Chapter 322 - Carry Me

Chapter 322: Chapter 322 - Carry Me

Mrs. Gonzalez waited for the room to quiet again. "I promise I won’t drag this out any longer."

Someone shouted for her to hurry.

She laughed and looked down at the card Noah handed her. "Your 2026 Sweetheart Golden Couple is Roxxane Jones and Zachary Prescott."

Roxie froze.

She stared toward the stage before slowly turning to Zac.

He was staring too.

Angela screamed beside them. "Oh my God!"

Roxie jumped. "Jesus!"

Karen grabbed her arm. "Get up!"

"What the fuck?"

"You won!"

"I heard her!"

"Then move!"

Mason was pounding both hands against the table while Kyle shouted Zac’s name from behind them. Caleb was laughing, and Dylan had turned toward them with the smallest smile.

Zac finally looked at Roxie.

Mrs. Gonzalez repeated their names, and more people turned toward their table and Roxie felt the heat crawl into her face. She was probably the same shade as her lipstick.

Zac stood and held out his hand. "Come on."

Roxie looked toward the stage, then back at him. "Why is this suddenly embarrassing?"

"Because you’re thinking too much."

He moved his hand closer.

"Come on, Rox."

She looked at it for another second before taking it.

They walked toward the front while people clapped and a few football players shouted things Roxie couldn’t understand over everyone else. Her heart was beating harder, but she kept walking instead of checking every face they passed.

Zac leaned closer. "You okay?"

"Yeah."

She actually was, which surprised her.

Mrs. Gonzalez smiled when they reached the front. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Roxie said.

Then she saw the crowns. It was the same cheap gold crown and tiara from Homecoming.

Roxie stared at them for a second, remembering how fucking jealous she had been watching Kendall and Zac stand up here together. She had been furious with herself for caring so much while having absolutely no idea what she and Zac even were to each other.

That night felt so far away now.

Tonight Zac was standing beside her.

Zac took the tiara from the Student Council girl.

He looked at Roxie and smiled.

"My princess."

Roxie’s face burned hotter as the students near the stage started yelling.

"Shut up."

"Come here."

She lowered her head slightly, and Zac placed the tiara on her.

Roxie took the crown from Noah and looked at Zac.

He bent down for her without being asked.

Roxie smiled.

"My king."

The shouting got even louder. And she felt her face got hotter than she ever thought possible. She settled the crown onto his head and immediately started laughing because it sat slightly crooked against the texture of his hair.

Someone near the front shouted, "Kiss!"

Roxie turned toward the voice. "No."

That only made more people join.

"Oh my God."

She looked up at Zac.

He was already looking at her.

"Don’t."

His mouth twitched.

"Zac."

He kissed her anyway.

It was quick, barely more than a peck, but the gym reacted like they had done something far worse.

Roxie’s face went hot again.

Zac pulled back with a grin, his hand still resting at her waist.

For a second Roxie barely heard everyone else.

Her Zac.

Then Coach Hayes reached over and smacked the back of Zac’s head.

"Keep it PG 13, Prescott."

The gym laughed even harder.

Zac rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, Coach."

Roxie grabbed his arm and bit her lip.

Mrs. Gonzalez waited for the noise to settle before offering Roxie the microphone. "Would you like to say something?"

Roxie’s laughter died.

"Oh."

Zac immediately shifted away from the microphone.

Roxie looked at him. "Coward."

He grinned.

She took the microphone and looked at the crowd, suddenly wishing she had prepared literally anything.

"Uh... thanks for voting for us."

Zac leaned closer. "We voted for us."

Roxie pushed his face away while people laughed.

She looked toward the cheer tables. "And seriously, thanks for showing up this morning. We needed the fundraiser for Nationals, and you guys actually came, so... thank you."

She spotted Coach Miller.

"Coach can stop stressing about money for maybe five minutes now."

Coach Miller shook his head while several cheerleaders laughed.

Roxie handed the microphone back to Mrs. Gonzalez. "That’s all I got."

Mrs. Gonzalez smiled. "That’s enough."

They stepped down from the front together.

The rest of Sweetheart passed without anything else exploding, which Roxie considered a win by itself.

She danced until her feet hurt badly enough that she kicked her heels off under the table. She took pictures with Karen and Angela, posed for another Golden Couple photo with Zac, and somehow ended up back on the dance floor even after she had already sworn she was done.

