9. Study Buddies
Study Buddies
MACKLIN
Maybe signing up for this class was a mistake.
I’m not saying that because I’m scared of Professor Cantucci’s pop quizzes and strict attendance rules. I can handle all of that.
Everyone is so focused on my hockey career that no one pays attention to my grades.
I’ve always been a straight-A student. I put in the work, and whatever our professor thinks about us athletes, not all of us want inflated grades and preferential treatment.
I know a few of my teammates share my sentiments that the times when professional athletes could barely string a few words together without sounding like brainless meatheads are long gone.
In today’s world, if you want to succeed, if you want the big contracts and the prestigious sponsors, your performance on the ice is just one part of the equation.
I actually enjoy college. That’s why I haven’t let the generous offers that have started coming my way since I graduated high school persuade me to go pro and abandon my degree.
The reason why I’m having buyer’s remorse about signing up for this class is that I did it to get close to Talia.
And I didn’t think about the fact that Tucker is always in the fucking way.
Our starting goalie is one of my best friends on and off the team, but if he knew how hard I’m crushing on his sister, he would blow a gasket. And kill me. Painfully.
He’s made it clear many times that he doesn’t think that any of his teammates are worthy of breathing the same air as Talia.
And I’m not saying that he’s wrong. But I like Talia more than I’ve ever liked anyone.
If I had a chance with her, I would do everything in my power to make her happy, and I would treat her right.
The problem is that coming to this class is going to be torture. Tucker insists on sitting by his sister and glares at me if I try to say anything more than hello to her.
Even now, if Talia had agreed to come to the dining hall with us, Tucker would probably run interference the entire time.
“Hey Mack, what are you doing here?” My ex’s voice has the effect of making my appetite disappear.
And what the fuck is she doing with my brother?
The words come out of my mouth harsh, dripping with all the distaste I feel for her. “What do people do in class? I’m here to learn more about Roman History Through Art. I thought you had taken this class last year. Did you fail? The mandatory attendance alone sounds like a huge hurdle for you.”
“I passed it, if you must know.” Her eyes narrow as she doesn’t miss the open criticism of her character.
“I got an A. But there was that problem with the grades, and now everyone who attended last semester needs to retake it. The same thing happened with my Econ class. Retaking two classes is the last thing I needed. As if my workload weren’t bad enough.
Tucker is in my same boat, aren’t you, babe?
” She bats her fake eyelashes in Tucker’s direction.
The dude doesn’t know what part he played in my breakup with Gen. If I hadn’t overheard her plans to sleep with him over last spring break, maybe I would still be with her. The way I see it, I owe him big.
“You gotta do what you gotta do.” I bite out, unable to hide the irritation in my tone.
The useless small talk isn’t distracting enough for me to miss the fact that Becks was sitting with my ex.
But another thing I can’t help but notice is that since the second Gen and Becks approached us, Talia and my brother have been staring at each other.
What is that about?
“I’m surprised to see you here, dude.” I say to Becks. “I didn’t know you were interested in history or art.”
He doesn’t take his eyes off Talia when he responds to my veiled provocation.
“Yeah, me neither. Thing is, I had no idea I would attend school here rather than in Bridgeport a month ago. And by the time all my paperwork was done, a lot of classes were full. So here I am. The class sounds interesting, though, so I’m not too mad about it.
Besides, it’s nice to see some familiar faces. ”
Now, he could be referring to me, Colsen, and Tucker. And he could definitely be talking about Genevieve. But his eyes skim over Talia like he’s checking her out.
“And it was a nice surprise to see you again, Talia. I realized I forgot to exchange numbers the other night.”
So I was right, he was talking about her.
I have a million questions about how they know each other and what Becks meant by “the other night.” Countless scenarios are playing in my head—in a similar way to how I assess the situation on the ice to decide my next move—and I don’t like any of the things that are popping into my head.
“The other night? How do you know each other?” Tucker asks with a frown.
A second ago, I was annoyed by Tucker’s overprotective behavior around Talia. Right now, I could kiss him for asking the million dollar question so I don’t have to.
“Talia was my bartender on my first night in town. We got talking, and I ended up walking her home since she was left alone to close down the bar,” Becks offers.
Tucker’s eyes narrow into slits as he looks down the length of my brother’s body. “You walked her home, huh?”
