “And I had to be ready to deal with it myself.”
“I thought Beau just took you back home.”
“It’s Bear.”
“Right.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice.”
“I didn’t want you to notice.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Willow and Bear by the doors, talking to Cleo. If Willow was waiting, I knew she was waiting for King. I drew away from him, taking slow steps back to the others. “I love you,” I whispered to King. “I’m so happy for you.”
