Page 64 of Forever Cursed

If you want to keep your position, if you want me to keep throwing the ball your way, you’ll get me those review notes. Tonight.

Is he threatening me? Really? He’s stooping this low? I wouldn’t take his threat seriously, but he proved earlier that he intends on fucking me over. He didn’t throw the ball my way once during practice. He called me out, and Coach seemingly believed him. One wrong word or action will get me benched or out of the game, and my future will be jeopardized.

I have to succeed. Not only for myself, but for my dad. He was shit, but he raised me after Mom left. He deserves a break and any relief I can provide him. It all starts with me getting drafted, and Malik is threatening to take that away from me.

Gripping my phone, the snap of plastic fills the quiet while I text this prick back.

Fine. Give me until five. I’ll get you your play notes.

Fucking son of a bitch.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chrissy

It’s 3:30 p.m. when I stroll into Tea and Kittens, and I’m walking on air. These feelings coursing through me are new. I’ve never felt on top of the world. It’s like the little butterflies in my stomach are spreading serotonin through my body.

When Gwen strolls out from the back room, she smirks at me. “You just got plowed, didn’t you?” She clicks her tongue and shimmies her shoulders.

“Shut up, woman.” I try adding some bite to my tone, but I can’t wipe the wide smile off my face.

I settle in a booth across the room and sort through my notebook. Gwen slides into the seat across from me and leans across the table, resting on her elbows.

“If I recall, the last time we talked, you were taking a day for self-care. Did that include sleeping with a certain blond football player?”

“Initially, no . . .”

“Spill the tea, missy.”

Talking to Gwen is easy; there’s a reason we’re best friends. I start by telling her about my trip to the store and then the run-in with Raina and Malik. It didn’t surprise her that I put him in his place, not as much as it surprised me.

What did leave her baffled was when I told her what Rome did.

“He talked to Zack?”

I nod.

“Alone?”

I nod again.

“Holy shit, he’s really into you.”

I blush and look at my hands folded over my notebook. “Yeah, he is.”

“And you feel the same? You’re not feeling any regret?”

I look up at my best friend and shake my head. “No, I’m not. It feels different, Gwen. He’s making me feel things that I’ve never felt before. It’s. . . It feels like my heart has flown out of my chest. He’s stolen it, and I don’t want it back. Is that crazy?”

“Not even a little.” Gwen reaches for my hand and offers me a warm grin. “I’m here for you, even if you get scared. Don’t push him away, you hear me? You deserve every second of this.”

“I believe you, and I’ll come to you if I catch myself falling into old habits.”

“Good.” The corners of her eyes crinkle, and she squeals. “Fucking finally! The tension between the two of you was becoming insufferable! Whenever you were in the same room, I was waiting for one of you to jump the other’s bones. And themasterplans? Thank god those are done! Is he meeting you here?”

“Yes, should be here any minute now.”

Her eyes dart toward the door.

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