Page 42 of Of Pucking Course

Especially my porn preferences. If she knew that I only watch porn featuring women who look like her—long dark hair, brown eyes, tan skin, and cute, small breasts—she’d think I’m some obsessed pervert and never speak to me again.

So I shut down the conversation as quickly as I could. I barely looked at her when I talked to her and went to my bedroom. I hated how dismissive I was, but I had to be. I can’t go there with Dakota, ever.

Disappointment gnaws at my gut, but I ignore it.

I hold open the front door for Shawn and follow him out to his truck in the driveway.

“Yeah, Dakota’s all settled in,” I say. “She seems to like living here.”

“That’s cool.” He drops the carpet in the truck. “You’rea good dude, helping out your teammate’s sister by letting her live with you for free.”

I try to smile despite the guilt throttling me. If he could see what goes through my head when she’s around, he wouldn’t think that about me.

“Will she be cool with all the noise I’ll be making refinishing the floors in your bedroom?” Shawn asks as he heads back inside to haul out more carpet.

“Yeah, she’s a teacher, so she’s gone during the day anyway.”

“Good thing she wasn’t here for all the noise I made this morning,” Shawn says.

When I walked out of my bedroom this morning and saw that Dakota was already gone, I was surprised. I was worried she’d be pretty hungover, but I guess making her drink all that water and take Aspirin helped.

I texted her to let her know that Shawn was coming over and that some of my bedroom stuff would be in the living room while he redid my floors, and she sent me a thumbs-up emoji. Hopefully, she won’t be too bothered by the cluttered mess in the living room for the next week or so.

It takes Shawn three trips to remove all the carpet from my empty bedroom.

“I’ll be back on Monday to sand the hardwood,” he says.

“Thanks again. And thanks for helping me haul all my furniture out of here and into the guest room before tearing up the carpet,” I say.

He flashes a thumbs-up. “Your sister and the kids and I will be cheering for you tonight, man.”

I tell him thanks and walk him out. I close the door behind him and head into the kitchen to make a protein shake. My phone buzzes with a text from Del.

Del: Hey. Thanks again for taking Dakota home last night

Me: Sure thing

Del: She doing okay? Not too hungover?

Me: She was out of the house before I even woke up this morning, so she seems to be feeling just fine

Del: Oh wow, good for her. I figured she’d still be sleeping off all that tequila

Me: You could have texted her and asked her how she’s doing

Del: Yeah, but she would have ignored me because I’m her annoying and overprotective big brother

I chuckle at my phone as I sip my protein shake.

Del: Seriously though, thanks for looking out for her. She’s going through a lot right now, and it’s a relief knowing that you’re there for her.

That guilt from earlier swoops through me again.

Me: It’s no big deal.

Del: It is. You’re a genuinely good guy. I don’t have to worry that you’d try anything with her like I do with other guys I know

Guilt blasts through my chest. If only Del knew how I really felt about his sister.

---