Page 29 of Call the Shots
“Willow?”
King grunted. “Coach’s stepdaughter.”
Right, the football coach’s stepdaughter finally transferred. It’d been so busy, I forgot about it. I smiled at Jasmine. “What can I do to gain the top spot again?”
“Nothing.”
Ouch.
My heart twinged with the reveal of my replacement, but I couldn’t blame her. After the breakup, I hid myself away from even King’s family.
King frowned. “Jasmine?—”
“It’s okay,” I assured him. “Thanks for coming to support.”
“How’s hockey?”
“Ugh, the guys made fun of me in the locker room,” I muttered.
Dressing up for the exhibition was the part I was most prepared for. I had a short white skirt, a big Gladiators shirt tied at the waist, white boots, bright purple eyeshadow, and a purple bow in my hair. I couldn’t represent Gladiators more if I walked around with one of their helmets.
But when I showed up, Bear took one look at me and asked if I knew the arena had to be kept cold or if I expected them to start swimming.
“I’m running to the dorm to grab a hoodie,” I confessed. “It’s my first big hockey thing, I’m so scattered.”
King just pulled off his Romans hoodie and motioned for me to raise my arms. My best friend was so good to me. I knew arguing with him wouldn’t do anything, so I accepted theXXXXXXXL gift that was more like a big, cozy blanket than a hoodie.
“You’re the best, you know that?” I grinned but King frowned. With a glance over my shoulder, I saw who he was focused on.
Bear stood frozen at the archway, suited up for the game. For a beat too long, he stared, and the hairs on the back of my neck rose. He cleared his throat. “Denali’s going to make a speech. Cleo—uh—wants you.”
I said my goodbyes to King and Jasmine, all too aware of Bear.
He got my attention in the hallway to the locker room. “You can’t wear that,” he insisted. “That’s Romans gear.”
“You did a whole thing about how I?—”
“But you can’t wearthat.”
I tried to pass him, but Bear put his hand to the wall, stopping me. I threw him a hard look. “Whatelseshould I wear?”
“I have a hoodie in my locker.”
Bear gazed down with this deep intensity that brought goosebumps over my body. With a shake of my head, I ducked under his arm—pretty easy to do considering how tall he was. “Uh, no. Because we both know what that means. If I wear your hoodie, it’s waving a flag saying we had sex.”
“You’re wearinghishoodie,” he retorted, right on my heels.
“It’s different.”
“How is that different?”
“Because he’s my best friend,” I shot over my shoulder. “I don’tlikeyou, Bear. Why would I wear your hoodie?”
The entrance to the locker room came up but Bear snagged my elbow, pulling me away. “So you’re not parading around in football gear in a hockey arena.”
“I am a football girl?—”
“No, you're not.” He dipped down with a hard shake of his head, cutting the distance between us. “Don’t be naive. The moment you signed with the Gladiators, that changed. You’re with us.”
