Page 218 of Call the Shots
“She says hi, she thinks it’s hilarious that you study in the parking lot.”
“I finish so many assignments during your appointments,” I admitted.
June laughed. “She has this theory—she thinks sex is so good with us because my brain has enough nutrients to enjoy it instead of being stuck in survival mode.”
“Oh, dude.” I held up a hand and she grinned when she realized what I wanted, a high-five. I pulled her hand to mychest, weaving my fingers through hers. “You should be the spokesperson for this.”
“Who cares about lifelong thyroid and bone density issues? Kicking an eating disorder means bettersex.” She wiggled her eyebrows. "That’s what they should sell with the pamphlets.”
I chuckled and kissed the back of her hand. This was the part I was supposed to be prepared for. Why was I nervous?
“We’re all alone, we’re not fooling around, which means you want to say something…”
I smiled. “It’s like you know me.”
June touched my cheek, tilting me to look her way, at this beautiful blonde girl in my jersey, with my heart in her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“When—uh—” I cleared my throat. “When we visited for your sister’s birthday, your mom said you’re moving back in because you need supervision. I’ve been thinking about it. A lot, in fact, and I don’t think you do.”
June’s eyebrows knitted in confusion. She was silent, stroking my hair.
“See—see, it’s like when you told everyone about the eating disorder. You don’t need someone to push you, you just need someone to be there and take care of you when it gets rough.” I swallowed. “I can be that person.”
“Bear, I can’t ask you to?—”
“You don’t have to agree, I want you to hear me out.” When she reluctantly nodded, I continued. “You haven’t missed a therapy appointment, you’re eating consistently, we have our grocery system, you’re doing so good at branching out of your safe foods. And…as alternate captain…I have more leeway in the fall…” I hesitated. “I can rent your house, June.”
Her eyes widened. “Bear?”
“Elijah’s sister is in housing, he said she could arrange it for me if there’s blocks on my account. We can live here.” I squeezed her hand. “I know you need help. I want to do this for you.”
“We’ve only lived together for a couple of months,” she said gently. “I mean, a whole year…”
“If this isn’t what’s healthiest for you—I’ll help you move into your parent’s house. You were going to move there anyway, you wouldn’t be losing anything?—”
“Bear, no, that’s not what I mean.” She sighed. “You have to see how one-sided this is.”
“What do you mean, one-sided? This—” I paused, listening to something weird coming from the living room. It sounded like shouting. Whatever, they were in the middle of a drinking game. “June, it’s not one-sided because?—”
Bottles hit the floor, I couldhearit.
“What the hell are they doing?” June whispered, leaving the bed.
When I opened the door, Elijah’s voice rang through, yelling at someone. I’d heard him yell before, but I never heard him yell like that. June pushed past me.
“What’s going on?” June asked and I followed her, stunned to see Elijah at blows withKing. Fridge and Denali grabbed Elijah, but he wrestled away from them, shouting at King until?—
King punched Elijah in the face.
The two of them hit the table, drinks crashing to the floor.Holy shit.I dove in, trying to separate them. I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but this was too big of a fight for it to end well. They were two huge guys who played college sports, they could actually hurt each other.
Something flashed in Elijah’s hand—a bottle. He raised it in the air.
It exploded against King’s head, glass and blood everywhere.
I’d seenhead injuries on the ice, but I never saw something cut that deep, I didn’t realize there could be so much blood. My heart pounded in my throat as blood poured out of King. Everyone was shouting and I was moved with the crowd, lurching away from the fight and Elijah. I shoved at the guys, trying my hardest to get to King.
I yanked out my phone. “I’ll call an ambulance?—”
