Page 6 of Top Shelf

I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Yeah.”

We say goodbye before I hang up and reluctantly accept my mother’s call.

“Gwendolyn,” my mother says, crisp and practiced. “I trust you’ve arrived.”

No hello. No, how was the drive, or asking if I’ve settled into my new digs. Just straight to the point. Very typical of my mother. Why waste time with pleasantries?

“I did.”

“Good. Janice has the fridge stocked with everything you need. I’ll be keeping an eye on your bank account, so no sneaking fatty foods. Your attendance is mandatory at our annual Serpent Heart’s charity gala this Friday, and I don’t want you looking bloated or in the midst of a breakout because you couldn’t control yourself. Cameras do terrible things to your face when you’re puffy.”

My teeth grind as I swallow back my retort. It would only escalate the situation, and I’d much rather get her off the phone as quickly as possible.

“You represent more than just yourself,” she states, like I need the reminder. Like I haven’t alwaysrepresented something morepurely because of my last name. My only reprieve was the three years I spent at BSU.

I laugh humorlessly under my breath.So much for escaping this life.One call was all it took to drag me right back into the thick of it. Back to the cameras and media outlets. Back to people caring more about how I look than what I say. Back to being a pretty little prop for the Winslow family.

“I’m aware.” It’s the best I can do.

“Oh—and I nearly forgot. I’ve secured you an internshipwith the Valehurst Kings hockey team. The details are in the folder I left for you.”

The words slip through the phone like ice water, my gaze snapping accusingly to the accursed envelope sitting innocently on my kitchen counter.

“What?! You never mentioned any internship.”

She tsks. “I’m sure I did. It’ll be good for optics.”

“I don’t want to work with the hockey team,” I blurt, argumentatively.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snides, and I can tell she’s already over this conversation. “Who else would you intern with? This is non-negotiable, Gwendolyn. Youwilldo this internship, and youwilluphold the Winslow name while doing so. Your father and I expect nothing short of perfection.”

I go still. Like if I stop moving, I can slow the fallout.

“I—” But she’s already gone.

Glancing at the screen, I see that the call has ended. She hung up on me.

I stare at the phone in my hand until it blurs. Until the edges fuzz and twist, the wordsValehurst Kingsplaying on repeat in my head like a curse.

I can’t work with the Kings. Ican’t.

Not when just hearinghisvoice is enough to steal every molecule of air from my lungs.

I squeeze my eyes shut, but it’s too late. My brain is already there, back in that moment. The one that changed everything.

It was loud in The Stanley, the way it always is after game night. Bodies packed wall to wall. Laughter. The dull thump of bass from the speakers. I’d taken a quick break from working behind the bar to join Dylan and the rest of the team, listening while they discussed the highlights of their win and broke down individual plays.

Thentheywalked in: The Valehurst Kings.

I didn’t think anything of it until he spoke.That voice.

That was all it took.

My whole body went rigid. My throat closed. My pulse thundered against my ribs as panic rushed in, fast and unforgiving. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’tlook?—

But I did.

Three of them stood there. Broad. Confident. Each taking up more space than any one person ought to.