Page 49 of Call the Shots
“Junie!” My mother’s smile was award-winning as she arched a perfectly-sculpted eyebrow my way. “Give me your calendar.”
“Guest at the Wilder & Diamond Pavillion, Thursday photos at the Kenton Woodlands, Leone on the Green for dad’s speech,” I rattled off, counting each event I was expected to attend to support.
“And no spectacles,” my older brother, Julius, said in a classic impersonation of my mother.
“No spectacles,” my mom laughed before kissing my cheek. “That’s my girl. Where’s King?”
“I told you, Mama, he’s not doing the fake relationship anymore.”
“You didn’t talk to him?”
“Ididtalk to him. He has other things going on.”
My mom’s sigh was louder than mine could ever be. My parents adored King. He was silent and loyal and always made room in his schedule for them. When our fake relationship was at its peak, I stopped telling King about the events to give him a break because they practically wanted him to move in.
“I miss him,” she confessed. Most of the family left for the living room and she nodded towards them. “He knows when to keep his head down and his mouth shut. I always thought you two would…”
“Won’t happen, Mama.”
“Hm.” My mom studied me. “I love the top.”
I smiled. “I splurged for new clothes?—”
“You’re so brave,” she remarked with a smile matching mine. “It’s good to see you confident enough to wear it.”
My words faltered. I tugged at the bottom of the shirt, my fingers curling over the fabric. It was a shirt with short, flared sleeves. I used to wear short-sleeved shirts all the time, pre-January, but those didn’t fit anymore. I had to buy new ones. I struggled with what to say until the screen door opened.
“Junie!” My dad beamed. “Where’s King?”
“He’s not coming, Dad,” I said, grateful for the distraction.
“What? Not coming?” He squeezed me for a hug. “I’d probably remember if you called more…”
“It’s been busy,” I said lightly.
My mom waved him to the living room and leaned in. “Junie, I want to talk about the campaign dinner dress. Do we need to get that refitted? You’ve gained a few pounds—is this look permanent? If it is, I need to tell Scott?—”
My face burned. “No. I’m going back to my same size.”
“As long as you’re doing that through thegym,” she said, her message clear. “And only the gym. Do you need a fitness instructor? Give me your phone, you’ll love Richard?—”
“Mama, I’m good?—”
“Trust me, you’ll love him,” she assured me. Reluctantly, I passed it over. “You don’t know how hard it’s been to watch you like this—I want you to feel your best.”
My older sister, April, shouted from the living room. “Junie?Is thisyou?”
A flurry of questions followed. I didn’t understand what they were talking about until I followed my mother inside to see…me on the TV screen.
I froze as the me on the screen gestured to the hockey rink. “It’s a true underdog story and we’re such a family. I can’t imagine my summer without my boys.”
The video of me disappeared to reveal two newscasters, smiling with amusement. Houston newscasters.OfficialHouston newscasters.
My heart plummeted to my stomach.
“After a ten-year run of failure, Marrs University is once again trying to build its hockey team. What do you think, Sofia?”
“They certainly have their underdog story cut out for them, Keith.” Sofia offered an amused smile to the camera. “Defenseman, Bear Moreau, known as the Canadian Bear, has quite the temper on andoffthe ice—” a video cut in to show Bear throwing an uppercut during a game “—Nicholas Kurosawa was involved in a controversy last year for insulting his university—” a video with Nick’s words being censored, obviously telling Minnesota to suck his dick and ‘suck it long, suck it hard’ “—Sullivan Falkenberg was a viral sensation in September for urinating on a teammate’s car when he claimed they threatened to out him for being gay—” I watched in horror as the familiar, blurred clip played of Sully, drunk off his ass, laughingand peeing on his captain’s car “—and, of course, H-Town’s own Ruthless. Elijah Contractor.” Elijah’s grinning, bruised mugshots flashed across the screen. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg for the Gladiators. Marrs is looking to bring hockey back to Houston, only time will tell if they’ll be…” Her lips twitched. “Iced out first. Back to you, Keith.”
