17. Brothers And Sisters #2
Did she change the height of these chairs? I’ve been here before when Bay and Candace were presidents, and I don’t remember the president’s desk looking so imposing. It feels like Gen is towering over me in her white leather chair.
“Is everything ok?” I brace myself for some kind of bad news. Since I got cut from the Shooting Stars, my life has been one total shitshow after another.
“Everything is good. I just wanted to give you a heads up that there’s going to be a pop quiz next week in Professor Cantucci’s class.”
The news comes as a surprise. We were assigned a hefty amount of reading, but I didn’t think the quizzes would start so soon.
“How do you know? Weren’t the pop quizzes supposed to be random? I didn’t get any emails from the professor.”
Gen rolls her eyes. “Of course they’re random, or they wouldn’t be called pop quizzes.
Let’s just say that I have my sources. I need to get an A in this class, and after last year’s problems with the grades, I think Cantucci is going to grade my papers extra hard.
So I need every advantage I can get. Let’s just leave it at that. ”
“Ok.” I don’t care how she knows. “I guess you wanted to set some time aside to study together so we can make sure you’re prepared?” I also need to check in with Macklin, since I’m supposed to be his tutor.
“Yes, that would be great.” Gen smiles. “I’ll send you a link with my schedule so you can choose a couple of slots to study together?”
I’m a little taken aback. I didn’t think she called me in here to make a studying schedule. “Sure. If you don’t need anything else, I’ll go. I have work tonight.”
My ass lifts from the chair before I’m even done saying that. Maybe it’s a little rude, but Gen and I have never been close despite being in the same sorority since we were freshmen.
“Talia, wait.” Her tone is sharp, and her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “We’ll book some time to study, but I was hoping you’d agree to help me during the quizzes and the exam, too.”
I sit back down. “What do you mean? There is going to be a group project, but the quizzes and the exam are graded individually.”
“I know that. But I’m sure you understand that being Zeta president is a full-time job.
I don’t have a lot of time with all the meetings I have to attend and the day-to-day running of this house.
With rush week approaching, things will get even busier.
So I was hoping you’d let me sit behind you in class and make sure your quiz paper is positioned so I can take a look if I get stuck on any questions. ”
My back stiffens. “Gen, I can’t do that. What you’re asking me to do is cheating.”
She waves a manicured hand as if she were swatting an annoying fly. “I’m not asking you to take the test for me. That would be cheating. I’m just asking you to let me peek at your answers if there’s something I don’t know.”
“It doesn’t matter if I gave you every answer or just one. If the professor found out, we’d both be in trouble.”
She rolls her eyes. “Then she better not find out. And she won’t if you don’t act like a twit. I know how to copy, so we’ll be fine.”
I don’t like this. “This isn’t right. I’ll help you study. If you put in the work, you’ll pass with flying colors.”
“Is this your final decision?”
“It is. I’m sorry. If you want to study together, I’m your girl. If not, I can’t help you.”
There’s a nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach as I brace myself for her reaction.
“I guess we’ll do it your way then. But I was expecting a little more from a sister, especially after you stole my boyfriend.”
I blink, confused. “What—”
“Yeah, I saw your new relationship status. If I think that I was worried about Taryn stealing Mack from me all summer, I feel stupid. My mom was right. It’s never the hot ones. It’s the quiet ones. The plain ones you wouldn’t bet a dime on.”
Her words should offend me. And they do.
“I didn’t steal your boyfriend. You and Macklin haven’t been together for months.
” That’s the only thing I can argue about.
Knowing that Genevieve considers me “plain” hurts my feelings.
I’ve always admired girls like her. Thin, athletic, with mile long legs.
I’ll never look like her. She can judge my physical appearance, but not my morals.
I would never cheat on a test or steal another woman’s boyfriend.
Gen holds my gaze for a long moment. “It’s true.
But that wasn’t the first time Mack and I broke up.
We’ve been on and off for years. I hope you’re ready to play second fiddle to hockey and his team.
And for all the puck bunnies who throw themselves at him every second of every day.
It takes a lot of patience and self-confidence to date a man like Macklin Shayba. ”
“I know.” My voice is barely above a whisper.
Gen isn’t telling me anything I didn’t know. And if Macklin and I were dating for real, I would be worried about all the better options he could have. But I trust Macklin’s ability to respect the terms of our deal.
“I just hope you know what you’re doing, Talia. Mack will eat you alive and spit you right out. He’s self-centered, and the only loyalty he knows is to his team. Once he gets whatever he wants from you, he’ll throw you away like a torn jersey.”
I don’t know what to say. So I sit there, questioning the whole thing.
My crush made me make a rash decision. What if Gen is right and Macklin will dump me once he’s satisfied that Gen isn’t trying to get him back?
“You know what?” This time her smile reaches her eyes. “When that happens, I’ll be the only one who understands how you feel when you need a shoulder to cry on. So don’t ever step on my toes again. You’re going to need me.”
This time Gen doesn’t stop me when I stand up to leave.