Page 99 of Call the Shots
My frown deepened. “No, that’s not it.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s it.”
More hockey players left the locker room, weirdly staring like they were expecting something. Why were they circling?
“Bear, you’re too tall, stop hiding behind me,” June whispered.
“I’m not hiding behind you,” I muttered back. “Why are they staring? What the fuck is their problem?”
She nudged me. “Say something.”
“Like what?”
“Say good morning.”
Goddamn, everywhere I looked, there was another pair of peering eyes. I shifted uncomfortably. Even if I was only doing drills with defense today, it’d be pretty noticeable if I ignored the rest of them. I cleared my throat. “Morning.”
Immediately, they dispersed, heading to the rink. My face burned.I ignored June’s light laughter, pushing away from the table. I knew how to say hello, but I’d slammed into most of these guys before we were teammates, even sprained some wrists and bruised some ribs. It was so weird to hear them wish me good morning.
After classes,June led me to the training center for the surprise. I was still apprehensive. Ninety percent of the time, surprises shouldn’t exist. They’re meant to knock you off your feet, and with how the summer was going, I didn’t need anything unexpected.
“How do our student IDs not work in the athletics center?” June said, swiping it again.
“They’ve never worked.”
She went to the front desk. “Hi! Sorry, we’re part of the hockey team and we have an appointment?”
“Appointment?” I muttered.
“Oh, June!” The receptionist blinked. “We have a hockey team?”
After they fixed our IDs, June took me to the third floor, and it was like traveling with royalty. Every three feet I had to awkwardly stand aside while someone else hugged her.
I exhaled through my nose. “What’s the surprise, killer?”
June smiled before opening a door to a conference room that was way nicer than anything we had at the Colo. There were a dozen men in suits, standing up to shake our hands. I was more and more confused with each handshake.
“Mr. Moreau, we’re pleased to make your acquaintance. We have everything prepared.”
“Prepared? For what?”
“For your court readiness meeting.” Another lawyer shook my hand. “We’ll be discussing your lawsuit against your previous university for negligence of your mental, emotional, and physical well-being, and the psychological and sexual abuse.” He picked up one of the papers with an official letterhead. “We’llbe filing against the athletics program, the coaches, and the Kérouacs.”
My whole body went stiff. “What?”
“They only need your signature right now,” June assured me.
I stared at her in disbelief and my eyes shot to the scene around us. To the dozen lawyers and the fifty packets on the table, waiting for me. This didn’t happen overnight. The suits put time into this.Juneput time into this. My fingers curled into my palms, and I struggled with what to say.
I left the office.
Taking rapid breaths, I took a left down a quiet hall and pressed my back to the wall. I felt like shit. My stomach twisted in knots, and I couldn’t speak while June poked her head around the corner. “Bear?”
“I didn’t think you’d do something,” I managed. “That’s what people do. They say they’ll do something and then…I—I didn’t think you’dactuallydo anything.”
“Um…it’ll be you doing everything?—”
“I don’t want to sue people, I just want the videos down.”
