Page 19 of Penalty Kick

“So, it’s something.”

“Have you ever been texting multiple people at once and gotten so lost in the flurry of messages that you replied to the wrong one?” Sax led off, eyes wide with mischief. Felicity nodded, although the way her brows were furrowed told Talia that she wasn’t quite sure where her best friend was taking this. “And what you sent was very much not for the eyes that you sent it to?”

Color drained from Felicity’s face, her brow now raised in a mix of shock and horror, eyes looking like they could pop out of her skull.

“Talia Grace Whitmore! You did not!” Felicity whisper shouted.

“OMG! I have no idea where your mind just went, but no! It’s nothing like that. I was simply texting both Tanner and…a friend…and I accidently sent Tanner something that was not meant for him.”

“How not meant for him?”

“You aren’t interested in who the ‘friend’ is?” Sax asked, making sure to emphasize friend with finger quotes.

“Oh, we’re gonna get there,” Felicity answered with a wink. “I just need my heart to stop racing since my mind went off the deep end. Because, God, if I sent Tripp what I sent Gunnar this morning—”

“TMI! TMI!” Talia shrieked. Her hands flew to cover her ears, not wanting to hear any more about what on earth Felicity could possibly be sending her father. Losing her balance, she stumbled slightly, but caught herself before she toppled over.

Sax tapped on her shoulder, quickly followed by a flick of the wrist and a look that commanded her to go sit down. She knew that Dash would be here any minute to take over, and her good leg was getting tired from carrying all the weight, so she did as she was told.

“Wanna see it?” Sax asked, waggling her eyebrows.

“What did you do? Screenshot it?”

“Sure did.”

Sax pulled out her phone, passing it to Felicity who eagerly took hold. Eyes scanning quickly over the picture of the exchange, a smirk spread over her stepmother’s face.

Oh great…

“As delicious as your kisses were, healing is not the power they hold. Winky face,” Felicity quoted. “Oh, T. It’s one of my players, isn’t it?”

A mix of giddiness and embarrassment swelled within Talia. She wasn’t quite sure how to answer that question. Be honest and know that there was a lecture coming? Or try and deny it and have them not believe her? There wasn’t a good answer here. This was supposed to remain her secret. She had no interest in Dash—at least not any real interest. Her focus was school, getting into the Renaye program, and the Unified team. Figuring out her career path and making a name for herself. Dating was a distraction she didn’t have time for.

Then there was that other little pesky piece of information. Which she really wasn’t going to bring up in this moment.

“I plead the fifth.” Talia shrugged.

“Your father is going to have a fit,” Felicity said. “And I can’t wait to witness it.”

“What?!”

Well, that was not the reaction she was expecting.

“In all seriousness,” Felicity continued. “This is Vegas. What we talk about stays between us, always has.” Talia nodded. She knew that. Their friendship had formed separately from Felicity and Gunnar’s, and never once had anything Talia confided in her been betrayed. Just like she knew it wouldn’t be now. That didn’t make this any easier to talk about though. “Can I ask who? Is it who I think? He who might just be changing your mind?”

Talia squirmed in her seat, using the excuse of needing to prop up her injured ankle as a reason to delay her answer. She could feel both Felicity’s and Saxony’s eyes on her, awaiting a response.

“As I told Sax, a few months back, someone kissed me, and he still texts me occasionally.” She was being evasive, she knew that. But bringing herself to actually admit it out loud, well, that was more than she thought she had in her.

“It’s okay to admit you like him. Or at least like the attention.”

“Oh goodness, who wouldn’t like that attention,” Sax commented.

“When?” Felicity asked. The question was simple, but Talia knew exactly what she was asking. There was no use in hiding it anymore. It was perfectly clear that it was Dash they were talking about.

“The auction.”

“Where?”