Page 98 of Pucking Good Girl

It’s crunch time.

The regular hockey season is coming to an end, and tonight is the last game before the playoffs.

The Cove Knights have secured their spot early during a record-breaking season. But they’re still giving one hundred percent every time they take the ice.

Coach Harrison wouldn’t have it any other way, but that isn’t the only reason behind the team’s outstanding performance this year.

Macklin and Becks are still battling it out for a contract with Seattle, their dream team. Getting a pro contract is a given for both of them, but they both want to play for their father’s old team.

Seattle has been adamant that they’re only looking to sign one winger, it doesn’t matter on which side, since their current roster has a few players who are equally comfortable with either wing.

The issue is that both Shayba’s brothers are performing at the highest levels. And they’re head to head if you look at their stats.

Macklin scored four more goals than Becks so far, but Becks has two more assists. So they have the exact same number of points.

Seattle has been clear that they would make a choice by the end of the regular season, so tonight is the night.

No one knows if they’ll be looking at points or not, but both Macklin and Becks feel that who dominates tonight’s game against UCLA will be the chosen one.

Seattle isn’t the only one who’s hard pressed to make a choice. Once I pass this semester’s finals, I’m officially done with college.

I haven’t decided yet if I want to pursue further education or if I want to start looking for my first real job of my future career.

Money has always been a deciding factor for me, and I’ve applied for scholarships, but last night Tucker dropped a bombshell on me.

He offered to pay for any kind of graduate course I want to attend. Of course, I argued that I don’t expect my brother to pay for my education, but he insisted that he loves me and this is what family is all about.

“We’re a team, Tal. We’ve always been.” Were his words last night.

Tucker’s generosity gave me options, but the truth is that I don’t know what I want to do. Because there is another life-changing choice that I’m hard pressed to make.

Who is the one?

Both Macklin and Becks have been clear that they see me as their forever.

Whatever I decide to do next, whether it’s studying for a little while longer or start applying for jobs, things might look different depending on who I choose as my own forever.

Becks has decided that if Seattle makes an offer, he isn’t going to come back for his junior year in the fall. But if he doesn’t get the offer, he might negotiate with another team to be allowed to stay in Star Cove for two more years and finish his degree.

That means that if I chose Becker, I would either move to Seattle or stay in Star Cove for two more years.

Macklin isn’t just one of the most gifted hockey players of his generation; he’s also academically gifted. He has just a couple of classes left to take to complete his degree. So if Seattle calls, he’s going to leave Star Cove for Seattle and finish those classes online, no matter how long it will take him.

If I chose Macklin, it would mean moving to Seattle this year or potentially either staying in Star Cove for one more year or following Macklin anywhere in the U.S. or Canada if he gets an offer he can’t refuse from a team who needs him straight away.

The truth is that I love them both with all my heart, and just the idea of letting one of them go is unthinkable.

Life with them has been nothing short of perfect. Macklin and Becks love me, take care of me, and make me feel complete in a way I didn’t think possible.

And surprisingly, our life together has been harmonious. As the weeks turned into months, the two rival brothers have been fighting less and less. Rather than constant challenges or earth shattering disagreements, their bickering has turned into good natured ribbing. These days they’re always on the same page, at least when it matters.

I know that the clock is ticking and I have no idea what I’m going to do when the time comes. Whoever I choose, my heart is going to break, and I’ll never be whole again.

“Tal, cheer up, babes,” Sam whispers as we enter the arena. “We’re going to the last game of the season, not a funeral.”

“I know,” I sigh.

Sam knows how much I’ve been agonizing over the impossible choice I have to make. She squeezes my hand. “Stop stressing about it. You’ll end up with the right one, I just know it.”