Page 44 of Pucking Good Girl

My brother dominates the game, putting an insane amount of pressure on Stanford’s defense. He’s everywhere, a constant thorn in our opponents’ side.

If this had been a home game, there would be a huge party on campus to celebrate our W.

There’s talk to find a club in Stanford or even venturing slightly further into Palo Alto to dance the night away.

I’m relieved when my teammates prefer a more low-key option and a couple of seniors get tasked with sourcing a few cases of beer.

Tucker offers our room as the hangout, and as team captain, I should be there.

Instead, there’s only one person I want to celebrate tonight’s victory with.

I nurse one beer, biding my time until I know Talia will be done with work.

Worrying about her walking back to campus alone in the middle of the night, I ordered her a ride home.

My phone rings, and I walk out of my crowded room to answer the call away from prying ears.

Hearing her voice grounds me just as much as her touch usually does.

We talk until I hear her yawning. “Go to bed, baby.” I whisper into the phone. “I wish I could be there beside you. But I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

I love you.

Those three little words almost slip out of my mouth, but I swallow them back.

Things between Talia and Becks are getting deeper, and the time on our deal is about to run out.

My time is about to run out. I need to speak to Talia and come clean about my feelings for her.

If she chooses my brother, I want her to do it knowing that nothing about what we have is fake for me. It has never been.

As I rejoin my teammates, a realization hits me.

The two things I want most in my life are Talia and a contract with Seattle.

And the only thing standing between me and those two things is my brother.

CHAPTER 12

GUTTED

Talia

Time is ticking.

Next week Professor Cantucci is going to be back from her conference tour in Europe, and we’re due to present our group project to the entire class.

But that isn’t what’s causing anxiety to pool in the pit of my stomach. Victor was adamant about wanting an answer to his disgusting proposal by the professor’s return. My fate depends on my decision.

I’m already in enough trouble for being in love with two men. But even if that wasn’t the case, even if my heart weren’t taken, I would never be able to go through with it. I couldn’t even hook up with someone just for fun, so I know I could never do it as part of a transaction.

This is no judgment to people who think they can. If that kind of choice is made freely, who am I to judge?

But this isn’t the case here. Victor is using Gen’s dubious actions to coerce me into doing his bidding.

If I caved, I wouldn’t be able to look in the mirror anymore.

Keeping my dignity and integrity intact, however, will come at a high price. If Victor goes through with his threat when I refuse to sleep with him, I’ll be expelled.