Page 14 of Call the Shots
I tookmy time exploring Marrs University. It was way bigger than North Dakota and everything was dedicated to football. Romans banners were draped over the limestone buildings and Romans t-shirts made the sidewalks a sea of dark blue. It was different from what I was used to.
North Dakota had a great football program, but hockey shined. We were USAC champions, my teammates competed in the Olympics. My teammates and I were gods on campus. Here, the student body didn’t know the Gladiators existed. If I asked someone what the TIHCC was, they’d probably think it was a disease. Nobody knew us.
Nobody knew me.
I shuffled among the people walking by, feeling like a ghost.
A ghost who needed to get laid.
Thankfully Clarissa was down to meet atGianna’s,a girl I matched with on a hookup app. The senior volleyball player didn’t even know Marrs had a hockey team. Waiting for her on the bench outside, I swiped through profiles for whoever I’d take out this weekend.
flower child
looking for a good time not a long time
The profile purposely cut out her face, but it was June.
I had no idea how I knew, but there was no doubt in my mind. The shape of her thighs in the mini skirt, the curve of her neck, even her hands in some of the photos…definitely June. I leaned forward, checking out her profile.
Favorite TV Show?
you dont need to know this dm me with your test results
Something that defines you?
dm me with your test results
Your love language?
dm me with your test results or dont message me
I chuckled. “Homecoming queen’s looking for her next victim.”
Part of me wanted to swipe on her just to piss her off, but that was stupid. I didn’t want anything to do with her. And antagonizing June seemed like the best way to get my dick cut off.
“Bear?”
I glanced up to see Clarissa. A grin crossed my face. “Hey.”
“I’m Clarissa. Not the girl whose profile you’re staring at.”
“Oh, shit.” I shoved my phone in my back pocket. “Sorry, that’s not nice.”
She snickered. “I’m messing with you.”
“Can I buy you a pizza to apologize?”
“Yes, you can.”
I pulled open the door toGianna’s. It was a mix between a dive bar and a diner, crammed with booths and tables being shuffled around for the lunch rush. Once again, dark blue met me. A line of Romans bobbleheads sat on the bar and there were Romans jerseys pinned up across the wall. It was so stupid that we had a different mascot and a different jersey color. It made our absence so damn noticeable. Nothing purple, nothing Gladiators.
We took our place in a busy line and Clarissa waved at someone in the corner.
Goddammit.
June hung by the takeout counter, a Romans t-shirt clinging to her like it wanted to show her off. My eyes trailed down until I realized she caught me. Her face twisted in disgust. I started to say something, but she mouthedno!and hurried to grab a bag off the counter.
Clarissa’s voice cut in. “Am I missing something between you and June?”
