Page 208 of Call the Shots
“Holy shit.” Nick whistled. “Whose birthday is it?”
“Oh, fuck,” I muttered to June when the birthday song started behind me. A waitress placed the plate on the table, a slice of birthday cake and ice cream, complete with two candles I had to blow out like it was my actual birthday.
“What part of quiet—?” Denali demanded and swiveled to Elijah. “You asshole?—”
Elijah grinned, singingHappy Birthdaythe loudest.
I stopped the guys trying to dig into dessert and slid the plate to June. Her eyes sparkled and she took a bite of cake, cheek pressed against my arm.
“It’s bullshit that you won’t be captain anymore,” Pickles said.
“Are you joking?” I said, genuinely dumbfounded. “Coach could’ve scratched me off the roster and you think I’m not grateful? I know this is hard for you but use your brain for a second, Pickles. I’m still allowed to playhockey.”
“You’re out for some of the games,” Sully pointed out.
“So you guys better not fuck up.” I shrugged. “I’ll be in the seats and boo you myself.”
“Wow.” Fridge exhaled. “I didn’t think it was possible but…did you learn something from this?”
“Shut up, Fridge.”
Something touched my hand under the table, June. Her fingers intertwined with mine, the first time she moved to holdmyhand. I stayed still while the guys talked, waiting for her to let go, but she squeezed my hand.
“Happy birthday,” June whispered, her voice soft and teasing.
I rubbed my thumb across the back of her hand and she didn’t draw away from me. She kept holding my hand. That was worth the broken nose and the bruises. That was worth all of it.
The team hadplans to keep drinking but June wanted us to leave, and I gladly called it a night. Denali could make as many ‘parole officer’ jokes as he wanted, I didn’t care. My heart was in my throat because she was holdingmyhand on our walk to Roman Villa.
I never thought about holding hands before. Not like this. It was a reminder that we were going somewhere together, that she wanted me to stay close.
“Bear?” she said softly. “You didn’t have to…I never wanted you to think you had to choose.”
“It was the easiest choice.” I shrugged, flinching from the pain from my ribs. “I choose you, baby.”
We came to Roman Villa’s street and I glanced down to see June’s eyes on me, sparkling sea glass in the streetlights. A heartbreaking smile crossed her lips. “I love you.”
I love you.
June said ‘I love you’tome.Her words were a gunshot to my head and suddenly I didn’t care how much my body ached. I felt lighter than air. Accepting the possibility that this was real—that Junelovedme, left me lightheaded.
“You can baby-trap me,” flew out, the words jumbled together.
June’s eyes shot wide. “What?”
“You can lie to me and say you’re pregnant and I’ll get you pregnant—we can tell everybody it’s that point-five percent chance with birth control—I can pretend to be mad if you want me to?—”
“Oh my god—” She pulled her hand away, a flush creeping up her neck. “I—what?”
“When I’m in the NHL, nobody will give a shit if I want to visit my girlfriend?—”
“Bear—”
“It’ll be so much easier to visit my baby mama?—”
“Bear—”
“Wife would be even better, we can get married, and?—”
