Page 43 of Scoring Position

“Yeah,” I reply quietly. This is exactly why I wanted to go into the field in the first place. Coming from a situation where I settled for underwhelming sex with a partner who didn’t care enough to put in the effort, I understand wanting more. I also understand how not having someone to talk to can make you feel likeyou’rethe problem, when in most cases, it just takes knowing yourself and your partner to make everything crystal clear.

“What kind of tuition issues are you having?” She pauses, putting her hands out between us cautiously. “You totally don’t have to tell me if it’s private. My best friend Grace is the nosiest person on the planet. She’s obviously rubbing off on me.”

I laugh. Normally, I’d be hesitant to tell the whole story to someone I don’t really know. But for some reason, I feel like I can trust Monroe. She just opened up to me about something pretty private, and it’s nice having someone to talk to besides Ace.

“Actually, my ex-mother-in-law is the dean of the school. I used to work there, and as a perk, I got free tuition. Ever since she found out I was going into a field that, in her words, is ‘trashy’, she’s been doing everything she can to get me to go back to my maiden name because she’s worried I’ll make her family look bad. I conveniently got fired after my divorce was final, and now I have to save up to continue pursuing my degree.”

“What a bitch,” she replies. “I hope you at least told her off.”

I chuckle, sipping my drink. “I told her I was going to open a practice with her last name in big letters across the front of the building.”

She shoots me a devious grin. “I knew you were a bad bitch. I could feel it in my bones the day we met.” I smile, taking a bite of my food as she changes direction. “So, you started tutoring Ace, and what? He just decided to use ahands-onapproach to learning?” My eyes go wide, and I try to speak, but she cuts me off. “I get it. That man’s ass is immaculate. Good for you.”

I huff a breath, rolling my eyes playfully. “It wasnotmy intention to sleep with him. In fact, I didn’t even want to be friends at first. Even at the paintball park, I begged him to keep things between us because I didn’t know how you guys would react. He’s so much younger than me, and he’s got his career all mapped out while I’m scrambling to start over. But he made itdifficult to stick to my plan. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I know I like who I am when I’m with him.”

“Girl, you are inlove,” she replies. “I’m guessing he doesn’t know yet.”

I shake my head. “I—no,” I sputter. “We both have baggage—mine being an ex-husband with a mother who’s still trying to have a say in my life—and I want him to decide if this is even something he really wants before we dig into the emotions.”

She looks at me, her expression going soft. “That’s understandable. I had a truckload of issues when I met Riggs. I pushed him away and pretended I hated him, but I think he saw through it. He was just waiting for me to let him in so he could show me what I deserved.” She reaches across the table, setting her hand on top of mine. “You’re going to do big things, Lark. Let Ace be the one you lean on while you build your new life.”

Tears prick at the backs of my eyes. It’s nice to feel this kind of support when everyone in my life has been complacent for so long. Now that Ryan is out of my life, I’ve been slowly mending the broken relationships with my parents, which were my own fault for choosing him. All they wanted was to save me from an unhappy marriage. But we aren’t even to a point where I’ve told them what I want for my future. And God knows Ryan and Gail were only on my team when it served them.

“Thank you,” I say as she squeezes my hand before pulling away and returning to her food. She’s right. Iamgoing to do big things, and I can’t think of anything I want more than to celebrate every single one of them with Ace by my side.

TWENTY-SIX

ACE

ACE:

Last review night before the big exam, Sweets. You ready?

LARK:

You don’t even need it. You know this material inside and out.

ACE:

So. Maybe I just want to hear my girl talk to me about dirty shit. Is that a crime?

LARK:

No, but you could be resting. You have some big games coming up.

ACE:

Speaking of games…the stuff we ordered came today and it’s my turn to pick the role-play.

LARK:

Are you sure you want to do this?

ACE:

Yep. And you can say you were joking all you want, but we both know you’re into it.

LARK:

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