Page 21 of Pucking Bad Boys
“So? Do you want the room?” Gen’s designer pumps tap on the hardwood floor. “I don’t have all night.”
“Yes, of course I want the room. But…”
Gen and I have never been friends, so I know she isn’t offering me a lifeline because she likes me or out of kindness.
But at least I don’t have to ask her what’s the catch, she volunteers the information. “In return for my kindness, you’ll be my study buddy this semester.”
I’m confused. “You want to study with me?”
“You’re a history major, right?” She rolls her eyes.
“Yeah.”
Gen nods. “Perfect. I’m an Arts major and I have a couple of history classes left. I always struggle with tests when it’s alltheory stuff and I need someone to help me. Especially with Professor Cantucci’s class. I failed it last year, and failing again isn’t an option.”
“And you want my help?”
She doesn’t need me to explain why I’m so surprised. “I have no other option. Usually my Daddy would have hired me a private tutor. But after what happened with the Shooting Stars, my parents cut me off financially. Daddy froze my trust fund and took my credit cards. All of them. They paid my tuition and the sorority fee, but that’s it. They expect me to live like anormal studentuntil graduation.”
She says “normal student” as if the words left a bad taste in her mouth.
“I even had to run for president if I wanted a decent room this year. My parents ended the lease on the house I had lived in since freshman year.”
I’ve been to a party in Gen’s rental Mac-mansion once.
“This is why you ran for president? You needed a room? But what about your dad’s apartment complex? Didn’t you say that it’s awesome?”
“It is.” Gen agrees. “But would you believe it? Daddy said that if I wanted to live there, I would have to pay rent like everyone else. No discounts.”
I’m a little perplexed. “He’s giving a discount to the Zetas but not to his only daughter?”
Gen’s voice goes up a notch. She’s clearly upset. “Yes! He’s helping the Zetas because I’m a legacy and Mom feels it’s our duty to help. Besides, they approved my running for president. They said it was character building or some bullshit. But basically, I’m on probation. If I fail even one exam, he’ll freeze my trust fund until I’m twenty-five. Luckily, they cut me off after Mom had already ordered my entire wardrobe for this year with her personal stylist. But there aren’t gonna be any extras,any limited edition bags or shoes. I’ll have to live with the bare minimum. It’ll be tough for a year, but can you imagine having to live for three years wearing past season couture?” She shudders.
“Oh my goodness. That would be impossible.”
Gen misses the sarcasm in my tone and continues. “This is why I need your help, Talia. I need to convince my parents that I’m not entitled or whatever they think they’re teaching me by cutting me off. I can’t afford to pay for a tutor, not even one employed by the college.”
That surprises me. “Really? If your parents are paying for your education, wouldn’t a tutor be a part of it?”
She rolls her eyes. “You’d think it would be. But no. Daddy said I needed to pay attention and work harder in class. He spewed some bullshit that if he graduated high school and college while playing elite hockey, I can finish my senior year without his help. So I don’t have a dime to spare this year. And since we’re in similar situations and we both got screwed out of the reality show money at the last minute, I thought we could help each other out.”
Studying—or doing anything else—with Gen wouldn’t have been my first or even second choice, but her offer solves a huge problem.
“Ok. Deal.”
Her smile widens. “Yay! This is what sisterhood is all about, am I right?” She bounces up and down, clapping her hands.
If this were anyone else, I’d be ecstatic. But it’s Genevieve, so I just hope I’m not going to regret making a deal with the devil.
Chapter 6
Day Old Sushi
MACKLIN
Summer training was easy.
Coach Harrison’s grueling schedule didn’t feel too bad when we didn’t have to juggle two practices a day with classes.
