Never say forever (Never series Book 1) (26 page)

***

After school, I walk to the football field to watch Aiden’s last game. I sit in the stands and about a half hour later, the stands are completely filled. I have never seen so many people at a football game before. Maybe it’s because it’s the last one in the championship, that’s probably it.

I watch the team practice and I can see Aiden in his uniform. I bite my lip as I watch him because he looks really good in his uniform. I watch as he tosses and catches the ball. They practice running as well.

The game finally begins and I watch what I can. I’m really not into football so I know absolutely nothing about it. I just keep my eyes on Aiden and when I see this side of the bench roar with praise
and clap, I know Aiden is doing well. I know I sound stupid not knowing what’s going on but come on, I’m a girl, and I’m definitely not a tomboy. I can fake it pretty well though.

As I am sitting here on the bench, I can hear some girls whispering and laughing. I don’t have to turn around to know that they are talking about me. I try to ignore them as best as I can until I hear something about Aiden. I still can’t make out what is being said, but I do hear one of them call me a knocked up whore. I fight the tears that sting my eyes. I shouldn’t be getting upset over some stupid girl but I can’t help it. I fight the tears pretty well because none fall from my eyes.

I focus my attention on the game because I can’t sit here and listen to these girls. I watch them running around for about an hour and a half before halftime. They are winning right now 14-6. I see Aiden walk to the sidelines and drink a whole bottle of water in, what looked like, one gulp. Even though I’m not that close, I can still see the sweat pouring down his face.

He notices me and walks up once he catches his breathe. I know he’s on limited time so I meet him halfway. I walk up to hug him and he backs up.

“
Believe me, you don’t want to hug me. I am a sweaty mess.”

He holds his hands up as if to show me he’s contagious or something.

“
But you’re my sweaty mess.”

I walk up and hug him anyways. I can feel him resisting the urge to wrap his arms around me. I know he doesn’t want to get sweat all over me. He is very sweet for that, but I could care less. He quickly kisses me and heads back down to meet with his team for their pep talk before the second half starts.

After about ten minutes, the whistle blows and they begin the second half. By the third quarter they are losing 20-14. They enter the fourth quarter still losing but about forty-five seconds before the game was over, Aiden had the ball and threw it far to another player on the team. That player ran like hell and scored the touchdown that tied the game but if they kicked the field goal they would win. I watched as they brought out the kicker. It took a few minutes but I saw him walk back and then run at the ball and kick it. My whole head followed the ball and I heard over the loudspeaker, “...And the kick is good. The wildcats are the championship winner!”

Everyone in the stands cheered and I jump out of my seat and start screaming along with them.

I am clapping my hands so hard and my eyes start to water from the pride I feel for Aiden. He did it, I knew he could. I watch on the stands as they all raise Aiden into the air as if he is some kind of hero. He really is their hero. He threw the ball that scored at the last minute which won them this game. I am excited for him. I know there will likely be an after party and as much as I don’t want to go, I will be alongside him because that’s what he wants from me. He always wants me right alongside him.

I wait about half an hour and he walks out in his regular clothes, clean from the shower and he has a huge smile on his face as he holds out the trophy. He walks up to me and picks me up and spins me as he lands an earth shattering kiss on me. I can’t stop the smile from spreading. I am in ultimate bliss at this moment.

“
I knew you could do it.” I am still smiling.

“
That’s because you were in the stands, my good luck charm, my breath, my everything.”

My heart just fluttered. He should know not to say these kind of things to a pregnant girl unless he wants to see her cry. I start getting teary eyes and he wipes it away.

“
No crying for my pretty girl, today. Today is all smiles.”

“
They are tears of joy, I promise.”

“
Let’s get out of here. We have a victory to celebrate.”

He grabs my hand and I follow him through the enormous crowd to the car. I am happy he got his victory today. Times like these, I wish I had my sister here to celebrate my
happiness with. I almost feel a little empty inside. My heart feels full when I am with Aiden because he has made my heart beat for the first time but there will always be a section of my heart that is empty because Cadence isn’t here. My heart will never be full until I have her in my life again.

***

Aiden

This night has been amazing so far. We won the championship and I got to see my girl cheering me on. What more could I ask for? The game was amazing. We won in the last thirty seconds of play. I didn’t even bother playing around with my teammates afterward; I went straight up to kiss my girl. The guys can wait. We have an after party, my girl however comes first.

After I kiss my girl, we make our way to the car, heading to the after party. The party is at Luke’s house. He is another player on the team, which he has a big enough house to have this and from what I’ve been told, no adult supervision. That can only mean one thing; this party will have booze and lots of it.

I really don’t want to go to this because I know how uncomfortable Serena will be, but I have to, we just won and I am a major part of this team. She doesn’t like most people at the party and she can’t
drink, not to mention she is also six months pregnant. Her bump is getting bigger now, I love seeing it grow because I know my baby is in there growing. It makes everything seem so surreal, kind of too good to be true. I wouldn’t trade this for the world.

