Page 47 of Pucking Good Girl

“Great,” I thank Tucker, stifling a wave of nausea at the smell that’s beginning to saturate the air around us inside the old, disused greenhouse the head of the department agreed to let us use to make our garum. “What we really need are the heads and the guts. I guess the anchovies and the prawns are small enough, but the flesh of the sea bream and the sardines is going to go to waste.”

Vaughn shakes his head. “What? No, it won’t go to waste. If we don’t need them for our project, I can take them. One of my nannies was Portuguese, and she made a delicious fish stew. I think I can go get some more stuff and make a big pot of it for the whole team.”

“Sure, you can take everything we don’t use. I hate wasting food.” I smile.

“Why don’t you come over?” He invites me. “There’ll be more than enough for you too. And I’ll swing by Tilly’s bakery after we’re done here. This soup begs for fresh baguette pieces to dip in the broth.”

His invitation is kind, but I turn it down. “Sorry, Vaughn. I don’t really like fish, no matter how it’s cooked. It’s nothing personal.”

Vaughn looks disappointed. “Oh, ok. What a shame. You’ll have to come by next time I grill, then. There are state-of-the-art BBQs on every deck and I’ve been dying to smoke some ribs.”

“Count me in for ribs.” I smile.

“Heston,” my brother barks. “If I didn’t know it’s impossible, I’d think you’re flirting with my little sister.”

The color drains from Vaughn’s face. “I’m not?” It comes out like a question as Vaughn’s gaze drifts away.

“You better not be.” Tucker looks at Macklin. “Shayba, you better help me keep an eye on this one. I’m not convinced he’s telling us the truth. It isn’t the first time I’ve caught him chatting up my sister. Your girlfriend.”

God, I love Tucker to death, but he can be such an asshole.

It’s this kind of attitude that prevented me from having a dating life until now.

“Relax, Tuck,” Macklin reassures him. “Vaughn is just being friendly. Aren’t you, Heston? Because if you’re not…”

Vaughn throws his hands in the air, frustrated. “Jeez, I like Talia, but I wasn’t flirting. She’s your girl, Shayba. I might be an idiot more times than not, but I live by our team’s bro-code, ok? I would never make a move on your woman as long as you’re dating her. And even if you were no longer together, I wouldn’t ask her out without your blessing.”

“I hope you aren’t waiting for me to stop dating Talia, dude,” Macklin glares at Vaughn. “Because you’d be waiting forever.”

His dark blue eyes go from Vaughn to me, and my stomach flips under his heated gaze.

Does he really mean it? Or is he just faking it? Things between me and Macklin are becoming more and more confusing with every passing day. When he says things like this and when he holds me, it’s easy to forget that our relationship is fake.

But it isn’t just that. Macklin texts me and calls me multiple times a day. He acts like my boyfriend twenty-four-seven, not just when there are other people around.

Sometimes I think I should ask him if he likes me for real. But I always chicken out. I’m too scared of how broken I would feel if he’s just making good on his end of our deal.

And then there’s Becks. Things between us are getting deeper every day. How can I be in love with Macklin when I’m falling head over heels for his brother too?

Tucker’s chuckle pulls me out of my low-key meltdown. “You better, fucker.” He barks at Macklin, with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Do anything to hurt my little sister, and you’ll be more dead than the fish on this table. I haven’t killed you yet just because she looks happy. But make her shed one single tear and⁠—”

Thwack!

“Enough!” Without even realizing it, I took a knife and brought it down on one of the chopping boards on the table, severing the head of an innocent sardine.

The blood on the blade and the intense fishy smell make me immediately regret losing my temper.

“The fuck is wrong with you, Tal?” Tucker’s wide-eyed look reminds me why I lost my shit.

Talia

“You have to quit this nonsense, Tucker!” I snap, my hand trembling as I set the knife down. “I’m not fourteen anymore. You don’t get a say about my dating life. Stop threatening your teammates and especially Macklin. Aside from being my boyfriend, he’s becoming one of my best friends. If he ever hurt me, I know he wouldn’t do it intentionally. So stop acting like a lunatic.”

Tucker’s face reddens at my words. “But I’m your big brother. I love you and I want to protect you. It’s not a switch you can turn off.”

“You better find that switch and use it, Tuck. Because, newsflash, you really don’t get a say in my dating life. And while we’re having this conversation, let Dad know that this applies to him, too. I appreciate that it comes from a place of love, but I’ve had enough of you two terrorizing every man who dares talking to me. Are we clear?”

Tucker hangs his head. “Crystal. I’m sorry. I’ll do my best.”