Page 102 of Matched By My Rival
He paused, as if thinking it through. “No. It’s just… I spent so much time feeling that I owed them, that I’d cost Chelsea her chance by losing my scholarship.” He sighed. “They all seem so happy though. Content. How can I argue? I thought I’d get a job close to home after graduation, work my ass off to repay them, and now they’re telling me I’m free to do whatever I want. It’s hard to wrap my head around.”
“I don’t know your family, but if they seem genuinely happy, maybe you should trust them. If your sister changed her plans, she probably has a good reason. Her own reasons, not yours.”
He smiled sheepishly. “Kind of like you had your reasons for giving up football?”
“You’re so passionate, Simon. I get why it was hard for you to understand my motivations. It’s why I took so long to tell you. I was afraid you’d never forgive me for giving up something you wanted so much.”
Simon kissed me. “You don’t have to want the same things I do—or did anyway. That Simon feels like another person. I only want you to be happy, to have everything you want, and I sincerely hope that one of those things will be me.”
“I do want you,” I said quietly. “I always will.”
“Then you have me,” he said. “Simple as that.”
Epilogue
SIMON
Three Weeks Later
Tracks was crowded, noisy with drunken chatter and laughter—no live band tonight, but music piped in through the sound system—and for once, I was happy to add to the explosion of sound. I blew a noisemaker near Parker’s ear, making him jump.
“Simon!” He laughed, shoving it away.
“Want another drink?” I asked, miming throwing back a shot since he might not hear me. Tonight, I was on the other side of the bar, part of the celebration after spring graduation. In fact, I’d never be behind the bar again, and I couldn’t say I was sad about it, though I’d miss Rhett.
Parker nodded, leaning in to speak in my ear. “Make it a Haymaker!”
“You’re living dangerously,” I said back.
“Make it two. You’re joining me!”
We had to press close, practically clinging to one another to speak and be heard, but it hardly mattered. We were a couple—and everyone here knew it. We were surrounded by friends, including Double D and his girlfriend; Johnston and Cruz, and their dates; Cooper and Trace; my sister and her boyfriend.
After some initial shock—and a few negative reactions on the part of the team—the closest of our friends had accepted our relationship. Darnell was still suspicious about what we might have done in his car, and Parker had spotted him searching the backseat with a black light. We both still laughed about that and refused to tell him whether we got up to any hanky-panky on his red velvet interior. Johnston and Cruz had been surprisingly laid-back about the whole thing, shrugging it off.
Hinkel had been the little punk of the bunch, but Coach had put him soundly in his place. Even with Parker’s final decision not to return to the team—lacking the desire, and fearing he’d only fuel his mother’s hopes for a change of heart—Coach had made it known that his team didn’t include homophobes.
Tonight, that was all behind us. We were celebrating graduation and a new chapter in my life. It was bittersweet for Parker and me, though. After the past few weeks of living in each other’s pockets—finally free to share a bed every night, alternating between the dorm and the frat—we’d be apart again.
But maybe we didn’t have to be. I hadn’t told him yet, but I had plans for us.
Parker held up two fingers, a challenging gleam in his eye. He was daring me to join him in knocking back the potent drink. I could play along—for now. But I didn’t want Parker getting so drunk we couldn’t talk about our future.
Now that I had something concrete to tell him, not maybes or what-ifs, the words burned on my tongue, eager to spill out. I went to the bar to order our drinks. I didn’t want to shout my news into his ears over the noise of the bar, but I didn’t want to prolong his anxiety. I knew Parker was concerned about where life would take me now.
Despite all our talk of our commitment to one another, our future had remained hazy. I hadn’t had a clear picture of where I would go after graduation. I’d had to talk to my family, search my heart, and consider my priorities.
In the end, it all came down to one thing.
Parker.
He was my heart, my soul, mycalmin the shitstorm of life. It was sappy stuff, but true. He was my priority, and tonight, I wanted to make sure he’d always know that.
Tracks was busy, and I had to wait in line. When I finally got to the bar, I placed my order with a new bartender and glanced around for Rhett. I knew he’d be working on a hectic night like tonight. Like Parker, he had another year until graduation.
I spotted him at the far end, leaning in over the bar, gaze fixed on a slender guy in jeans, short-sleeved button-down, suspenders, and bowtie. His outfit gave him a hipster geek sort of vibe. He turned his head slightly, and I recognized him with a start. Ethan, from that day at the Keg House, when I felt almost jealous by how much he’d captured Parker’s attention.
He seemed to have captured Rhett’s entire focus now despite the lines of thirsty patrons. Ethan straightened, taking a step back, and Rhett put a hand on his wrist.
