Page 105 of Pucking Good Girl

“These are excellent terms,” Dad looks at the pen I’m hesitant to touch. “I thought playing in Seattle was what you wanted?”

“It was,” I bite out. “It is. It’s just… Becks was here for a long time. He must be really upset.”

Dad smiles. “I doubt it. He’s waiting in Coach’s office for you to sign on the dotted line so you can celebrate together.”

Wait, what? If I got the contract and he still wants to celebrate, it can only mean that Talia chose him.

“Mack,” Dad frowns. “Are you going to sign that contract or not?”

My fingers tremble when I finally grab the pen they offered me. If Talia doesn’t want me, I might as well be in Seattle where I don’t have to see her and Becks together every day.

Fuck, this situation sucks more than I ever expected. Seeing them together will hurt, but I know I’ll also miss them. The realization hits me that living together for months, the bonds I had with both of them individually became stronger.

I got my contract, but I might have lost something way more valuable.

“Congratulations,” they all say when I scrawl my signature on the dotted line.

“Becks,” Dad calls out. “It’s done, son.”

A few seconds later, the meeting room door opens and my brother steps in.

Before I can even ask him how he feels about this whole thing, he wraps me in a bear hug.

“Congrats, brother,” he slaps me on the back right before releasing me. “We did it.”

What is he talking about? “What⁠—”

His megawatt smile widens as he looks at Dad and the scouts. “You didn’t tell him? Seriously?”

“Nah,” the head scout chuckles. “We thought we’d leave you the honor.”

My hand flies to the back of my neck. “Someone care to explain what am I missing here?”

Becks opens his mouth to say something, but Dad cuts in.

“Your brother was offered a contract, but he turned it down.”

“What?” My jaw hits the floor.

If he said no, it can only mean that Talia chose him, but she wants to stay in town.

“Hey,” Becks complains. “I thought you were leaving me the honor.”

Dad shrugs. “I changed my mind. Mack, Becks was offered the contract, but he turned it down unless the Guardians signed you too.”

“What?” I know, I’m starting to sound like a broken record.

I look from Becks to Dad to the two scouts. “So am I the second choice?”

“Sit down, Macklin,” the head scout encourages me. “Your brother didn’t want to come to Seattle without you. And no, you aren’t our second choice, so to speak. We’ve been agonizing over which of you would be the better choice because you both are.”

I’m more confused with every word they say. “But I thought you only needed one winger. I thought your coach was looking for someone to play on either side of Sandman. And that Pettersen would play on the other wing depending on which one of us you chose.”

The other scout chimes in. “We thought so, too. But your brother was prepared to argue his case to show us that we could have you both.”

I look at Becks. “You were?”

“Pettersen can play on either wing, but he prefers to play left.” He offers, as if that should shed light on the whole situation.