Table of ContentsCoverSynopsisBella Books Social MediaPraise for the works of Riley ScottOther Bella Books by Riley ScottAbout the AuthorTitle PageCopyrightAcknowledgmentDedicationLogan’s Playlist for CarterChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter SevenChapter EightChapter NineChapter TenChapter ElevenChapter TwelveChapter Thirteen Chapter FourteenChapter FifteenChapter SixteenChapter SeventeenChapter EighteenChapter NineteenChapter TwentyChapter Twenty-OneBella BooksOceanofPDF.com SynopsisSometimes, the girl who has it all—really doesn’t.At first glance, high-school basketball superstar Logan Watts is living theAmerican dream—perfect grades, perfect appearance, perfect boyfriend,and a college athletic scholarship already lined up. But if people lookeddeeper, they’d see Logan is plagued by the loss of her older brother andunending internal questions about what’s missing from her life. Logan’sworld is turned upside down when she catches Carter Shaw—the witty andstylish head of the school newspaper, and the only out lesbian in school—staring at her in class.A high-school romance is not on Carter’s radar. She just wants to survivethe year so she can move on and enjoy the freedoms of college. But when achance encounter puts her alone with Logan for hours, Carter discovers justhow much they have in common.And Logan realizes Carter could be that thing she’s felt was missing allalong…OceanofPDF.com www.BellaBooks.comWhen you shop at Bella, more of your dollars reach the women who writeand produce the books you love. Thanks from all of the authors & staff atBella!Blog: Bella Media ChannelFacebook: BellaBooksTwitter: @bellabooksInstagram: TheBellaBooksOceanofPDF.com Praise for the works of Riley ScottA Time to SpeakThis book is a romance, murder mystery, political statement, and familydrama all rolled into one, and it pulls off all facets in fine style. Amelia is inthe closet, so far back in it she could see Narnia. Dominique is a great blendof strong with a hint of vulnerable. Alongside the two leading women, Scotthas also created portrayals of some key figures in the town. When I firststarted reading these multiple points of view I feared I’d get lost in all theirstories, or that it would be spread a bit thin. Groundless fears, it turns out, asScott’s masterful use of these points of view only adds delicious richness tothe story. It is fantastic writing, brilliant weaving of a story, and I couldn’tput it down. Highly recommended.-Rainbow Book ReviewsI really liked the tone of the book. It would be too easy to have created adark story of inner turmoil and grief, with negative emotions and a violentdisplay of ignorance and discrimination. Riley Scott, however, tells thestory with almost a confidence that, even if it is only possible to win thefight with one person, then that one person is important.-The Lesbian ReviewBackstage PassBackstage Pass is a celebrity romance with an out-of-control rockgoddess and her new PR rep. It’s a little grittier than I’m used to seeing incelebrity romances, and it works well. Reading a new-to-me author isalways an adventure because I never know if I’m going to like them, lovethem, or walk away and never look back. I had never read anything by Riley Scott before, and I was more than pleasantly surprised by how much Ienjoyed this book. It’s very well plotted and perfectly paced, and I foundmyself wanting to shut out the world so I could just focus on BackstagePass.-The Lesbian ReviewThis is a great read. Strong personalities, a solid and well-drawn settingand a plausible and well-constructed plot. Riley Scott fills in detail on awide range of characters as well as Raven and Chris, creating a goodgrounding for the plausibility of their interactions. Their behaviours arebelievable, and even when Chris breaks her own rules we can see how shehas been swept up in the rush of life on the road.-Lesbian Reading RoomOceanofPDF.com Other Bella Books by Riley ScottBackstage PassConservative AffairsOn the RocksSmall Town SecretsA Time to SpeakOceanofPDF.com About the AuthorIn addition to having published poetry and short stories, Riley Scott hasworked as a grant and press writer and a marketing professional. She holdsa degree in journalism. Riley’s love for fiction began at a young age, andshe has been penning stories for over a decade. Her days and her writingalike are fueled by strong coffee, humor, people watching, and just enoughdaydreaming to craft imaginative novels. She lives in Pensacola, Florida,with the love of her life and their three beloved dogs, as well as sixchickens who provide comic relief, as well as breakfast.OceanofPDF.com Copyright © 2022 by Riley ScottBella Books, Inc.P.O. Box 10543Tallahassee, FL 32302All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmittedin any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, includingphotocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher.This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events andincidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in afictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, oractual events is purely coincidental. The publisher does not have anycontrol over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.First Edition - 2022Editor: Kay GreyCover Artwork: Heather DickermanCover Designer: Judith FellowsISBN: 978-1-64247-353-7PUBLISHER’S NOTEThe scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet orvia any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal andpunishable by law. Please purchase only authorized print or electroniceditions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy ofcopyrighted materials.Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.OceanofPDF.com AcknowledgmentBringing to life any story takes a fair amount of time, research, andsupport. I’m beyond grateful to my wife, who indulges me by listening tome chatter on endlessly about characters she hasn’t yet met, listening tomusic that I think just fits the story, brainstorming ideas with me, and ofcourse taking over the cooking while I hole up in my office and write. Thisstory was inspired by my wife, who asked me one day years ago if wewould have dated in high school. We laughed and dreamt up a scenario,where I was on the basketball team, and she was a reporter for the schoolnewspaper. While that was only the starting point for two characters whotook on lives, personalities, and stories of their own, I credit her for beingsuch a strong influence on my creativity and my belief in love that conquersall. Thank you, my love, for your unwavering support and for lending yourartistic talents to create such a fun book cover.As a former basketball player and lifelong lover of the game, it was apleasure to revisit my glory days and breathe life into this story. I’mgrateful to my teammates for the lasting memories, and to my formerhometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the many wonderfulexperiences I had there. It was an incredible experience to relive moments,both on the court and at my old stomping grounds, through this story.I’m incredibly grateful for Kay Grey, who helped me edit this story andbring it to life. Thank you to my friends in the Twitter community foralways providing support and encouragement when I need it the most.Thank you to the readers who encourage me and continue to devour books,so we can all write more. Thank you to one of my old friends and anamazing math teacher for walking me through a calculus lesson via text, butmaking sure I didn’t actually have to learn it, since I’m mathematicallychallenged. Also, thank you to every one of my friends who answers myrandom texts for book research purposes, whether it’s playlist inspiration,quotes, or fashion. Finally, I am eternally grateful to my friends and family who keep me laughing each day, support my work, and remind me of all thebeauty in the world.OceanofPDF.com DedicationFor all who have struggled to find their own identity, all the queer youthwaiting for the right time to come out, all who have had to faceinsurmountable trauma and come out stronger on the other side, all thebasketball fans, budding journalists, music lovers, and dreamers, this storywas written with you in mind.OceanofPDF.com Logan’s Playlist for CarterListen on Spotify – “Take Your Shot” by Riley ScottThe Beatles – “I Want to Hold Your Hand”Dua Lipa – “If It Ain’t Me”Halsey – “Finally // beautiful stranger”Ruth B. – “Dandelions”Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – “Crimson and Clover”Adaline – “Cross the Line”blink-182 – “All the Small Things”Gia Woods – “Only a Girl”Faime – “Feels Like You”OceanofPDF.com CHAPTER ONEAround her, sneakers squeaked on the cheap tile of the school hallway.The fluorescent bulbs overhead whirred, and in the distance, Carter couldhear the click of someone’s heels.Who was impractical enough to wear heels to high school? She shookher head, drowning out the noise of the hundreds of voices, and focused onthe book in her hand.“Could you be any more predictable?” Her best friend, Aiden, leanedagainst the locker next to her, smiling. He was always far more chipper thanshould have been allowed before eight o’clock in the morning.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She shrugged, marked herplace in the book with a receipt from this morning’s coffee purchase andshoved it in her locker.“Let’s see.” Aiden laughed and held up his hand to count off his listdramatically. “Number one, we’ve got the oversized iced coffee, despite thesnow on the ground outside. Number two, we’re reading Poe this morning.How very on-brand and gloomy for you. And, number three, what is that lipcolor?”Carter brought her hand up to her mouth, defensively touching her lips.“What’s wrong with it?”“It’s amazing,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s not an insult…It’s just…it’s purple.”“I thought I’d try out something new.” She pushed her glasses up on hernose and looked him up and down. “You’re one to talk aboutpredictability,” she said, shaking her head. “You look like you’re ready for ajob interview at a CPA firm.”“Is the bow tie too much?” He adjusted it and ran a hand through hisshoulder-length blond hair.“Probably, considering we’re only on our way to AP English.” “Here,” he said, handing her a breakfast burrito. “This is to keep thepeace after interrupting your reading.”“Thank you,” she said, taking it and inspecting the yellow wrapper fromher favorite breakfast joint. She held the warm gift in her hand and breathedit in, smiling as she saw the writing on the side of the wrapper. “Egg,cheese, potato, and green chile?”“Would I get you anything else?”She thought about hugging him, but offered a smile instead. As sheunwrapped the bundle of joy—a true gift from the gods if there ever wereone—she glanced across the hallway and watched as the doors from thegym opened.Freshly showered, and somehow miraculously put together, thebasketball team breezed into the school building as if they were on arunway. She could picture it—a fog machine, dance music playing, andeach of them taking their chance to walk down the hallway and do a turn.She shook her head. Even without the added theatrics, it was quite theshow. Morning practices were another gift from the gods, she decided. Shetried to swallow a bite of her burrito and choked, as her mouth went dry.Was it considered gay panic if she wasn’t afraid of her sexuality, but wasjust a lesbian who had anxiety around every pretty girl she saw? Shepondered the thought, as she forced herself to look away from the beautybefore her. Of course, there were a couple of them who stood out, but all ofthem had the power to turn her into an even bigger sports fan than shealready was.“You show every emotion on your face.” Aiden’s laughter beside herdrew her out of her thoughts. “Why don’t you try talking to one of them oneday?”She shook her head, quickly dismissing the notion.“Oh, is there one in particular?”