13. In The Dollhouse #2
“No. My dad is one of the team’s main sponsors, and Mack is the best winger on the team’s roster. There’s no way he’s gonna get benched, and Carole can’t kick off the team the dancer whose father is bankrolling this entire season.”
“But do you think Mack is just playing hard to get? He really doesn’t look interested in getting back with you.”
“Whose side are you on?” Gen snaps. “When I dumped him, we had a huge fight. He’s just holding a grudge.
But I know how to earn his forgiveness. We’re too good together.
My mom spoke to the TV network CEO last weekend when they had him over at their house for a family BBQ.
If I make team captain, they’re interested in filming a whole reality show about us.
We’d be the power couple on campus and basically in town.
Mack decided not to enter the draft last year, and this year he’s gonna be the number one prospect in the country and a free agent.
The network is interested in a reality show to follow his season this year and his rookie season next year, but they also want a romantic angle.
Maybe even see him start his rookie season as a newlywed.
And I’ll be damned if I let some bitch take the spot that’s rightfully mine. ”
Ah, now I get why Gen has been riding Mack so hard about getting back together. It has nothing to do with being high school sweethearts who have known each other since they were in diapers and everything to do with Mack’s rising star and the notoriety that comes with being by his side.
Olivia’s voice reaches us from further away, so they must be getting out of the room. “Didn’t you discuss all that stuff with him after the championship game, when your dad made a deal with the network to film training camp and to have a cheerleading team?”
“I did. And the idiot said he wasn’t interested. I thought breaking up with him would make him see what a huge mistake he was making, but Mack has taken being single as an opportunity to fuck anything with boobs and a pulse.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
The edge in Genevieve’s voice makes every red flag pop up in my head.
“If we don’t get back together before the beginning of the official hockey season, we might miss out on a show for this year.
But there’s still next year, and Daddy’s friend said they would even consider a special during the playoffs.
Imagine how many followers I would get if I were captain of the Stars and engaged to the number one NHL prospect.
My mom has already ordered a custom wedding dress from the same designer who did the last royal wedding in England.
The only thing I need to have everything I’ve ever wanted is Mack to get his head out of his ass and embrace his destiny. Our destiny.”
The changing room door closes with an audible snick, but Taryn and I don’t dare move one muscle for a long moment.
“Do you need to clean up before we walk out of here, pretty girl?” I ask, my voice low, even if we should be alone in here.
“I have a towel in my bag.” She bends down and rifles through her bag on the floor. When she finds her towel, I take it gently from her.
I drop down to my knees. “Let me.”
The way Taryn is looking at me as I wipe between her thighs as gently as I can cause my cock to stir in my pants.
I’m dying to kiss her again, but I know we’ve already taken a huge risk today in here. I can only imagine what would have happened if we had been too loud or if we had come out of this stall at the wrong time.
“Let me check that the coast is clear.” I say once I’m done cleaning her. “Let’s go.” I open the stall’s door once I’m sure that Gen and Olivia aren’t lurking around, ready to bust us.
“We should warn Mack about what Gen said.” Taryn muses. “I don’t think he wants to get back together with Gen, but he needs to know why Gen wants him back.”
I nod. “I’ll speak to him tonight. I’ve never liked Gen even when they were together. She’s always given me gold digger vibes.”
“But aren’t gold diggers after money? Gen’s father is practically a billionaire.”
It’s true. After a wildly successful NHL career, Brett Bergen started a protective gear company that took the hockey world by storm.
With his face on the launch campaign, his gear made it into every NHL and NCAA locker room, and into countless locker rooms around North America and Europe at every level.
After a few years, he expanded from protective gear to sticks, pucks, general sportswear, and he’s getting ready to launch a new line of hockey skates.
“Yeah, Gen doesn’t need the money. What she wants from Mack is the one thing her daddy alone can’t give her. Stardom.”
Taryn considers my words. “That makes a lot of sense. Look, if she loved him, I wouldn’t meddle, but it didn’t sound like she did.”
“No,” I bite out. “People like Gen only love the person they see reflected in the mirror.”
I lace my fingers with Taryn’s. “Hey, I was thinking something. Coach promised us a day off after tomorrow’s game.
Only if we win, of course. The sponsors have organized that cocktail party with the League Commission members in attendance.
Everyone will be partying all night. What do you think if you and I snuck out early and hung out in my room instead? ”
“I would love that. We just need to make sure that we leave separately.”
Bolstered by her agreement, I nod. “I can’t wait to be able to take my time with you, pretty girl.”
“I see how it is.” She bats her lashes, but I know she’s teasing me. “You want to get me alone so you can get laid.”
“I do, because you’re fucking hot and I can’t keep my hands to myself when you’re around. But I hope you know I want a lot more than just sex from you.”
Taryn’s smile is like a ray of sunshine. “I know. I feel the same way about you. It’s this stupid no fraternization rule. Making us off-limits to each other is making us want to get close more than if it wasn’t forbidden.”
Maybe she’s right. But there is no scenario in which I wouldn’t want Taryn, forbidden or not. “Then it’s a date?”
“It’s a date.”
I open the changing room door and step back to let Taryn out. “Maybe I should wait a few minutes before I come out, just in case.” I whisper, craning my neck to see down the long hallway full of rehearsing studios and meeting rooms.
The words have just left my mouth when Taryn tenses in front of me.
Following her gaze, I see what, or I should say who, made her stop in her tracks.
Nash has just come out of the changing room where the hockey players got ready for the photo shoot.
The air is crackling with electricity as Nash’s gaze burns holes into me and Taryn.
For a long moment neither of us moves, but my hands curl into fists at my sides, ready to strike if he dares say one unkind thing to Taryn.
He looks furious; I can see a muscle jumping in his jaw from here.
“Nash.” Taryn’s soft voice breaks the spell we all seemed to be under.
Nash shakes his head before turning on his heel and walking away.
I move next to Taryn.
“Let’s go, pretty girl. It looks like we’re the last ones left here.”