Page 36 of Call the Shots
June gazed at me, stunned, as I came back, tossing the popcorn bucket to the sink. “Wow. You did that for Charlie?”
“Fuck no.” I pulled the door open. “I’m not doing mini quests and dragging hockey players out of their bed while Nick gets laid. Fuck him. And fuck Charlie too.” I scanned the paper in my hand. “Riley Townsend isn’t on the list.”
“He doesn’t live at RV.”
“What?” I balled up the paper between my hands. “Why not?”
“I don’t know. I just know he’s not here.”
We madeit to the second floor to see hockey players straggling in, duffel bags over their shoulders. Denali and Elijah trudged out of the elevator, carrying an enormous mattress with Montoya asleep on it, his SpongeBob pajamas too short on his ankles.
We were tired, bloodshot, and in a haphazard circle. Elijah knelt down, Muppets’Kokomoblasting from his phone and Montoya jerked awake.
“This clearly isn’t working,” Denali announced. “So, we’re changing things. We’re getting in the game.”
“And in Charlie’s mom,” Elijah added.
“What’d you say?” Charlie snapped, leaning over the line.
“Since Nick tagged her in?—”
Charlie’s mouth fell open, and he started to ask Nick what Elijah was talking about but stopped when he grabbed Nick by the shoulder. They crashed to the ground, grappling each other.
I swore, ducking into the fight until June blew so hard on her whistle, it rang my ears like a tornado warning.
“Stop killing each other!” Denali thundered. “You’re on the same team!”
“Yeah, sharing is caring,” Elijah quipped. “Like Charlie’s mom.”
Denali hauled him from the line. “Elijah, shut the fuckup.Now.”
Elijah didn’t say anything, and that was the best thing that happened all night.
“He fucked mymom!” Charlie snarled.
“Okay. Fair point,” Denali admitted. “Onemore punch.”
June tried to argue but Charlie punched Nick so hard in the stomach, he crumpled to the ground, groaning.
“We’ll live on the same floor,” Denali continued, ignoring him. “We’ll eat together. We’ll have a way to get a hold of each other. We’ll go to practice as a team. You’ll log hours at the gym every week and I’ll personally sign off on them. Is that understood?”
Heads nodded.
Finally.
We were at some kind of understanding. Now, we could get into what made hockey important. Beinggoodat hockey.
“There’s something we need to discuss. Our coach is…I don’t want to say awful, but I can’t think of a nicer word. I need an alternate captain.” Denali took a deep breath. “I need someone who can take on the additional responsibilities, but I promise this will be a partnership. I know how intimidating I can be.”
I rolled my eyes so hard it gave me a headache.
“I’m searching for a volunteer.”
Everyone stayed silent.
“Anybody?” Denali paused. “Nobody?”
“Why would anyone be an alternate captain?” I muttered under my breath.
