Take_Your_Shot_-_Riley_Scott
Table of Contents
Cover
Synopsis
Bella Books Social Media
Praise for the works of Riley Scott
Other Bella Books by Riley Scott
About the Author
Title Page
Copyright
Acknowledgment
Dedication
Logan’s Playlist for Carter
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Bella Books
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Synopsis
Sometimes, the girl who has it all—really doesn’t.
At first glance, high-school basketball superstar Logan Watts is living the
American dream—perfect grades, perfect appearance, perfect boyfriend,
and a college athletic scholarship already lined up. But if people looked
deeper, they’d see Logan is plagued by the loss of her older brother and
unending internal questions about what’s missing from her life. Logan’s
world is turned upside down when she catches Carter Shaw—the witty and
stylish 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 survive
the year so she can move on and enjoy the freedoms of college. But when a
chance encounter puts her alone with Logan for hours, Carter discovers just
how much they have in common.
And Logan realizes Carter could be that thing she’s felt was missing all
along…
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Praise for the works of Riley Scott
A Time to Speak
This book is a romance, murder mystery, political statement, and family
drama all rolled into one, and it pulls off all facets in fine style. Amelia is in
the closet, so far back in it she could see Narnia. Dominique is a great blend
of strong with a hint of vulnerable. Alongside the two leading women, Scott
has also created portrayals of some key figures in the town. When I first
started reading these multiple points of view I feared I’d get lost in all their
stories, or that it would be spread a bit thin. Groundless fears, it turns out, as
Scott’s masterful use of these points of view only adds delicious richness to
the story. It is fantastic writing, brilliant weaving of a story, and I couldn’t
put it down. Highly recommended.
-Rainbow Book Reviews
I really liked the tone of the book. It would be too easy to have created a
dark story of inner turmoil and grief, with negative emotions and a violent
display of ignorance and discrimination. Riley Scott, however, tells the
story with almost a confidence that, even if it is only possible to win the
fight with one person, then that one person is important.
-The Lesbian Review
Backstage Pass
Backstage Pass is a celebrity romance with an out-of-control rock
goddess and her new PR rep. It’s a little grittier than I’m used to seeing in
celebrity romances, and it works well. Reading a new-to-me author is
always an adventure because I never know if I’m going to like them, love
them, 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 I
enjoyed this book. It’s very well plotted and perfectly paced, and I found
myself wanting to shut out the world so I could just focus on Backstage
Pass.
-The Lesbian Review
This is a great read. Strong personalities, a solid and well-drawn setting
and a plausible and well-constructed plot. Riley Scott fills in detail on a
wide range of characters as well as Raven and Chris, creating a good
grounding for the plausibility of their interactions. Their behaviours are
believable, and even when Chris breaks her own rules we can see how she
has been swept up in the rush of life on the road.
-Lesbian Reading Room
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Other Bella Books by Riley Scott
Backstage Pass
Conservative Affairs
On the Rocks
Small Town Secrets
A Time to Speak
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About the Author
In addition to having published poetry and short stories, Riley Scott has
worked as a grant and press writer and a marketing professional. She holds
a degree in journalism. Riley’s love for fiction began at a young age, and
she has been penning stories for over a decade. Her days and her writing
alike are fueled by strong coffee, humor, people watching, and just enough
daydreaming to craft imaginative novels. She lives in Pensacola, Florida,
with the love of her life and their three beloved dogs, as well as six
chickens who provide comic relief, as well as breakfast.
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Copyright © 2022 by Riley Scott
Bella Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 10543
Tallahassee, FL 32302
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and
incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a
fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or
actual events is purely coincidental. The publisher does not have any
control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-
party websites or their content.
First Edition - 2022
Editor: Kay Grey
Cover Artwork: Heather Dickerman
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
ISBN: 978-1-64247-353-7
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or
via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and
punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized print or electronic
editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of
copyrighted materials.Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
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Acknowledgment
Bringing to life any story takes a fair amount of time, research, and
support. I’m beyond grateful to my wife, who indulges me by listening to
me chatter on endlessly about characters she hasn’t yet met, listening to
music that I think just fits the story, brainstorming ideas with me, and of
course taking over the cooking while I hole up in my office and write. This
story was inspired by my wife, who asked me one day years ago if we
would 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 school
newspaper. While that was only the starting point for two characters who
took on lives, personalities, and stories of their own, I credit her for being
such a strong influence on my creativity and my belief in love that conquers
all. Thank you, my love, for your unwavering support and for lending your
artistic talents to create such a fun book cover.
As a former basketball player and lifelong lover of the game, it was a
pleasure to revisit my glory days and breathe life into this story. I’m
grateful to my teammates for the lasting memories, and to my former
hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the many wonderful
experiences 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 and
bring it to life. Thank you to my friends in the Twitter community for
always 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 an
amazing math teacher for walking me through a calculus lesson via text, but
making sure I didn’t actually have to learn it, since I’m mathematically
challenged. Also, thank you to every one of my friends who answers my
random 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 the
beauty in the world.
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Dedication
For all who have struggled to find their own identity, all the queer youth
waiting for the right time to come out, all who have had to face
insurmountable trauma and come out stronger on the other side, all the
basketball fans, budding journalists, music lovers, and dreamers, this story
was written with you in mind.
