Maddox before Homecoming:
Maddox sat on his bed, staring at his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen, restless. He’d written and erased a thousand messages to Juliette, picked up the phone a million times only to put it back down. What could he even say? Every time he tried, words felt like they’d betray him. Nothing seemed good enough, nothing seemed right.
All week, he’d replayed that night in his head. Homecoming. The game. She was supposed to be there with him. To celebrate together. It had been his plan, a perfect plan. He would ask her to the first game, win like they always did, and then celebrate—then, he would ask her to homecoming. He’d already ordered the jersey with her name on it. He’d arranged a flower delivery, hired the limo, set up a private dinner, and even got f
