Ruled Out

RULED OUT MORGAN PAIGE Copyright © 2022 by Morgan Paige All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Published by Morgan Paige Edited by The Fiction Fix / Katherine E McVay Cover Design by Y’all. That Graphic. Created with Vellum CONTENTS Content Warning Playlist Links Untitled 1. Phoebe 2. Knox 3. Phoebe 4. Phoebe 5. Phoebe 6. Knox 7. Phoebe 8. Phoebe 9. Phoebe 10. Knox 11. Phoebe 12. Phoebe 13. Knox 14. Phoebe 15. Knox 16. Phoebe 17. Phoebe 18. Knox 19. Phoebe 20. Phoebe 21. Knox 22. Phoebe 23. Knox 24. Phoebe 25. Phoebe 26. Phoebe 27. Phoebe 28. Phoebe 29. Knox 30. Knox Epilogue The End Acknowledgments About the Author Connect Online CONTENT WARNING This novel is intended for readers 18+. It follows a taboo relationship between a college athlete and her coach. If you are uncomfortable with age-gap relationships or explicit sex scenes, this book may not be for you. For those of you who enjoy forbidden and taboo romance, I hope you love Phoebe and Knox as much as I do. In my opinion, the best kind of love stories are the one’s worth fighting for. Thank you for giving my debut novel a chance. I appreciate you more than you know. - Morgan Paige PLAYLIST “Halley’s Comet” by Billie Eilish “Coast” by Hailee Steinfeld, Anderson .Paak “Getting Older” by Billie Eilish “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift “The Heart Wants What It Wants” by Selena Gomez “Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande “Moon Song” by Phoebe Bridgers “Happiness is a Butterfly” by Lana Del Rey “Nothing New” by Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers “Older Than I Am” by Lennon Stella “Safety Net” by Ariana Grande, Ty Dolla $ign “Never Be the Same” by Camila Cabello “Sex With Me” by Rihanna “Uh Oh” by Tate McRae “I’m Yours” by Isabel LaRosa “Labyrinth” by Taylor Swift “Illicit Affairs” by Taylor Swift “Favorite Crime” by Olivia Rodrigo “Rubberband” by Tate McRae “I miss you, I’m sorry” by Gracie Abrams “I Love You” by Billie Eilish “Daylight” by Taylor Swift LINKS Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6qcPTWRQEvxfvzUYtlVPBx?si=c5c24f6551d34dbd Pinterest Board https://pin.it/4k6hLqR “I don’t want it, and I don’t want to want you. But in my dreams I seem to be more honest, and I must admit, you've been in quite a few.” Billie Eilish, Halley’s Comet ONE PHOEBE “You gonna be okay, kid?” my uncle Corbin asks before handing me the last of my boxes from his truck. I mockingly roll my eyes at him before responding. “For the millionth time, yes. Everyone has to live on their own at some point, right?” I appreciate his concern, but I really am excited about this new stage in my life. It’s comforting that at least one of my family members is looking out for me. My parents probably won’t even notice I’m gone. “I know, I know. I’m always a phone call away if you need anything. You’re going to love college, Pheebs. Some of my best memories are from my college years. I’ll let your parents know you’re all moved in. You should probably give them a call too; I’m sure they’d love to hear from you.” I try to not scoff at his presumption. We both know my parents would be here if they really wanted to be. I’m nothing but a prized possession to boast about to their “prestigious” friends. Corbin helped me pack my life into my Mercedes GLC and followed me in his truck to my new on-campus apartment. Not everything fits in my car, so he packed the bulkier items in the bed of his truck. The drive took us about six hours, from Wakefield to my new home in Coral Cove. I’m happy to be staying in the state of Florida, but I also know the distance will be good for me. I feel like I’ve been living as my parents’ trophy for the past eighteen years. Coral Cove University is one of the top colleges in the country. More specifically, CCU is known for its softball team. The widely-acclaimed CCU softball team has won the Women’s College World Series eight times in the past fifteen years. Growing up, my parents made sure that I had no social life in order to train, practice, and one day secure a spot on the CCU softball team. Well, here I am. I’ve made it, Mom and Dad. “I hope your charity event was worth it,” I think to myself as I replay my mother’s pathetic excuse as to why they couldn't show up for freshman move-in day. “What was that?” Corbin asks with a puzzled look on his face. Shit, did I say that out loud? “Oh, nothing! Thank you again for the help, Corbin. I promise I’ll call if I need anything. You should probably start the drive home before it gets too late.” I give him a half smile as I prepare to tell my one family member who would do anything for me goodbye. As soon as Corbin heard I was making the trip alone, he immediately rearranged his schedule to make sure I had help. Time and time again, he’s moved mountains to be there for me when my parents decided work or social gatherings were more important. I know Corbin is just as frustrated with my parents as I am; he just doesn't want to add fuel to the fire. “I love you, kid. Seriously, don’t hesitate to call. Can’t wait to cheer you on at your games. Until then, work hard and stay focused.”