The Wrong Game (Love of the Game, #1)

by Kandi Steiner

“And I say this with the utmost respect for you and him and all of God’s creatures,” she continued, drawing a cross over her shoulders with her free hand. “But he’s not here anymore, Gemma. May he rest in peace.” She paused. “And also, be castrated in the name of Jesus, amen.”

🤣🤣🤣

“I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you.” “You’re laughing with me?” I mocked. “No. I’m just laughing because I’m having fun, and because you’re the most interesting, unique, and adorable woman I’ve ever met.”

The way she was looking at me, I wanted her to watch me all night long. I wanted those eyes on me when the final whistle blew, when the door to her house closed behind us, when that tight, burnt-orange tank top was on her floor and those long, tan legs were hooked over my shoulders.

🤌🏻

The way he touched me wasn’t timid or nervous, it wasn’t hesitant or unsure. He touched me like I’d only been his to touch, like I was born for this, for him — and now that he had me, he knew exactly what to do, from years and years of wanting. Of waiting.

That was how powerful love was. It could save you, could help you live for the first time, see the world in a new way — but it could also knock you to the ground, the force so blunt you never forget the way it felt to fall.

😂 I love them I swear.

“I love when you do that,” he whispered. “Do what?” “Exist.”

You better stop. 🥹🥹

I trusted Zach. I trusted him to care for me, to let me care for him, to let me in on the hard days and to be there for all of mine. I wasn’t supposed to ever fall in love again. I wasn’t ever supposed to let someone inside my damaged, charred, cold and empty heart. But he’d somehow found a way.

I know you’ve been hurt, and I know you’re not completely healed from it yet — and you may never be. Our past has a funny way of becoming part of who we are in the future, and I think that’s the way it’s meant to be. Without the scars, without the pain, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the times when everything is magical — the days when life is absolute bliss. And trust me when I say that every day I’ve spent with you has been just that — magic.”

We knew the risk we were taking, we knew the leap we were making, but we were holding each other’s hands and doing it anyway. He could leave. I could leave. We could both end up heartbroken, sitting on the floor of our souls and trying to piece together our lives again. But, we could also find forever.

“I can’t go back in time and meet you first. I can’t take away the pain he or anyone else has caused you. But, I don’t want to. Because everything that’s happened to you, everything you’ve endured and survived has made you the incredible woman I know and love today.”