Page 61 of Pucking Good Girl

“My money is on option C.” I seethe.

“Really?” Talia turns back to Mack. “Did you really do that to help me and Becks get closer? Macklin, that’s so sweet.”

The asshole preens to her praise. “Baby, I love you. When I say that I would do anything for you, I mean it. I want you to be happy.”

“I love you too, Macklin.”

Hearing Talia tell Mack that she loves him is strange. On the one hand, it makes me sad and angry. On the other hand, I can’t help but be happy for them. I love them both, and I want to see them happy.

But then she turns those beautiful eyes on me. Tonight the blue is so intense that it almost covers the splashes of green in her irises.

“But I’m in love with Becks, too. And I don’t know what to do.”

Fuck.

Most of my anger dissipates when I hear her say those three little words. I’ve never said I love you to anyone who wasn’t a member of my family. But that’s a different kind of love, obviously.

“I love you too, Talia.”

Her lips curl up in a hesitant smile. “Really? You aren’t mad at me?”

“I’m not. The only way I could have been mad at you is if you were playing with my feelings to make Mack jealous. But even when you made that deal with my brother, you had genuine feelings for both of us. Maybe it’s not ideal, but I can see that you never meant to hurt me. Your end goal was to be together.”

“It was,” Talia nods.

I kiss her and she melts against me.

But the entire time I have the woman I love in my arms, I can feel his gaze on me.

“I know,” Mack sighs when I break the kiss with my girl to glare at him.

“What do you know?”

He squirms a little under my glare, and I’d be lying if I said that I’m not enjoying it at least a little.

“You’re mad at me.” It isn’t a question. “And I guess I deserve it. Rather than make that deal with Talia, I should have been honest with both of you about my feelings. For what it’s worth, I never intended to hurt you. Even if I want Talia to choose me. And I understand if you don’t believe me.”

And the strangest thing is that I do. “I believe you.”

“You do?” He asks.

“Yeah. I guess you reading Talia’s name instead of Sam’s for that dare helps prove it. But it isn’t just that. I believe you because I feel the same way. I want Talia to choose me, but I don’t want to see you get hurt either.”

There’s a moment of silence as Mack considers my words. “Do you think you could ever forgive me?”

“Maybe,” I bite out, enjoying seeing him squirm.

But he knows me too well. “Thank you for understanding, brother.”

“Shut up,” I don’t know if I want to scowl or laugh right now. My head and my heart are a real fucking mess. “I’m still mad at you. At least a little.”

CHAPTER 16

AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE

Talia

Today was the shittiest and the most wonderful day ever, all wrapped up into one.