Page 60 of Golden Goal

I can't help but sense an eerie feeling creeping down my spine, telling me she might not be entirely truthful. It's a hunch I can't prove, but I can't shake the suspicion that she might be taking a break from boys, but not from men.

There's one man in particular that Leia should stay far away from—my brother.

I tread lightly on the subject for two important reasons. Firstly, he's my brother, and I'd rather not hear anything that's not family-friendly. Secondly, Leia seems to believe she hides her infatuation for him well, but I see right through her.

I wish Leia could see that Elliott isn't everything she imagines him to be. She's enamored with the idea of him, but I doubt she'd enjoy actually being with him. It's a realization she'll have to come to on her own, and I can only hope it happens sooner rather than later.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

SUTTON

Givenmy usual level of awkwardness, you'd assume that I'd be accustomed to awkward silences. But I'm not.

Leia and I sit on our respective beds, caught in a strange, unsettling standoff. We both seem unsure of what to say or how to break the ice.

During the break, Leia went out with my brother, and neither of them thought to inform me. I frantically called her, growing increasingly worried that something terrible had happened. It's been a few days since that night, and now we're back in our dorm room. We've hardly spoken since then, but it's clear that we need to have a conversation about what transpired.

Summoning all the courage I can muster, I decide it's time to break the silence that's lingered since the longest fight we've ever had. "I just don't understand why you would keep that from me."

Leia shifts uncomfortably, her eyes avoiding mine. "I knew you'd take it the wrong way."

I exhale deeply, frustration evident in my voice. "How else am I supposed to take it, Leia?"

Her words stumble as she responds, "Different than how you currently are?"

I raise my hand, stopping her mid-sentence. "I'm not upset because you went out with my brother. I'm upset because you hid it from me. When you didn't answer my calls, I thought something terrible had happened to you. I know there's something you're not telling me about that night."

She looks flustered, and in her hurry to explain, she blurts out, "It's not what you're thinking. I promise!"

I give her a pointed look, my tone heavy with concern. "Leia, he's twenty-three."

Leia curls in on herself, not liking where this conversation is headed. "You know I got over my crush on him a long time ago."

"Yeah, but now you're old enough for him to have a crush on you." I watch her closely, searching for any reaction.

She stutters, sounding a lot like me. "W-what?"

I feel the back of my eyes prick and fill with tears. The weight of the moment hangs heavy in the air. "You're supposed to be my sister. You're the only person who has never let me down or treated me poorly. I guess I need to re-evaluate that."

I can hear her sucking in a harsh breath, her voice cracking as she says "sorry" on repeat.

Without looking back at her, I give her the courtesy she did not bother to grace me with. "I'm going out with Lincoln." On my way out the door, I mumble, "Don't wait up."

I quickly make my way out of the dorms toward the parking lot, where I know Lincoln will be waiting for me at the curb in his truck.

I hope that the door is unlocked as I yank the handle. Thankfully, it swings open, and I hop into the passenger seat. The weather is cold, so when I close the door, I'm hit with warm air blasting out of the vents.

"Hey," I say as I turn to buckle my seat belt. Lincoln doesn't respond. Curiosity piqued, I tilt my face up to look at him and see a contemplative look on his face. His gaze rakes over me, head to toe, before he exhales and reaches forward to grab me by the side of my jaw.

Lincoln tugs me forward, and my world narrows down to the sensation of his lips crashing into mine. Before I can truly respond to the kiss, he pulls away with a smile teasing his full mouth.

He clears his throat. "Are you excited?"

"Yes!" I rush out my words, heart still racing from his unexpected display of affection. "I have a list of books I want to buy." I give him a skeptical look. "Do you really think Mrs. Rose will let me in?"

"Of course. She would never say no to me."

"You're awfully confident about this."

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