Oh, boy. I brace myself for Tucker’s reaction. I remember how he warned me off Talia right before our first post game party freshman year. It was scary.
“Thanks, man.” Tucker slaps my brother on the back. “I told Talia a thousand times to call me when she’s alone at closing time. Star Cove isn’t a dangerous place, but you never know what or who you might bump into at night. I’m glad someone was looking out for her.”
Wait, what?
Why isn’t Tucker yelling at Becker the same way he did with me and every other guy on the team? Fuck, if he scared me, I thought he was gonna kill Vaughn Heston.
“It was my pleasure.” Becks is practically preening under Tucker’s praise.
“Our team is like a big family,” Tucker continues. “And Talia is like a little sister to all my teammates.”
Ah, there it is. The warning. But for some reason, it isn’t as threatening as I’ve seen before.
Maybe Tucker doesn’t want to cause a scene since a few other students are still lingering in the classroom.
“Whatever, Tuck.” Talia doesn’t hide her irritation. “I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself. So much so that I’m trusted with closing the bar. I don’t need a man to escort me home. Beavis was just being nice.”
“Beavis?” I snort, realizing she’s referring to Becks.
When Talia explains, her eyes are intent on my brother. “That’s what his fake ID said. Beavis Rawbottom.”
My laugh comes out more like a snort. “Beavis Rawbottom?” I snicker. “What kind of stupid name is that for a fake ID? I can’t believe anyone would serve you.”
“That’s exactly what I told him when I didn’t serve him.” Talia giggles.
Becks rubs the back of his neck, but there’s a tick in his jaw when he looks at me.
“Yeah, well, it was my frat brothers’ bright idea.
No surprise, I ended up not accepting the pledge bid they offered me.
No offense, but the Bridgeport chapter of Gamma Delta Tau was a bunch of idiots.
No one will miss them now that they’re gone. ”
“No offense taken.” Tucker agrees. “As the newly elected president of our chapter of Gamma Delta Tau, I can attest that the Bridgeport guys were morons. But that can be said for pretty much anyone who attended that trashy school. Present people excluded since you’re now one of us.”
His opinion of Bridgeport is shared by pretty much everyone on campus. Being the closest Division One college in the state, there was always a harsh rivalry between our two schools. Especially on the ice.
“Our chapter is different.” Tucker continues. “We’re great, for the most part. And it’s mostly teammates. You should rush. I guarantee you’re going to get a bid. I happen to be pretty tight with the president.” He wiggles his eyebrows at the joke.
“No, thanks.” My brother turns him down, the same way he did with me when I suggested it. “I don’t think I want to go that way. It’s not like we aren’t already gonna spend most of our days together with two practices a day.”
Talia’s eyes widen, as if she’d just come to a realization. “So you’re a hockey player?”
“Yeah, duh,” Tucker rolls his eyes. “That’s why I was pleased I didn’t have to tell him to look out for you. Becks’ already on the same page.”
“For some reason, it didn’t register then. So you’re a Cove Knight?”
My brother blushes. Interesting. I’ve never seen him blush before.
“Guilty as charged.”
Tucker gives him another friendly slap on the back. “He’s our new right winger. It was our weakest spot, and with Becker Shayba, we might have just hit the jackpot. We’re gonna be back-to-back champions, mark my words.”
Surprise is written all over Talia’s face. But it has nothing to do with Tucker’s declaration that we’ll take the championship again this year.
“Shayba?” Her eyes go from Becks to me.
“Yup.” It’s my turn to slap my brother’s back. “Becks is my little brother.”
He stiffens at my words.
I seriously don’t understand what his fucking problem is. Sometimes he acts like he’s embarrassed to be associated with me.
But I don’t get the opportunity to ask him what’s crawled up his ass, because Gen slides her arm into the crook of Becks’s elbow, practically wrapping herself around him like a skinny boa constrictor.
“You didn’t know Becks is the latest bright star in a family that’s practically hockey royalty?
” She beams. “Our dads were rookies together. They won four Cups with San Francisco and an Olympic gold medal. Mack and Becks are the heirs of that amazing legacy, and I bet they’ll do even greater things than our fathers. ”
My brother’s face foes from red to crimson. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Gen.”
She bats her eyelashes at him in her typical flirty way, but her eyes flit to me. If Gen thinks I’m going to be jealous of her talking my brother up, she’s even more delusional than I thought.