Page 121 of Call the Shots
havent done my makeup yet go without me so sorry!!!
Another hour passed and I messed up my eyeliner. I had to rub my face raw to start over. One more try led to the wrong lipstick, and I scrambled for the cleanser, sending my foundation to the floor.
The sharp crack sounded like a gunshot and my stomach lurched at the waste—that bottle wassoexpensive. It oozed out, sprinkled with broken glass.
I dropped down. “No, no, no?—”
A knock echoed, and I flinched. Willow. “Are you ready, June? Dinner time!”
Don’t cry, no concha.
I took a struggling breath, fighting to calm down. This was as good as it was going to get. I had to accept that. The wrong dress, the wrong makeup, and the extra hours were gone. I left the mess behind to clean up later and opened the door, forcing the smile on my face.
“Time to takeallthe pictures,” she beamed, looking so beautiful in a periwinkle dress.
I picked at my own dress, headache pounding. “Okay. Great.”
CHAPTER 44
BEAR
LIKE BEER ON A WHITE RUG
Before my shiftat the Colo ended, I was called into Vernon’s office—which was stupid. I was supposed to be supervising today’s renovations. That meant yelling at my teammates not to stick their fingers in light sockets and yanking drills away from the guys who drilled too close to their dick for laughs. Muttering under my breath, I knocked, preparing myself for whatever ridiculous bullshit my coach had prepared for me.
I opened the door to…Vernon’s office?
I stared into the nicest room in the Colo. What the hell was he doing with a mini bar while our hockey arena was a do-it-yourself project? I thought Elijah said this place was terrible? I drank in the room, thinking of details I’d tell June later, when I spotted Vernon. He sat behind his desk, a look of disinterest, while Riley smirked from the leather club chair.
Ah. Shit.
This didn’t feel good.
I didn’t notice Denali sitting on the couch. He had a hand curled over his face, like he found out we had to start making the pucks ourselves. “Bear? Can you take a seat?”
“What’s going on?” I frowned. “Is this about the checks?”
“It’s come to my attention that you’re encouraging your teammates to disregard the rules,” Vernon announced.
I didn’t know what to say.Uh, the bullshit rules?No frat parties, no disparaging the coach, noKokomo,and the latest one, no nicknames. No fucking nicknames. I burst into laughter when I saw the poster. What the fuck was hockey without nicknames?
But how did Vernon know I didn’t care about the rules? He wasn’t around enough for that.
Ah.
The smug asshole in the leather armchair was.
“This isn’t my decision, Bear,” Denali interjected.
My frown deepened. “What decision?”
“If you won’t follow the basic expectations of college hockey, you don’t deserve the role of alternate captain,” Vernon announced.
I froze. “What?”
“You’re dismissed.”
“But, I—” I fumbled with my words, shocked. “Mom—Cleo—already ordered my gear for the season. I run practices twice a week?—”
