Page 115 of Forever Cursed

“Yes, I’m ready.” When I say the words, my shoulders relax and I begin to breathe normally again.

Here goes nothing.

“Gather up!” Coach demands as he walks into the locker room.

The team is excited and more than ready to get out of here to celebrate our first win of the season.

My sights land on Blake and Levi as I move through the players to stand beside them.

“You okay, buddy?” Blake asks as he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

“You’ll know in a moment,” I manage to say before Coach starts to talk again.

“I know you’re all itching to get out of here, so I’ll make this fast. I was expecting more from my senior players this game. When I mentioned not expecting perfection, I was talking to the rookies. You let me down, and now I have to take action. It has come to my attention that our current captain isn’t maintaining his duties; more than a couple of you have reported this. After speaking with the other coaches and the other candidate, it’s time to cast a vote.”

Murmurs fill the room, and a few eyes land on me.

Levi nudges my arm, so I turn to look at him. “You deserve this.”

“Malik and Rome, step forward.”

Blake squeezes my shoulder before I walk toward Coach. The guys part as I walk through them, and more than a couple whispers of good luck welcome me. I face Coach and Malik. Malik’s face is red, and his jaw is clenched. Worry doesn’t overcome me like I was prepared for. Instead, fierce determination courses through my veins. I’m doing the right thing. I need to remember that.

“If you wish to keep Malik as your captain, raise your hand now.”

A couple loyal seniors raise their hands, but it’s only ten of them.

Malik clicks his tongue and scoffs.

“If you want Rome Carter as captain, raise your hand now.”

I had a feeling it would turn out this way, but I wasn’t ready for the overwhelming support. When the rest of the team raises their hands, my heart flutters in my chest and chills spread over my arms.

“Congratulations, Rome Carter, you are the new captain of the Castle Brook Dragons football team,” Coach announces before clapping his hands.

Malik curses under his breath and storms away, not caring that he looks like a sore loser.

I let out a shaky breath and smile as the guys applaud and call out for me. I’m not perfect. I’m a mess and have more trauma than I first realized. Humans are messy, though, and there’s nothing wrong with being a mess. I’ll give this my all, and I won’t let this team down. They deserve the best, and that’s what they’ll get.

Twenty minutes pass before I get back to my locker. When I see the message from Chrissy, I have to stop myself from running out of the room, down the hall, and outside the stadium. Keeping my cool, I stroll outside and shove my hands in my pockets, but I stop when my phone begins to vibrate. I take it out, and a surge of excitement flutters in my chest. I find a secluded part of the hall and answer it.

“Hey, Dad,” I say as I answer the phone.

“Before we go any further, I have to say this?—”

The eagerness that brewed in my chest melts into little anxious butterflies. A shaky breath escapes me as I wait for what’s to follow.

“I’m so proud of you, son.”

My shoulders drop, and a relieved chuckle escapes my lips, leaving me smiling like a kid.

“I watched the entire game. You owned that field, Rome.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I press my palm into my eye to stop the tears from forming. “They made me captain.”

“Are you serious? Holy shit!” The pride in his voice is evident, and no matter how hard I try to stop them, the tears break free.

“You’re the first person I told,” I choke out.

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