Page 60 of Pucking Good Girl

But then when he asks her to be his, she admits to having feelings for me too.

“Can someone explain to me what you’re talking about?” I bite out, feeling my head throb with the effort of making sense of what’s happening in front of me.

Talia turns to look at me. “Yes, Becks. We owe you an explanation. I’ve always had a huge crush on Macklin, but I thought he only saw me as Tucker’s little sister. Then you and I met, and I was instantly attracted to you. I thought you felt the same way about me. But when we said goodnight, you didn’t kiss me. You didn’t even ask for my number, so I thought maybe I was just imagining everything. Or that the attraction I felt was one-sided. I never even expected to see you again.”

I knew it.

That night I should have kissed her.

Fuck.

Talia continues to explain what happened when we did see each other again. My hesitation is what pushed her straight into my brother’s arms.

“Becks,” she murmurs once she’s done telling me about their deal. “Please don’t be mad. I know this is a huge mess, but all I wanted was for you to notice me. I liked Macklin, but I swear I had no idea that he liked me back.”

Before I can say anything, Mack chimes in. “I have no excuses. I wanted Talia, and I was prepared to do anything to be with her. Even faking being her boyfriend. Even helping her get your attention.”

It’s impossible to hide the bitterness in my next words. “So you either were confident that Talia would have fallen for you the second you touched her, or you thought I would never man up enough to make a move. Am I right?”

For once in his life, Mack’s trademark cockiness is nowhere to be seen. I know I nailed it when he squirms.

“Honestly? No, I wasn’t that sure. The thing I knew without a shadow of a doubt was that the second you saw Talia with me, you’d realize how much you wanted her. My hope was that you’d hesitate long enough that I’d be able to get her to fall for me. Boy, was I wrong about that one.”

“You’re such an asshole.” I spit out.

Rather than laugh at me, as I was expecting, Mack nods. “You have every right to be angry. But if you have to be mad at someone, please be mad at me. This whole deal was my idea.”

I run a hand over my face, trying to calm down and failing miserably. “Oh, don’t you worry, bro. I am mad at you. But I’m also mad at myself. Because if fate hadn’t helped me by making you draw Talia’s name in that daring game, I would have never made a move on her. Because contrary to what you think, I had too much respect for you to try anything with your girlfriend. No matter how much I wanted her.”

Something passes in his eyes. It happens so quickly that if I hadn’t been glaring at my brother’s punchable face, I would have missed it.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I clench my fists.

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

Oh, fuck no. “No, you had that look.”

“What look?” He asks, playing dumb.

“The look you always had when you had some new trick up your sleeve, or you knew something I didn’t. He’s had that look since we were kids.” I add for Talia’s benefit.

My brother has the decency to blush. “It’s nothing important. Trust me.”

“Trust you?” I bark out a laugh. “That ship sailed when I heard about the deal you cooked up when you realized that the woman you wanted liked me.”

Talia intervenes in his defense. “I liked him too, Becks.”

“Yeah, but he didn’t know that. So, Mack. Why that look? I’m fucking waiting.”

“Fine,” he bites out. “It wasn’t fate.”

I blink, confused. “Come again?”

“The dare game. It wasn’t fate that made me draw Talia’s name because I didn’t. The piece of paper I drew said Sam. So, there. You’re fucking welcome.”

Huh. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would you go out of your way to get me and Talia to kiss if you just admitted that you were counting on me hesitating long enough for you to win her over?”

Mack closes his eyes, his jaw ticking. “Who knows? Maybe I’m an idiot. Maybe I just wanted to keep my word to Talia since I was supposed to help her get with you. And maybe, a part of me was hoping that you two would kiss and find out you had zero chemistry.”