Page 18 of Pucking Forbidden

“And what would that be?” he asks in an impatient tone.

I lick my lips nervously before admitting, “I want to teach.”

“That’s great,” he declares, surprising me. But then, “You can always get a position as a professor of law after you get a good amount of experience under your belt.”

“Dad, that’s not what I mean...” I try one last time.

“You don’t have to worry about that now,” he replies. “Be a good girl, study hard, and stay focused. You’ll be just fine if you just stick it out.”

“Dad, I…”

“I’ve got to go now, sweetie,” he says, cutting me off. “A client is going to be here in a few minutes for a meeting. Love you.”

“Dad!”

Before I can finish my plea, he hangs up the call. Conversation over. I sit there, staring at my phone in stunned silence.

Damn it. I totally fucked that up. He barely had to say anything, and I folded like a blanket.

I knew he wouldn’t listen. I fucking knew it. If I don’t do something, I’m going to be stuck in a life I don’t want.

Skyler’s voice echoes in the back of my mind.

Desperate times.

CHAPTER SIX: FAILURE

HADLEY

I decide it’ll be my Economics of Business class. That’s the one Dad asks about the most. It’s the class I really need to pass this semester to keep progressing through my major. If I fail an exam in this one, it’ll get his attention.

I don’t want the professor to get suspicious, so I try not to seem like I’m doing well in the class in general. I put in less effort, and it feels wrong. Like physically wrong. I’ve never not tried or given my schoolwork my all. Even when I hated a subject, I still did the work. I still studied and pushed for the best possible outcome.

Now, every time I choose not to put in the effort, something in my chest tightens. This isn’t me, but then I think about my dad brushing me off, not listening, and deciding my future for me…and I keep going. I don’t tell anyone I’m doing this…not Julian or Lainey, but I’m sure they’d understand.

I’m just too ashamed, but it doesn’t make me stop.

When I get the exam back, I already know that it’s not going to be good. After all, I intentionally flopped this one, but it’s still a gut punch when I see the rating written across the top of my paper.

42%.

A weird mix of guilt and something darker curls in my chest. This is what I wanted. Why does it feel like shit?

Because I know I could’ve aced this, and I didn’t on purpose.

Ugh. This is so gross, and I’m so anxious to find out my dad’s reaction. I know he’s going to be so disappointed and upset with me. Still, there’s no going back now. I’ve done it, and now I’m going to face the consequences.

It doesn’t take long. My phone rings later that night, and I immediately know that it’s Dad.

I stare at my screen for a second before answering. “Hi.”

“Hi, sweetheart,” he greets. “How did your exam go?”

Right down to business. It’s been almost a week since our last conversation, and he hasn’t bothered to ask me how things are.

It’s only my grades that matter right now.

“Um…I got a 42%.”