Page 121 of Forever Cursed

We have two more semesters before we graduate, many more games, and the draft that will determine his future. But together, we can get through anything. We’ve proven that to ourselves over these last few months.

When Rome looks at me, we smile at one another, the love pooling from our expressions. I’ve only ever wanted this. I was a fool to try to ignore it at first.

“Promise me something?” he breaks the silence.

I raise my eyebrow in response.

“Will you wear my hoodie until we’re old and gray?”

I chuckle and smile as widely as I can. “Far longer than that, my love. Far longer than that.”

Epilogue Part One

Rome

Three Months Later

Sweat beads across my forehead. We’re racing against the clock. With the ball in our hands, we have ten more yards to go. If we get this touchdown, we win the game, and we’ll make it into the Division Championship.

Everyone is in the stands today. Not just the usual suspects, but my father and Chrissy’s parents. Eyes are on Levi Faulkner, who has taken the field for more than half the games because Malik was being a prick. Levi’s name is often chanted in the stands. He’s making a name for himself, which doesn’t happen often in someone’s first year.

Numbers start to be thrown out, and I smile to myself at the play he has in mind. It’s one of my own, and if we get it right, red and black confetti will rain on the field. The December air bites at my face, my breath visible as time seems to slow.

Snow starts to flurry from the sky, and the ground beneath my feet has begun to freeze. My breathing becomes the only sound in my ears. Glancing over at Levi, the ball is thrown, and I burst into action.

Our defense is tight; they manage to keep the Northland Jaguars off me.

They close in on Levi, and I curse under my breath when he throws the ball toward the end zone. I’m nowhere near where I need to be. With a leap of faith, I launch myself in the air and reach for the ball, hoping it lands in my chest.

When I land, the clock runs out. It’s only when the announcer’s voice blares overhead that I realize what happened.

“The Castle Brook Dragons have scored! Number 35, Carter, has secured the game!”

Black and red strips of paper fly in the air, mixing in with the snow flurries. My head collapses against the ground as I cradle the ball, savoring this moment.

“Let’s go!” my teammates shout as they hoist me up.

When I’m on my feet, I hold the ball in the air, and the crowd goes wild. Blake charges at me, crashing into my chest and pulling me into a hug while patting my back.

“You fucking son of a bitch! We’re going to the championship!” he shouts over the cheering crowd.

Levi removes his helmet and jogs toward us.

“Faulkner, get your ass over here!” I say with a broad smile.

His dimples pop on his cheeks, and sweat shines on his complexion. I toss my helmet on the ground and pull him into me. I don’t care that the cameras are on us. I pat his back repeatedly and smile at him.

“I told you. I fucking told you that you could do it!”

He pats my back in return and nods. “Thank you.”

We pull away, and I hold his face before slapping his cheek. “Go find your mom.”

With a sniffle, he heads into the crowd to search for his parents. Blake and Ryan find one another, and I grin when the camera zooms in on them kissing.

“Carter!” a reporter calls for me.

I don’t see my girl yet, so I decide to give the media the attention they’re always craving.

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