Page 54 of Beautiful Nightmare
I wet my lips, ready to completely open my heart. “Ever since I got here, I hoped I would wake up, that none of this was really happening. But now I find myself praying that this beautiful nightmare really is my life.” I huff out a breath. “When you said you’d let me go if that’s what I needed… That’s love, Gage. And I want that. With you.”
“Lux, you’re mine.” He kisses me like he means it. “I promise to make you feel that love every day if you let me.”
This guy makes my heart so full. “You’re my beautiful nightmare… and my wildest dream.”
EPILOGUE
HAWK
At the end of the third quarter, the Royals are leading by twenty-eight points. Coach Randolph will likely send in our second-string offensive players led by Xander Grey, Micah Robertson, Beau Danbrook, Griff Danbrook, and Nate King.
Matty smacks my arm and points to Coach as we turn to exit the field. Yep, I was right. From the looks of it, the second-string is going in for the fourth quarter. Our job is done for today.
We jog over to the sideline and pick up our water bottles. Eyeing me, Matty shoots me a careful grin. “Good hands today, Hawk.”
“Good arm.” I have no idea where I stand with Matty. He was witness to that entire debacle in the library, and I’ve avoided talking about it with him. I can tell he’s irritated that I never explained myself—I know he and Ryleigh feel protective of Lux—but it’s a tough explanation without getting into some really deep, dark stuff.
We sit down on the bench, both of us downing water as we watch the defense take the field. “So, that scene in the library was ugly, man.” He glances at me out of the corner of his eye while trying to pay attention to what’s happening on the field.
I grunt, “Yeah. It was bad.”
He sets his helmet on the ground between his feet. “Ryleigh and Lux talked. Ry was worried about her. I may have gotten the CliffsNotes version of everything.”
I clear my throat. “Yeah. It was my fault, but I’ve made things right with her. We’re good. More than good.”
He nods. “Well, I can’t say that I understand what you did, but I’ve kinda been there with shitty situations before. I guess you were operating with the knowledge you had at the time.”
I heave out a sigh. “I wish it had never happened like that. But I can’t go back and change things. I can only treat her right going forward.”
“You’re right. And I think it’s honorable that you admit you were wrong.” He holds up a fist. “We were glad to see the two of you get things straightened out.”
I knock my fist into his, meeting his eyes. “Thanks.” I hesitate a beat, then ask, “Are we good?”
“Yeah. We’re good.” Matty smiles, ruffling his hand through his sweaty hair, then looks back out onto the football field.
A loud cheer erupts from one section of the crowd. Matty and I both turn around to see where the commotion is coming from. There are a handful of students—four girls and a guy—up on their feet in the bleachers, screaming their asses off.
I snicker. I bet they’re super excited to watch their guys dominate this other team, the same way we had the first three quarters. This is the first time this season they’ve seen action. Give these dudes a year or so, and they’ll be starting right alongside us. They’re that good.
Just down from the wild cheering, I spot Lux with Ryleigh at the fifty-yard line, just a few rows up into the stands. It looks like she somehow convinced Star and Raven to join them, as well. Those two made it clear if I ever hurt Lux they’d castrate me. I don’t really doubt them, nor can I blame them. They aren’t completely cool with me yet, but that’s okay. They’ll figure out what Lux means to me eventually. It’s not like they haven’t had front-row seats to our story.
When I see the girls watching us, I give them a wave. Lux grins big and blows me a kiss.
Matty snorts when he watches me pretend to catch it and hold it to my heart. “Oh man, she’s got you wrapped around her little finger.”
I smile. “I’m fine with that.”
“Fair warning. Ryleigh has it in her head that we’re going to do couple stuff now or something.” He smirks, but his eyes say he’s willing to go along with anything Ryleigh wants.
I can’t blame him there because I know I’ll go anywhere and do anything for Lux. So, if hanging with Matty and Ryleigh in the near future is something she wants, that’s what we’ll do. It doesn’t matter to me who we’re with, so long as I’m with my girl.
* * *
Back in oursuite after the game, Maddox has been planted on one end of the couch, whooping and hollering at the TV screen for the last hour while he plays some new video game. Kellan has been quiet on the other end, scrolling mindlessly through his phone. I’m unsure he’s even looking at it. Probably thinking through something, if I know him at all. Kellan does a lot of that.
As for me, I’ve got to finish this assignment for my history class and get it uploaded in the next thirty minutes. I told Lux I’d take her out to dinner to celebrate our big win today. Nose down, I begin to plow through it, working against the clock.
“What the fuck, man?” Maddox growls. The tone of his voice slices through my concentration, and I look up just in time to see him hurtle across the couch and make a dive for Kellan’s phone. “What are you doing with a fucking video of her?”
Kellan shoves Maddox forcefully off him, his head rearing back at the accusation. “What the fuck yourself. It’s not my video. It just popped up. She’s on this app I’m subscribed to. Fuck off.”
My brow furrows as I watch Maddox snatch the phone from Kellan to have another look. It must be some crazy shit if it’s getting this reaction from Madman. I’m up in a flash and peek over his shoulder to get a look at the video that’s caused the uproar.
As the video starts, a girl is dancing, then that dancing becomes a striptease as she seductively peels off her clothing until all that’s left is a white lace thong. There’s no audio to the video at all. “Wow.” I blink, then notice Maddox is fuming, his face a mottled red.
When I look back at the screen, the girl turns around, her pert breasts and miles of pale skin on full display. My eyes bug out.
The girl in the video—it’s Raven.
* * *