Page 28 of Top Shelf

First Kings vs Steelhawks game is in 3 weeks!!

Dylan’s reply is immediate.

Dylan

I KNOW! Already cleared it with Bear. I’m going to drive so we can spend the whole weekend together!!!

I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I miss our hot chocolate and romcom nights!

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. The kind I barely realize is there until?—

“Miss Winslow.” Carver’s voice cuts across the room. “You with us, or is whatever you’re doing on your phone more important?”

Silence falls. All heads turn my way, and I can feel my face go beetroot.

“Sorry. I—Sorry.”

I drop my head, refusing to look anywhere other than the rough gray carpet beneath my feet. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me. Hushed whispers and stifled chuckles.

Of course, Carver can’t leave my humiliation there. He has to dig the hole deeper for me.

“Do try to stay focused, Miss Winslow. I know this internship came with…privileges, but it would be great if you could at least pretend you earned it.”

God, someone kill me, please. Anything would be better than this.

Heat scorches the back of my neck, and I nod a pathetic acknowledgment, too ashamed to meet his or anyone else’s gaze. However, beneath my embarrassment is anger and frustration that have my fingers curling into fists at my sides.

I’m so sick of him—of all the management staff here—talking to me in such a way. I get it; I got this internship because of my parents. My last name. There was absolutely zero merit involved, but since I’ve been here, I haven’t given them any reason to think I’m not capable—except for being found in the supply closet on my first day. Every job they’ve given me, no matter how basic, I have completed without complaint. I get them coffee when asked. I organize the towels. Restock the fridge. Pick up pizza from the front desk.

I might not want to be here, but that doesn’t mean I don’t put in the effort when I am. It doesn’t mean I don’twantto do a good job.

Clearing his throat, Carver gets back to heading the meeting. “Everyone has their schedules, which will also be emailed out to you all. Our first game of the season is this Saturday?—”

Carver’s words go through me, not really registering as Istare straight ahead at nothing in particular. I’m lost in a world of my own humiliation and building frustration until something pierces through the bubble I’ve placed myself in.

Stares.

Three of them, specifically.

Lucian’s glare is volcanic as it swivels from me to Carver. He looks like he’s barely holding himself back from attacking the Team Operations Manager.

Silas isn’t glaring, but I catch the subtle shift of his head, the coin between his fingers pausing mid-spin.

And Ronan. Ronan’s stare is glacial. Somehow, it makes him seem even more deadly than Lucian. It’s not heated like Lucian’s…it’s calculated. I can see him processing everything that just happened. Manipulating it into something he can use.

Feeling far too seen, and a little nervous at the cold look in his eyes, I swallow and look away. I force myself to focus back on whatever Carver is saying.

“—Let’s keep focus on opening week. We’ve got three home games to start the season, so no excuses for poor attendance or prep. Our first away game is in November, and we’ll need the travel roster finalized by the end of next week.”

I stand through the rest of the meeting with my back straight and my hands clasped tightly in front of me. I don’t look at anyone, and I don’t speak.

However, I promise to make Dean Carver and every other admin staff member who believes I’m going to fail eat their words.

7

WREN

Slidinginto a seat at the back of the auditorium for my last class of the week, I grab my laptop from my bag. Opening it up on the table, I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose as I glance around at the other students filing in. This class is one of the few electives that crosses majors, so it’s filled with a mix of business and communications students. Mostly guys. Mostly loud. I keep my earbuds in while the room fills, not because I’m listening to anything, but because it keeps people from trying to talk to me.