Page 5 of Pucking Good Girl

My eyes shift to my brother, who is staring at Talia too. Telling her in front of Becks is too risky. But I might have no choice.

If when we tell her that we decided to fight for her, she chooses him, I want her to do it knowing that I’m not just faking it. That I want to be chosen by her. For real.

Becks

I know the look on Talia’s face.

It’s the look of someone who feels like the weight of the world is on their shoulders. And the reason I know that look is that I’ve been feeling like that for most of my life too.

Like I’m never enough, no matter how hard I work. Like I’m always in my brother’s shadow.

Even now, with her, this is the sickening feeling in my chest. That I won’t even have a fighting chance because she’s going to choose him. It’s the story of my life after all. My parents, Gen, and every hockey scout out there. They all act as if I were Mack’s slightly imperfect copy.

Maybe I should just walk away before my feelings for her grow more. Losing her now would hurt, but I know it’s going to feel worse with every passing day.

But then she meets my gaze when she notices that I’ve been staring at her like a total creep, and she smiles.

At me. She isn’t looking at Mack at all.

My body reacts with a pang of awareness as images of last night flash in front of my eyes.

Her perfect ass grinding on my lap. Her tight heat wrapped around me.

My cock hardens at the memory and I know I’m in huge trouble. If she doesn’t choose me, I don’t know how I’ll deal with the pain. Especially when I’ll have to see her with Mack.

Why the fuck does Talia look so bereft?

Is it because of something we did? Last night was crazy and unconventional, but Mack made sure Talia wanted everything that happened. If he hadn’t gotten her express consent every time he pushed boundaries, I would have walked away.

Of course, it’s always possible that she regrets it now.

“Baby,” Mack says before I can gather the courage to ask her what’s wrong. “Are you ok?”

She shakes her head, dropping her half-eaten sandwich onto the wrapper on the table. Her eyes fill with tears. “No.” She chokes out. “I’m not ok.”

Again, Mack acts faster than me when he grabs her hand. “Is it something I or Becks did or said? If it’s about last night⁠—”

My heart stops beating for a second.

I fucked up again. I hesitated, and I let Mack take control of the conversation. I need to tell her how I feel about her before she says that last night was a mistake.

But I’m too late, as usual.

“No,” Talia shakes her head again. “It isn’t about last night.”

“Are you sure, baby? If you regret it⁠—”

Talia looks from my brother to me. “No. I don’t regret anything that happened between us. Last night was perfect.”

Thank fuck.

“Talia, I want to take you on a date. Soon. Please say yes.”

Her eyes shift from me to Mack again. Like she’s asking for his permission.

“I spoke to Mack this morning.” I rush out before either of them can say anything. “I told him that I want to date you. And I know he wants you too. So we’ve decided that we’re both going to date you until you make up your mind about who you want to be with. If that’s what you want.”

She looks at my brother again. I don’t understand why she seems to be waiting for his approval.