Page 224 of Call the Shots
“I—I’m sorry?—”
“That isn’t something funny you tell people over drinks. You knew how much shit King could get into, and you told Elijah anyway.Elijah." I thumbed towards the gym, even if I knew Denali already took Elijah to RV. "I talked to him, you weren’t blackout drunk, you know who Elijah is, you know what he’s like, and you told him anyway.”
“Yeah,” he sniffled.
“I’m really angry at you, kid.”
He nodded.
“King could’ve died. Do you understand?”
He nodded again, harder, and with a deep breath, I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him in for a hug. I hadn’t hugged anyone bigger than me since I was a little kid. It was weird. But with every inhale, I breathed out the anger until I could hold him tight.
“That—that was really scary.” His head collapsed to my shoulder, tears streaming down his face. “There was so much blood?—”
“He’s stitched up, he’ll be okay.”
“I’m sorry—I’m so sorry, Bear.”
“I know, Montoya. I know.”
CHAPTER 83
JUNE
JUST A REALLY WEIRD, NEW BEGINNING
With Sémajuste,the team never worked harder yet it was never quieter. Study sessions were canceled, the locker room was silent, and most of them talked to me privately about what happened because they felt like they couldn’t talk to anyone else.
I texted our group chat about a required team activity at the student center. Usually, they came early in groups of fives, laughing and joking together, but I sat on one of the benches, alone.
“Hey!” Cleo hurried over and enveloped me in a hug. We were doing that alotmore. “Denali and Elijah aren’t coming.”
“What? Why?”
“Denali just said he has to be there for him.” She rubbed her temples. “I don’t know. It didn’t sound like they were planning on coming.”
Bear arrived with some of the guys from RV to finally begin our slot at the bowling alley. I bought crappy nachos and stacked candy boxes, trying to coax the team to start the tournament. A couple of them joined. Most were on their phones.
Montoya shuffled out of the shadows, his hands in his pockets, taking a seat away from everyone.
“Montoya!” I waved at him. “Come sit with me.”
He gave me a long look and shuffled over. “Do you know why Denali isn’t here?”
“Um, Elijah had a thing?—”
“It’s because of me. Denali already didn’t like me because I can’t throw a punch, and now it’s because of Elijah.”
What was Montoya talking about? The summer had been busy, I didn’t spend a lot of time with Denali because he was usually working for the team, but I didn’t notice him actively disliking Montoya.
“Of course Denali likes you?—”
“No, he doesn’t. I’m the one who got Elijah in trouble.”
“Montoya…”
“I’m sorry—” He shifted into himself, eyes planted on his hands. “I was already scared about the season, and now this, I—I don’t know what I’m going to do when you and Bear graduate. The other guys barely tolerate me. Now it’s going to be so much worse.”
