Page 84 of Forever Cursed

Zack: MOM! No, OMG . . .

A snort leaves my mouth as I giggle at the slew of messages flying across the screen.

Dad: Zack, it’s 2016, we’ll love you no matter what.

Zack: I’m not gay! Rome is Chrissy’s boyfriend, but he was my best friend first.

No, he’s not!

Oh, this fucking jackass. I open the chat between the two of us and pound at my phone screen.

Zackary Willows, you had no right!

Zack: They thought I was gay, I panicked!

There’s nothing wrong with being gay! You son of a bitch. Now I have to talk to them about Rome. I wanted them to meet him for the first time in August.

Zack: I’m sorry... It’s not like they don’t know already. He’s been in all of our group photos since May.

You owe me, you hear?

A text in the family group chat interrupts my so-called brother’s badgering.

Mom: Rome Carter, as in THIS Rome Carter?!

A picture follows of Rome in his football uniform with the tagline All-Star Wide Receiver of Castle Brook University.

Yes, THAT Rome Carter . . .

Kill me now.

Dad: Have I told you recently that you’re my favorite daughter?

I’m going to tell Gwen you said that.

Dad: No, don’t!

I cackle at his panicked message.

Dad: I mean to say that you’re my favorite biological daughter.

Uh-huh, sure.

Mom: When can we meet him?

In person, when you come out to visit. But you can talk to him during our video call later if you want.

Mom: Please!

I’m about to respond when I hear a shuffle of feet. I look up from my phone, and my smile fades into a sneer.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite blonde... How are you today? You’re looking ravishing.”

“Fuck off, Malik,” I bite out as I look back down at my phone.

His hand wraps around the device, and he takes it from me before I can react.

“My eyes are up here, sweetheart.”

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