Page 132 of Call the Shots
“Fuck,” I whispered. “Fuck, fuck,fuck?—”
I couldn’t believe the callended,and I didn’t know where June was. She was drunk, she was lost, she was alone, and I had no idea how to get to her.
Harsh breaths tore out of me. “Montoya!MONTOYA!”
CHAPTER 49
BEAR
SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION
The car wasfull of voices. Fridge, Nick, Montoya, and I dialed bars and shouted out names, confirming June wasn’t at that one, that one, or that one. I floored the accelerator, weaving through the winding road to Austin. A truck slammed on the brakes trying to take a turn and honked, I didn’t give a shit.
“Mom picked up!” Montoya yelled. He talked urgently into the phone with Cleo and caught my eye in the rearview mirror. “June’s in her hotel room?—”
“No, she’snot!” I argued, frustrated we were even having this conversation. The car roared underneath me as I swerved to the left, narrowly missing another car. “I know she’s out there! Tell Cleo the police said they’d call us back in thirty minutes—which is fuckingbullshit—” I slammed my fist against the steering wheel. “This is all my fault!”
“I got June!” Nick cut in. “Hold on—she’s not there anymore?—”
My heart thudded in a painful sensation. “Where is she?!”
“The bar paid for her taxi, they sent her to her hotel?—”
I rattled the hotel name from memory. I’d never been so grateful to stalk her socials before. We were closer than I thoughtand towering hotels met us, looming like a maze, hiding her from me.
I hit the brakes. “There it is!”
My car hit the curb, jolting everyone inside but I was three steps ahead of them, shoving the door open before I turned off the engine. I needed to confirm she was okay before I left Austin. They’d have to handcuff me to get rid of me.
Pebbled trails led to the spa, the coffee shop, and the pool, which was hidden by leafy palms and a metal gate, painted bright blue. I stared through the bars to see the only person out this late. Her small frame was bent over an inflatable bodyboard, her blonde hair was wet and slick down her back. Her shimmery, silver dress glistened like the water.
“June?” I croaked, moving unconsciously towards the pool.
“Did you find her?” Fridge called, jogging up with the guys to meet me.
I didn’t respond, I was too busy inspecting the gate. It needed a room key to open, and I didn’t have one. I shouted for her, but June moved too slow, head lolling backwards, drunk and confused.
“How do we get in?” Nick asked.
I reached for the bars crisscrossed at the top of the gate and hauled myself up, sneakers scrambling on the smooth metal.
“Oh, shit!” Nick blurted out.
“Woah, woah—Bear!” Montoya tried to grab me, but I pulled myself over the fence, which was a hell of a lot harder than the pull-up bar at the gym. There was a table on the other side, all I needed to do was land on it. The second my feet made contact, my stomach lurched with my mistake, and I crashed to the gritty tile.Fuck,that hurt—but I shoved myself up, racing to her.
June was in the middle of the pool, barely out of reach. I got down to my knees. “Grab my hand?—”
“Bear?” she slurred. Her face twisted. “I’m sorry…I—I thought the phone call…”
I leaned even closer, so fucking close but so fucking far away. “Baby, grab my hand.”
“Thought it wasn’t real…”
Oh, fuck it.
I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed aside my sneakers. The water was a shock to my system, and I sucked in hard breaths, wading through to her. It was summer in Texas, but it was fucking freezing. I yanked her to me, crushing her into a hug.
June was so cold. Just as cold as the water.
