Page 17 of Forever Cursed

“Fine, thank you for asking. I thought you were headed back home after graduation.”

“I’m leaving on Monday, just wanted to stop by and see everyone one last time.”

“I’m glad you could make it,” I tell him with a soft smile, and he matches it before grinning ear to ear.

“Look who it is!” Rome’s hypnotic voice enthralls me.

Walking right past me, he and Miles hug one another and pat each other’s backs rather aggressively.

“Where have you been, man?” Rome asks while beaming his flawless smile.

“I’ve been around. Last semester was busy.” Miles goes on about his classes, quickly sucking Rome into a black hole.

Blowing a stray curl away from my face, I glance over at Gwen and catch the moment Ash opens the door. He notices Miles and Rome, but his eyes land on a rather antsy-looking Gwen.

“There you are,” Ash says.

Gwen turns around, and relief washes over her expression. Pressing her face into his chest, he runs his fingers up and down her spine and kisses the crown of her head. Ash catches my gaze, and I offer him a sweet grin.

They’ve been together for almost a year now, and they seem to know when each other needs them the most. It must be nice to have someone like that.

“Hey, guys.” Ash speaks up, quickly earning the attention of his friends.

Ash keeps Gwen close as he and Miles start to catch up, but Rome tilts his head in my direction.

“Hey, blondie.” Rome’s voice is deep yet soft.

His cheeks flush as his lips tug into a smile. He’s wearing black swim trunks and a red Castle Brook Knights football tee. His blond hair is a tad messy today, like he just got out of bed and drove here without looking in the mirror. And it’s painfully hot.

“Hi, Rome.” I stutter, and I want to smack my forehead.

When the hell did I start acting shy? It’s like I absorbed Gwen’s personality, and it’s confusing my brain.

His eyes linger over me, but they don’t inch down my body like I was hoping they would. He’s observing my face, and my blushed cheeks.

He opens his mouth to say something, but Miles interrupts him.

“Come on, Rome! We’ve got places to be and girls to see.” Miles guides Rome outside.

My attention doesn’t waver from the football player who manages to confuse me on a daily basis. With a brief glance over his shoulder, he jogs toward his teammates, who are congregated around the drink cooler.

“Coming, ladies?” Ash asks while opening the door again.

“Just give us a moment,” Gwen says in a sweet tone.

With a nod, Ash heads outside, leaving Gwen and me alone in the kitchen.

“What the hell was that?” she whispers.

“I don’t know,” I mutter back.

“You totally fumbled over your words. And you blushed! You never blush!”

“I know!” I groan while raking my hands through my curls. “That boy’s got me under some spell. And did you see him? He didn’t even look at my boobs. I wore my skimpiest swimsuit for nothing.” I slump against the kitchen island in defeat.

“Listen, if Rome likes you, I know a surefire way to get him to react. He’s a stupid boy, and you know what stupid boys respond to?”

Lifting my head, I smirk at Gwen. “You’re a genius.”

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