Page 55 of Class Act

“Things have really gotten interesting for our group lately,” Lizzie sighed. “I’m engaged, Hailey is courting a millionaire, and Aryn might make love bloom in her classroom.”

“Not bad for a bunch of thornback women,” Ruby added.

“Lies,” I mumbled under my breath.

“Total lies,” Aryn seconded.

She and I clinked our glasses together and remained quiet while the conversation moved on to other things, both of us lost in our own thoughts.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

It turns out I had a chance to keep my promise much sooner than I’d have thought when Ford invited me out, but not in the way my friends had predicted.

My grocery cart wheels squeaked as I pushed it along, glancing at my list and mentally mapping out the store. I typically made my list in the order of how the store was laid out. I found it efficient. However, today I’d made my list in the parking lot without much of a menu plan and just wanted to be done with this. I was pre-disappointed in myself, knowing I’d get home and find I’d missed some things, and then I’d have to be back here sooner than I wanted. On top of that, I’d end up adding a lot of junk that I really did not need. I’d already worked my way through the produce section and was walking through frozen foods when I heard a familiar squeal followed by my name being called.

I knew it was Hillary before I turned, just in time to see her smile flash a millisecond before she crashed into me. I staggered back a step, as I always did, using one hand to steady myself on the cart and placing the other on her shoulder.

“Hillary,” I said in a chuckle. “Hello.”

“Are you buying ice cream?” she asked.

“Thinking about it,” I replied.

“Us, too. We have a pool party tonight, and Daddy said we could bring ice cream.”

“That’s the best part of any party.”

I looked up to see Ford and Henry coming toward us. Ford, as always, looked delicious. Tonight he was more casual than I’d ever seen him, dressed in athletic pants and a sweatshirt. I noticed that tantalizing shadow of a beard on his usually clean-shaven face as he got closer and remembered him leaning close and asking me when I’d been kissed last. Fascinated by this new side of him, I wondered how scratchy his facial hair would feel against my fingertips and how it would feel to snuggle up to his soft clothes and smell his scent. At the thought I gave myself a mental shake.

“Hey,” he said in greeting, his expression open and friendly.

I had a sudden flash of pleasure, remembering the last time I’d seen him and the promise of future sparring between us. I tugged down the hemline of my silk shirt as Hillary stepped away and looked behind her. Henry had his nose pressed to the glass of the ice cream case and was walking back and forth, calling out flavor options. It only took Hillary a second to join him, leaving Ford and me alone.

“Hillary tells me you’re getting ice cream for a pool party. Neither of those seem like October activities,” I said as I tucked my hair behind my ears with slightly trembling fingers.

“You’re suggesting we give up two of our favorite things because of cold weather?” he teased. I dimpled and shook my head. He grinned as he continued. “We’re headed up to Leonard’s, actually. Connie invited the kids over to use their indoor pool. If you’re into getting splashed repeatedly for two hours straight, lots of attempted drownings, screams echoing off the walls, and feeling chilled for hours afterward, you should join us.”

The invitation made my heart skip a beat. Ford was inviting me to hang out with his family? That seemed really awkward and appealing, and maybe a little odd, but also tempting.

“Oh,” I said without realizing it would be out loud.

“Oh?”

“I’m . . . why would you invite me?” I was so flustered that I couldn’t seem to keep words from spilling out. “You’re hoping I’m a temporary person in Hillary’s life.”

Hillary’s yell from the end of the aisle interrupted us, although we continued to look at each other as her voice carried to us. “I want ice cream bars instead of regular ice cream,” she said. “Henry wants popsicles.”

Ford finally turned to look at his children, and I used his distraction to think quickly. What was his motivation? Did I want to go swimming at the Cox’s house with the Whittaker family? I’d been in their pool a million times and knew they’d have no problem with me showing up, but . . .

Ford had finished settling the battle with his children, and his gray eyes were looking back at me. “You’re overthinking it. I thought you might have fun.”

I chewed on my lip and nodded. “But it’s so unlike me to overthink something.”

He chuckled. “Obviously it was a spontaneous invite, but it was sincere. If you’re looking for a wild Friday night, you can join us.” He tipped his chin down and gave me a look through lowered brows. “Unless you have another hot blind date that I wouldn’t want to interrupt. Maybe this time you’ll come away with a broken leg.”

I huffed out a laugh and rolled my eyes. “So funny.”

We watched each other for a moment, him patiently waiting to see how I’d respond. It was in those seconds that I remembered the promise I’d made my friends to say yes to an invitation from Ford. Okay, so they’d meant a date, but I could spin this and get everyone off my back if I played it right.

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