Page 140 of I Blame the Rival

After Jerrell left Silverwood, she told me she didn’t think the sex was going to be worth the wait. I told her there were a lot of things I’ve waited for in this life, but having sex was not one of them.

I didn’t tell her that every morning I wake up waiting to see the smile on her face. That every conversation we have, every phone exchange, I hold my breath in wait, dying to hear the sound of her laugh. That every night I’m in agony, waiting for the moment when she crawls under the covers and buries herself between my arms.

I have never stopped waiting for my flower. And I have a feeling I never will.

Swallowing hard, I stare at the girl who helped me remember that I am something special. That I am someone worth fighting for.

“I want all of you too, Flower.”

Epilogue

3 years later…

Wes

Did you miss me?

Of course you did.

We all knew who the fan favourite was, so it came as no surprise to learn my POV was nominated for the series finale. Nico was pissed, but he should have known the Troy Bolton of Taber University was going to outvote him.

Shit. I should have picked 14 as my varsity number.

“Wesley! Stop moving. You’re ruining the shot.” Lacey purses her lips at me, staring me down the way only a sibling can.

We’re in the middle of taking grad photos and somehow my girlfriend ended up atop her roommate’s shoulders. I offered to save Stella’s spine and lift Trip into place, but the tiny O’Brien saw my chivalrous offer as a competition.

So now I have a 180-pound Latino balancing on my shoulders.

“Dude. You need to lay off the pizza.” I groan, shifting under Nico’s weight, “You’re fucking heavy.”

“Maurice never has a problem lifting me.”

Mo smirks, “Different builds, Montez.”

If I didn’t have a man crush on the guy, I might find that comment insulting.

Lacey snaps her fingers, recapturing our attention, “Say cheese!”

The four graduates echo back the response, our cheesy ass smiles and matching regalia looking like the perfect end credit scene.

Trip, Stella, Nico, and me. All graduated and unleashed into the adult world.

God help us all.

Cody and Mo are chatting off to the side while Lacey continues to harass us with photo opportunities. Her boyfriend Skylar is nearby, watching the scene from a careful distance.

Despite the fact he doesn’t laugh at my jokes, I’m actually quite fond of the guy. He creeps me out sometimes with the lack of expression, but I’ve seen the way he takes care of my little sister and it’s pretty fucking cute.

Stella carefully kneels to the ground and Trip slides off her back without a hint of elegance or grace. Her dress slips up her thighs and I grin, catching sight of the panties I bought her last week.

Best purchase ever.

“How’s Nico getting down?” Lacey asks the question with genuine fear in her eyes. Considering how much I struggled to get him up here in the first place, the fear is not misplaced.

“He’s going to jump.” Interjecting confidence into my voice, I tilt my head to look at him, “It’s all about the dismount, man. Don’t let me down.”

He stares back at me in horror, “Fuck that. I’m not about to break my neck for you.”

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