Page 137 of Forbidden Game

“Parker,” I blanch, gripping his arm. “The championship. What the hell are you doing here?”

“It’s fine.” He gives me a soft smile.

“It’s not.”

I close my eyes as my brain whizzes, running through the championship schedule. Sunday is the Final Destiny run. It doesn’t start until one, so he still has time. Relief runs through me. I don’t know what hospital I am at or how far it is from the arena, but it can’t be that far.

“You need to leave now. You can’t miss the run.”

He shakes his head. “I’m disqualified, Syd.”

“What?”

How is he disqualified? Parker would never cheat, so there should be no reason for his disqualification.

“I didn’t go.”

I blink a few times, trying to process his words. Slowly, tears fill my eyes as I realize what he is saying.

“What? No. What do you mean?” I shoot a watery glare at everyone in the room. “Why did none of you do something about this?”

“I barely managed to get the boy to leave and eat some food. I doubt anyone could’ve gotten him to leave the building,” my dad scoffs.

“He’s right, honey,” Pricilla adds. “He’s stubborn like his father.”

“He just wanted to make sure you were all right.” Stevie’s voice is soft as she runs a hand over my forearm.

I shake her off and push Parker with all the strength left in my body. My shoulder explodes with pain, but I welcome it, letting it fuel my fury.

“What’s wrong with you? Why would you do that?”

“Sydney—”

“No.” Guilt strangles my throat, cutting off my air. “Oh God. I ruined everything.”

“Hey, hey,” he hushes, bringing my face to his. “You did nothing.”

“I—”

“What did you just say, Sydney Lake? What happened, happened, and everyone’s okay. No regrets. And I don’t have any regrets skipping the runs. I can always compete next year. There’s always another championship. But there’s not another you. And not being by your side? That I would’ve regretted. I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I left you and something happened.”

“It was more than just the championship,” I whisper to him.

“And you told me you’d like me even if I was poor,” he whispers back.

“But your family—”

“You are my family, too.”

I love this boy in front of me.

I love him, and I know I have the power to fix at least some of this.

“You need to go.” My voice is solid and sure.

“What?”

“You might not be able to win the championship, but you can still compete in the run.”

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