Page 78 of Pucking Obsessed

Fuck coach.

Fuck him for teaching my principessa that strength is a bad thing.

Fuck him for using his strength to hurt.

“I promise thatmystrength will only ever build you up,” I murmur. “I will encourage, affirm, and listen with empathy. My strength is your support.”

“I’m strong, aren’t I?” Shay tilts up his chin. “It can look different: like a sexy English man willingly on his knees.”

I’m relieved, when a small smile flickers across Robyn’s lips. “You’ve both taught me not to fear strength any more. After Dad and Wilder, I didn’t know that a man’s power and control could bring me pleasure and happiness. I didn’t understand that they could be healthy dynamics and consensual. You’re good men, all of you.”

“We shouldn’t be trapped by coach,” Eden bursts out.

I meet Eden’s anguished gaze steadily. “This week I have one goal.Win. Otherwise, I’m ruined. So are the Bay Rebels. Right now, we’ve been trapped by Colton, the board, and Heine. So, we need to free ourselves from that first and then—”

“Free ourselves from Dad.” To my surprise, Robyn squirms off my knee and stands. “We can have that as our secret goal.”

She marches to Eden, looking determined.

She rests her hands on his shoulders. “I will protect my brother in any way that I can. I know that you’ve sacrificed all your life for Shay. I love you so fucking much that you’re prepared to do the same for my brother.”

She runs her hand up to the back of Eden’s neck and then draws him down into a light kiss.

It feels like a vow.

Shay and I exchange a confused glance.

“What do you mean?” I stand up, smoothing down my suit.

When Robyn finally pulls away from the kiss, she appears calmer and more settled than she has since I arrived at the hospital.

Eden slips his arm firmly around her waist, and Robyn rests her head against his chest.

“I mean that long term — by the end of this season — we work toward freeing ourselves from Dad’s influence.” Robyn’s gaze is steely.

I raise my hand to brush my curls out of my face and am surprised to find that it’s shaking.

Anything to do with parents is fucking hard for me.

Yet my voice is steady. “Whatever it takes.”

When my phone rings, I take a steadying breath, before I answer it.

Fuck, it’s Colton.

What does he want now? To gloat that coach almost died?

Probably.

“I’m in the hospital. I shouldn’t be talking on my phone because of the sensitive equipment,” I snap.

I don’t know if it’s true.

But hopefully, it’ll get Colton to fuck off.

“You always have some excuse, don’t you?” Colton sneers. “Don’t tell me that you’re still upset about coach falling off his damn yacht into his own lake? It’s funny. Haven’t you seen the memes? Anderson has been sharing them here. Don’t you have a sense of humor?”

He laughs.

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