Page 111 of Pucking Bad Boys

“Coach’s methods aren’t for the faint of heart.” I say. “But if his methods win championships, I’m more than happy to do what he says. See you tomorrow at practice.”

Talia and I climb the stairs all the way to the top floor in complete silence.

“Baby, are you ok?” I ask her once we’re in the privacy of my room. “You haven’t said much since…”

Kissing my brother. But I can’t bring myself to say it.

Her eyes find mine, and she comes close. Her palms splayed on my chest. “I’m fine. I’m just trying to make sense of some things.”

She doesn’t need to say it out loud.

“You’re thinking about that kiss.” It isn’t a question, and Talia doesn’t deny it.

“I am. It was… perfect.”

That’s it.

I did fuck up. She likes my brother. He’s the one she wants, and now that they kissed, she’s trying to find a way to let me down gently.

There’s nothing I want less than to let her go, but her happiness is what matters to me. I don’t know how I’ll deal with my feelings, but I’m not going to stand in her way if she wants to be with my brother.

“I told you he wants you.” I force my face into a smile, beginning to put some distance between us. “If you want to end our deal to be with him, I?—”

Talia cuts me off, standing on the tips of her toes to bring her lips to mine. “I don’t want to end our deal. I’m not ready for it. I still have a lot to learn, and I want to see through my end of the bargain. We said we would date until Gen stopped trying to get back together with you. I don’t think she’s there yet.”

“Yeah?” I can hear the relief in my own voice. “What about Becks?”

She cups my jaw, her breath fanning over my lips. “That was just one kiss. On a dare. Yes, it was hot. But that doesn’t mean he wants to date me.”

Oh, he does want to date her. I know my brother way too well, and the way he has been looking at Talia is worth more than a thousand words. “Ok.” I say softly, not believing my own luck and feeling a little dishonest about not letting her believe that Becks isn’t quite there yet.

“Kiss me, Macklin. I’ve been dying to be alone with you all day.”

I don’t let her ask twice. “I missed you too, baby. I’ve been thinking about last night all day today.”

“Liar.” She chuckles against my lips. “You weren’t thinking about last night during the game.”

At the risk of shocking her, I confess my dirty little secret. “With you in my jersey? The second I saw you with my name on your back, last night was all I could think about. How soft and tight you felt, and how I couldn’t wait to be inside you again.”

“But you scored three goals.” Talia argues.

“It’s what you do to me, baby. You make me want to be the best version of myself all the time. So I can make you proud.”

She traces my jaw with her fingers, her eyes full of warmth. “I am proud of you, Macklin.”

There is no fucking way this is fake. The way she’s looking at me, the way she feels in my arms are the most real things I’ve ever seen.

I know she’s into Becks. But I have to tell her how I feel. How much I want her to be mine. Really mine.

“Talia, baby, I?—”

There’s a loud knock at my door. Whoever decided to slam their fist on my door like they’re beating the crap out of an opponent on the ice can suck my dick.

I ignore it, keeping my focus on my girlfriend. “I?—”

They knock again, even louder this time.

“The party is downstairs. Fuck off.” I call out.