Marty Smith was born in Accident, Maryland, and his whole life reflected it: he missed the game-winning free-throw junior year, got chicken pox twice in grade school, even lost his mother to cancer. To break this supposed curse, he fled Accident as soon as he graduated high school.<br><br>Now, ten years later, Marty must face his past when he's forced to care for his suddenly-immobile father. Marty knows his close-minded hometown hasn't changed, but seeing an old classmate named Colten Williams makes him wish things were different. The more time he spends with Colten, the more he wants to stay. Accident isn’t so bad when viewed through Colten’s eyes.<br><br>Or is it just the curse lulling him into a false sense of security before it pounces again?

The Accident Curse

Could I come back here to live? My work would be easy enough to transfer. I had an office at a local building in Scottsdale, but it wasn’t a necessity. I’d miss my friends, but I could always go back to visit there


My heart finally had to admit Colten was taking center stage. I was falling in love with him and I couldn’t simply leave.


And though he never said it aloud, I knew he loved me. It was apparent from our first kiss out by his truck.


What could I do? I didn’t want to stay here—on account of the curse—but I didn’t want to go back to Arizona either.


“You okay?” Dad’s voice behind me made me jump.


I turned to him, and in doing so, knocked the cup of coffee with my elbow. It flew off the island and landed on the floor with a resounding crash. Hot coffee splashed everywhere.


I stared down at the remains of the mug in horror.


“Mart?” Dad asked, the concern clear in his voice.


I looked at him, my eyes still wide and terrified.


Chapter 36