Page 227 of Call the Shots
I went to help Miles pass them out, I didn’t think I’d get to be here for them. They were woven bracelets that the Gladiators got every year, and tradition stood to give them to whoever they were seeing.
Bear stretched back from his place with the guys. “June? Did you get yours?”
“Oh, I don’t get one.”
He stared for long seconds. “Huh?”
I was just a PR intern—we only ordered enough for the team, but I realized what he meant when Bear stood up, his eyebrows drawn in concern. Bear was asking if I got one because ofhim.
“What do you mean you don’t get one?” he asked.
“Bear, it’s your turn to bowl—” Nick snapped his fingers. “Don’t go over to her—Bear!It’s your turn! It’s a long fucking list—BEAR!”
Bear ignored him, coming my way while the blush spilled across my cheeks. I picked one from the box. “I didn’t mean it like that?—”
“How’d you mean it?”
Nick groaned and picked up a random bowling ball. “If you leave during your turn, I’m playing for you, and I’m throwing it in the gutter!”
Bear wrapped his arm around me, pulling me towards the chairs away from everybody, sitting me on his lap. I wasn’t used to getting handled like that, the blush darkened while Bear swept my hair behind my shoulder.
“We’re in public, you can’t just pull me around like this,” I whispered.
“I’m really sorry about the shit party. I’d never want to hurt any of your friends?—”
“You already said sorry, Bear. It’s okay.”
“I don’t want you to be mad at me.”
The blush burned. “I’m not mad at you.”
He slipped the Gladiator band into my hand, his lips ghosting my neck, his slow breaths pebbling my skin with goosebumps. I shuddered when he made contact, scraping his teeth along my throat. Apparently, I wasn’t fast enough because he took my hand to slip on the bracelet. “Whose is this?”
“Yours,” I said softly.
“Uh-huh. You have your band, I have my leash.” He nuzzled my neck with kisses, pulling me closer. “That’s how it's supposed to be.”
CHAPTER 84
BEAR
WHY WE STUDY ASTRONOMY
Since our scheduleswere busy with hockey and June’s academic stuff, we couldn’t make it to the planetarium before the end of the summer. If we wanted the extra credit—and I couldn’t say no, June would’ve yelled at me—we had to find an alternative for Dr. Schulman’s class. She had a solution, a rooftop on campus with a postcard-like view.
It sounded like the perfect plan until I saw where we’d be sitting.
I directed her back to the elevator. “Welp, it was a nice idea.”
“It’s not dangerous, you just need to hold onto the bar to get to the ledge?—”
“Yeah, I don’t think so.”
I was a weaker man than I thought. There was only so much pleading with those big green eyes that I could take. Smug, June walked me to the death trap, a little ledge area to sit on. It was a bad idea. The view couldn’t be worth both of our necks.
“Come on, Forty,” she whispered, bringing me along.
“This is stupid,” I muttered. “Woah—hold on—” I gripped her by her hoodie as she inched over to the ledge. My legs were long enough not to worry about it buther?I didn’t let go until I wassure she wouldn’t fall. Grumbling under my breath, I followed. “Of all the ways to give me a heart attack?—”