“No,” she snapped. “There’s not. And there probably won’t be. Not hereanyway.” She sighed and looked at the calendar in her locker. “Not untilnext year.”“Why not?”She stared at him, trying to figure out if it was ignorance or just his lackof dating that made him ask the question. Perhaps it was a little of both.“In order to have a relationship between two girls, both parties involvedhave to, in fact, like girls.” She exhaled sharply and took another bite of her burrito.“You’re going to sit there and tell me that not one single femalebasketball player at this school bats for your team?”“Oh, come on, I know you know that’s the wrong sport,” she shot back,looking back to where the crowd of players had now dispersed.Directly across from her, she watched as Logan Watts chatted with herboyfriend, Barrett. She heard Logan’s laugh ring out into the stuffy air,changing the atmosphere for a second and adding an ethereal element.Logan smiled and turned away from him, pulling her thick, long hair into aponytail. Its color was like amber honey, somewhere between blond andbrunette, and adding yet another layer to Logan’s beauty. As she reached upto secure her hair, the movement pulled her hoodie up just above the top ofher jeans, exposing the small of her back.Carter looked away, not wanting to exploit the moment.“What is wrong with you?” Aiden asked, stepping between her andLogan.“Nothing.” She finished her burrito and walked past Aiden, tossing thewrapper in the trash. “Thank you for breakfast. I’ve got you coveredtomorrow.”“Deal.” He grabbed his books and fell in step beside her, as theyfollowed Logan and Barrett toward the English room.Barrett grabbed Logan’s hand, and Carter winced.“Are you jealous?”“No,” she said. “I mean, not of him.” She kept her voice low, her eyesnever leaving their entwined hands. “I just don’t think they have any ideahow lucky they are.”“Those two?” Aiden stopped and turned to face Carter. “They’re in asham of a relationship if I’ve ever seen one.”“They look pretty happy to me,” she said, craning her neck to watchthem for another second as they turned around the corner.“Word on the street is they don’t even sleep together.”Carter laughed at the grimace on Aiden’s face. “You know, first of all,that’s none of our business. Second, you don’t have to have sex withsomeone just to be in a relationship.”“True.” He popped a piece of gum in his mouth and nodded, as if he wasconsidering the fact. “But, I guess her logic is that she doesn’t want to getpregnant and screw up her scholarship to UNM.” He shifted his weight and his stack of books to gesture with his right hand. Holding his hand in theair, he wagged his finger. “Everyone knows there’s birth control.”“She doesn’t owe anyone an explanation, not even Barrett. If you’retrying to make me feel better, this weird anti-feminist shit isn’t the way todo it.”“Sorry.” He glanced down to the floor. “I guess you’re right. Just seemslike there’s something missing there.”“There might be, but as two people who have virtually zero datingexperience, I don’t think we get a say.”“Fine.” He resumed the walk to class and put his arm around her. “But,I’d like the record to show I called it when they don’t last.”“Noted.”As she took her seat, she fought to keep her eyes off Logan. Was it lustor a crush, or was she just enamored by someone who looked so confident,so at ease with herself? Liking girls was confusing sometimes. She bit herlip, as she watched Logan fish something out of her backpack and then leanback in her chair.The level of coolness, without all the usual jackassery that came with it,just seemed impossible somehow. Logan stretched her neck side to side andglanced over in Carter’s direction. She smiled and nodded, before turningher eyes to the front of the room. Carter’s breath caught in her throat. Shedropped her pencil to the desk, grabbing it quickly before it rolled to theground. She gulped and looked down at the floor to still her thoughts. She’dbeen caught staring like a creep.She grabbed the Hydro Flask from her bag and took a long sip, hopingher heart rate would return to normal at some point.OceanofPDF.com CHAPTER TWOMr. Garcia droned on about calculus in front of the classroom, andLogan was sure her eyes were going to glaze over. No matter how manytimes he explained it, none of it made sense. Sure, she could memorizeformulas and plug in numbers better than most, but what did it even mean?She felt a sharp sting in her right shoulder and winced. Rotating itslightly, she bit her lip to quell the pain. She glanced around, making sureno one noticed. The last thing she needed was for word to get back to coachthat she was still hurting. She’d managed to pull it off well enough for thepast week and wasn’t going to let a lingering injury keep her fromcontinuing into the most important year of her career. Still, she felt like shewas a thirty-something, always being overly careful of how she moved orslept so she wasn’t in pain.Leaning back in her chair, she resisted the urge to pull the hood of hersweatshirt up over her head and lay down on the desk. The early morningpractices, combined with evening practice, homework, and trying to have alife outside of it all had taken their toll. She looked around the room,wondering if anyone else understood this more than she did. Glancing overher shoulder, one seat back and to the right, she saw the girl who had beenstaring at her this morning. Carter Shaw, editor of the Albuquerque PrepGazette. They were in three honors classes together, and Logan had seenher around throughout the years. She was sure there was more to the girl,but she was best known for her school newspaper and for being one of thesmartest students in the school.They’d never spoken, but Logan was sure if anyone understood calculus,Carter did. She always had her head in a book and seemed to ace every testshe ever took without a struggle. Logan smiled, thinking of how Carter’sweekly column in the school paper always held some sort of wisdom, adeep message, or even just musical suggestions. She watched Carter as she