She hesitates. “Will you… text me when you get home?”
“You going to give me your number?”
She bites her lip, then reaches into my pocket—slowly, her eyes holding mine—and pulls out my phone. I groan at the brief contact, my dick still half-hard from kissing her.
“Unlock it,” she instructs.
I do. She takes the phone from me and types her number in before giving it back to me.
I smile when I see she's saved her name as 'Princess <3'.
“Goodnight, Scotty.”
“Night, Laura.” I step off the porch. “And for what it’s worth? I’m proud of you already. Spotlight or not.”
She freezes like the words rooted her. Then she whispers, “Thanks.”
I barely make it off the porch and into my truck before the door opens.
“Laura? Why are you outside?” Lyss gasps. “What happened to Nana Lou's swing?”
“I was reading, and it just collapsed. I'll fix it. Or… buy a new one.”
I sneak back to my truck, my heart still pounding—from the kiss, from nearly getting caught, from the whiplash of having Laura and then having to hide it, but I’m so fucking happy about it.
When I’m back at my dorm, I sit in silence, not wanting to see my teammates just yet. Instead, I close my eyes and replay the kiss and the swing cracking beneath us.
What I wouldn’t give to go back there again.
I pull my phone out of my pocket, ready to text Laura when I see a message from my dad.
Dad:Sorry I didn’t get to talk to you much after the game. Erik mentioned you had an assignment you were working on. So proud of you, Scotty! You're not only a great player, you're a great kid, and dedicated to everything you do. I can't wait to see where your future takes you.
I stare at the message for a long moment, Laura's words echoing in my head.
Scotty:Thanks, Dad. We need to talk properly soon.
It's not much, but it's a start.
My phone buzzes again almost immediately.
Dad:Of course! Anything you need. I'm here for you.
External forces.
Romeo and Juliet didn’t fall because they were foolish. They fell because the world around them was louder. Family names. Expectations they never asked for. Their stories were written before they had a chance to speak.
We’re not them.
Laura wants to build her own stage before anyone shoves her onto mine. And I want to step out from under a shadow I never agreed to live in. Maybe that isn’t tragic at all.
Maybe that’s just two people refusing to let everyone else script their lives.
I quickly send a message to her.
Scotty:I’m home safe. Thank you for talking to me tonight. I keep thinking aboutwhat you said about Romeo and Juliet…external forces only win if we let them. I’m not going to let that happen.
For the first time in months, the weight on my chest feels manageable.
