Page 47 of Pucking Forbidden

“Would you like to walk us through that last point?”

A few heads turn, and I feel the attention settle on me. I clear my throat and sit up a little straighter.

“Um…yes,” I nod. “It’s about risk distribution in contractual agreements.” I pause a moment, organizing my thoughts. “The idea is to minimize liability by clearly defining responsibility between parties, so if something goes wrong, it’s already established who’s accountable and to what extent.”

The professor grins. “Exactly. And why is that important?”

“Because it prevents ambiguity,” I answer. “It reduces the chance of disputes escalating into litigation.”

“Good,” he says. “Very good.”

A few students glance at me before turning back to their notes. I nod once and look down again.

The fact that I’m able to rattle off the information so easily is part of the problem, because it feels like I’m good at something that doesn’t belong to me. I’m playing a role I didn’t choose but somehow perfected anyway. Is this how it’s going to be for the rest of my life? Succeeding in a career that doesn’t fulfill me? Pouring all my effort into a life I hate?

The idea is so damn depressing.

I can’t do that, though…so I keep paying attention. I keep taking notes.

I keep playing the obedient student, because I can’t do anything else.

“Well, well, well,” Lainey answers when I call her that night, her tone teasing. “Look who finally decided to check in.”

I roll my eyes and chuckle. “I’ve been busy.”

“Mm-hmm. Busy thinking about your sexy lumberjack? You haven’t given me any details about your drunken escapades the other week. All I got is a couple of barely coherent texts? I’m your best friend!”

I groan. “We’re not starting with that.”

“Oh, we absolutely are,” she insists, her tone gleeful. “You got drunk…”

“I did not get drunk…” I don’t mention how I ended up on the floor of my bathroom, puking my guts out.

“You got drunk, he called you sweetheart, and then he took care of you. I’m sorry, but I need more details.”

I drag a hand down my face. “There are no more details. He was just being nice.”

“Men are not just nice for no reason,” she shoots back.

“How would you know?” I counter, turning the tables on her before she can drill down any further. “Finally land yourself a man I don’t know about?”

“Well…no,” Lainey sighs, her defensive, playful tone melting away as she handles the deflection. “I’m getting way less action than you, and that’s why you’re supposed to be giving me all the juicy details!”

I sit up, rolling my eyes. “We’re just friends.”

“Sure you are.”

“We are,” I insist. “And even if we weren’t, he’s off limits.”

“Off limits?” she repeats, letting out a burst of laughter. “What does that even mean?”

“It means,” I begin, trying to find the right words, “that he’s not…he’s just not someone I should go there with.”

“Why?”

God damn, she’s as stubborn as a toddler.

“Because…” I falter slightly. “Because it would complicate things.”