By the time people started leaving, her body had finally caught up with the entire day. The performance that morning, the pictures, Bianca, the dance and hours in heels had drained whatever energy she had left.

Roxie almost fell asleep twice on the drive home.

The second time her head jerked up, Zac laughed quietly.

"We’re close."

"I’m not sleeping." She closed her eyes again.

When they reached the bungalow, Roxie stayed in the passenger seat even after Zac parked.

He got out, walked around the Tesla and opened her door.

Zac stared at her.

Roxie lifted both arms.

His eyebrows went up.

"Carry me."

That made him laugh. "Seriously?"

"Yes."

"You complained when I carried you earlier."

"And now I’m asking. Hurry up."

Zac shook his head, bent down and lifted her.

Roxie wrapped her arms around his neck while he kicked the car door shut.

"Happy?"

"Very."

"You’re spoiled."

"You started it."

He carried her toward the bungalow while Roxie dug through her bag for the keys. When they reached the door, she shifted in his arms and tried lining the key up with the lock.

"Hold still."

"I am."

Roxie narrowed her eyes. "Am I too heavy?"

Zac frowned. "What?"

"You heard me."

"No, babe. I can carry you all day."

Roxie pouted. "Wrong answer."

"How is that the wrong answer?"

"You’re supposed to say I weigh like a feather."

Zac laughed. "Who the fuck says that?"

"Romantic guys."

"So liars?"

Roxie gasped. "Asshole."

He laughed and kissed her cheek.

"Stop."

He kissed the tip of her nose too.

Roxie turned her face away, laughing. "I’m trying to open the door."

"Then open it."

"You’re distracting me."

She finally found the lock and pushed the door open.

"There."

Zac carried her across the threshold.

Roxie looked back toward the doorway while still curled in his arms, and a tired laugh slipped out.

"This looks like one of those newlywed things."

Zac looked down at her.

His expression softened.

"One day I’m gonna do this for real."

Roxie smiled.

The words should have embarrassed her, but instead warmth spread through her chest so quickly that she tightened her arms around his neck.

Zac kept walking slowly through the bungalow. "I’ll carry you through our door after we get married. I’ll carry you when you come home tired like this and your feet are killing you. When you’re sick and still trying to get up because you swear you’re fine." His thumb moved against her side. "When we’re old and your knees start giving you shit, I’ll still carry you."

Roxie laughed softly against his shoulder.

"You’ll be old too."

"I’ll manage."

She lifted her head and looked at him.

He was serious.

That made her smile wider.

Before she could stop herself, Roxie started seeing it.

Another house.

Another doorway.

Zac carrying her inside while she laughed at him for making a big deal out of it. His shoes mixed with hers near the door. His clothes taking up more room than they should. His food filling the refrigerator. Waking up and finding him there because neither of them had anywhere else they needed to go home to.

She imagined years of it.

Coming home tired and finding Zac.

Getting sick and having him hovering around her until she wanted to throw something at him.

Growing old enough together for his stupid joke about her knees to actually matter.

Roxie’s chest felt painfully full.

God.

She wanted that.

She wanted all of it.

For a few seconds she let herself enjoy the picture completely.

Then the years inside it finally registered.

Marriage.

A house.

Growing old together.

Her smile faltered.

They were eighteen.

College was still ahead of them. Football could take Zac anywhere. Roxie had spent enough of her life learning how quickly everything could change.

Wanting something this permanent scared the shit out of her.

Zac’s eyes moved over her face.

Roxie knew he saw the shift.

His mouth twitched.

Then he adjusted her higher against him.

"I can carry you like this when we fuck too."

Roxie stared at him. The pressure in her chest broke instantly. "Oh my fucking God."

Zac burst out laughing.

Roxie groaned and dropped her forehead against his shoulder. "You really had to ruin it?"

"I was still talking about our future."

"Shut up."

"I think that part matters."

Roxie smacked his shoulder. "Zac!"

He laughed harder and kept walking.

Roxie was laughing too now, even though her eyes still felt a little hot.

The picture stayed with her anyway.

Marriage.

Their house.

His arms around her years from now.

She tucked it somewhere inside herself and left it there.

Zac carried her toward their room.

"I expect some kind of reward for being the perfect boyfriend."

"I’m tired."

His grin softened. "I know."

Roxie rested her head against his shoulder.

"I’m okay with a good night kiss."

She smiled.

"Of course you are."

Zac looked down at her.

Roxie lifted her head and kissed him.