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Logan’s Playlist for Carter
Listen on Spotify – “Take Your Shot” by Riley Scott
The 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”
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CHAPTER ONE
Around her, sneakers squeaked on the cheap tile of the school hallway.
The fluorescent bulbs overhead whirred, and in the distance, Carter could
hear the click of someone’s heels.
Who was impractical enough to wear heels to high school? She shook
her head, drowning out the noise of the hundreds of voices, and focused on
the book in her hand.
“Could you be any more predictable?” Her best friend, Aiden, leaned
against the locker next to her, smiling. He was always far more chipper than
should have been allowed before eight o’clock in the morning.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She shrugged, marked her
place in the book with a receipt from this morning’s coffee purchase and
shoved it in her locker.
“Let’s see.” Aiden laughed and held up his hand to count off his list
dramatically. “Number one, we’ve got the oversized iced coffee, despite the
snow 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 lip
color?”
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 her
nose and looked him up and down. “You’re one to talk about
predictability,” she said, shaking her head. “You look like you’re ready for a
job interview at a CPA firm.”
“Is the bow tie too much?” He adjusted it and ran a hand through his
shoulder-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 the
peace after interrupting your reading.”
“Thank you,” she said, taking it and inspecting the yellow wrapper from
her favorite breakfast joint. She held the warm gift in her hand and breathed
it 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 she
unwrapped the bundle of joy—a true gift from the gods if there ever were
one—she glanced across the hallway and watched as the doors from the
gym opened.
Freshly showered, and somehow miraculously put together, the
basketball team breezed into the school building as if they were on a
runway. She could picture it—a fog machine, dance music playing, and
each 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 the
show. Morning practices were another gift from the gods, she decided. She
tried 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 was
just a lesbian who had anxiety around every pretty girl she saw? She
pondered the thought, as she forced herself to look away from the beauty
before her. Of course, there were a couple of them who stood out, but all of
them had the power to turn her into an even bigger sports fan than she
already was.
“You show every emotion on your face.” Aiden’s laughter beside her
drew her out of her thoughts. “Why don’t you try talking to one of them one
day?”
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 here
anyway.” She sighed and looked at the calendar in her locker. “Not until
next year.”
“Why not?”
She stared at him, trying to figure out if it was ignorance or just his lack
of 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 involved
have 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 female
basketball 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 her
boyfriend, 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 a
ponytail. Its color was like amber honey, somewhere between blond and
brunette, and adding yet another layer to Logan’s beauty. As she reached up
to secure her hair, the movement pulled her hoodie up just above the top of
her 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 and
Logan.
“Nothing.” She finished her burrito and walked past Aiden, tossing the
wrapper in the trash. “Thank you for breakfast. I’ve got you covered
tomorrow.”
“Deal.” He grabbed his books and fell in step beside her, as they
followed 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 eyes
never leaving their entwined hands. “I just don’t think they have any idea
how lucky they are.”
“Those two?” Aiden stopped and turned to face Carter. “They’re in a
sham of a relationship if I’ve ever seen one.”
“They look pretty happy to me,” she said, craning her neck to watch
them 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 with
someone just to be in a relationship.”
“True.” He popped a piece of gum in his mouth and nodded, as if he was
considering the fact. “But, I guess her logic is that she doesn’t want to get
pregnant 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 the
air, he wagged his finger. “Everyone knows there’s birth control.”
“She doesn’t owe anyone an explanation, not even Barrett. If you’re
trying to make me feel better, this weird anti-feminist shit isn’t the way to
do it.”
“Sorry.” He glanced down to the floor. “I guess you’re right. Just seems
like there’s something missing there.”
“There might be, but as two people who have virtually zero dating
experience, 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 lust
or 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 her
lip, as she watched Logan fish something out of her backpack and then lean
back 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 and
glanced over in Carter’s direction. She smiled and nodded, before turning
her eyes to the front of the room. Carter’s breath caught in her throat. She
dropped her pencil to the desk, grabbing it quickly before it rolled to the
ground. She gulped and looked down at the floor to still her thoughts. She’d
been caught staring like a creep.
She grabbed the Hydro Flask from her bag and took a long sip, hoping
her heart rate would return to normal at some point.
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CHAPTER TWO
Mr. Garcia droned on about calculus in front of the classroom, and
Logan was sure her eyes were going to glaze over. No matter how many
times he explained it, none of it made sense. Sure, she could memorize
formulas 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 it
slightly, she bit her lip to quell the pain. She glanced around, making sure
no one noticed. The last thing she needed was for word to get back to coach
that she was still hurting. She’d managed to pull it off well enough for the
past week and wasn’t going to let a lingering injury keep her from
continuing into the most important year of her career. Still, she felt like she
was a thirty-something, always being overly careful of how she moved or
slept so she wasn’t in pain.
Leaning back in her chair, she resisted the urge to pull the hood of her
sweatshirt up over her head and lay down on the desk. The early morning
practices, combined with evening practice, homework, and trying to have a
life outside of it all had taken their toll. She looked around the room,
wondering if anyone else understood this more than she did. Glancing over
her shoulder, one seat back and to the right, she saw the girl who had been
staring at her this morning. Carter Shaw, editor of the Albuquerque Prep
Gazette. They were in three honors classes together, and Logan had seen
her 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 the
smartest 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 test
she ever took without a struggle. Logan smiled, thinking of how Carter’s
weekly column in the school paper always held some sort of wisdom, a
deep message, or even just musical suggestions. She watched Carter as she