As I pull out of the parking spot, ready to drive to the party, I glance over at Serena. I can tell by the look on her face that she doesn’t want to go. I will just have to make sure we don’t stay long. I have to at least make an appearance even if it is only for an hour. As I am driving down the road I reach over and wrap my hand around hers hoping to console her.

She looks up and smiles, but I see behind her façade. I know that smile is not genuine. I need to make this party quick and painless so I can see the real smile that brightens up her face. I lean down and kiss her softly.

“
We’re not staying long. Just an hour. I promise.”

She nods her head and reaches for the door handle. I get out of the car and walk over to her. I place my hand at the small of her back and we walk into the party together. This wasn’t anything I was expecting. There has to be two-hundred plus people here. I didn’t expect this big of a party all because of a football game. The big crowd seems to make Serena even more uncomfortable.

We make our way to the back and I spot Larissa.
Thank you Lord!
That’s all that comes to mind because with Larissa here, she may be okay. She may not be as unhappy to be here. Larissa walks over to us and hugs Serena. I am sitting with them and all of a sudden I feel a clap on the back. I turn around quickly and am pleasantly surprised.

“
Aiden my man, long time!”

Wow, my old childhood friend, Drew. I haven’t seen him in four years since he moved out of state. I wonder what brings him in this neck of the woods. “Drew, what’s up? I haven’t seen you in four years. Did you move back?”

“
Yeah, there was some trouble at home and with my dad. I now live back at home with my mom. I’ve been looking for you but everyone said you moved away last year. I finally ran into Ben at the gas station and he said he’s talked to you recently. He said you’re over on this side of town. I know a few people around here so I got invited to the party. I was hoping you would show up.”

I walked away from Serena and Larissa. They seem like they are having fun, and I want to catch up with Drew.

“
Wow, this is crazy. I never thought I’d ever see you again.”

I mean that fully because his parents divorced four years ago and his father for some reason won him in the custody battle and he moved him a few states over. We kept in contact for about a year but then communication faded and I haven’t heard from him in three years. I don’t even know if he has heard about my mother.

“
Yeah so what’s been happening with you lately? How’s your mom and dad?”

Well that just confirmed it. He doesn’t know. I figured Ben wouldn’t tell him because it’s not his story to tell. I can respect him for that but I’m shocked no one else told him.

“
Well…A lot has changed. My mom actually passed away about a year and a half ago and I now have a house and a baby on the way.”

It’s a lot to take in so I know that I am going to get a look of shock from him. This isn’t something he was expecting when he saw me again. I was right. His mouth dropped open.

“
I’m so sorry about your mom, Aiden. I always liked her. A baby? Wow man, you grew up. Congrats. I know it’s crazy, I don’t think I’ve ever said sorry for your loss and congrats in the same sentence.”

I laugh at that. I know he’s trying to take some of the negativity away so there are no gloomy moments.

“
Yeah, my girl is over there. You can’t miss her, she’s probably the only pregnant girl at this party.” I point over to Serena.

He looks over. “She’s pretty. Looks like you caught yourself a keeper. Congrats man. I don’t know how many times I’m going to tell you but it looks like you got your head on straight. You know what you want.”

I look over at Serena and watch her face light up as she smiles and laughs at something Larissa said. I’m happy she is actually having somewhat of a good time.

“
Yeah, she is amazing.”

That’s all I need to say. I don’t need to describe her, amazing just says it all.

We sit here for a while just catching up on old times, old stories, and what’s been going on since he’s been gone. I hear a commotion and I turn my head and see Larissa punching some girl from school. I can’t even tell who it is. I talk for a half hour and this place goes bonkers.
What the hell just happened?
My only thought is to look for Serena, I don’t see her around. If something happened to her, I swear these people aren’t going to see Mr. Nice Guy anymore. Hell is about to break loose. I don’t even get into the middle of the fight. Fuck this! I need to find my girl.

I start walking throughout the house, knocking on doors. No one seems to be responding. These rooms are probably empty, but I knock anyways. I don’t want to walk in on some orgy going on. I finally make it to a room and knock. No one answer but I hear sobs and it sounds like Serena. I open the door, hoping I’m not walking in on someone else. This is apparently a bathroom and Serena is sitting on the floor with her back against the wall sobbing into her hands.

I close the door behind me and quickly kneel down to where she’s at. I pull her hands away and I can see the bloodshot eyes, puffy from crying and mascara smeared on her face. I feel so bad, I hate seeing her like this. I need to get to the bottom of this.

“
Baby what happened? Did someone hurt you? Please tell me you’re okay and that the baby’s okay. Did anyone hit you?”

She sits there sobbing, not saying a word and this is fucking killing me. I am usually a patient guy but its taking everything I have not to go in there and raise hell. I know I need to be calm but how can I be calm when my pregnant girl is bawling her eyes out in the bathroom?

I lean down and whisper as I kiss her cheek and forehead.

“
Baby, please answer me. This is killing me. I need to know that you’re okay and so is our baby. I need to know what happened.”