Page 51 of Forever Cursed

“I promise,” he says without another thought.

I take in a deep breath and release it slowly. Because I’m a coward, I don’t look at him. Instead, I look down at my hands and force the words to life. “I like Chrissy. I like her as more than a friend.”

When I say it out loud, a physical weight is lifted from my shoulders. If I could, I would scream the words until everyone in this neighborhood knew how I felt. I wouldn’t stop until I lost my voice.

I smile to myself when I think of her, and I speak without thinking. “I tried, Zack. I really did. I didn’t want to like her because she’s your sister, but I do. And I can’t avoid these feelings anymore. We tried to create distance, but the universe keeps pushing us back together. She sees me forme. I want to see where it goes between her and me, but I can’t do it without your support. You have to know, and you have to approve. But I have to be honest, if you don’t, my feelings for her won’t disappear. They’ll continue to grow until they can’t be contained. You know me, all I want is a chance to?—”

“Dude, stop with the lecture,” Zack speaks up, earning my attention.

When I look at him, his cheeks are red, and his eyes bore into mine. He tongues his cheek and lets out a small chuckle.

“You and Chrissy?” he asks, and my stomach knots.

He looks over my shoulder into the distance. My chest is heaving rapidly, waiting for him to explode.

“Rome and Chrissy... my best friend and my sister,” he mumbles before looking back at me.

“You made a promise,” I state calmly.

With a tiny laugh, he starts, “Are you out of yourfuckingmind?”

My heart sinks into my stomach, twisting into a knot that ties around my core.

“This is absolutely fantastic!” Zack cheers and claps his hands, shaking me from the void I was teetering into.

“Wait . . . What?”

“This is perfect! I don’t have to worry anymore.” He sounds like he’s on the verge of tears. Throwing his hands to the sky, helooks up and beams. “Thank you! My torture is over! Oh, thank the fucking universe! You”—he redirects his attention my way—“are my savior. Come here. I could kiss you!” Zack wraps his arms around me and hugs me.

This was definitely not in any of the scenarios I considered. Zack is happy? The guy who would turn purple if anyone looked at his sister? I’m baffled. No, fuck that. I must have died. Zack must have killed me, and I’m in some sort of weird purgatory.

“Has the heat gotten to you?” I ask as he pulls back and plants his hands on my shoulders.

“Not at all. Do you really think I wouldn’t approve of this? How did you think I was going to react?”

“I... Not like this.” I wave my hands at him, gesturing to his wide smile. “You don’t care if I ask Chrissy on a date? If we date or if we become something more than friends?”

“Not in the slightest,” he says without hesitation.

“Huh.” I click my tongue and look at the fence behind him. “So I went through all this emotional turmoil for weeks for nothing.”

“That’s what you get for lacking faith in your best friend.” Zack jumps up and begins to head toward the door. “Come on, we can’t leave Gwen alone for too long. She’s a good cook, but she’s a klutz.”

“Zack,” I call as I stand.

With his hand on the door handle, he turns to face me.

“Promise me this isn’t a joke. You’re really okay with this?” I keep my tone steady so he knows I’m not joking with him. I don’t want him to think I’m messing around.

“I’m okay with this, Rome. You have my blessing.” He nods toward the door as he opens it. “I’m not fucking around. Follow your heart. Just do me a favor, and don’t let me see it.” He shivers as if ideas are running through his head.

“I won’t. Thank you,” I say with a sincere smile.

“Text her, then head inside. We have pizzas to cook.”

Zack heads inside, and I do exactly what he instructed. I pull my phone out of my pocket and send a long-overdue message.

Hey, bubbles, can you meet me at the football field tomorrow around 4:00 p.m.? There’s something I want to show you.

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