Page 49 of Penalty Kick

“A goon?” Talia laughed. “Do hooligans smile a certain way?”

“They do if they are up to no good.”

“If the dishes count as ‘up to no good,’ then I’m the biggest badass ever!”

Felicity huffed out a laugh, shaking her head. “But seriously, what’s the smile for?”

“Why does it have to be for anything?”

Reaching below the bar, Talia grabbed a martini glass, placing it on the counter and reaching for the vodka behind her. Felicity’s vodka martinis with a lemon twist had been the first drink she had ever learned to mix, making careful note of exactly how she liked them. It was old hat now, but had taken a bit to remember at first.

“It doesn’t,” Felicity offered. “But, I know you, so I know it does. If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. You’re entitled to your secrets.”

“Except you already know.”

“Do I though?” Felicity took the martini from Talia, taking a sip.

Talia sighed. Felicity was good at this game. No doubt about it. It was part of why she was so good at her job—she just had a way of getting people to talk. She also didn’t take shit from anyone and was a vault when it came to whatever information she did manage to collect. That was part of what had made her so easy to open up to when Talia first moved to Atlanta. Add in her understanding of uncomfortable family dynamics, and they had formed a quick bond. One Talia was thankful for every day.

“You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?” Talia asked. Slumping forward and resting her chin in her hands, she hoped that she wasn’t going to have to.

“Sure am.”

Sucking in a breath, she held it for a moment, trying to find her words. She didn’t doubt her feelings. She knew what those were. They were loud and clear, filling her entire being. It was just saying them out loud that was tough. She’d never been the kind of person who talked about her feelings. On top of that, having denied them for so long, with such vehemence, she was a little afraid she might choke on them as they came out. Or that there was a great big “I told you so” on the receiving end.

That didn’t matter though. Felicity was her support system and the one she told things to. This wasn’t going to be any different than telling her about her virginity.

“I like him. A lot,” she admitted. “He’s not who I thought he was.”

“That’s how they get ya. Let you think one thing, then they show up all swoony, proving you wrong.” Holding up her left hand, showing off her new wedding band, Felicity smiled. “Turns out your father isn’t a grumpy, sexist, overgrown man-child, but a very kind, sensitive, and loving man.”

“Yeah. Over here it’s more that we’re a sweet, patient, misunderstood soul, rather than a drunken, selfish playboy. So, I feel that.”

“Sweet, patient, and misunderstood. Wow, didn’t see that one coming,” Felicity commented, taking another sip.

“You and me both. I really had him pegged all wrong.”

Felicity nodded, a gentle, almost motherly smile appearing. “You said patient. Is that in regard to the Unified players or to…”

“Both. He’s surprisingly great with the players. They love him. Especially Tanner. There is some serious hero worship going on there.”

“And…” Felicity rolled her hand in a circle, telling her to get to the good stuff.

Felicity was the first—and only—person Talia had ever told about her virginity. At least until she had told Dash the other night. She hadn’t meant to; it had just kind of slipped out during their first lunch together. Felicity, who had been the Director of Team Services for the Rising at the time, had arranged for a new apartment for Gunnar, so that Talia could move in with him and the two could get to know each other. During their lunch, Felicity had asked if she had overstepped, worried that it would be weird for someone Talia’s age to live with her dad—especially one she didn’t know very well. Asking about a boyfriend, or whomever Talia was dating, Felicity asked if what she really needed to do was get her a different place, so she would feel comfortable if she wanted to bring someone home. To this day Talia didn’t know what made her tell Felicity that she was a virgin, but she hadn’t regretted it once. There was no one on earth more supportive than Felicity.

“Good for you,” Felicity had said at lunch that day. “Your body, your choice. Don’t forget that. Whatever your reason, it’s your reason, so own it. And if he, or she, doesn’t respect that, then they can fuck right off.”

They were words that Talia had taken to heart. Especially since now she had met someone who had not only changed the way she felt, but respected her choice as much as Felicity had.

“And…” Talia continued, looking around to make sure no one else they knew was in earshot. Once she was sure the coast was clear, she swallowed hard, wanting to find the right words while still being work appropriate. “Things got a little hot and heavy the other night, and he started to take things to the next level and I dropped the bomb.”

Felicity nodded, waiting for Talia to continue.

“He was…okay with it. Taken aback, sure. But he told me that I set the pace, and that he was here for more than just that, and whenever I was ready to just let him know.”

“I am seriously impressed with that young man. I will admit, that is a maturity I didn’t think he had.”

“Same.”