Page 36 of Pucking Bad Boys

Chapter 10

Best Friend’s Powers

TALIA

“Ouch.” Sam jumps as I stab her scalp with a bobby pin.

“Sorry.”

My best friend turns around in her chair in front of my room’s vanity mirror and pins me with a curious look. “Ok, Tal, spit it out. Possibly before you kill me while you’re doing my hair. What is it?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Really?” Sam bites out. “You’ve been out of it for a few days now. If I had to pinpoint since when, I’d say since you camehome from your first day of classes on Monday. It’s Friday now, and you’ve been distracted all week.”

“I haven’t.” I argue, but my tone is feeble because I know she’s right.

Sam gives my hand a gentle, comforting squeeze. “Come on, it’s me you’re talking to. You were going crazy looking for your glasses yesterday, and they were on your nose. You put salt instead of sugar in your coffee. And those are only two examples. You went to class yesterday with your t-shirt inside out and didn’t notice until I met you for lunch. Something is on your mind, and I can’t help you if you don’t trust me with whatever is bothering you.”

“You’re right.” I sigh. “But it isn’t something that’s bothering per se. Remember the hot guy who walked me home the weekend before we moved in?”

She nods. “Of course. Hot Beavis.”

“Yeah. I saw him again on Monday. He’s in my Roman Art History class. He’s a hockey player. And his last name is Shayba.”

“Shayba? As in Mack?”

I encourage her to turn back around so I can finish her hair. “He’s Macklin’s brother.”

“No shit.” Sam chuckles.

“But that isn’t all.”

I tell her how Gen was sitting with him in class and was all over him after.

Then I tell her about Macklin asking me to be his tutor.

“Did you say yes?”

“I really don’t have the time, but I didn’t have the heart to turn him down. I’ll have to make it work.”

Sam wasn’t born yesterday, and she’s been my best friend since kindergarten, so she sees through me without even trying.She knows me better than anyone. “Right. As if you didn’t have a huge crush on him since the day he set foot on campus.”

She’s right. I’d be lying if I said that my unrequited feelings for him didn’t play a part in making me agree to tutor him.

But I wasn’t born yesterday either. “It isn’t like that. He just needs help with Cantucci’s class. History isn’t his forte, and since I’m a history major…”

My best friend isn’t convinced. “True. But he could have asked the professor or the T.A. They usually have a list of approved tutors, don’t they?”

I thought about that, too. “Yeah, but Macklin is one of the most popular guys on campus. Maybe he doesn’t want anyone to know. In case his eligibility to play was in doubt. You know how their coach is.”

She doesn’t look convinced. “Ok, then why are you blushing?”

“I’m not.” I argue, fighting the urge to touch my flaming hot face.

“You’re redder than a tomato, Tal. What aren’t you telling me?”

Yeah, Sam knows me too well for my own good. The memory of my interaction with Macklin has been tormenting me all week. If I don’t tell someone, I’m gonna explode. And there’s no one I trust with this more than Sam.